Hats hats hats!

The key to a great look is great hair... and what is the key to great hair? A GREAT HAT!  While there are many steps to having great hair I chose to start with hats because in the summer months we tend to spend lots of time out in the sun, and the sun is not only bad for your skin, it's no friend of your hairs either!  Hats should be worn all year round though as they protect your hair not only from the sun but from all of the elements.  It is important not only to wear a hat but to wear the RIGHT hat, if you don't feel comfortable with the hat you have you most likely wont wear it, so this article is going to be all about what hat will suit who the best!


*TIP* When laying out, or spending a prolonged time in the sun doing an activity such as a sport or gardening, tuck your hair up under your hat.  This will protect the ends of your hair which are more susceptible to the damaging effects of the sun.

**MYTH** Putting lemon on your hair is a great way to get natural highlights.  While it is true that the lemon may help bring out your natural highlights, putting lemon on your hair will severely dry it out.  Then when you sit in the sun with lemon in your hair it magnifies the damaging effects of the sun on your hair.

On to the Hats!

Oval Face
With an oval face you can really pull of any hat you like so make sure you love it so that you can rock it!  Go for something that you can wear on a daily basis that meshes well with your personal style.

This hat is available from Roxy at www.roxy.com

Round Face

You can balance your round face with a decent size brim and a high crown.  Small brimmed hats can make your face look more round.

This hat is available at Hats.com

Long Face

With a long face you want to balance out the shape with a wide brimmed hat that has a low set crown, this will break up the length. This hat is also from Roxy at www.roxy.com

Heart Face
With a heart shaped face you can also wear almost any hat you like but the best size brim is medium as it will keep your chin from looking to narrow.
This hat is from Roxy at www.roxy.com

Remember...always take care of your hair!

CUT IT! The Best Hair Cut for Your Face Shape

Having the right hair cut and or style is very important to looking your best.  The right style can make you look younger, slimmer and make you much more happy with your overall look.  There are some things to consider though when you chose to get a new haircut, especially if it is a drastic one.  First of all you need to sit down and think about why you want to change your style? Did an image coach advise you of a better style for your face/body? Do you want to change your look? Is this a rational or emotional decision?  You want to make sure that whenever you are making a drastic change to your appearance that you are making that choice for the right reason, remember that a new hair style won't mend a broken heart or advance your career! 

That said read on to see the right hairstyle for your face shape!


Oval Face
This is a very classic and common face shape. This face shape can generally wear any hair style.  This said the best way to accentuate and elongate the oval shape of the face you want to keep your hair long to medium length with long or no layers and long or no bangs.  Be wary of bob hairstyles, while an oval face can pull them off they will tend to make the face look much more round, because of this you want to avoid the bob if you are trying to look slimmer.
Bellow is an example of Hayden Panettiere when she went from her classic long style to a short bob with bangs.  While she still suites the shorter style it is very evident that the bob style makes her features much more round.

H

Heart Shape Face
Heart shaped faces get narrow at the chin, because of this you want a short style that has lots of volume and layers around the chin to even out the shape.  You want to avoid any short pixie cuts that will enhance your narrow chin.  Multi-tonal colour and highlights is also usually best for the heart shaped face.
Bellow is a great example of a heart shaped friendly shape:

Square Shape Face
For a square shaped face you want to break up the symmetry of your face by choosing a style that has elements such as a offset part, lots of layers, choppy styles or soft curls.
Bellow is Mandy Moore with asymmetrical bangs, layers and soft curls, all of which soften the square shape of her face:

R

Round Face Shape
When you have a very round face the goal is to  elongate the face and make it look more narrow.  A great style to create the illusion of a longer more narrow face is a cut that has soft feathered layers that frame the face.   You want to avoid bobs, especially severe ones, as these will only accentuate the shape of your face and make it look even more round then it really is.
Selena Gomez is a classic example of a round face shape and bellow is one of her more flattering fringe hairstyles:

Long Face Shape
For people with a long face the problem is generally a long forehead.  The cure for that is bangs, the bangs will disguise your long forehead.  You also want to stick to a length between the chin and shoulders that has some layering to add volume and make your face appear wider.
Bellow is an excellent example of a great long face hairstyle!

Fusion Strand Hair Extensions - Transform Yourself!

One of the biggest changes you can make to your look is your hair.  Cutting it all off can drastically change your look in many ways.  Sometimes cutting it off is a good thing and sometimes you regret it completely...no big deal it grows back...a couple years later (depending on how short you cut it). 

If you are anything like me that you go through different hairstyles almost every time you see your hair stylist. Last spring after almost 4 years of growing my hair I cut it in a Victoria Beckham inspired bob...I loved the short sassy style but as it grew out I knew I wanted long hair again and therefore had to begin the painful transition between short and long hair.  As my hair grew I would try to put in my clip in extensions but they are just not meant for someone with short hair, instead they are meant to add length and volume to hair that is already at least just past the shoulders.  So I got certified and learned to do Fusion Strand Hair Extensions, the method where hundreds of strands of hair are individually fused to your natural hair with a keratin bond.  (this is how celebs such as Paris Hilton can go from short bobs to long locks in no time).  Suddenly (after a 5 hour application) I had waist length hair which I then got cut and styled by my hair stylist and with proper care no one would ever know the difference!

