Tag Archives: Strawberry shape

Boy did I have fun this past week.  Went to The Difference where they were hosting a free seminar on fall fashion for the classic type.  Classic types tend to stay in our fashion rut – hey, if it was popular 2 decades ago, it still should look fine, right?  What I love about The Difference is they always prod me to crawl out of my fashion rut and try something new that flatters.

I am actually 3 types:  classic (I like simple, classic lines), delicate (it’s because I’m petite and about 100 pounds, not that I like the term ‘delicate’ at all), and casual (I prefer comfort over anything, so my casual side is always fighting my classic…and they both are unnerved to be considered delicate).

I think the ladies at The Difference did a fine job of helping me to find an outfit that perfectly fits ALL my criteria, while challenging my pre-conceived notions.

I usually shy away from tunic tops because they make me look squat – but look what looks fabulous when it’s the right cut/color/style for a petite?  This Tunic Top is Tribal brand, 94% polyester, 6% spandex.  It has a gentle cowl neck drape and long sleeves (which I prefer.  If I want 3/4 sleeves I can push them up).  I like this color combination for fall, and the pattern speaks of anything but delicate:)

The pants are by a company called Miracle Body.  The ladies at The Difference assured us that these make ANY women’s body look great.  I ended buying the pull on jeans so I could wear them under tunics without the zipper-pooch.  I don’t know if it’s because I’m of that age where I prefer elastic waist pants…or that I’m petite so any extra pooch or puff shows up more on me, but I’m finding that I’m little by little replacing all my jeans/pants with no-zipper ones.  These Miracle Body elastic waist pants are 88% cotton, 9% polyester, and 3% spandex, and have some sort of a pooch eliminator belly band inside that I didn’t even feel at all, it’s that comfortable.  The color is a gray/green, so depending on what you wear on top, they seem to change their hue.  The pants look great tucked into boots, and lay flat at the ankles.

The belt was the big investment, but it really does make this outfit, and here’s why.  I have a short waist.  O.K. a non-existent waist.  My rib cage sits on my hipbones, so there is no place for a belt to go.  However, I have long legs, so since this belt sits on my hips, it extends my short waist, AND gives my body the illusion of being taller because it dips lower in the front.  The silver buckle matches the silver in my hair, and the black leather goes with EVERYTHING, including these black leather boots and pretty much everything else I own.

The boots I got a few years ago at Nordstrom.  They are Spire Peak Merrill boots in black leather.  They’ve got thinsulate insulation and are waterproof, so they keep me warm and comfortable. They have tennis shoe like walking comfort, and have easy access inner side zips.  Check out The Difference on facebook.

If you’re looking for a simple way to elongate an outfit, try wearing neutrals and then throw on a splash of color with a long thin gauzy scarf.  This outfit seems to give a nod to the 1920’s.

Summer weight cloche-like hat is silver/grey tweed polyester with a cute same-fabric flower on the side.  Purchased at The Difference.

Close fitting v-neck long sleeve t-shirt is a soft and fluid 75% cotton 25% rayon blend, in a steel grey, Ya Los Angeles brand.

White ‘cami’ is actually a high neck sports bra Continue reading →

I’ve been looking for a sweater dress: something affordable, warm, and modern that could do double duty in some way.  I found this little gem at Syzygy, a boutique in Manzanita Oregon. This hooded sweater/coat dress is Horney Toad brand.  Fabric is 35% modal, 25% organic cotton, 25% nylon, and 15% angora, so it has a little more drape and a little more warmth that a 100% cotton sweater knit.  The dusty purple colored fabric has a smooth finish on the outside but inside it has a terrycloth-loop-thing going on, except for the inner hood which has a smooth lining in an olive color. Details include side pockets, a tulip hem in front, a full front zipper, and shaping darts in the back.  I like that I can wear it as a dress in the winter, but as a longer sweater/jacket in the spring and early fall.

The boots are Continue reading →

As  a short petite 40+ woman, the zipper or buttons in front on jeans tend to jut out, giving an odd pooch-type area on my strawberry figure.  One option is to wear elastic waist yoga type pants, but sometimes a gal wants to wear jeans.  So here’s a compromise – JAG brand Jeans have a wide stretchy denim waist band with no front closures at all, so the jeans lie flat.  Which makes  the shirt on top lie flat. Which you can then layer with a sweater.  Another nice thing about wearing pants with a flexible waist band is you don’t have to loosen or tighten a belt around the holidays – they just stretch comfortably to fit whatever time Continue reading →