Reader Questions - Part 1

Here is the first batch of reader submitted questions… I love answer questions and will do my best to find the answers to anything I don’t know (such service!). Hopefully my answers are helpful!

“Where do you find cute and stylish comfortable shoes that you can walk in for more than 5 minutes?” - Sarah

High heels can definitely be a pain in the foot, especially if you’re not used to them or on your feet for any good amount of time. My strategy is typically to avoid stilettos or anything above 3”  unless its really a special occasion (I know, I’m a party pooper!). The wider/larger (not taller!) a heel the easier and more comfortable they’ll be to walk in because the shoe gives your foot more support. I tend to wear those styles more often. Also, they make many different pads to slip under your foot that give an extra cushion to make heels much more bearable… here’s one from Dr. Scholls. Finally, you can also try the old “bait and switch”, bring a pair of ballet slipper style flats with you in your purse and then switch to those if your feet hurt or you end up having to do more walking than planned. Again, Dr. Scholls to the rescue (there are many other brands and styles out there too), I’ve seen these at walmart and many other stores… they’re cheap and compact, perfect to stick in a purse. 

“I am looking for lipsticks that don't leave a pink shadow when you want to go back to boy mode. Pink lips are lovely when in a dress but not so good at the office!”

 – Cindy

Well, I’m certainly not a makeup connoisseur, however I can answer this one for you. It actually has much less to do with the lipstick itself and more with the condition of your lips. Dry lips will absorb lipstick more readily, so be sure to keep them moist with chapstick or balm as much as is possible. This should help at least reduce the problem. Another trick to try is to put foundation or concealer over your lips prior to apply lipstick, I’ve never done this myself but have heard it can work well. In that case the foundation absorbs the pigment rather than your lips and when you’re done… viola it all comes off together! (or so the theory goes).

“How about [posting] a list of do’s and dont’s for nail polish... its something I havent seen done yet.” - Amanda

I found a list of links a while back, pretty much anything you could want about the "how to's" of apply and being creative with nail polish... as for the style... it's all a matter of personal taste. Personally I love the look of a nice classic, clean French manicure and I’m not a big fan of crazy bright colors, however that can be fun too! It’s all what you enjoy, just make sure its appropriate to your situation. Pinterest has a million crazy ideas for unique nails so check it out if you are ever in need of inspiration.

Check out the “27 Nail hacks For The Perfect DIY Manicure”

“I fell in love with and just purchase a pair of brown boots. All my other ones were black. I have no problem coordinating shoes with outfits but how does one decide with it comes with boots if you should wear brown or black? Is there any rules you have?” – Stephanie

There really isn't a particular "rule" to decide when to wear what, both are basically neutral colors. It also depends largely on what else you are wearing. One thing to consider is the color of whatever you are wearing on the bottom half of your body... if you match the colors, say black boots with something else black (leggings for example) this keeps the line of the leg intact, if you use different colors it'll divide the height of the leg up, potentially making your legs look shorter. That is not the end of the world though, just make sure the shoe color makes sense with the rest of the outfit.



 My personal tastes usually pair brown boots with more casual looks and/or earth tone colors because that is a color scheme I use a lot (also, my brown boots are a more casual style). Black boots can sometimes be very "heavy" visually because they are so dark, so balancing that out with other black pieces in an outfit is usually what I aim to do.

A big thank you to everyone who submitted questions!

If you have a question about anything feel free to send it in via:

“A Stylish Transition” on Facebook

or

Email me directly: astylishtransition@gmail.com

Hope my answers have been helpful and that I’ll hear more questions from everyone in the future!

6 Keys to Creating a "Put-Together" Look

             We have touched upon many specific ideas and concepts thus far that hopefully offered useful tips on how to wear different types of clothes, flatter certain areas of the body, and add a feminine touch to our style. Today we’re going to talk about putting all these useful bits of information together to achieve a refined, thoughtfully put-together look. 

Keep in mind, this is not intended to be a checklist, nor a rulebook… but rather a guide to my thought process when I put together an outfit. Do I always look totally put together? Absolutely not! (Occasionally I get lucky though). The theme that hopefully should resonate with you as you read this is the emphasis on making deliberate choices.

1. Create a Wardrobe that Fits and is Flattering

             Maintaining a well fitting wardrobe is an ongoing adventure since bodies are constantly changing (especially during transition), however it is the foundation for everything we do when creating a look. Wearing clothing that truly fits is a clear sign that you have taken time and spent energy building a wardrobe. The great thing about this first step to a refined look is that it is all done ahead of time, before even choosing and outfit. So, how do we create a flattering wardrobe?

