How to choose swimwear

So the holiday is booked, your passport is valid now all you have to do is find your swimwear. Sadly the diet didn’t quite get going and you aren’t looking forward to bearing your body on the beach or beside the pool. What you need are a few confidence tricks that will help you look and feel your best.

My first tip is to add some glamour – if you want to draw attention away from your figure add a few pieces that will grab attention such as:

• A fabulous pair of sparkly flip flops
• A large brimmed hat – to add an air of mystery
• Dark glasses – ditto
• A beautiful beach bag – you can always place this strategically in front of your tummy until you lie down!

And always have a great coverup, whether that be a sarong or kaftan, to wear when heading to the beach bar.

When looking for your swimwear here are my top tips for balancing out any figure flaws:

The well endowed
Always choose a swimsuit or bikini with support designed for the larger bust. Good make to look for are Fantasie and Freya who both do cup sized bikini tops and you can buy the tops and bottom separately to ensure a good fit.



  

Small Bust
If you want to make a small bust look fuller, go for a padded bra top in a bright colour and make sure it fits well. Or give the illusion of greater width with a stripe.


Bigger Hips
Draw the attention upwards with frills or detailing at the bust, or a darker colour on your bottom half.



Tummy Disguise
If it’s your tummy you are worried about wear a one piece and again draw the eye up with bust detail or wear a swimsuit with ruching to conceal.





 Finally for those all important beach accessories:

Have you chosen your beachwear yet? Do you have any favourite brands that you always return to – I’d love to know.

Have a great holiday if you are escaping our ‘great British summer(!)’

Essential Summer Wardrobe Pieces

There are some pieces that work in your wardrobe year after year whatever the current trends dictate. Three pieces that I wouldn’t be without in a capsule wardrobe are:

The White Shirt
Perfect on holiday as a beach cover up, whatever colour your swimwear or worn with shorts for sight-seeing. But it’s just as useful at home – wear to the office with a pair of smart cropped trousers and kitten heels.

A Large scarf
Take it on the plane when you go on holiday in case of drafts, then wear it to protect your neck from the sun whilst meandering, use it as a sarong on the beach, a shawl in the evening or to brighten up your white shirt for shopping.

The Jersey Dress
The perfect dress to travel with as it doesn’t crease. Wear it with flats and a hat when you are out and about, dress it up with metallic heels and statement necklace for the evening. When you get home slip it under a jacket for the office with a pair of heels.

Do you have any wardrobe essential you can’t live without?

How to Wear – White

Now that we are heading towards high summer (?!) nothing signals holiday season better than wearing white. White is definitely a part of my wardrobe as soon as the weather improves.







And if the weather isn't up to scratch, then white is also so versatile. This year black and white was a major trend on the catwalk and I love the drama of a monochromatic outfit:



As this look isn’t for every one you have plenty of other options this season. White with one of the fluoro brights, with red and blue, or with other neutrals.

When it’s really warm and you have that gorgeous summer brightness I love to mix my white with metallics.

How will you be wearing your white when the summer (finally) arrives?

Wardrobe Staple – How to Wear the Crop Trouser

Crop trousers are now a capsule wardrobe staple, both summer and winter and come at all price points. Today I’ve featured a mid price pair from Isabella Oliver, they are a great flat front shape and come in the neutral beige (desert, shown) or in a gorgeous Azure blue.

As a wardrobe basic these trousers can be very versatile, from out shopping to dressed up for a glamourous evening so they are worth the time and effort to find a pair which really fit and are well made.

I’ve picked a selection of tops, shoes and bags but you probably have similar pieces in your wardrobe. If not these are the kind of items that work hard in any capsule wardrobe; a neutral tote, evening sandals, vest tops and T-shirts, a great pair of wedges and flat driving shoes.

Just one word of caution – if you have a long body and short legs a crop will cut up the leg and make it appear shorter. If you want to wear them stick to a neutral colour and make your shoes the same colour.

So three looks with your crop trousers: