Fashion Yimage

Clueless about which shoes and legwear to wear with your miniskirt?

Try these four add-ons to look your trendy best:

Boots
The hands-down winner for a miniskirt is a pair of boots. Lengths range from ankle-length to mid-calf to knee-high. Tall boots (a few inches under the knee) are the easiest to carry off with short skirts.

Go bare
Show off the rewards of step classes and waxing sessions with bare legs and boots. Or fake perfect legs with self-tanner or leg makeup.

Socks
Show your playful side with over-the-knee socks. Only for the young (under 20 and adventurous!)

Patterned legwear
Add soft texture to hose with subtle patterns for a ladylike look; fishnets for funk or bold graphics for a mod feel.

1. Wear your favorite color; hues tell alot about the wearer.
2. Don a sentimental piece of jewelry (your grandmother's necklace; your friendship ring from junior high).
3. Dress in a familiar style (only a bit better). If downtown diva is your thing, don't show up in Laura Ashley just to win his heart.

Pass on status pieces
Chances are, he's not going to know Manolo from Mossimo, so save your impressive designer labels for girls' night out. Remember that if you show up looking like too much of a fashion plate, he may be intimidated by your shopping prowess (and start wondering just how much dinero he'd be out in a long-term relationship with you!)

Don'ts

• Don't pair icy pastels together like pink and baby blue. Too cutesy.
  
• Don't wear hot pink with black: it looks dated. Use white or even khaki as a fresher foil for your pink.

Coming up next: What to wear with white

7. Light on Top, Dark on Bottom

As basic as it sounds, the best way to use color to camouflage/highlight figure areas is to use contrasts.

The black bottom with white top works like a dream: it brings the eye up to the lightest hue and the top half of the body.


8. Choose Slimming Swimwear

The idea of high-cut legs on your swimsuit may make you uncomfortable, but they are a flattering way to make your legs look miles long. Here are more Do's and Don'ts for swimwear:

• Don't wear boy shorts. They'll look boxy on you because they accentuate thighs.


• Do choose swimwear with graphic interest -- vertical stripes, colorblocking -- strategically placed to draw the eye up.


• Don't wear a teeny-weeny bikini bottom. The less fabric on bottom, the fleshier you'll look from the waist down.

Coming up next: What to wear with pink

You can wear a fitted suit, even with a slim skirt, if you are bottom heavy. Just remember:

• Keep the line long by using all one color with slim-cut pieces. It elongates and slims the figure.


• Choose fitted jackets that end well above your widest point.


• Wear a top or jacket with structured shoulders, puffy sleeves, etc. to balance out your larger bottom half.


• Rely on a form-fitting, but never tight, skirt in a non-clingy fabric.

2. Think Fit and Flare

One of the classic recommendations for the bottom-heavy figure is the full skirt. It's still a great option, especially for dresses. How to make the full skirt work:

• Go for a fit and flare silhouette. Draw attention to the waist with a belt, gathers, band or other feature. The skirt should flare out from the fitted waist.


• Take the fit and flare silhouette one step further by opting for a strapless dress. You'll get the benefit of showing off your shoulders, while concealing your hips. Also, the strong line of bare shoulders helps balance a wider bottom half.

3. Find Jeans that Flatter

You can look great in jeans. The key is to choose leg openings and back pockets to fit your figure. Here's how:

• Bootcut leg openings are the most flattering jean legs of all. The slight flare balances out wider hips and fuller thighs.


• Opt for a darker wash jean for the most slimming look.


• Five-pocket styling looks best, but you'll want to avoid excessive embellishment on the back pockets if the size of your backside bothers you.


• The longer the jeans, the longer (and thinner) your legs look. Wear bootcut jeans as long as you possibly can without having them bunch up around your legs. If you can stand them, pair jeans with high heels for a super-flattering look.

4. Go for a Raised Waist

If your natural waistline is thick, along with full hips and thighs, one of your best options in dresses is the empire-waist (raised waist) dress.

With this silhouette, the focus is shifted to only the top third of your body because the waist falls right below the bustline. This look works best with pear-shaped women who are small-busted.

Coming up next: 8 Ways to Flatter a Bottom-Heavy Figure (Part 2)

6 style strategies to beat the heat

1. Skip dark colours and opt for white or light-coloured neutrals. They'll absorb less heat.



2. If sweating is a problem, avoid solid silks or heavy linens. They'll both show stains.



3. Opt for natural fabrics like cotton. There are synthetic, high-tech materials on the market, but it's hard to improve on cotton, which works to wick away moisture from your skin.



4. Take advantage of open-weave fabrics like mesh or pieces made of eyelet. The looser weaves have built-in ventilation.



5. Choose relaxed silhouettes like gauze sundresses, filmy camisoles or breezy skirts. Avoid too-tight anything: it's unbearble in the heat.



6. Lighten your load by trading a huge handbag for a smaller, lighter bag.

1. Wearing the wrong colours

To look your best, wear clothing colours that will complement your skin. Wearing the wrong colours will make your skin appear sallow and lines and wrinkles will be more evident. The right colours will make you look more vibrant and healthy.

2. Wearing too much makeup

Too much makeup will make lines appear deeper and will create a harsh look. Keep makeup light for day and a little darker for evening. See a professional if you are unsure of makeup application techniques.

Wearing clothes that fit too tightly will make you appear larger. Wearing clothes that do not suit your body type will make you appear larger. Buy clothes that suit your body type - not someone else's.

The idea of nail polish is to make your nails appear nicer. Chipped polish just brings attention to poor grooming.

Your hairstyle creates a first impression. From your hairstyle people will assume your education level, status, age etc. This doesn't mean the judgements are correct - they happen instinctively. Make sure it doesn't happen to you. Visit your hairstylist regularly.