-       Make sure you are wearing the correct sizes! Need help? Check out my guide to finding your sizes.

-       Pay attention to how a garment fits. Size is only part of ensuring the right fit. Pay attention to the location of seams on the body (are they falling in the right places?), and areas that maybe too tight or loose. As a good rule of thumb, clothing should allow you to move freely. Get clothing tailored to better fit your body, the difference will be noticeable!

-       Know your body! Whatever your body type may be, your style choices should flatter your body’s lines. Learn the styles that flatter your body type and make them part of your wardrobe. For tips, look back on previous posts as we’ve discussed this at length.

-       Stay up to date with your body. Maybe you’ve worked hard and lost 30 pounds! This will certainly affect how clothes fit. What better an excuse to go shopping!

2. Ask Yourself the Important Questions About Dressing Appropriately

This helps me start heading in the right direction and get focused on what it is I’m hoping to create. Let’s face it, being appropriately dressed for your situation is the first key to looking like you have put thought and effort into your look… showing up to go hiking in an evening gown and heels, no matter how chic, will never earn you any style points. I ask myself the following questions:

What is the occasion for this particular outfit?

            Whether it is a business meeting, night out on the town, an outdoor sporting event, casual meeting with friends, or an example of a style idea for a blog post, every occasion introduces criteria around which I can refine down my choices. Use this question to help determine how casual or formal a look is appropriate. Need help? Check out this article: "The Complete Guide to Dressing for Any Occasion"

Is there a favorite or new garment/accessory I hope to work into the outfit?

            Many times I buy something new and can’t wait to wear it. So, I set off to build an outfit around a certain piece just seeing where imagination takes me. It is always fun to be creative and see how new pieces play with the rest of my existing wardrobe. I find not getting hung up on “having” to wear something is sometimes difficult, but sometimes that leopard print bodycon dress just won’t quite work.  

What season is it? What will the weather be? What will I likely be doing?

            Though sacrifices sometimes need to be made, there is always a practical side to style and fashion. If there is a foot of snow and ice on the ground, don’t wear open toe, high heels (I will admit I have been guilty of this in the past, but when I think about doing it now, I always get cold feet), opt for warmer boots instead perhaps. These questions further help define your environment and ensure, you guessed it, that you are dressed appropriately.

How old am I?

            I almost skipped this one, but given my blog’s primary audience, it needs to be mentioned. Certain styles you can get away with when you’re younger, but become tacky and forced if worn past their time. This most commonly manifests itself in the choice of skirt/dress length. Regardless of your age, there are always stylish and attractive choices. Rather than forcing an unconvincing image of youth, instead present an aura of sophistication with your choices and I guarantee people will notice.

If you have trouble answering these on your own... ask friends, family, co-workers, (or even your friendly trans-fashion blogger!) much of learning what is appropriate comes from experience and observation, so don't be afraid to turn to others for help.

3. Chose What to Feature in an Outfit

I always try to have one, maybe two pieces that “make” an outfit. Too many competing ideas create clutter and subsequently make nothing stand out. Be willing to use some pieces of an outfit to “create a canvas” on which to then highlight and feature other pieces. You may have heard of “statement” jewelry, this refers to a piece that will standout and grab the eye. I like to look at it this way: What is the most creative or unique part of your outfit? What piece of your outfit do you hope observers will compliment? This is what you should feature, if other items detract from that, consider alternatives.

Follow the age-old adage: Less is more. This doesn’t literally mean being a minimalist about everything, instead, it points to the idea of ensuring that everything has a purpose. A few of my favorite quotes to summarize this point:

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”

― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

“Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory.”

“Less is always more.”

-Coco Chanel.

4. Use Color Intentionally

Color choices and combinations are infinite; however making intentional choices when it comes to color is a powerful tool. Obvious things like “matching” colors come to mind, however till one truly understands what that means it is not much help to hear “make sure things match”. Each season typically has it’s own palette of colors to choose from as a guide or one can turn to groupings of colors such as earth tones, or jewel tones, etc. If you're curious to find out what colors will look best on you given your natural complexion, hair color, etc, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of my posts on finding your color season. Colors can also carry with them subliminal cues to an observer; for example, brighter shades of colors appear “cheaper” than more subdued shades, even on identical garments. Spend time learning about colors and apply that knowledge to your style, the results will be worth the effort.