Fusion stand hair extensions are a great way to add body, length (lots of it!) and colours to your hair.  Sounds simple enough but this process is not one to take lightly.  Fist of all in a salon this will cost you $1500 and up (someone like me does it for more like $500) and if the hair is not taken care of properly it will not last you the 4-6 months it could if you took proper care of it.  Care is extensive and time consuming because even though the hair is 100% Remy Human Hair it is not attached to your scalp like your natural hair so it is not receiving the nutrients that your real hair receives.  For full care instructions check out the care section of my Diva Locks hair extensions web page here.  Having hair extensions forces you to give your hair the care and attentions you should be giving it anyways!
Here is a before and after shot of one of my clients Daniella who got 22" extensions, to match her colour I mixed two shades of brown and then we added lots of platinum blond highlights for a new look.

So if you have short or medium length hair and want a big change research some hair extensions! You will fall in love with your new locks!

Swimwear Care

Caring for your swimsuit is not very hard but it does take a little bit of time and effort.  Though sometimes it seems so easy to just throw your bikini in the washer it is definitely not worth it!

What will happen to your swimsuit if you do not care for it?
- It will stretch out and no longer fit properly
- It will lose colour
- The elastics will stretch
- Embellishments will fall off
- It will not last very long

The rules to taking care of your swimsuit properly are simple and as follows:
NEVER use laundry detergent of any kind of your swimwear.  Not even the gentle kinds that claim to be good for delicates.  The reason for this is that the detergent is a chemical, your swimsuit is synthetic (made of chemicals) these react to one another and break down the fabric.  Instead you need to soak your swimsuit after every use in cold water with a natural cleaner such as Forever New then rinse and lay flat to dry.  Never wring it out or hang it to dry, make sure when you lay it flat that it is out of the sun.  If you cannot clean your swimsuit right after being used make sure to rinse it in at least cold water and keep it out of the sun until it can be cleaned.

Thats it! Nothing to it just takes a little time.  The key points to remember here are: clean right after use, NEVER put your swimsuit in the washer, dryer, never use laundry detergent and do not leave it out in the sun.  Make sure to get a great all natural product for cleaning your swimsuit like Forever New,
these can be purchased at some swimwear stores, lingerie stores and online at sites such as Amazon.com

xo. Diva

A Suit to Fit Every Body

Im going to start of with the most basic post about swimwear; what types of suits are best for each body type.  While working in swimwear retail I was constantly confronted with customers who thought they knew what kind of swimsuit worked best for them (even though they hated the way it looked) and they were always very pleasantly surprised  to learn they had many options and could actually look good in their swimsuit no matter what type of body they had.

My first piece of advice is; don't be afraid of the bikini!  Often women gravitate to the full piece swimsuit when they are uncomfortable with their appearance when if fact you could be making yourself feel worse by putting on a swimsuit that does not flatter your body!

Also please be sure to stay tuned for my next post on swimwear care.  I poorly cared for swimsuit is just as bad as one that doesn't fit you well!

 For the Curvy Girl:
If you have a bit of a tummy or any bulgy areas you want to look for swimsuits that have tummy control panels, they can be built in or hiding under a skirt.  Asymmetrical designs on the body can also trick the eye and make your body look slimmer.  Gathers that go around the body can also help to hide a tummy and disguise any bulges you don't want seen.  Finally the most important area for the all over curvy girl is support in the chest.  Don't be afraid of a little cleavage! Cleavage draws the eye up and distracts from the rest of the body, also having the girls up and perky makes your entire figure look tighter and leaner.  When looking for control in the chest look for a suit that has built in underwire or a great heavy duty elastic under the bust to give lots of support, thick straps are also important.  For colours, solids and black are always a safe choice, you can always add punches of colour and design with accessories!  Finally don't get stuck on the idea that skirts and swim-dresses are only for modest older ladies...they can be fun, flirty and even a little sexy, while falling strategically over all the bumps and hiding the ever dreaded top of your thighs.   The picture below features one of these such dresses that is available from www.alwaysforme.com   With a full figure you want to avoid bold large prints, low cut legs and boy shorts.

Large Chested Ladies:

If you are well endowed there is one word that you should live by: support.  First you want to look for a bikini top that has underwire.  However, with this said if you are larger then a C cup you want to avoid the bra style underwire tops that are padded as these can just push everything up and out.  What you want to look for with underwire is a top that has a separate bra with underwire built in.  The underwire is hidden so the suit can still look fun and sexy and young.  The picture below is a sunset bikini available at  www.sunsetsinc.com  and features a full built in supportive bra hidden inside the top for ultimate support up to an E cup.  You also want to look for wider straps and surprisingly halter tops.  Many large chested women shy away from halters because they feel they put to much pressure on the shoulders, but if you have a full support top you wont have this problem.  In fact the line that the halter straps create is a very slimming and flattering one.  If you are absolutely against underwire go for a halter top with wide straps and a wide band under the bust that is constructed with a heavy duty elastic.  You want to make sure to avoid strapless designs as they often offer no support, you also want to avoid the basic triangle tops because they also offer no support.  My final tip in this area is to find a shop that offers bikini tops in actual bra sizes!

