Why Boots Slouch At The Ankle

It's natural for boots to gather a bit at the ankle (if they didn't, then it might feel like you are wearing ice skates!), but in general, they should not slouch.  Too much bunching is caused by one or more of these three factors.

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1.)  To understand why a boot is slouching, we first have to look at the fit around the foot.  Yes, the foot!  Surprisingly, this is usually the cause of boot slouching.

When the part between the ball of the foot and heel is fitted (fits snugly around the middle of the foot), this tends to give more structure to the rest of the boot.  

What to Know:  Be picky when it comes to the fit of the boot on your foot.  It should feel like your foot is being hugged -- not squeezed or tight, but there shouldn't be much wiggle room around the center of your foot.

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2.)  If knee-high boots aren't tight enough around the calf, then yes, the boots might slouch. 

As with any fashion item, please remember that you have to fit the largest part of your body first.  For some, this might be the bust line, shoulders, hips or yes, calves.  Once we fit the largest part, we can then make adjustments or alterations. 

What to Know:  Make sure knee-high boots fit snugly around your calf.  If you need extended calf sizes, check out DUO (now Ted & Muffy), which sells boots by calf width. 

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3.)  Another reason why boots tend to slouch is the height of the heel. 

Once the foot is elevated, the boot shaft should stand a bit straighter as well.  This is not a guarantee, but this can help boots from bunching too much.

What to Know:  The higher the heel, the less slouching. 
 

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Lastly, be sure to take care of your boots.  I sell an amazing leather cleaner on my site that works wonders for conditioning leather boots, handbags, jackets, skirts or even yes, your car seats! 

I would also recommend using shoe trees or cut some foam pool noodles to stick inside your boots when you're not wearing them (you can re-use a water bottle for shorter boots).  If boots are left to flop over for a long period of time, a crease can form in the fabric and that's never a good look. :)

Do you wear a lot of boots?  What other fit issues happen when shopping for shoes?  I'd love to hear how I can help! 

Why Sweaters Are The Exception To The Rule

When it comes to the majority of our wardrobe (tops, blazers, skirts and pants), we usually want these items to be pretty simple.  Of course they can have some fun style elements like a kick pleat in the back of a skirt or a twist on blouse, but too much detail and it makes them hard to mix 'n match.  

However, sweaters are the exception to this rule. 
 

Pierre and I - he is helping me write my blog post. :)

Normally we can jazz up outfits with fun shoes and accessories, but in the winter, it's hard to wear necklace or bracelets with most sweaters.  And, shoes are a fun option, but boots are expensive and not as easy to change up as flats or sandals (and boots take up a lot of room in a closet!) 

This is why I think sweaters should have some detail or embellishment.  They are the exception to the rule!
 

Details don't have to be over-the-top, sometimes a unique color is all you need to bring some style to your winter wardrobe!  The marigold sweater is MaxMara, the grey sweater is from BCBG and the black sweater with the zipper down the back is from the brand, only mine, which I bought at Nordstrom.

Once you have the basics* in place, start keeping your eye out for some fun sweaters you could add to perk up your winter wardrobe.  Not all sweaters have to have jewels on them, but a fun neckline, an asymmetrical hem, or some detail like zippers would be a good addition. 

*  For the basics, I would suggest a black, off-white and either a gray or navy sweater.  I also think it's a good idea to have a sweater in a pop of color like raspberry, emerald green, purple... whatever color you like! 

Sweaters should have some shape to them (boxy is never a good look), and try to keep them above the hips.  And, don't think you have to have a turtleneck as your basic - for someone with a large chest, this is the worst option.  Instead, try sweaters with an open neckline like scoop, v or even a small cowlneck. 

Lastly, sweaters are one of the items where I would spend a bit more money.  I don't really want to wear acrylic or acetate close to my neck and skin for a majority of the year (why can't summer be longer than winter for those of us in the Midwest??! :). 

And, a sweater in wool or cashmere always seems to last a lot longer than most of my tops and other wardrobe items (even jeans!). 

So when shopping for sweaters, hold out for something in a reliable fabric, a great color, or a cool design.  You're get a lot more joy and use out of something like that versus a tissue-thin sweater that will need to be replaced next year! 

And, don't forget that you can save some money and wash your sweaters at home! 

Do you invest in sweaters?  Where do you like to spend your money when shopping for your wardrobe?

Tips for Petites

The average American women is 5'4", which is considered petite!  However, in the world of fashion, it can be overwhelming to figure out what looks good when you are vertically challenged.  Here are few things to keep in mind.  

Keep ruffles to a minimum
Petites are already used to being labeled as "cute" so we don't want anything that adds to that definition.  While feminine and sweet items are a-okay (think bows, cardigans, Lilly Pulitzer prints), we want to keep the frilly extras to a minimum. 

One embellished item is fine (say a bow on a pair of shoes), but stop there!  The key with any great outfit is balance.  

Stick with knee-length
While there are lots of stylists, blogs and articles that say long gowns, dresses or skirts help elongate the body, every time a petite woman puts on a knee-length dress, it. just. seems. right.

Since they don't have much height, ie, super long legs, I say, show them off and keep things just above the knee.  This is critical for skirts, dresses and shorts.  And, if you want to go a little shorter, please do!  (If you're concerned about something being too short, be sure to balance the shorter hemline with flatter shoes or a more covered up neckline.)

Pointy toe shoes always work
Yes!  They do!  This is because they help continue the line of the leg, which makes petites look taller. 

Rounded toe is fine, but again, it can fall under the "sweet" or "cute" category.  That will never happen with pointy toe flats or heels. 

Avoid extreme platforms and ankle strap shoes
Not only do extreme platforms now look a bit dated, but on a petite, the proportion is waaay off.  She looks like she might fall over! 

Ankle strap shoes, yeah, you guessed it, they chop up the line of the leg and that's a big no-no when you are trying to create a seamless look. 

Proportion
Proportion is a biggie - why?  Because aside from fit, it's everything.  Proportion relates to how long things are, but it also relates to the size of an item.

Petites should keep prints, lapels and belts in proportion to their body.  This means no super wide belts (I advise my clients to stick with anything under 2") and to make sure that prints are no bigger than their fist. 

When you're tall, you have the height to pull off wider lapels, oversized collars, super wide legs and more.  However, when it comes to jewelry, all bets are off! 

Seriously, think of Coco Chanel and her multi strands of pearls!  I think a petite woman can totally wear a cocktail ring, statement necklace or a fabulous cuff.  Just look at my 5'3" mom with some of her big, fun jewelry here and here.  :)