5. Coordinate elements of an outfit

Coordination creates a cohesive feeling that sets the tone of pieces of an outfit working in harmony, rather than a collection of individual things. Coordinating an outfit can be as simple as choosing colors that mesh well together. Matching pieces stylistically, for example, cowboy boots with denim or plaid. Or by fabric weight, for example: chiffon and a heavy wool may look mismatched together. Does the “mood” of all the pieces go together? Do they all follow a particular “style”? Do they compliment each other or contrast?

6. Respect the Intangibles of Quality Style and Design:

            These are the inexplicable qualities that set exceptional apart from average. This is the extra bit of energy that will ensure your style garners the attention it deserves.

-       Visual interest through variety or contrast. Whether it is through color choices or creating texture with patterns or different fabric choices, exceptional style always has an aesthetic that is pleasing through visual interest. Variety presents a range of details to “feast” upon, while contrast can serve to provide interest through emphasis of differences.

-       Attention to detail. There are a myriad of little details such as making sure clothes are ironed, seams are straight, things are tucked in, bra straps hidden, or that under layer colors are appropriate. Being mindful of these little things creates a polished look that will garner attention.

-       The Golden Ratio. Defined as a ratio with a value of 1.618034.  Found throughout natural and iconic design in almost every area of art and science… Simply put, it is roughly a 2/3rds to 1/3rd proportion. What the heck does this mean you ask?  Here is an example of how it is relevant (warning, a little math ahead):

                   I’m 5’10” tall (70”) so if I divided that by the golden ratio, I get 43.26” which, when measured up from the floor, falls exactly at my natural waist. Pretty neat! This means if I divide my height up aesthetically at this point (as is so common throughout fashion) It will create a division that is naturally pleasing.

-       Authenticity of personal style. When you authentically express your identity and emotions through your appearance the aura created is palpable. The emotion produced when your self-view and ability to present that view to others align is a genuine sense of comfort that should always be a priority. Undoubtedly, this hits especially close to home within the trans community and often times can be quite powerful.

-       Breaking the rules. Once you have learned and understand the “rules” of the way things are typically done for best success, start trying to break them. Be creative and think outside the box, you may be pleasantly surprised... or at least get a good laugh!

Lastly, a bit of advice: Put together outfits ahead of time (not 15 minutes before you have to run out the door), when you have time to play and explore options. Write down what you come up with, or take a picture so you remember. Don’t be afraid to be ridiculous or make mistakes… occasionally I’ll try things to see if they work or give me an idea and I’ll laugh at how ridiculous I look in the mirror… its all part of the process. The common theme throughout this guide is to learn to make intentional choices about our styling, and quickly these choices will become second nature. This is what it truly means to have “an eye” for style, some people inherently just have it, but I believe its something anyone can learn.

To summarize our 6 keys:

1. Create a Wardrobe that Fits and is Flattering

2. Ask Yourself the Important Questions About Dressing Appropriately

3. Chose What to Feature in an Outfit

4. Use Color Intentionally

5. Coordinate elements of an outfit

6. Respect the Intangibles of Quality Style and Design:

I promise to follow this post up soon with some examples so you can see many of these ideas in action!

Enjoy the 6 keys? Have more of your own to share?

Let me know by visiting “A Stylish Transition” on Facebook!

I love hearing feedback so comment below or stop on by and say hello!

Cheers, Kayci

Debunking the "Magic" of Stripes!

Stripes were always something that confused me. I’ve heard many times, as perhaps you have, that wearing horizontal stripes will make you look wider and vertical stripes are slimming. At first thought, that seems stands to reason… after all, in many cases adding lines parallel to the lines of your body tends to increase their apparent length (ergo… horizontal lines will make the hip/waist/bust lines wider). For a long while I avoided wearing the infamous horizontal stripe style, but couldn’t help being drawn to looks featuring them. Eventually, horizontal stripes found their way into the black hole that is my closet (as does pretty much everything) and much to my surprise, I loved the way I looked in them! How can this be? Is everything I know wrong? Are cats and dogs living in harmony? The truth is out there!

Like a skeptical red-headed FBI agent, I embarked upon a quest to find the truth about stripes and along the way have reinforced my belief in trusting my eye and intuition. While researching stripes, my search quickly took me out of the world of style and into the world of optical illusions! That’s right kids, horizontal stripes create an optical illusion which, when employed correctly, will make you look slimmer…. Prove it you say? Challenge Accepted!

The secret is based around the Helmhotlz Square Illusion. That sounds pretty awesome right?... Let’s take a look (yes, I’m going to geek out for a moment, bear with me). Which of the two squares below looks skinnier?

I say the one on the left appears skinnier. What do you say?

