As a former ballerina in training, I love a great pair of ballet flats.

But did you know that ballet flats for women became fashionable long before Audrey Hepburn paired them with black skinny jeans in the movie Funny Face?

While these fierce flats were popular in 16th century France for men, when Marie Antoinette marched to the guillotine in high-heels, French women declared, “Bring back our flats!”

Whether you choose a pair of Repetto or Lanvin leather slip-ins or a patent leather pair of Tory Burch or Chanel flats, you can slip on a little style and Parisian chic for work and weekend. here’s how:

1 – Mind your fashion rules. Proper proportion matters.

Ballet flats look best with long sweeping maxi skirts and pencil skirts too. When wearing pants, choose ankle-length or cropped trousers instead of palazzo pants and boot-cut jeans. For work, pair your flats with a pencil skirt and a dress with a full or A-line skirt.

2- Style rules. How to mix and match your ballet flats.

Consider your tan and black flats as a neutral shoe that will temper brightly-colored pants and flowing maxi skirts. To kick your chic skimmers up a notch, pair them with cuffed boyfriend jeans, a white tee and a motorcycle jacket.

For chic women looking to add a little Parisian style into their daily wardrobe, buy these sleek and chic shoes and wear them on occasions that demand a little something  slinky and sophisticated without slipping into a pair of sky-high 6-inch stilettos.

The post Ballet Flats 101: How to Wear This Chic French Shoe Staple appeared first on Free Fashion Tips for Women | On Dressing Well.

Whether this statistic is an urban legend or an underwear myth, beauty mags often say that 80 to 85 percent of women are wearing the wrong size bra!

Whether you are a petite A cup or a naturally gorgeous DD cup, use the following womens bra size guide to boost the girls, find the right fit and look amazing, no matter what your shape or size.

1. Measure well

Because your bra size can fluctuate, due to weight gain, pregnancy or menopause, keep a measuring tape handy to get the right size every time.

To get the first number, wrap a measuring tape around your rib cage and directly below your breasts to find your band size. The second measurement will reveal your cup size, so wrap the tape around the fullest part of your breasts.

Use the graphic below to get the right size bra every time.

2. Battle the Underarm Bulge

If you wear a too-big bra, you’ll get folds of skin that pushes skin over and out of your bra. To keep a smooth line, make sure the band of your bra fits snugly, but not too tight under your breasts. Not only will you be comfortable,  but you’ll stop the back band of your bra from riding up all day long.

How do you know if you have on the right size  band?  You should be able to fasten the bra on the second or third hook.

3. Avoid the Double-Bubble

You know when you see a woman with a little extra spilling over the top or sides of the bra? You are in the presence of a double-bubble bra wearer. To stop your breasts from overflowing, choose a larger cup size and loosen your too-tight bra straps. If you don’t want to double your breast size in a bad way, try on your new bra with a thin T-shirt to look for an instances of boob spillage.

In fact, the perfect bra should look smooth and almost invisible under your clothes.

4. Stop Gaping in the Cups

To make sure that your breasts fit firmly in your bra, focus on fit. The material around the breast–such as the underwire around the sides and the bridge in the middle that connects the bra together — should fit flush and smoothly along the skin. If your underwire digs into your breasts, you’ll need a larger size.

To fix gaping cups, go up a size to prevent your breasts from falling out of the sides and down a size if the cups aren’t touching your boobs properly.

5.Don’t skip the Dressing Room

Bra sizes vary from brand to brand.  A 32C LaPerla bra might be a 34B in Victoria Secret’s lacy lingerie. To get the right fit put your bra on while bending forward so your breasts fall into the cups. Fasten the back and adjust the straps to get the perfect fit.

6. Get a Bra-fitting Yearly

Whether you are measured by your local bra boutique owner, or you wrap a tape measure around the girls yourself –it’s important to measure yourself once a year.

