Hand ups if your New Year’s resolution was to lose weight? I read recently that something like 40% of us plan to start a diet and/or gym programme this January, but personally, I can’t think of a worse time to try to shed the pounds. Most of us still have a cupboard full of fattening little treats from Christmas (rum truffle, anyone?), and when it’s cold and dark outside, the idea of a jog round the block and a little light salad is, to say the least, less than inviting.
So my advice would be to save the diet plan for spring, and go shopping instead. Whether you’re top or bottom heavy, or just plumper than you’d like, you can look taller and slimmer without losing a single pound, just by choosing the right clothes. I did a little survey of my best-dressed friends – of all shapes and sizes – to find out which clothes work miracles for them, and these are our tried and tested tips:
• Black, black, black. Everyone swears by it – slip on a well-cut black suit, or a curve-skimming dress, and you’ll look ten pounds lighter, instantly. If it’s a bit too harsh for your colouring, wear something light-reflecting near your face – pearl, mother of pearl or not-too-shiny silver work brilliantly.
• Boot cut or slightly flared trousers and jeans work wonders on chunky hips and thighs, because they balance out your silhouette. Try on a pair of tapered trousers and then some bootcut ones, and you’ll see the difference instantly.
• Wrap tops, V-necks and scoop necks are all great for making you look taller and slimmer, because they lead the eye downwards. If you’re not comfortable revealing your assets, the trick still works if you wear a contrasting camisole or vest top underneath.
• Wearing the same colour from top to toe makes you look taller, and therefore slimmer. That doesn’t have to mean the same shade – different tones of the same colour can work just as well. Wearing tops and bottoms in contrasting colours cuts you in half and makes you look shorter and wider, which unless you’re going for a part in Teletubbies, isn’t the aim (yes, I know Teletubbies are one colour from head to toe – but just imagine how much fatter they’d look if they weren’t).
• The shops are full of fabulous long knitted cardigans and coats, which are great for disguising lumps and bumps. Choose finer knits rather than enormously chunky ones, and go up a size if necessary, so they skim over your hips and bum. Yes, it’s painful to get that next size, but everyone knows high street sizing is totally arbitrary anyway, and no one’s going to see the label, are they?
So how about you? Do you have a ‘magic’ outfit that always makes you look and feel slimmer? What are the most slimming cuts and fabrics for your shape? Share your tips by posting a comment below, and we’ll all look fabulous in 2010!

At a girls night supper last week we got into a hilarious conversation about the unintentional fashion errors we have made of late.  One of the girls went to a friend’s 40th wearing a beautiful turquoise halter neck, open backed sheer silk dress, feeling like the proverbial million dollars.  She sauntered in there, mingling amidst about 100 others, knowing her husband and a few other were having trouble keeping their eyes off her only to discover it wasn’t the dress that had them gawking, more the fact that her hold-it-all-in-apple-catcher-buy-a-size-smaller-knickers were showing some 4 inches above the opening at the back of her dress!!!! Not so sexy after all I think.

It reminded me of a time a friend grabbed a can of Femme Fresh in haste on the way out to a do, had a quick squirt up her dress and under her arms only to discover under the lights later she was covered in glitter and sparkling from head to foot like a 70’s disco ball.  Oh what a joy to find your daughters glitter party hair spray in your dressing table basket!!! Thank goodness no one could see up her dress, although good to know that she was dressed for a party under the ball gown too!!

For everyone, the fashion faux pas’ are a lifelong hazard.  I’ve known the girl who comes out of the ladies with her dress tucked oh so neatly into her pants, the one with loo paper trailing from an L K Bennett kitten heel and the one where the neon flashing lighting came on the dance floor and revealed her dress to be completely transparent, which meant everyone knew she was wearing either no knickers or the big comfy grey ones!!! My personal favourite and no name will be mentioned to preserve the secrets of my nearest and dearest, goes to a bout of over enthusiasm on a dance floor at a  ball and not realising that my friends “dance partner” right there on the floor at her feet were her own “chicken fillets”.  Oh, how we laughed – what else is there to do?!

