7.4.14

ASSIGNMENT - outfits that flatter a pear & athletic shape (part I)

The module I just completed focused on body shapes and which clothes/items are most suitable for different women (and men) in order to enhance our best bits, and then also disguise the areas we may not like as much. For one of my assignments, I had to style 2 different outfits on myself that highlighted my body in all the right places.

Here's the first one!



 Unfortunately, I'm not too well endowed in the upper half of my body, but I DO have some hips on me, and have had from a very young age. These disproportionate attributes would typically make me a pear shape, but I also had to take other factors into consideration, as I'm also quite tall and slender. I had to place myself in between two categories; that of a pear shaped woman as well as an athletic/slim one. 


Belts do wonders for most body shapes. I used one here to cinch in my outfit and highlight my waist to define it as much as possible. 
An A-line skirt is essential for a body shape like mine; it skims over the hips gently, concealing them and balancing both halves of my body.


 We all know that dark colours are slimming. So if you're hippy as opposed to busty, you'll want to focus your darker colours on your lower half, and lighter colours up top. Detailed tops like this one, which has lace all along the front, will create the illusion of a bigger bust, and bold statement jewellery like a chunky necklace will draw the eye upwards, instead of towards the hips.



 Heels are great for all body shapes; they lengthen the leg and add inches to the body, as well as balancing out the leg and proportions. 






 On another note, my hair is getting way too long and samey and boring, and I'm so tempted to just chop it all off, and try and work a little summer bob, but I'm scared that I'm gonna majorly regret it! I need coaxing!



 I've been trying to keep my makeup as natural as possible lately. Last week, I was at home for 4 days doing my course work, and didn't put makeup on onceee, which made my skin feel really good and free. I use much less foundation than I used to, which I feel really works for me, while still covering up my blemishes for a more even skin tone. Plus, I've found that, although I love my MAC foundation, it literally melts off my face on hotter days.



So that was my first 'flattering outfit' - I hope I hit all the crucial points.

Watch this space for the second one!

1.4.14

New MAC Foundation

For a few months now, I've had a lingering and nagging doubt about my foundation. Before last week, I was using MAC's Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 in the NC25 shade. I absolutely love it, and leaves my skin, which is actually quite blemished due to acne scarring, flawless and dewy. 

But as I've become paler over these past Winter months, I've felt that this particular range of tones are a bit too yellowy for my complexion, and after letting it slide for far too long, I decided to go to a MAC store and find out which range best suits my Mediterranean skin tone.

The lady was super super helpful and told me that there are three ranges within the Studio Fix Fluid type - the NC's which as I mentioned above, have a yellowy base, the NW's which are slightly more pinky, and then the C's, which are just right for all you ladies with a skin tone like mine.

So after testing a couple of shades, I ended up coming home with the Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 C3.5, which is definitelyyyyy the right choice for me! Not only does it perfectly cover up all my blemishes and red areas, (which there are lots of, believe me!) merging with my natural skin tone, but it also goes so well with my concealer - the Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer NC20


It's silly and trival, but having bad skin at my age, can sometimes make feel quite insecure, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Gradually, over the last few years, I've become more comfortable in my skin, and I'm no longer afraid of braving the streets without any make-up; something I would not be caught dead doing a few years ago, just because I wanted to cover up these imperfections. Nobody's perfect, and we all have our insecurities, but it's amazing how simple touches like this great foundation can make anyone's confidence sky-rocket.