Ask Anna
Your style Dilemmas Answered
A few weeks ago I asked on my Instagram stories if you had any style questions you’d like me to answer and I have had loads of really great questions. I wanted to be able to concentrate on them and not just give short answers, so I have focused on 5 questions for todays blog and then I can make it a regular thing if you like it.
The five questions I have focused on today are
Wedding guest outfits
Classic but not boring outfits for the office.
Dresses and skirts for curvy hourglass figure
Postpartum outfits that are not maternity.
Bras to wear with bare back tops and dresses
There were many many more and I will try to do this once a month, but it does take a very long time to do - longer than the average blog, so it will all depend on time i’m afraid!
As always I have linked to all the products below the outfit images - some of these are affiliate links, but not all.
Wedding guest outfits
There are so many gorgeous dresses out there at the moment. From florals to polka dots and everything in-between. And if you love a dress then there’s plenty out there to take your pick from. My advice is to go for a style that you know suits you and you feel comfortable in and then just up level with beautiful fabric and print. As much as I love a bias cut satin dress, I know it will cling in all the wrong places for me and I don’t want to have to wear uncomfortable shape wear - especially if you have to sit through a long dinner with speeches - it can be torture! So only opt for those types of dresses if you feel really comfortable in them. To balance out proportions if you have bigger hips, go for a dress or skirt with an aline or full shape and some detailing on the shoulders like puff sleeves. Ruching down the front of a dress will help with any tummy issues you’re worried about or a lovely wrap dress or low v-neck will suit a larger bust. For those that aren’t too keen on a dress there are some great two pieces or suits around. Go for a lovely bright coloured tailored suit or a really pretty structured two piece with killer heels. You’ll look incredible!
Classic Work outfits that aren’t boring
I have to say I am quite guilty of overlooking work outfits, purely because I haven’t really had to think about it as i’ve always worked in the creative industries where you can wear whatever you like. It was only when I started working in a college and had to be fairly smart, that I realised just how important workwear is and how often people can lose their sense of identity. It can often be difficult to find a happy balance between looking work appropriate but still having that sense of style and individuality to show your own personality. If you are a bit of a maximalist, then wear a printed shirt or neck scarf or even go to town with colourful shoes. You can add a bit of colour with a bright vest or tee under a suit or go all out matchy matchy with a tonal outfit. For the more minimalists among us, add volume with wide leg trousers and/or an oversized blazer and opt for texture and luxe fabrics to give your outfit an edge. Add interest with detailing on shoes or belts that you can wear outside of work too.
Dress & Skirts for hourglass figures
Well if you have an hourglass figure, lucky you. So many styles look great on you and it’s that classic shape that is just voluptuous and beautiful. And for those that haven’t been blessed with this figure and would like it - then don’t despair, there’s ways we can fake it! But firstly, for those with a lovely curvy hourglass body the best styles are wrap dresses, v-necks that make the most of the bust area, full skirts, aline skirts and pencil skirts - in fact because the proportions of the hourglass shape is roughly the same, you can pretty much get away with most things! And as shown below, you absolutely can wear double denim, just make sure you tuck in the shirt to show off your waist and unbutton the shirt down to your cleavage. The one mistake curvy woman make is to try and cover up with billowy tops, buffet dresses etc - these can be quite unflattering as you can’t see that wonderful shape that’s hiding underneath. Shirt dresses with a belt are also great on you as you can unbutton the top and really show off the waist with the belt. I love this one shown by Ralph Lauren.
To achieve that coveted hourglass shape, just remember it’s all in the proportions so try to create the illusion of shape with a cinched in waist or belt, creating shape at the hem with an aline or full skirt and creating shape at the shoulders and bust if you’re flat chested with big sleeves, detailing at the shoulder or frills etc at the bust.
Postpartum Outfits
You’ve just had a baby - yippee! Congratulations. But hang on, you’re tired, exhausted, feeling like you have to snap back into your post baby clothing, feeling scared, anxious, worried, emotional… Sound familiar? Having a child, whether it’s by c-section, vaginal delivery, adoption or any other means, is a huge deal and so overwhelming and even though I’m not a therapist, I know how wearing the right clothing can really help you feel a bit more put together and ready to take on the world.
That being said, there’s absolutely no right way to go about anything when it comes to life after babies - the right way is your way and yours alone. And as for fitting in to clothing before baby, that’s absolute rubbish. Your body has gone through a major miracle making process and should never be punished into a gruelling routine or diets. (unless of course, that’s your thing!)
But, just like how adding a bit of lippy can make you feel better, wearing comfortable clothing that make you feel and look good, can do wonders for self esteem and give you a bit of a confidence boost when leaving the house with baby in tow. So opt for loose comfy outfits with a touch of luxury, so maybe a slinky fabric (that is washable of course), a pair of comfy but really lovely shoes and a lovely elasticated waistband. If you’re breastfeeding try a nice crisp cotton shirt that can be unbuttoned to allow easy access or a loose shirt dress with a belt that can give you a bit of shape. Some baby bags are a bit old fashioned, but there are so many really good ones that are really cool like Tiba and Marl. Or opt for a big throw it all in bag like this super cute Mango one which will fit in all the nappies, extra clothing, changing mat and everything else you need.
Bras to wear with Backless tops/dresses
Backless dresses and tops are having a bit of a moment aren’t they, and while the small boobed, ultra slender girls are running around braless and carefree, the rest of us are in a bit of a quandary! Do we just walk away from this trend, do we leave it for holidays when we don’t give two hoots, or do we try to solve it! Well I’m hear to say we can wear whatever the hell we like, and if backless dresses are your thing but you have size DD boobs - then no problem - where there’s a will there’s a way my friends!
I have been known to have a bra on show when wearing a backless or low back dress - as long as it’s pretty, then you can make a bit of a feature of it and there’s loads of gorgeous racer back lace styles, pretty printed bras and cute bralettes. The key is to make sure the back is pretty, so maybe try a front fastening and one with nice straps and definitely not one that has gone grey in the wash!
For a truly backless style, there are loads and I mean loads of backless stick on options. These simply stick to your chest to give you that lift and support. And some styles go up to a G cup, so not just for small busts. The M&S ‘100 ways to wear’ bra has an adjustable back convertor to allow multiple ways to wear. But also, with a dress that has multiple straps, a strappy bra in the same colour as the dress can blend in so that it’s barely noticeable. Depending on the size of your bust, tape can also be really supportive and give you a bit of lift as can some lifting nipple covers like these ones from La Redoute
If you love the look, but just don’t feel comfortable going braless, then look for a dress that just has a little gap in-between the top of the dress and the bottom. This one from Mango is absolutely gorgeous as it still allows a bra to be worn, but is a nod to the trend with a little slice of back showing just above the waistline.
So there you have it my 5 style questions answered for the month.
Please let me know if you’d like me to continue with these. And if you have any questions, I’ll put up a regular stories sticker so that you can ask them on there and this ensures they’re all in the same place.
Thanks for reading and I really hope it’s been useful
Have a great weekend and see you next week
Anna xx