As you probably guessed, they are actually the same size, yet the horizontally lined square appears taller and skinnier. There is debate as to whether this effect is applicable beyond 2D, and if you’re interested there is a research paper discussing just this question published by the University of York. The verdict? Even when extrapolated out to real clothing on mannequins, the horizontal stripes appeared about 10% skinnier to the eye based on their findings.

Didn’t read the paper? Still Skeptical? Here is a great article with a bunch of side-by-side comparisons of real people styled in vertical and horizontal stripes (for those of you non-nerdy types, I’ve got your backs too).

This pretty conclusively debunks the fashion advice that horizontal stripes make you look fatter. Hooray! Stripes for everyone!... Not so fast. Remember that the width, spacing and placement of stripes on your body play important roles to how flattering a look you can create. Let’s jump into a couple outfits and apply what we’ve just learned.

For the first look as usual, we’ll keep things simple with a navy and white striped sweater.

Straightforward styling here simply uses stripes as a top. This v-neck sweater has thin stripes on  the arms and back paired with slightly large stripes on the front. Overall very flattering. The take home point here is that the stripes themselves are relatively thin. You’ll find that keeping the width of the stripes thinner will allow you to take advantage of stripe’s flattering effects. Wider stripes will end up starting to have that dreaded widening effect. As a good guideline to find your stripe sweet spot, you want to match the stripe size to your body size... smaller/thinner stripes for smaller thinner bodies, larger/more built bodies can tolerate wider stripes and still be flattering. Trust your eye.

Our next example is a bit more fun and pairs a navy pencil skirt with a striped tee for a more nautical/summery look. Nothing says nautical like the color navy and stripes!

The stripes here are wider than in the sweater in the first example. I seem to notice a definite decrease in that magical thinning effect as a result. I know from experience, I'm reluctant to get too much wider with the stripes as they start adding width rather than slimming my body.

Our final example, features stripes used in a layered look, keeping the actual stripes themselves still on the thinner side.

Using stripes as a layer, such as under the black blazer here, is a great way to add texture to your look and give it a little extra pizzazz. Metallic threading (like the silver thread subtly woven through the gray stripes on this top) can tie in well with accessories like the stretch bracelet shown here to bring an outfit together. Since the stripes are not fully exposed across the width of my body, I don’t really take full advantage of the effect. If you find a striped piece you like, but fear the stripes are a bit too wide to aide in slimming, a layer over the top might be just enough to even the whole look out. 

With a little sleuthing, horizontal stripes no longer have to be alien to our style choices... but ultimately in trying to debunk the magic of stripes, we simply find that they are indeed just that, magical. Do you use stripes in your wardrobe?  Have you worked creative stripe magic of your own? 

Enjoy the post? How about sharing “A Stylish Transition” on Facebook… Please spread the word. 

I love hearing feedback so comment below or stop on by and say hello!

Cheers, Kayci

Sleeve Types to Slim Your Arms and Shoulders

I’ve had this topic on the back burner since we discussed flattering necklines. As you might guess, sleeves and necklines are both important factors in how we style our shoulders and upper bodies. Broad shoulders and muscular arms are often features of our bodies we wish to diminish to create more feminine lines in our upper body. Lucky for all of you… I have plenty of tricks up my sleeve to help do just that! (Sorry, I really couldn’t help myself)

Without much more of an introduction, let’s proceed to the list of sleeve types and with each one we’ll look carefully at how it affects the lines of our bodies. The list is longer than you may expect, as you probably have noticed by now, I like to be thorough so we’ll look at everything. Since I don’t have about half of these in my wardrobe, I’m going to be pulling all the examples from the web. It’ll be both fun and educational… get excited!

Spaghetti Straps & Tank Tops

So spaghetti straps aren’t technically a sleeve (so no pictures for you!), but worth mentioning. As was mentioned in our necklines discussion, thin straps often serve to accentuate size and bulk through contrast rather than reduce it. Save spaghetti straps for under layers on your favorite looks. For bare arm/shoulder looks, wider tank top straps should be a preference. They will break up the width of shoulders much better than their thinner counterparts. See how compared to a spaghetti strap, my shoulders appear a bit less bulky? Tanks for noticing!

Sleeveless

Sleeveless styles feature… you guessed it, no sleeves! This style creates a vertical line right where your arm and shoulder meet. The length of this line is what the eye notices as the “size” of the top of the arm. If you have muscular/built shoulders, this will be a longer line, reinforcing the appearance of a large upper arm and shoulder. Obviously, this is not what we want… avoid sleeveless looks unless you are comfortable with this effect or are able to minimize it through other style choices such as deeper cut neckline.