Because your breasts size fluctuates with weight gain or loss and the elastic in the straps wear over time, make sure once a year that your favorite bras still fit your breasts properly.

If you need to shop online for beautiful lingerie, visit www.panache-lingerie.com for perfectly fitting bras and panties that will boost your shape and your confidence.

The post Womens Bra Size Guide: What You Need to Know to Look Slimmer, Sleeker & Sexier appeared first on Free Fashion Tips for Women | On Dressing Well.

From bargain finds to earrings in eye-popping hues, here’s the scoop on lola & grace.

WHO IS THE LOLA GRACE SHOPPER? Aimed at a younger and trendy consumer between the ages of 16 and 35, Swarovski’s little gem of a store has launched in the UK with plans to launch in Italy and other European cities.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? The lower price points are perfect for trendy fashionistas on a budget who want to add a pop of color and style to their wardrobe with Jewellery. Prices range from £10 – £50 for rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces.

SHOW ME THE GOODS: The Lola & Grace jewels feature Swarovski crystals or pearls mixed with other materials. Check out the gallery below for a sample of the current jewelry collection and must have of may.

The post Get your Swarvoski Jewelry Fix at Lola and Grace! appeared first on Free Fashion Tips for Women | On Dressing Well.

There’s nothing more relaxing than a home spa day. And if you are looking for a way to pamper yourself before a night on the town, you deserve a special at-home pampering session.

For women who love yummy scents, you can create a relaxing spa environment in the comfort of your home before a hot date or a night of dancing with your girlfriends.

Consider these four ways to pamper your skin before you hit the club in ten minutes or less.

• Add scented oils like mint or lavender to a refreshing, hot bath.
• Take time to moisturize after your shower.
• Give tired feet a homemade foot scrub by combining sugar, your favorite body oil, and honey.
• Apply an anti-aging light treatment treatment on your face, to remove dark spots easily.

Consider these tips as part of your game plan for having radiant skin and maintaining realistic goals for making your body feel and look good.

The post Beauty Tips: 4 Ways to Pamper Skin at Home With a Home Spa Day appeared first on Free Fashion Tips for Women | On Dressing Well.

When you are ready to take a stroll along the beach or lounge by the pool, you can’t cover your beautiful body with a muumuu.

If you would rather buy a new pair of shoes that  swimsuit, you are not alone. In fact, getting the best bathing suit for your body type is not that difficult, if you follow a few simple fashion rules.

By identifying your body type and using a few expert shopping tips, you can buy a suitable and sexy swimsuit that hides your flaws and hugs your frame.

IF YOU HAVE A LARGE BUST:

A beauty with a big bosom looks best in bathing suits that support an ample bust with full cups or an underwire. Try a bikini top and bottom with a wide band and a halter top that will give extra support for a full bust.

IF YOU HAVE A SMALL BUST OR A BOYISH FIGURE:

Look for an asymmetrical top with a ruched bottom. To accentuate a boyish figure, wear swimwear that feature big prints.Prints will also give you the illusion of a fuller bustline.

IF YOU ARE PEAR-SHAPED:

Slip into a ruched halter top that will draw the eye upward and balance your wide hips. Finish the look with a drawstring bikini bottom to show as much or as little of your shapely bottom and hips.

IF YOU HAVE A LARGE TUMMY:

Conceal your middle with a bandeau bikini top and a high waist. For curvy women looking to conceal a flabby stomach choose bathing suits with color blocking along the sides of your swimwear and bathing suits with a high Lycra content.

Make a splash on the beach this summer as you flaunt your curves with confidence. Whether you prefer a itsy-bitsy string bikini or a covered-up-one piece, you deserve to look hot this summer in the best bathing suit for your body type.

The post Buy the Best Bathing Suit for Your Body Type: Look Amazing this Summer appeared first on Free Fashion Tips for Women | On Dressing Well.

If you need a quick transformation for your hair and don’t have a hairstylist on speed dial, there’s no need to panic.

