Cardigan Empire

Salt Lake City Fashion Stylist

Dear Empress: What Looks Emphasize the Waist?

Dear Empress,

I’m a young hourglass, and I need a way to flatter my little waist with my limited budget and closet full of jeans and t’s. I have fallen in love with waist high skirts but I need a quicker solution that doesn’t mean buying all new bottoms!

Shan o’ Seventeen
(So She Said)


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My Hourglass Lass,

Following are five different ways to emphasize the same little feature:

one. A tie or banding at the waist. You can buy inexpensive options with this feature already applied, or you can add it on to some of your existing closet inhabitants.


two. High waisted bottoms: As you mentioned a skirt or trouser that hugs high on the torso will dramatically highlight your center. Tuck your t-shirt or blouse in for ultimate impact. Don’t be afraid to take the waist of a hip skirt in so that it falls at the waist. Just be sure to test the resulting length before you initiate alterations.

three. Half sleeves. Hemming the arm band at the waist will draw the eye back to your favorite feature. Try adding an elbow-skimming sleeve under or over some of your favorite cap sleeves and tanks.

four. Cropped. Layer a cropped sweater, vest, or jacket to a basic tee and you’ll see immediate waist-centric results.

Five. A belt silly. An hourglass without a belt is like a sugar cookie without frosting (yours look divine by the way). Layer this accessory over dresses, extended sweaters, or whatever else needs cinching.

In summary my mythically delineated dear, do whatever you can to visually mark and outline the circumference of your mini midriff.

My ladies who care not to highlight their abdomens (there’s a dear empress in draft for you my soft delicious centers) do the exact opposite, at least for the time being.

Truly,
Empress

Feed me fashionably fresh

Dear Empress: How Do I Find Boots for Wide Calves?

Dear Empress,

“My calves are 17” around. Regular boots don’t fit and plus sized boots are way too big. Help!“

-Made for Boots
(aka Samurai Mom)

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Dear Made for Boots,

The standard boot has a 14 inch leg opening and plus size boots can extend up to 20 inches. Your stalwart stems deserve better than droopy enclosures or asphyxiation by vinyl. Below is a solution to your in-the-middle mire:

one. Measure your calves. While you’ve obtained this vital integer, many buxom gams are uncounted. The squishy definitions of wide calf or plus size are highly ambiguous, so you’ll need to arm yourself with specifics.

Find the widest rim of your calf and discover how many inches surround it. Measure both legs and use the larger of the two. This will act as a generally helpful guide. However, if you’re investigating an explicit boot, find the boot’s shaft length and measure at this height on your own leg. This is particularly important if you’re investigating an over the knee or a shortie boot, or if you’re petite since the boot will most definitely enclose a completely different section of your lower limb.

two. Shop virtual. There are vastly more flexible soles online than in retail stores. Armed with the information gathered above you will be able to remotely assess fits prior to ordering. For best results search specifically for wide calf boots and explore the diversity available at both online shoe emporiums and the shoe area of plus-size merchandisers.

three. Opt for stretch. If your dream boot is just shy of your ideal, all is not lost. Following repeated wear, real leather will stretch. Other swelling options include gusset panels and lace ups which can be re-laced with longer laces.

four. Alter as needed. If they’re only an inch or two shy of perfection, take your booties to your local cobbler. A moderate adjustment can be made on the boot stretcher, more extensive enlargements may require the addition of gore gussets or panels of new leather at the seams.

Suggestions

Endless.com offers an a filter specifically for wide calf boots:

Here were a few of my favorites for you:



Best to you in your boot hunt,
Empress

Feed me fashionably fresh