Style Up

By Rose Marie Colucci

Style Up is not about the latest runway trends, nor about designers, nor about hemlines. This book is about acquiring self-confidence through the use of styling-up! Clothes are accessories, a catalyst, a trampoline to help you look your very best on the outside while building strength on the inside. Style starts with you. This means that having style is synonymous with having a positive attitude towards putting your best features forward. It means investing in yourself; taking care of how you look and how you feel, and this, at all times. This book will provide you with a pragmatic approach on how to create style by taking simple clothes from your closet and initiate a self-style of your own. Why look ordinary when you have all the attributes to look fabulous!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rose Marie Colucci
• Release date: Aug 2, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476118413

Rose Marie Colucci

Rose Marie Colucci is the author of Little Johnny goes to Mobster School, Little Johnny the Entrepreneur, Little Johnny in Risky Business, Lobster for Dinner, and Under the Yellow Kite. She is the creator of Sockfrock Adventures and Sockfrock Books.

Book preview

Style starts with you

The right attitude

Style-up instead of getting dressed! Why look ordinary when you have all the attributes to look fabulous!

Style starts with you. This means that having style is synonymous with having a positive attitude towards wanting to look your very best. It means investing in yourself. It doesn`t mean being selfish nor acting selfishly. Styling-up means taking care of how you look and how you feel, and this, at all times.

Styling-up has two facets: one on the inside, the other on the outside.

Let`s explore the outside part of styling-up first. The desire to make yourself look well-dressed, with clothes proportioned to your body shape, a sleek hairstyle, and sound makeup, constitute the elements on the outside. That`s the part of your appearance that everyone sees.

Yet, clothes are not the only element of your personal composition. Your emotions overrule your entire being. That’s the second part.

Wearing the right clothes is essential for your self-image however, having the motivation to shout who you are and how you feel about yourself on the inside is just as important. This is the highlight that will distinguish how much you respect yourself and how well you assume the responsibility of taking care of your image.

For example, a million dollar dress wouldn`t look fabulous if you walked with your head bowed low, drooping arms, with a mean stern on your face. The million dollar dress just lost its significance.

Compare that same million dollar dress on someone who walks with a stride in her step, shoulders held straight, and a smile on her face. This is a winning combination that spells self-confidence! In fact, she doesn`t have to wear a million dollar dress at all as whatever she wears, her personality will glow.

So definitely, styling-up begins by knowing who you are. Styling-up is about how you want to feel on the inside and how you want to look on the outside. It`s the driving force that will allow you to evolve.

The more you feel great about yourself, the more you will be fit to take the right decisions. It's the kind of good energy that makes you wise and strong to take control of situations.

So what is this book about? Style-Up is not about the latest runway trends, nor about designers, nor about hemlines. This book is a pragmatic approach to understanding clothes and the benefits that clothes initiate. Once you get familiar with acquiring tips, you'll choose clothes that bring out your best features. In the process, styling-up will make you look fabulous and feel great on the inside, while letting your personality shine on the outside. It comes down to developing enough creativity to connect with clothes.

12 ways to wear the little black dress

Sometimes, one hesitates in buying a little black dress because it cannot be worn in a variety of ways as one would like. However, by using other clothing items in conjunction with the dress, it can easily be transformed from formal to casual, without undercutting style.

The example of the little black dress is just a formality as you can easily do the same exercise using a two-piece outfit (black skirt and top) and the outcome would be just as stylish.

Bear in mind that there are many different fabrics to choose from. The dress might be expensive because the fabric in which the dress is designed is expensive. Yet, dresses are made from many different fabrics; acrylic, woolen, taffeta, nylon and so on. Make the most out of your dress not only for work use, but also for outings. Style your garment according to the occasion you need.

Did you know that the little black dress does not have to be black at all? Again, it`s just a formality. It can be the little red dress, or the little green dress or the little gray dress. The idea is to transform the dress into a stylish passe-partout that becomes a signature of your own self-style.

Merit to Coco Chanel who influenced the little black dress in the late 1920s, it has been a staple item in every women`s wardrobe. Simple, sleek and black, it allures the silhouette and can be worn in versatile ways that makes having a little black dress, an absolute investment.

Let me show you how you can create a number of different looks with one clothing item. Remember that style is the way you wear clothes by adding your personal signature to create your very own self-fashion.

Here are twelve ways you can wear your little black dress and divert into your own self-style.

Picture 1: the little black dress.

Designers love the little black dress because it denotes a distinguished, classy look. Designers have cut the little black dress in many different fabrics, and in many trendy shapes. Some little black dresses are made from silk, or of a delicate fabric, or have an expensive weave inside the fabric that adds value and weight to the fabric itself.

But for most people, we don’t need to spend so much money to have relatively the same effect. So over the years, manufactures have copied the concept of the little black dress and offered it in countless cuts and styles. Some have patterns and motives knitted into the fabric, others have detailing around the collar, neckline, waist or hem area. Nevertheless, the little black dress can be worn on its own, as an elegant garment, simple, yet sophisticated, useful for many occasions.

Here is the deal. Simply change the shoe for a heeled-shoe assorted with a beaded hand-clutch for evening wear, and you’ve created a different degree of style.

Add an oversized handbag with a flat shoe for daywear, and you`ve completely changed the vocation of the dress.

Roll on a few long-chain-necklaces for a retro look and you’re ready for a night downtown.

Picture 2: the little black dress worn with a shawl and brooch

The little black dress can be worn with any type of shawl, useful for an evening at a restaurant terrace, for drinks on the deck, or for an outdoor event. The shawl can be used as a light overcoat for chilly nights or as a fashion prop. The choice of the shawl will grant the spotlight of the overall look; the more the shawl is original, the more stylish the look.

You can alternate the shawl with different types of capes. Try a faux-fur shrug, depending on the cut and design. The idea is to use a wrap garment that will embellish the ensemble of the dress and shawl for an uplifting effect.

Add a brooch as an ornament to the shawl as a token of class. Without the shawl, the brooch can also be pinned onto the shoulder of the dress, or for that matter, onto the waist (slightly to the right or left) of the dress for a formal effect.

If you use the brooch as a jewelry accessory onto the collar area, say at the point of a v-neckline, then no other jewelry is required onto the neck area as this will serve as a neck piece. In this case, oversized earrings should garnish your outfit stylishly.

Picture 3: the little black dress with a belt and jewelry

The same black dress has been garnished with a full-waist belt, aided by a great piece of jewelry for a personalize effect.

Change the design or format of the belt altogether, then add a piece of matching jewelry such as a pair of earrings, neck piece, or lace bracelets on both wrists. Use colored belts such as flashy pinks or deep rich colors for contrast and increase your outfit's visibility.

Use different belt sizes, thinner or larger, buckle or elastic base. These different shapes and designs will reinforce the discovery of your self-fashion. Be bold when it comes to jewelry as the simplicity of the dress is a great backdrop to create fashion entities. There are many costume jewelry to choose from, especially art-form necklaces or larger beads; the choices are infinite.

Have fun harmonizing belts and jewelry to your little black dress.

Picture 4: the little black dress with a bolero and jewelry

As many black dresses are usually sleeveless, the use of a bolero is a perfect clothing item to uplift not only the dress, but the entire