Cap

Cap sleeves are the shortest of the actual sleeve types, serving to “cap” the top of the arm. The important thing for us to notice when considering cap sleeves is where the bottom line of the sleeve falls on the arm and also the angle that it creates. Cap sleeves can range from only slightly longer than sleeveless, all the way to what you would consider a “short” t-shirt length sleeve. Shorter cap sleeves will make shoulders appear wider or full size by creating a horizontal line across the full width of your shoulders where the tips of the sleeve fall (blue line above). Additionally, just like the line that “decides” the size of your arm on a sleeveless style, the location of edge of the sleeve in cap styles will dictate how large your arm appears (red line above). If this falls right across the thickest portion of your arm, your upper arm will likely look bigger. With longer cap sleeves, there are happy sweet spots on your arm. Try to find cuts that make our blue shoulder line fall lower and angle of the red arm line closer to horizontal than vertical for this style to be most flattering. It can be tricky however, I usually shy away from cap sleeve types or use them layered under other things. 

Short

Short sleeves we are all pretty familiar with as they are common on most t-shirt styles. Though the length may vary slightly, the edge of the sleeve will usually hang horizontally. Short sleeve styles are fairly neutral as far as flattering your upper body, just be sure the sleeve is not tight around your upper arm as this will certainly emphasize the upper arm.

Puff

Puff sleeves, living up to their name, puff out at the shoulders. The extra volume makes shoulders quite literally larger. Obviously, this is not a desired feature for a part of our wardrobes if shrinking shoulders is our goal. So, you may ask, are all hopes of ever wearing this style gone in a puff of smoke? If it is a style you adore (I find it quite cute on the right person myself), stick to subtler puffing and try to find styles that perhaps just puff up a little rather than out, this will minimize any widening affects. If you have smaller arms and shoulders, have fun with puffs, you’ll likely be able to rock the look!

Butterfly

The next style to flap its wings onto our list is the Butterfly sleeve. Loose fitting and flowy, butterfly sleeves tend to give a whimsical and ethereal look to a top, especially with lighter fabrics. This is a style that is truly ideal for larger arms and shoulders as bulky lines are lost in folds of the sleeve itself. Lengths can range from short (left) to usually about halfway down the arm (right).

Bell

A bell sleeve is a sleeve that flares out towards the wrist. The flare can start immediately from the shoulder or at any point along the sleeve. This creates the shape of… ding ding! You guessed it, a bell! Much like a buttery sleeve, you will benefit from losing the line of your arm as the sleeve flows down. Additionally, the extra visual “weight” of the extra fabric lower will balance out a bulkier upper body. Be careful with over doing a bell sleeve however, it’s easy to ring your way right into a 70’s throwback or renaissance faire look if you’re not careful. Keeping it contemporary, subtle, and elegant will make the bell sleeve a great look for you.

Leg of Mutton

Yep… you heard right… Leg of Mutton.  Also from my research, it is sometimes called a Juliet sleeve (which sounds much more romantic). This style, in all of its glory (left), is a puff sleeve on steroids. In much more subdued incarnations (right), it can achieve a cute romantic look, worthy of a star-crossed lover. Again, same rules apply here as the puff sleeve… if you want to take a bite of the Leg of Mutton sleeve, keep the horizontal poofing to a minimum or try to find styles with a poof lower on the arm. Lighter weight fabrics will help reduce the shear weight of the style so it doesn’t appear too visually “heavy”. 

Bishop 

Characterized by a billowing sleeve captured usually at the wrist by a more form fitting cuff, the Bishop sleeve has similar benefits to the other looser sleeves we have looked at. The one difference is that Bishop sleeves eventually come to tighter end point… be aware of the location of this point and whenever possible this should be a thinner point on your arm. I wouldn’t make Bishop sleeves a staple of my wardrobe, however for some variety they offer a more creative and feminine look than an average sleeve.

Raglan

Raglan sleeves (sometimes called baseball sleeves) are a particular cut of a sleeve where the sleeve itself extends to the neckline of a garment. This style of cut creates seams which will create the appearance of a longer arm (elongating the arm helps to create a slimming effect), while also breaking up the shoulder line, another helpful feature to shrinking broad shoulders. 