You can create a red-carpet-retro roaring 1920s hairstyle, with a few curlers and a ghd flat-iron.

While you mom or grandmother probably twisted and rolled their strands around sponge curlers or plastic roller to get glam and gorgeous, you can create a roaring 20s inspired hairstyle featuring high-gloss curls, using today’s hair-rolling techniques.

For your next  special event or party, ditch the bun or your go-to ponytail.  Transform today’s hair to a 1920′s bombshell-worthy, although modern and beautiful hairstyle.

Apply a dollop of a foaming mousse to your wet hair. Before blowing hair dry, add a pea-sized amount of a heat protectant spray to your strands.

Dry hair with a hair dryer set on medium heat. Starting at the crown, lift the roots with a bristle brush and dry a 3-inch to 4-inch section of hair.

Wrap a 2-inch section of hair around a ghd scarlet hair styler to create a finger wave curl.Move the styler down your hair to create waves from the roots of the hair to the tips.

For larger waves wrap a 3 to 4-inch section of hair around the ghd styler. Curl the ends of your hair with large Velcro rollers. Let the rollers remain in your hair for 30 minutes.

Release the rollers from the ends of your hair. Shake your hair using a side-to-side motion to let the waves fall down naturally. Add gloss to your hair with a mist of shine-inducing spray.

Final Tips & Tricks

• When creating waves with your ghd flat-iron, the smaller the iron, the tighter the curl. For example: use small irons for tight waves and curls, and large-sized flat irons for long and lush waves.
• To get  fuller and thicker hair, use styling products formulated for your hair type and tools that will help you achieve soft texture and long and lush waves.
• To buy authentic ghd tools visit the ghd website for styling tips and the latest and greatest hair products for your hair.

If you are stuck in a hair rut for your next 1920′s themed party, you’ll need expert hairstyle ideas to raise your beauty profile.  Use the tips and products mentioned above to transform your hair from blah to aah with 1920′s hairstyles that you can create at home.

The post Roaring 1920s Hairstyle Ideas for Your Next Party appeared first on Free Fashion Tips for Women | On Dressing Well.

Fashionistas on a budget: Rejoice! You can get stylish for pennies at your local consignment store.

For every designer handbag collector looking to find the style of her favorite purse for less, she needs expert shopping  information to help score a delightful and delicious handbag for cheap.

At a second-hand store located in a swanky neighborhood you can find designer labels and name brands at a fraction of the price.

Here’s how:

Scour the expensive neighborhoods for deals.

Check your area’s Rodeo Drive or Worth Avenue for cheap designer purses. Because a designer store’s inventory comes from the surrounding community, head to a wealthy neighborhood for classic and higher-end pieces.

Know when to shop. 

Want to nab a great deal on designer purses? Designer deal lovers may clean out their closets over the weekend, so consignment stores have their best goods in stock on Mondays and Tuesdays. Make sure you shop early in the morning and weekly, so you can get last Season’s Fendi or Louis Vuitton handbag first.

Ask a sales associate when they put out newly donated items so you’ll get first dibs at the designer bags!

Buy the brand name designer handbags you know and love.

If you prefer Prada purses over Hermes, buy a handbag that will add to your purse collection. When in doubt of the quality of the handbag, do a quick internet search on eBay with your smart phone to make

sure you are getting the best price at the consignment store.

Prevent buyer’s remorse by buying discounted designer purses that are on trend and current.

If you need new fashion suggestions for 2012 or 2013, scour the weeklies like Us Magazine or People Style Watch for the latest designer handbags carried by celebrities.

Tear the magazine photo out of the gossip rags to find the style of the designer handbag that you want to add to your collection. Use the photo when shopping at the consignment store to buy a designer purse that is fashionable and trendy.

Inspect the designer purse carefully.

