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A SENSE OF SCALE

Look through the photographs of celebrities in the glossy magazines and you will see that even the most elegant and fashion conscious of women often forget one very important style secret: that size matters. People come in all shapes, sizes and personalities and an outfit that looks great on one may swamp, or be swamped by another.

You need to be aware of the scale of accessories and prints that best suit you to achieve the polish this element of your look can confer. To assess your scale, you must take into account your height, weight, bone structure and the style of the clothes that suit you. Using the points system described below, you can work out your individual score.

Think of your height, weight and bone structure as small medium or large. Score 1 for small, 2 for medium, 3 for large and add these three scores together. Next, think about the styles that suit you best. If the style you love more than any other is dramatic – clothes that are bold and make a statement, with asymmetric lines and quirky designs – add 12 to your score. If you prefer a natural look, with little or no make-up and a wash and go hairstyle, and you hate to feel constrained by clothes that require too much thought, add a score of 8. For those of you who lean towards a very classic, symmetrical look that does not date – a neat, understated style – an extra 5 points should be added. Finally, if your most flattering style is girly and you enjoy wearing lace, small frills and broderie anglaise, with your hair in a soft, feminine style, give yourself another 2 points. If two or more styles are equal favourites, add the scores together and halve them to find the right style score for you.

When you have added all four figures together, you will have a score between 5 and 21. If your score is between 5 and 10, you will look better in smaller scale prints and accessories.
Medium will look best if your score is 11-16.
Large scale is for those who scored 17-21.
The higher your score within these ranges, the larger the prints and accessories you can opt for.

Once you have your score, you can apply it to everything you wear, from your hat right down to your shoes.

When choosing glasses, remember that heavier frames can only be worn by those whose scale is large: the higher your score, the heavier and larger the frames you can get away with. If your score is low, small, rimless glasses are likely to suit you, but avoid these at all costs if your scale is large.

Fabrics with prints of the wrong scale can be one of the worst fashion mistakes. A large floral print or wide pinstripe can completely overpower a woman whose scale is small, whilst a small pattern can make a large frame appear larger. On the right woman, a small print will be pretty and feminine, a large one stunning and sexy.

Try on handbags before buying them to see how the scale works with yours. Sometimes you will need a bag for practical reasons and it is often difficult to make a purely aesthetic judgement, but you can still look at the detail: if your scale is small, go for something with a delicate handle, a small pattern, or dainty stitching.

Jewellery is another area where women are often swayed by fashion rather than their personal style. Don’t be tempted to make this mistake. If your style is classic, a simple, neat necklace or bracelet will be appropriate even if the current trend is for large, unstructured items.

Finally, even your shoes must come under scrutiny. Dainty pumps and delicate kitten heels are strictly for those whose score is low, whilst your points total must be high if you are considering big, chunky platforms.

Consider all of your clothing and accessories, from top to toe, in these terms and you can give a stylish finishing touch to your look.
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© alice carroll 2008 - image, keynote speaking and corporate training. All Rights Reserved