Dolman

 A Dolman sleeve is a style of cut where the underarm portion of the sleeve connects to the rest of the garment much lower than other sleeves which connect around the armpit. Though the depth of where this seam begins can vary, it creates a more voluminous sleeve that drapes down off the arm. The dolman sleeve masks the true shape of the arm. Again, larger arms will be concealed and appear smaller in comparison to the wider opening. With this style you do however sacrifice a more defined waist, which isn’t a bad thing just something to be aware of. Loose fits like this pair well with form fitting bottoms such as skinny jeans or leggings. They also offer a great palette for accessories.

Half, Three-quarter & Long

These are really just referring to the length of any type of sleeve. Half sleeves hit at about the elbow. Three-quarter length hits about mid forearm (suspiciously about three-quarters of the way down your arm). Long sleeves are the full length of the arm to the wrist. Three quarters length sleeves are often touted as the most flattering of the lengths and at least on me, I tend to agree with that claim. The length covers the upper arm, while highlighting your wrist, the slimmest part of the arm. Long sleeves can easily be pushed up or folded over to a three quarter length as an option too.

One point worth noting when considering sleeve length is that lengths subconsciously guide the eye to that level, long or three-quarter sleeves draw subtle attention to the hips, similarly, half sleeves hone in on the waist while short sleeves on the bust. This being said, sleeves just call a bit more subliminal attention to an area but don’t really change your body’s lines.

Whew! We’re done! Hopefully now with a greater appreciation for all that sleeves offer in styling options. I’ll leave you with one final bit of advice: If you want to wear styles that we’ve discovered are less flattering (there are many gorgeous looks out there in this category), just be sure that you are doing other things like deepening a neckline or using dark color to deemphasize in addition to balance out the effects.

Enjoy the post? 

How about sharing “A Stylish Transition” on Facebook… Please spread the word. 

I love hearing feedback so comment below or stop on by and say hello!

Cheers, Kayci

Tis the Season for Leggings!

Now, more than ever, with colder weather upon us, we find that leggings become an important part of staying not only stylish but also warm! In many areas of our bodies, we, as trans-women, find ourselves compensating for the differences in body shape that are remnants of growing up another gender. It doesn’t seem fair, but if there was ever a place for redemption, it is our legs! I’d be willing to bet that the most frequent compliment a trans-women will get from a genetic woman when dressed to impress, is how stunning her legs look… and its usually true! In this post we’ll learn how to make the most of those beautiful legs as we take a look at the finer points of leggings.

So when it comes right down to it… What is the difference between leggings, and tights or pantyhose? For the purposes of my blog (and generally accepted elsewhere), I consider any hosiery that ends at the ankle or higher to be a legging and anything footed to be considered tights or hose. Leggings are almost exclusively opaque while tights can range from totally opaque to very shear (the denier rating can be used to determine the transparency). Leggings are an important part of any contemporary chic wardrobe.

**Soapbox Alert!** 

Given its distinctly feminine nature, hosiery is understandably a favorite amongst the cross-dressing and trans communities. It also seems to be one of the least understood, and crudely executed style choices I see, despite its popularity. I challenge everyone who reads my blog to learn to wear hosiery in a classy, appropriate manner and help lessen the stigma the rest of the world finds with the association of hosiery and the trans community. (It needs to be said people!)

*****************

Without further ado… let’s get talking about leggings. With so many options, let’s organize our considerations when creating that perfect look…

-       Leggings are not pants. Say it with me: “leggings are not pants” … good! Nothing takes classy to trashy faster than wearing leggings as pants… way too many women break this simple rule! Don’t be one of them. Think of leggings as an accessory rather than a replacement for pants. Be sure to cover up adequately.

-       Don’t wear socks with leggings. It just looks silly (unless they’re hidden inside boots then its ok).

-       Make sure your footwear compliments your outfit. This is a universal consideration, but when leggings are involved it merits a bit more specific thought.

-       Be aware of the occasion for your outfit. Usually, leggings tend to make an outfit more casual. Tights/pantyhose typically have the opposite effect.

-       As always, find lengths, patterns, and colors that flatter your figure. The goal is to create the look of longer, leaner legs and clean feminine lines.

-       Pair looser fitting tops, chunkier knits, sweaters or dresses with leggings to offer a flattering contrast that will make your legs look more sensually lean.

Sounds like we have our work cut out for us! 

Let’s get started with some examples and learn by doing :)

For our first example, let’s stick to the basics. Here I have paired an olive, tunic length top with dark brown leggings and knee-high, brown suede boots. It is a very quintessentially earthy, fall look… (I’m pretty partially to those color schemes as you may have observed)

The first thing to note here is the length of my top… it is just long enough to cover my butt, maintain my modesty, and ensure that I am not breaking the “leggings are not pants” golden rule. The length here is the shortest one should ever go. I’m young, and in good shape so I can get away with it… it is also age appropriate for me (yes, I know… hate me if you like :p). If you have a different body type or are older, don’t fret… just air on the side of more conservative (longer) length tops.