Consignment stores make every effort to determine the authenticity of designer goods, but people can make mistakes.  Search for hallmarks of designer handbag quality such as:  a fabric lining, smooth clasps that are easy to fasten, YKK metal zippers, heavy brass hardware and even seams along the side and front of the designer purse.

If you see plastic or polyester-looking fabric inside the designer handbag, it is not an authentic designer product. If there are loose threads hanging off the purse, fake or plastic-looking leather and signs of puckering at the seams, the purse is definitely a fake.

Above all when shopping for discounted designer purses in consignment stores, if you love it…buy it. Too often you can find a designer handbag that you love and walk away from it. And another shopper gets your designer purse, and you’ve missed purchasing your dream handbag forever.

The post How to Buy Discounted Designer Purses at Consignment Stores appeared first on Free Fashion Tips for Women | On Dressing Well.

When you are creating an outfit and want to establish a certain style, it is imperative that you find clothes that fit and are flattering to your figure.

Whether your style is classic, bohemian, avant-garde or chic, you need casual outfit options that will complement your sense of style and are appropriate for work or weekend.

IF YOU WANT THE “IT GIRL” STYLE…

Fall’s sixties – mod shapes have it – and they flatter everyone.  Look for clean lines and boxy – shaped dresses.  Hemlines should be short.  Grids, checks, or plaids will complete this collection.

IF YOU LIVE IN YOUR JEANS…

Consider adding utilitarian, parka – esque gear, but with waists.

IF YOU WANT THE SPORTY LOOK…

For a casual look and sporty style, balance your shirts with a gray skinny jeans, a colorful cashmere cardigan sweater and silver ballet flats. For your next game sport your casual tees with your crisp khaki shorts and white and red athletic shoes.

IF YOU’RE CRAVING SOMETHING SEXY…

Snakeskin is invading stores now, and even fakes and prints look good.

IF YOU LOVE BLACK AND WHITE…

There are many ways to wear this color combination: ribbon details, polka dots, white on the  bottom and black on top.

IF YOU WANT TO DRESS LIKE A LADY…

Search for pretty prints and a girly silhouette.  This could be called the Princess Catherine effect.

From  khaki slacks to cable cardigans, there are plenty of casual combinations appropriate for a business meeting at work or a dinner date with friends.

The post How to Decide What to Wear: Making a Fashion Statement Casually appeared first on Free Fashion Tips for Women | On Dressing Well.

There’s no need to be afraid about non prescription color contacts anymore.

With a range of colors from lavender to ice blue, you can make your blue eyes purple or your brown eyes blue in less than 60 seconds — and without damaging your eyes.

From visiting the optometrist too choosing the right color contacts for your skin color, use the following tips to alter the color of your eyes for a natural and beautiful eye look.

Non Prescription Color Contacts Tip # 1 – Go see the doctor.

Visit a licensed optometrist to find the best color contacts for your eye. Whether your eyes need vision correction or not, your city, state or country may require a prescription for contact lenses.

In fact, in the United States you are required to have a lens prescription when buying all contact lenses, including plano lenses. When buying contact lenses off the internet, you will know the best fit and type of lenses that will suit your eyes.

Non Prescription Color Contacts Tip # 2 – Choose the type of lens to change your eye color.

There are 3 types of contact lenses worn to change the color of your eyes; the first one is an enhancement tint lens, the second lens type is a color tint, and for dramatic and costume looks you can wear theatrical lenses.

Non Prescription Color Contacts Tip # 3 – Select the contact color that complements your skin tone best.

Pale and light skin look best in dark colors like chocolate-brown and deep green contacts, while medium skin tones look better in blue and light green colored contacts and darker skin tones can wear pale colors like lavender and ice blue really well.

You can also choose between a slight tinted eye hue to enhance, lighten or deepen your natural eye color–or a lens color that will completely change your eye natural color.

Non Prescription Color Contacts Tip # 4- Select the contact color that complements your skin tone best.

Determine the best lens type to complement your lifestyle. Select a disposable color contact that you can wear for a month, and then discard.

