Cardigan Empire

Salt Lake City Fashion Stylist

Fitting Room Friday: Hourglass and Spring 2011 Trends

This week’s fitting room features a really New Yorker, Cathy Batista, to model New York Fashion Week’s Spring 2011 trends. 
A Review: of what flattered and what floundered
Safari Trend
Left: Fantastic Field Skirt: The Kardashians have nothing on the Batista booty and the Fantastic Field Skirt shows it to be towering and tenacious. Buttondown Cowlneck (Green): Completes a harmoniously hued triad, contrasting the bold floral blues and reds.

Right: Draped Jungle Skirt: Adorable from the front, but completing cloaking one of her best assets in profile. Buttondown Cowlneck (Blue): Tucking this elegantly draped blouse ensures that at least her narrow waist isn’t lost.
Seventies Trend
Left: Spring Ready Dress: An hourglass dream in emerald green: initiating with a strategic V-neck which simultaneously divides and decorously displays her abundant bustline, continuing down to a secured and narrowed center, concluding with a fluid skirt sans a single extraneous bulky pleat.
Mineral Cascade Necklace: The size and weight of this accessory allows it to stand up to its ample surroundings.

Right: Airy Weave Pullover: Not even a belt could save this bubble banded waist hider.  Unforgiveable. Buttondown Cowlneck (Green): A complementary contrast to the Raspberry Woven
Left: A Bit Unruly Top: Each contrasting band allows the eye to visually measure the differential between curvy bust and narrow waist. Cultural Heritage Skirt: The contrasting waistband pattern brings even more attention to an enviable median.


Right: Sand Lines Tee:  A full bust expands and holds the line of a full blouse at, what seems like, feet from a whittled middle.
Left: Lunar Cycles Top: Proving that lace can be modern, this option skirts away from frilly and keeps sight of an epic hourglass waist. Daughters of the Liberation Slim Straight: If the goal is to maximize curves, look no further than a tapered ankle held in contrast to a voluminous hip.

Right: Shy Stalks Shell: Another non-traditional, streamlined interpretation of lace. Abbreviated Blazer: this season’s must-have layer nipping in on this body’s must see feature. AG Stevie Ankle: A truly straight trouser made feminine on voluptuous features.    
Let Cardigan Empire fashion you for Spring.  Freshen up with a complete Fashion Package: combining a theoretical look book & a practical virtual shopping session
Feed me fashionably fresh

Fitting Room Friday: Petite Lower Figure Body Type

With the recent close of 2011’s New York Fashion Week, fellow stylist Sarah Hosman joined Cardigan Empire to refresh her spring wardrobe with some freshy fresh pretties. 

(More tips and tactics to be revealed on specific Spring 2011 trends next week.)
What Failed:
Lady Hosman knew her body type well and didn’t fuss with many of the trends currently proliferating, knowing they would either draw a box around her top half or swallow her petite (under 5 foot) proportions. 
Below are examples of some of the items she walked promptly past (click the image to view her comments in larger dimensions):
What Sailed:
Pulling It Together Sweater: A pink puffy heart for this cardigan.  The fit closely hugs Sarah’s narrow torso and ends before unnecessarily stretching across her wider bottom half.
Sing Sweetly Party Dress: Flattery from neckline to hem.  The pleated bodice adds volume to her subtle bust, the mint sash highlights her tiny waist, and the a-line skirt skims cleanly over her upper gams.
AG Angelina Petite: AG’s famously soft fabric flexes beautifully into a derriere balancing bootcut.
Primula Corset Top: A proper peplum perfectly flaring from her mini midsection to her fertile southern hemisphere.
Eastpoint Garden Top: A ladylike neck tie and ruffled collar bring attention to her diminutive north.
Washi Wrap Skirt: Normally Sarah would have passed this skirt up because of the bright color, pleating, and pockets.  But the fit turned out to be quite flattering, the pleats pointed in the right direction, and the pockets didn’t poke.  And we agreed color should always be a secondary consideration. (But it does fit small, so size up).
Gathering Blossoms Top: Sarah’s favorite top.  The ruching draws eyes to a visually narrowed center and then flares to the perfect thigh skimming length.  Breaking up her flanks without truncating her already sparse leg inches.

Let Cardigan Empire fashion you for Spring.  Freshen up with a complete Fashion Package: combining a theoretical look book & a practical virtual shopping session

Feed me fashionably fresh