Secondly, my boot color matches my legging color, which keeps the line of my leg long and unbroken. Different colors can sometimes chop your legs up, breaking up the line of the leg where the color changes. A dark color as always is flattering and will make legs appear more slimming. dark brown and black leggings should be a staple of any contemporary wardrobe. Bright colored leggings, though super fun looking, will make your legs look thicker (remember, brighter colors highlight) and can put you into a time machine back to the 80s real fast. They should be reserved for decade themed costume parties only.

Lastly, you’ll see that my boots are flat. Leggings work great with flat boots (and heeled ones too!), and flats. You typical can’t go too far off course by matching flats or knee high boots to leggings.

Also… Bonus points if you noticed how I used a belt to define the waistline in this outfit!

Again, while sticking to the basics of leggings, let’s look at a bit more of a “going out” look. Here is an outfit I wore to a bar/club a couple weeks ago:

This ensemble features a patterned top with a gorgeous bronze sequin detailing around the hem, with simple, low black heels, and black leggings. The top is a little longer than the previous example, so we’re safely covered there. The sequin detail serves to enhance the hips by drawing attention to that area (oooo shiny!). The first thing to note here is the looser fit of top. Pairing looser tops with leggings is a great trick and will be the most flattering. If everything you wear is tight, there can’t be any contrast to balance your silhouette and flatter your legs. Resist the urge to wear all form fitting pieces; it will not make you look slimmer!

Next, lets take a look at the shoes… in this outfit, my heels match stylistically with my top (a dressier look, so heels are more appropriate). When pairing heels with leggings, I find its best to stick to simple and sleek styles. I also would tend to shy away from peep toe or sandal styles as they make the line of the foot choppy, remember the goal is to elongate our lines. Brush up on the best shoe styles to flatter your feet with one of our previous posts.

For our final example will stray a bit from the basics, but just far enough so as not to get bored. Leggings may also be worn under dresses that would be considered too short to be really appropriate otherwise (yes, admit it… I know you have them in your closet, I certainly do). Dresses that hit at the mid thigh or above fall into this category and can work well with leggings… longer dresses will look frumpier if you add leggings (for lower hemlines, sheer tights would be a better match). Let’s take a look at this in action:

Here I have a metallic, textured, beige tank dress with charcoal leggings underneath and a cute little pair of suede ankle boots. In the spirit of the colder weather, I also added a fleece pea coat, scarf and hat… after all, leggings help you keep warm too!

You may notice that you can’t see the bottoms of the leggings; this is because I pulled them down slightly and tucked the bottom under my heel. Why did I do this? My intent was to avoid having a little strip of skin poking out above my boot and to keep that sleek line of my leg into the chunkier ankle boot. Ankle boots are a bit tougher when it comes to pairing with leggings and dealing with them is a matter of personal preference. As a general guideline if you are uncertain, if the ankle boots/booties are chunkier… try to avoid having a gap. If they are more form fitting (the style keeps continuity between the line of the foot and leg) then a gap will probably look fine. Also in regards to length/gap above your footwear, keep in mind that Capri or cropped length leggings can be cute (especially in the warmer seasons) if pulled off correctly, they’ll tend to make your legs look stubby since their short length cuts the line of your leg off at the calf. If you’d like to try it, avoid having the bottom of the legging hit the widest part of your calf for your best chance of success.

Fact: Leggings are the most comfortable piece of clothing ever created (at least I think so!). So why not make them part of your regular wardrobe and be all comfy and trendy at the same time!

Thanks for checking out this post! Be sure to Like “A Stylish Transition” on facebook and share it with all your friends.

Good luck shopping all the Black Friday deals and sales!

Softening a Strong or Angular Jaw line: Necklaces to work with your Face Shape

I’m excited to see that more people are discovering “A Stylish Transition”. We just past 1000 views, and are just past 80 Facebook fans. Yay!...  if you’ve newly found us… Welcome! 