                                                               

Short Torso Sisters:

If you have a short wide toro without a lot of curves the first area you should emphasize is your chest! Adding cleavage gives the allusion of a curvy figure and can make your waist look smaller.  When you pair this with a higher cut leg hole on your bottoms your torso with look much longer.  Bikini's with smaller bottoms are also your best friend.  If you are completely against going for a two piece then go for a one piece with a deep plunge V neckline. With a short torso you want to avoid high waisted bottoms, fuller bottoms, skirts and boy-shorts. 

The picture below is of a classic string bikini, this is a good option for the short torso as showing more skin gives the allusion of a longer body.  Again this swimsuit is available from Sunsets at www.sunsetsinc.com 

Long Torso Ladies:

Tankinis (a two piece made up of a tank top paired with a bottom) in mix and match colours can really break up the torso, if you want to show a little more skin and have a sexy look go for a one piece with cut outs (sometimes called a monokini).  If you do insist on going for a bikini then mix and match the top and bottom with prints and solids.

You definitely want to avoid solid one piece suits and high cut necklines.  If you do really want a once piece suit I have provided a good example of one that works below.  This is a great conservative suit for the long torso body and that is because of the squared off neckline!  The suit below is from Calvin Klein available at www.calvinklein.com 

Small on Top:

For girls like me who have a small cup size there are a few styles that can enhance the chest area.  Wearing a bra style underwire top that has a bit of padding added.  These tops are designed specifically to add fullness and create cleavage!  If you are uncomfortable with underwire then go for a top that has some gathering or ruffles and has lining that has removable bust padding.  If you don't mind the way your small chest looks you can wear just about any triangle style you want! To make your chest look a bit fuller in these triangle styles look for one that has the option of adding padding in the lining.  With a small chest you want to avoid bandeaus, tankinis and tight one piece styles.

The picture below features another Sunsets swimsuit that is a cute and sexy underwire bra top.  Available at www.sunsetsinc.com 

Wide Hipped Women:
If you have that pear shape dark solid bottoms with a colourful top are your best friend!  The key here is to draw the eye up your body and away from your hips.  Enhance your chest and neckline with prints accessories and cleavage!  On the bottom go for a fuller bottom.  Many women often feel that with large hips you want to cover less so you don't just see a ton of fabric, this is in fact wrong.  If you wear tiny little bottoms you will bring attention to all the skin that you have exposed!  Always avoid low slung or string bottoms.  The suit featured below in fact has a skirt bottom.  This skirt falls from just below the waist and skims over the hips not accentuating their shape.  Once again from Sunsets available at www.sunsetsinc.com

So I hope all of that has been helpful!  Please post any specific questions you have and I can address those. I realize I do show a lot of suits from the Sunsets collection and this is because they offer so many different styles for just about every body type you can imagine!

My final thoughts:
The key to looking good in your swimsuit is feeling good in it! Make sure you have help choosing your right size because swimwear sizing is different then clothing sizes.  If your swimsuit is to loose it will get even looser in the water and sag and be unflattering, if your swimsuit is to tight you will make your problem areas even worse.

Love your body and stay healthy!

xo. Diva

Welcome!

So it begins, my venture to help all women feel good about themselves in their clothes and ultimately their bodies!  Having studied fashion design and understanding the construction of clothing has changed my view on how we wear clothes completely! Also what we spend on clothes!

I have worked in many different retail situations over the years while I was a student, but it wasn't until I decided to create a swimwear collection for my fourth year in University that I suddenly became very aware about how clothing can affect women and how they see themselves and their bodies.  This became even more clear as I worked as an intern for a swimwear company, Destineau in Toronto,  and needed to create some swimwear and cover up designs that would help women feel excited about their swimsuits instead of afraid!  Finally I realized just how intimidating shopping could be for women when I started managing a swimwear store downtown Toronto.  Every single day it was woman after woman who would walk into the store reluctantly and wander around the store not having a clue what they were looking for.  These women would walk into the store with stories about how they hated swimsuits because they looked terrible in them but they had to have a new one, for their vacation since their old one was falling apart.  I found that after asking a few simple questions and assessing their body type I was able to find almost every woman a swimsuit that she not only felt comfortable with but looked great in!  It was after just a few short weeks at this job that I realized that I wanted to use my skills to help women in all clothing situations.

Each post of this blog will address different topics about clothing, body image and style.  So stop back often for all the tips and tricks to help you feel and look your best!  Please feel free to comment with any topics you would like me to touch on.

Since summer is just around the corner the next few posts will be about swimwear because we all know that bikini season can be the most scary of all!

xo. Diva