A Slim Silhouette Works Best in the End
Dear Fashion Police: My wife is an attractive woman who feels that her derriere is too pronounced. I disagree wholeheartedly. She prefers wearing sweaters and wraps that cover her posterior. For evenings, she has bought a number of lightweight coats that come to just above the knee. She calls them “summer coats,” but they look like raincoats to me. Last week we went out for a casual dinner and she wore one of these coats over her outfit--it was 80 degrees out. I felt the look was totally out of place. I suggested she wear one of her short cropped jackets, which she did. She looked lovely. I noticed a lot of ladies trying to hide or camouflage their rear ends, but because it is so obvious the look doesn’t work. Do you agree? Any advice?
--FASHION-CONSCIOUS HUBBY
Dear Hubby: Ask women what is their least favorite body part and we’ll guess the rump region will come up numero uno. Sure, we’d love to excise that wiggling wad of upper arm fat and have our tummies be as flat as 2-by-4s, but most of all we’d love to pare down our butts and upper thighs, plain and simple.
Those who prefer to hide their derrieres try various camouflage techniques, some more successful than others. What doesn’t work, and what you are probably seeing, is the layering of baggy tunic tops, sweaters or jackets over equally baggy pants or skirts. That doesn’t camouflage anything, it only makes things look bigger. Women who want to wear a tunic-style top or blouse should wear them over bottoms that just skim the body--not too tight and not too loose. Tops should also skim the body, not hug it or be too voluminous. Watch the amount of untucked layers. A cardigan over a tunic top builds up bulk. Better to wear a top or blouse tucked in with a cardigan or jacket.
A cropped jacket can, as you pointed out, be slimming. It helps if the pants or skirt and jacket are the same material or color, creating an elongating effect. Again, women should choose well-fitting pants or skirts, and make sure there are no gaps between the jacket hem and the waistband.
For those who want more coverage, instead of wearing coats for summer months, try substituting a lightweight shirt-jacket that falls just past the hip. These are a little dressier than a shirt, a little less formal than a jacket, and are perfect for layering over a T-shirt or tank top. They can be dressed up with a scarf or jewelry and are perfect for going out.
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Dear Fashion Police: Back in the 1980s when big shoulders were in, I bought several bras with built-in shoulder pads. Since I have very sloping shoulders, I’d love to be able to find this type of bra again. Does anyone still make them?
--NEEDS A BOOST
Dear Needs: We did find those all-in-one bra shoulder pad things, which, despite their efficiency, still resemble flotation devices. Anyway, with ‘80s styles trickling into various designer collections, it may not be long before those linebacker shoulders are all the rage again.
You can find Padded Attraction bras through a Toronto-based Web site, https://www.braboutique.com, or call (416) 497-2350. They carry a few different styles in the $30 to $35 range.
From the Fashion Police Blotter: With actors beginning to branch out in fashion design (i.e., Sean “Puffy/P.Diddy” Combs and Jennifer Lopez), it got us thinking: Who are today’s style icons? Right now there is an unprecedented interest in what the rich and famous wear, with the media offering nonstop coverage and commentary on almost every article of clothing seen at award shows and high-profile events.
Here’s what we’d like to know: Which actors, actresses, singers, musicians or other famous humans do you consider style icons, and why? How would you define their style, and what about it is unique? Do you try to emulate them, and if so, how? On the flip side, do you think there are few style icons today, as compared with, say, stars of the 1940s and ‘50s?
Also, what do you think about celebrities starting their own fashion lines? Would you buy the clothes for the label alone, shun them altogether, or judge them on their individual merits? Go ahead, expound all you want. We’ll print your responses when they come in.
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Write to Fashion Police, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles CA 90012, fax to (213) 237-4888, or send e-mail to socalliving@latimes.com.