One of the most popular posts thus far has been our discussion of the most flattering neckline styles. I thought I’d rekindle and expand on the topic to discuss face shapes and how to best work with each one to achieve a more feminine image. We’ll look at necklaces and how to pick just the right one for whatever your favorite outfit may be. When paired with the right neckline, necklaces can do wonders to soften a strong jaw line or square, rectangular or triangular shaped face. Trans-women don’t always fall into these categories, but if you do, it may be something you’d like to soften up. I have an oval or oblong shaped face for example… its not overly angular but still benefits from a little softening (don’t we all right?). As always, there are plenty of ways we can make our jaw lines softer while making our necklines dazzling. If you are unsure of your face shape, compare it to the picture below. As you can see... rectangular, square and triangular all have “strong” more masculine jawlines. Face shapes are also very important to consider when choosing a flattering hair style, however we’ll save that for another post!

Before we get into the specifics, let’s look at the basics and learn the lingo (so we can at least sound like we know what we’re talking about!) Necklaces are classified generally by length. Below you’ll see the 6 most common necklace lengths:

I find a graphic like this to be especially helpful for reference when buying jewelry online. Sites will always give you at least the necklace length, so you can get a general idea of how it’ll fall when you wear it.

As you will remember from our discussion on flattering necklines, if we’re looking to shrink broad shoulders we’re typically looking for scoop, v-neck or perhaps even cowl neck styles, anything to break up the shoulder line. For the group of face shapes I mentioned above, we are looking to soften the hard angular lines of the face by:

1. Adding the appearance of length to the face to give the appearance of stretching out those hard angles
2. Add more curved lines around the neck to create a softer “framing” for the jaw.

We’ll start by pairing necklaces with our “go-to” necklines, but also take a look at others since you certainly shouldn’t limit yourself to only those styles. In fact, with the right necklace, some of the less flattering choices can become much more friendly.

Before we start, here are a few general necklace guidelines I always try to be conscious of:

-      Avoid lengths where the bottom of the necklace hits right at the neckline. It will simply get lost in the lines of the top and look unpolished. If this happens, you can adjust the length either with a built in clasp or by using an extender.

-      Think of your neckline as a frame for your necklace. Consider:  How does the shape of the neckline showcase the necklace?

-      Not every outfit needs a necklace! Having too many competing pieces in an ensemble detracts from everything.

Without further ado, let’s jump into some examples:

First, we have a teal, v-neck sweater with a princess length, heart pendant necklace. With pendant style necklaces, the line created by the necklace chain is typically a “V” shape. This pairs well with v-necklines and just like the neckline, helps to elongate the jaw and face vertically, softening any hard edges. Take a look:

Notice how the neckline frames the nicely centered heart. This is typical the type of look I wear most when choosing a princess length necklaces. It is very “classic” cute… and will work on most everyone. Be careful wearing really thin chains and tinier necklaces if you are especially built in the upper body as it may exaggerate things through contrast. Instead, chose something less fragile looking to avoid the necklace looking out of place.

Just as a pendant creates a “V” shape, a necklace that is a simple chain alone will create a more curved shape as it rests against your chest. For example:

This silver chain is paired with a fairly deep scoop neck top. The curved lines of the top and the necklace compliment each other and also help the eye to “expect” curves rather than sharp angular lines. This effect can help soften harder jaw line. The opposite holds true as well… typically you’ll want to avoid angular, geometrically shaped necklaces if you have a more rectangular jaw line.

Let’s explore another look:

Yes, you are seeing clearly… there is no necklace here! I wanted to make sure I re-iterated my point from earlier, not every outfit needs a necklace. Don’t feel pressured into accessorizing every possible option. This deep plunging V-neck does a fabulous job of lengthening my face and jaw line vertically; many necklace choices with this outfit would just break up that lengthening effect and create clutter. Could one wear a necklace here? Yes, but my style choice is always on the side of less is more.

If you recall from the flattering necklines post, crew necks did not rate super favorably when compared to the other, more flattering choices. Let’s take a look at how a necklace can enhance the value of a neckline that doesn’t do much for us:

Here, this long, rope or lariat length necklace serves to create a stretched vertical line that in essence, creates a new neckline for the top. Try pairing longer necklaces with necklines that are more horizontal such as crew or boat necks to add that helpful vertically stretching line.

Just for fun, our last example is a choker length statement necklace:

Again, this necklace exhibits both curving lines and extending vertical lines for all those jaw-softening effects. Bold statement necklaces, especially those with some bulk and volume also can make a jaw line appear smaller by contrast (that whole make something look smaller by putting something big next to it effect!). Let flashier pieces of jewelry such as this be a breathtaking focal point of an ensemble… they will get noticed and work best when not competing for attention with other parts of an outfit.

Thanks for checking out this post! Be sure to Like “A Stylish Transition” on facebook and share it with all your friends.

Cheers,

Kayci