Latest Trends... JULY Issue
Where YOU Can Afford to Wear REAL!

Create a Sleek Silhouette
using monochromatic colors

Why go monochromatic, because it makes everybody look slimmer and taller instantly. Plus, it's always elegant, and it's an extremely easy way to dress--almost a total no brainer! You have to wonder why more women outside the fashion industry don't take advantage of it.

Women of all sizes and shape have begun to stick themselves into a style box (or unstylish box?) by avoiding color and relegating themselves to dark colored clothing. Although it is true that dark colors have slimming effects and can minimize fuller figures, to remain stuck in the same color day after day sounds like more of a life sentence than a fashion style. Now what exactly is Monochromatic style, it is wearing one color--any color-- from head to toe (although we can fudge that a bit, as you'll see in a minute), and it works for two main reasons. Number one, color is the first thing most people notice about an outfit. Even someone who is clueless about fashion and rarely notices what anybody's wearing will notice color. And number two, dressing in one color produces a strong unbroken vertical line that elongates the body. Put those two facts together and you've got a very powerful slimming tool.

The fashion technique commonly used by fashion designers and stylists works because the eye picks up the color first. It creates a strong visual line for the eye to follow which elongates the body. Dressing in a single color palette doesn't have to be boring. You can also mix and match it up with texture, which creates a bit of visual interest, yet still creates a slimming silhouette.

Fashion is fun. Fashion is also about expressing your personality through your clothing. Are you really having fun with your wardrobe if you're trapped into wearing black everyday? What is true is that no matter what your size or shape, you can (and do) look amazing in colors as well! Remember that no matter what your size, you have your own personality and style, and the right to flaunt it to its best advantage.

Use Texture To Add Interest to Monochromes

While were talking one color here, we're in no way limiting texture. You can incorporate as many different textures into an outfit as you like--within reason, of course. In fact, you'd be surprised at the extra pizzazz and sophistication you can get with a little variation and surprise. Imagine the rich interplay of a buttery soft suede jacket, cashmere turtleneck, fluid wool flannel trousers, and silk scarf. Even if all colors were identical, the variation in textures would give the outfit a rich interesting dimension and relief from sameness.This isn't limited in your cooler weather clothing it works well without all the layers.

With textures like ribbing, knits, tweeds, and jacquards type fabrics, you can even add patterns without ever getting near another color. Plus, texture can even help define the mood of your outfit. You could, for instance, add a touch of affluence with silk charmeuse, a hint of femininity with lace or chiffon, or a dash of romanticism with velvet. So take advantage of texture. It can lend as much interest and pizzazz as a second color, but offers much less risk of leading the eye off its slimming vertical course. Try a navy silk charmeuse shell with your navy gabardine suit, for instance, or a wonderful navy chiffon and velvet scarf, or both.

Hemline

A hemline that hits at the heaviest part of your leg adds pounds. So if your legs are skinny, you can wear your longer skirts around mid-calf –which is the heaviest part of the lower leg. If you have heavy legs, long skirts would look better hemmed lower, at the narrowest part of the calf. As you experiment, see if this holds true for you.

Skirts should be longer than they are wide since you always want to get vertical lines from a skirt for maximum elongation. That's why fuller skirts usually look better a little longer, and straight skirts a little shorter.

Wearing a skirt longer than mid-calf can make you look matronly—especially if you're short. This length requires a triple check, and is another thing to look for as you experiment. Just above the ankle can be a graceful length, but is not recommended for women with thick ankles. As for ultra long skirts that fall below the ankle—well, that's an extremely tough length to make work with anything but evening gowns. Frankly, I wouldn't suggest it.

Skirts with side slits are a natural if you have good legs. Skirts with front slits, on the other hand, never move very gracefully and are generally unflattering on everybody.

And finally . . .

New York custom designer, Rob Kinch, has an interesting theory. He feels that short skirts are usually most flattering when they fall right around a certain part of the knee. "There's a little part of a woman's leg that goes in at the knee on the inside—a little indentation," he says. "If you finish the skirt above that indentation you'll be surprised how long and lean your leg will look. Many women will go right below that indentation so that you see the widest part of their knee, which makes them look very large and their knees not very pretty." Something to think about.

Monochromatic style doesn't need to be beige either they can fall into any color family.

That’s such a common question I get when I mention a monochromatic look. You can absolutely branch out to different colors, it truly makes such a statement. The bolder you go, the bigger the statement you’re making.

Here are some dress sets of monochromatic looks that I love — have some fun and experiment! The beauty is… you can be any shape, any size, any anything to wear this type of look. (And yes, you can throw in different shades on the same color… it makes it even that much more chic!)