Want to see what you’ll look like with new eyes? Check out www.imakeover.acuvue.com to take a little peek of what you’d look like with various shades of eye colors.

Or you can buy colored contact lenses that you will replace yearly that will need daily cleaning and sanitizing with a contact lens solution.

Can I wear makeup with my colored contact lenses?

Yes. But avoid getting any eye makeup or foundation on your lenses. Even one flake of your mascara is enough to ruin a contact lens.

Place your colored contacts in your eyes, before applying makeup. You can use hypoallergenic makeup like Clinique, Soft Mate and Almay cosmetics to paint your eyes pretty!

But make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before touching your contact lenses, so you won’t transfer any creams , lotions or oils to your colored lenses.

The post Non Prescription Color Contacts: Choose the Right Color Contact Lens appeared first on Free Fashion Tips for Women | On Dressing Well.

Have you ever stood in front of a mirror and said, “I have nothing to wear?”

I suspect that your fashion dilemma is not due to lack of new clothes, but a misdiagnosis of your own fashion style type.

Before you add one more must-have item to your closet, become familiar with these 5 fashion style types to discover your true fashion personality.

Learn how to find clothes that closely reflect how you see yourself and the image you want to project to the world.

Is your fashion style Classic?

The classic woman favors traditional and clean designs. The classic woman will have a little black dress, a string of pearls and ladylike, borderline preppy garments that express her desire to be elegant, neat and “in control.”

If you have a Type A personality and consider yourself extremely organized, punctual and a conservative dresser, chances are…you’re a Classic woman.

Is your fashion style Chic?

Chic are distant cousins of the classic woman. These women favor love-it or leave-it pieces that are trendy, yet err on the side of expensive.

The chic woman favors clothes with clean lines and meticulous tailoring, but turns up the volume on her wardrobe with show-stopping statement jewelry and handbags selected straight from the runway.

For chic and glamorous style, choose luxe accessories with rich patterns like animal prints or florals. These fashion choices will inject a little luxury into all your outfits.

If you consider yourself sophisticated, cool and confident and are more Ralph Lauren Black Label and Chanel than St. John, you might be a woman who prefers chic clothing.

Is your fashion style Whimsical?

Whimsical women approach their wardrobes as an extension of their creative persona. Fun and flirty, romantic and youthful the whimsical woman lives for one-of-a-kind accessories that match her playful and retro style aesthetic.

If you favor the quirky and have a knack for throwing together an unconstructed dress with a slouchy leather hobo  you might be a Whimsical woman with plenty of Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton and Betsey Johnson hanging neatly in your closet.

Is your fashion style Bohemian?

Yes, bohemian women are known for their tie-dyed shirts, flip-flops, slouchy big hats, batik prints and groovy beads.

However, modern bohemian women can mix classic wardrobe staples: jeans, vests, white shirts and cotton tees with hippie-chic touches like ethnic-inspired jewelry, funky jackets and peasant-wear flawlessly. For the boho signature style, look for items that feature patchwork, studs and beaded detailing.

If you can pull together a funky outfit in a flash and have a laid-back approach to fashion, you style profile might be bohemian.

Is your fashion style Avant-garde?

The avant-garde woman is fashion forward and makes no apologies for her risk-taking approach to style. The avant-garde woman is a showstopper and interprets runway looks easier than any other style type.

Bold, fearless and innovative this ultramodern style type favors black, but will always wear a bold and unusual dress or jacket that catches her eye at a moment notice.

If you select clothes that say, “I am fearless; I am an individual,” you style type might be Avant-garde.

Think about what style type suits your fashion personality best.

Whether you are a classic, chic, bohemian, avant-garde, whimsical, or a mixture of any two of these style types, you deserve to make a dramatic statement with an eye-popping wardrobe that is uniquely your own.

The post Find Your Own Fashion Style appeared first on Free Fashion Tips for Women | On Dressing Well.