There are thousands of us working Mums all looking at 7 weeks of our children at home and wondering what on earth are we going to do! Easter and Christmas are somehow manageable with a bit of help from family, a bit of paid for help and maybe a club or two but the summer holidays are a different ball game!

I have two gorgeous children aged 5 and 8. Never have I seen two more excited children at the prospect of breaking up this Friday. For me – the white knuckle ride is about to begin – I am now entering into one of my busiest periods of the year – my summer sale on the basically black site, the new autumn winter stock arriving, all the new seasons photography to be done in time for September and if that lot isn’t enough, the buying of my Spring Summer 2010 collection THIS August. It really is completely bonkers! Don’t get me wrong – I love what I do and I wouldnt change it for the world but the plate spinning really starts when the holidays do!

As the summer holidays approach, I can feel the panic rising! I see the children getting more and more excited at the prospect of not going to school and then I feel the pressure of how can I make their holidays everything they are expecting them to be. I have decide that the only way to approach this is by taking one week at a time. Of course, it will all get sorted – it always does! What else can one do? I went to a childrens party at the weekend and nearly all the working Mum’s there were in the same boat as me. It is quite a juggling act! Funnily enough, one Mum who was not working and has two younger children than the rest of us pointed out that she is looking at 7 weeks, with no nursery or time AWAY from her two children! I guess that is the other side of the coin! Whilst us working Mums are frantically juggling child care and trying desperately to squeeze in quality time with our children, others at home are going completely nuts and cant get away from their kids!

There is a balance there somewhere – its just a question of trying to find it!

When I launched basically black last year, I knew the school holidays would be tough but so far I have managed to strike a balance and make sure the children dont suffer. I guess I put more into what I do when I know the children are sorted out so that when I have them, I know I can relax and enjoy quality time with them.

I find talking to friends who are also working is a great help. It usually helps me to come up with ideas for the children that I may not have thought about or make me realise that what I am doing is ok and just the same juggling act they are all doing! The joys of being female hey! I dont hear many Dads fretting about the summer holidays! I wonder why??

1.  Think about all the shops you would love to visit to see what’s on offer in their sales.

2.  Remember back to the last time you went sale shopping and how stressful it was.

3.  Remember trawling through hundreds of crowding clothes rails desperately searching for your size and the let down of never finding it!

4.  Remember the hot, untidy, disorganised changing rooms and how sweaty they made you feel!

5.  Remember finding the most fantastic bargain which made your heart leap but realising, after a futile search, they don’t have your size!

6.  Remember the disgruntled sales staff who are loathing every minute of this godforsaken sale!

7.  Remember how you make a mental note every time you actually go sale shopping, never to do it again!

8.  So why go………………………?

9.  STAY AT HOME! Get yourself your most favourite, most relaxing alcholic drink……. sit down………. and switching on your computer.

10.  NOW start sale shopping!

NO SWEATING

NO CROWDS

NO DISGRUNTLED SALES STAFF

NO SMELLY CHANGING ROOMS

NO HASSEL

SHOP ONLINE! – undoubtably the most relaxed approach to sale shopping without going out your front door (or leaving your desk).

I don’t know about you but when it actually comes to going on holiday, I never know what to pack. Every year is the same because I end up taking twice as much as I really need and most of it comes back unworn. More annoyingly than that, I always get charged for excess baggage!

Want to know how to avoid overpacking? – its easy – all you have to do is make sure that everything you take to wear matches.  Choose a core colour as a base to start with and go from there. Black, white and cream or nude as we call it now, are great basics because pretty much everything goes with them and they are great to mix and match.

I usually end up taking black as my core colour because not only does EVERYTHING go with black but  it also looks terrific with a suntan!

A classic pair of black shorts will take you a long way and if you wear them with a plain t shirt and good accessories, it will make a simple summer outfit like this look chic and stylish.