Swarovski Crystal is another way to implement jewelry with any palette of monochromatic you choose.

INSTANTLY THINNER

In her new book, How to Never Look Fat Again, style expert and author Charla Krupp shares easy tips for looking long, lean and lovely - in an instant!

1. W

ear skinny high heels with pointy toes

Legs look slim and sexy in skirts paired with a shoe that has a tapered toe and at least a 2" stiletto. A slender toe and thin heel work to extend the narrow silhouette of calves. Square-toe styles with a thick, chunky
heel give the appearance of a shorter, bulky leg.

2. Sh

ow some skin on top
Expose a bit with a V-neckline. The open, upside-down triangle creates a high focal point up and away from your midsection and gives the illusion of a longer, slimmer upper body

. The more skin displayed between chin and chest (within reason!), the more elegant your proportions will seem overall; wider V-necklines visually balance broad hips and thighs. So collect Vs in everything - camis, tanks, Ts, sweaters, cardigans, dresses and jackets.

3. Embrace Shapewear
Get pieces that smooth bulges while lifting breasts and the behind. Shapers with extra-firm tummy control work well worn under shifts and pencil skirts.

4. S

tick with One Hue

Tops and bottoms of the same color create an uninterrupted vertical line, making you look thinner and taller. Stark contrasts between your upper and lower body draw eyes to your middle.

5. Faux-Tan

A salon spray tan or a do-it-yourself kit blends in blemishes (veins, cellulite, stretch marks, brown spots) that distract from the clean visual lines of exposed arms or legs. Don't want to go faux? All skin tones benefit from moisturizing lotion, which diminishes those imperfections and projects a head-to-toe glow.

6. Use

jewelry Strategically

Long necklaces add length to a short neck and bring attention away from hips and to the front and center of your body.

Mid-Chest bibs or big chandeliers say look at the face and not the middle.

Sparkly cuffs, stack of bangles, and cocktail rings draw the eye to the wrists instead of upper arms.

URBAN Glam

Okay, Okay, so what does URBAN Glam have to do with 30+ middle America and professional woman? Well, URBAN fashion has always been defined as functional, relaxed and comfy. It is the practical choice for on-the-go women nowadays. It is associated with hip hop but has also been popular with women over 30 as well. Let's face it we don't want to show our age with polyester pantsuits, we desire to stay fresh, make a statement and look as young as we feel, while still remaining age appropriate. Dressing in URBAN style is more than wearing urban clothes it is more about the influence of accessories in our wardrobe.

Women's fashion accessories for URBAN style is highly influenced and driven by music and the artist placing their mark in it. So let's bring this URBAN style to our level... women's fashion accessories are not all about wearing women's fashions. It is rather something that you can associate yourself with. Wearing URBAN is displaying yourself. With this, you can make women's clothing accessories in the urban sense work for you. For this reason I have developed a collection of designs using different mediums: distressed sterling silver, gunmetal chains, copper and 14k gold filled pieces. You will love how free these designs make you feel.

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Holly Robichaux Designs is located at 13395 Cedarville Way in the new Flying Horse area of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Our address is:

Holly Robichaux Designs
13395 Cedarville Way
Colorado Springs, CO 80921
719-331-3039
Contact Us
Studio Hours: 9am to 5pm MT

Click here for directions to our Colorado Springs Design Studio.

Abalone jewelry, African Yellow Stone jewelry, Agate Jewelry, Carnelian Jewelry, Amazonite Jewelry, Amber Jewelry, Amethyst Jewelry, Apatite Jewelry, Aventurine Jewelry, Azurite Malachite Jewelry, Bloodstone Jewelry, Bronzite Jewelry, Calcite Jewelry, Charoite Jewelry, Coral Jewelry, Crystal Jewelry, Feldspar Jewelry, Fluorite Jewelry, Garnet Jewelry, Glass Jewelry, Goldstone Jewelry, Hematite Jewelry, Jade Jewelry, Jasper Jewelry, Labradorite Jewelry, Lapis Jewelry, Larimar Jewelry, Lava Rock Jewelry, Malachite Jewelry, Mookaite Jewelry, Moonstone Jewelry,Mother of Pearl Jewelry, Obsidian Jewelry, Opal Jewelry, Pearl Jewelry, Peridot Jewelry, Pietersite Jewelry, Quartz Jewelry, Rhodochrosite Jewelry, Rhodonite Jewelry, Rhyolite Jewelry, Ruby Zoisite Jewelry, Septaria Jewelry, Sodalite Jewelry, Sunstone Jewelry, Tiger Eye Jewelry, Topaz Jewelry, Tourmaline Jewelry, Turquoise Jewelry, Vasswanite Jewelry, 13395 Cedarville Way, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80921
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