Fashionably Speaking
Fashion in general can be a foreign language, but there are a few words that every shopper should know that can help you navigate those racks of clothes. Some popular fashion words are ruching, faux, d'orsay, kitten heel, A-line, peplum and circle skirt. The list is of course is much bigger than this, but I've decided to focus on these because these are the ones I receive the most questions about.
The term ruching means any amount of fabric that is gathered together (it gives a "rippled" appearance to the fabric). Tops, skirts, gloves and even boots can all have ruching. I particularly like it in a top or dress as this is a great illusion of curves or can hid too many curves as it looks like the fabric is doing the ruching and not you!
The word faux is pretty common in the fashion industry and is French for 'fake'. Faux can be used as 'faux fur lining', 'faux alligator bag' or my favorite, to describe a faux wrap top or dress. This dress, and really any sort of wrap top or jacket, works well for each body type as it can either define or create a waist, therefore creating a slimmer appearance.
D'orsay is another word from the French language, which is usedto describe a shoe style. This is a d'orsay pump from Ann Taylor and the benefit of this style is that it shows off more skin, therefore, extending the line of the leg and making you look taller. Any time you can make yourself look taller, then that helps balance out width.
Kitten heel also relates to shoes as it means any shoe with a thin heel of 1- 1 ½" in height. Kitten heels are a happy medium between feeling too short in flats, but without the discomfort of wearing high heels all day. The great thing about kitten heels is that they are always in style (so are flats and high heels), but they are always appropriate, for any occasion and can be worn with a dress, skirt or jeans.
Now most people have heard of A-line skirts, but I wanted to include it in this newsletter, so that people know exactly what to look for and the purpose and benefit of this type of style. A-line means that the skirt echoes the same lines as a capital 'A', so it flares out from the waist and away from the hips. Some skirts have more of a pronounced A-line shape and some less - one just has more volume and movement than the other. A-line skirts are flattering on each body type because again, they highlight or create a waist and hide the hips.
A circle skirt has much more volume than A-line, or any other skirt for that matter, therefore, women who are looking to balance out broad shoulders, (like the Apple body type), or a large bust, are best with a circle skirt. This kind of skirt also works well for the athletic or rectangular body type, adding a bit of femininity to a boyish figure. Skirts of any kind are such a nice alternative to pants.
The word peplum is a flared ruffle attached to the waist or hemline of a skirt, jacket or shirt. A peplum hem on a skirt, like this one from Nordstrom, is great because it would help balance out a large bust. It also adds a feminine touch to what would otherwise be a very straight up and down skirt.
However, a peplum can also appear at the bottom of a jacket or shirt, which creates a nice flare that floats away from the body and therefore, never too snug. A peplum hem on a jacket or shirt can add some volume to the hips (so great for rectangles/bananas and the apple body type, which don't have hips), and depending on the placement, a peplum can create a different waistline for women who are short or long-waisted.
There are lots of styles out there and the fashion world can be confusing and overwhelming, but hopefully understanding a few basic style terms will help when figuring out what items look best on you. If you still have questions, or need a little guidance, please feel free to contact me as I am happy to help!