The great thing is though, black shorts go with everything.

Top shop is always good for well priced tops.

A feminine top like this can be thrown over a bikini or swimsuit which, lets face it, is a great idea because most of us dont want to be wandering off for a spot of lunch baring all!

I love this dress by Soaked in Luxury best because it folds up into nothing in my suitcase and makes me feel fantastic in the evening after a day in the sun. It is simple, doesn’t cling and feels lovely. A sparkly or metallic pair of flats look amazing but I do like to wear it with heels sometimes. I’ve got a gorgeous gold patterned lightweight pashmina I wear mine with and sometimes,  a gold and bronze bangle and necklace I bought back from Thailand which sets the whole outfit off. A real winner!

Happy holidays!

OK, here’s the problem. You had a little too much turkey during the holidays, or maybe the dessert table was just a wee bit too close to your plate. Whatever the case may be, you have put on some weight. Now, you are dreading the New Year’s party you were invited to. No sweat! There are several things you can do to have your body ready for your little black dress in no time.

When you start your new diet, start with detoxifying your body. This means drinking water like you are dying of thirst. It helps cleanse the yuck from your system, and that’s a great way to start your journey to a cleaner, healthier and thinner you. The flavored water is a good choice, because people crave flavor. Nothing bland, please!

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Start walking! Walk everywhere. Mail box, store, or even just around town helps get your blood pumping and kicks your metabolism in gear. And don’t just mosey. Really get your body moving. It helps to envision yourself in that fabulous dress on December 31st, with your waist bulging out at the seams. Not a pretty picture, right? So let’s get going!

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Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Fiber is essential for keeping things moving, if you know what I mean. Having a salad for lunch and drinking your water will help you drop weight. And a little secret: Carbonated beverages will keep weight on you. Not sure exactly why, but it has been proven to do so. So keep your water non carbonated, and be on the safe side.

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Start a new exercise routine. The same old same old will get boring and then you won’t want to keep working out. Find a partner to work out with you, or change your entire routine. Maybe some new music will spice it up enough to make it more interesting. Jazz up your exercises with some moves that are designed to work your core muscles. Dancing is great for this, and is way fun! Even if you are dancing alone, you can make it a great time and drop weight like crazy.

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Keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum is important. Alcohol will make you gain weight, and can keep weight on you, so wait until New Year’s Eve to have that cocktail you want so desperately. After you shimmy into your little black dress for the party, then you can let your guard down and have a few drinks. But as always, drink responsibly.

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Losing a few pounds isn’t all that hard to do. Losing a lot of weight can be a daunting task, but it can be done. As long as you stay positive and keep working on it, you will be ready for your party in no time! Don’t give up. Weight is not just something to gain or lose. It also needs to be maintained. When you reach the goal you have set for yourself, keep your healthy habits going. Then you can keep your weight pretty much at a constant, and won’t have to worry about the little black dress next time.

Did you know that you can tell the state of a country’s economy by the length of its skirts? I read in the paper the other day that hemlines begin to drop as recessions bite, and rise again when times get better: in the booms of the 20s and 60s, we got flapper dresses and mini skirts, but when economies plunged in the 30s and 70s, skirt lengths followed.

At last, a silver lining to all those gloomy business reports: we might be skint but at least our knees will be warm.
Personally, I think we’re all a bit less sheeplike about things like skirt lengths these days, but I do believe we look for different things when we’re buying clothes at a time like this. It’s a time for going back to basics, seeking out clothes that’ll work hard for our money, instead of one-season wonders that we’ll wear a few times and then get fed up with. We’re looking for timeless styles that we’ll never get tired of wearing, quality fabrics that’ll stay looking good, wear after wear, and versatile pieces we can dress up or down.
It’s a time to invest in the classics: a little black dress like this one , that’ll take you from desk to dinner with just a change of shoes and jewellery;

a beautifully-cut black suit like this one, with a skirt and trousers for maximum wardrobe mileage;

or a sleek black sweater you can wear with everything from jeans to a suit. You’ll love wearing them now, and you’ll still be wearing them – and loving them – when the credit crunch is just a distant memory.

Did you know that you can tell the state of a country’s economy by the length of its skirts? I read in the paper the other day that hemlines begin to drop as recessions bite, and rise again when times get better: in the booms of the 20s and 60s, we got flapper dresses and mini skirts, but when economies plunged in the 30s and 70s, skirt lengths followed. At last, a silver lining to all those gloomy business reports: we might be skint but at least our knees will be warm.

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Personally, I think we’re all a bit less sheeplike about things like skirt lengths these days, but I do believe we look for different things when we’re buying clothes at a time like this. It’s a time for going back to basics, seeking out clothes that’ll work hard for our money, instead of one-season wonders that we’ll wear a few times and then get fed up with. We’re looking for timeless styles that we’ll never get tired of wearing, quality fabrics that’ll stay looking good, wear after wear, and versatile pieces we can dress up or down.

It’s a time to invest in the classics: a little black dress like this one, that’ll take you from desk to dinner with just a change of shoes and jewellery; a beautifully-cut black suit like this one, with a skirt and trousers for maximum wardrobe mileage; or a sleek black sweater you can wear with everything from jeans to a suit. You’ll love wearing them now, and you’ll still be wearing them – and loving them – when the credit crunch is just a distant memory.

Did you see last week’s episode of Trinny and Susannah Undress the Nation? The dynamic duo had it in for black clothes this time, saying British women wear far too  much black, and that it’s time we stopped. Claiming that they were going to disprove the ‘myth’ that black is slimming and flattering, they took a woman who loves wearing black, and dressed her first in the most shapeless, baggy, sacklike black clothes they could find, and then in a neat little red dress that fitted her perfectly. Surprise, surprise, the red outfit was judged more flattering, but come on ladies, isn’t that cheating just a little bit? I’d totally agree that the black outfit they chose did nothing for their model, but the same thing in red or blue or yellow would have been just as bad, if not worse. If you really think black isn’t slimming or flattering, why not compare two identical outfits in red and black?

What made me laugh even more is that both Trinny and Susannah are often either photographed in the press or appear in their own shows wearing black themselves!
There is absolutely no denying that black is one of the most versatile, chic and flattering colours a woman can wear and that is precisely why we all do! It would have made a lot more sense if Trinny and Susannah had talked more about how to wear black clothes and how to team them up with colours and accessories that will create fabulous outfits.

Whether it’s a classic little black dress or the perfect pair of black trousers, I don’t know a single woman who wouldn’t put something black on the list of clothes that make her feel confident, stylish and yes, slimmer as well. So sorry, Trinny and Susannah, but I don’t think you’re going to banish black any time soon!

How many pieces of black clothing do think you have in your wardrobe? Five? Ten? Well, if you’re the average British woman, research has shown that the number’s actually more like 47! Apparently, our wardrobes are typically over 40% black, and on average, we’ll own three pairs of black trousers, a pair of black jeans, three black skirts, two black dresses, six black jumpers, 12 black tops, five black coats and 12 pairs of black shoes and boots.
I don’t know about you, but that pretty much sums up my wardrobe, and personally, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s all very well fashion editors declaring that we should all be wearing ultramarine, or purple, but for those of us who have to throw together a smart outfit in ten minutes flat every morning, black is a godsend. You can dress it up or down, it goes with everything, and it stays looking fresh all day (as long as you avoid Persian cats!).
Black looks expensive, even when it’s not, and while other colours have their moment in the limelight, and then scream ‘last year’, black never goes out of style – those little black dresses Audrey Hepburn wore so beautifully would still take you anywhere today. And best of all, you can put it on, even on a fat day, and instantly look taller and slimmer. So forget diamonds – it’s black that’s a girl’s real best friend.