The Black of Night-- NO MORE

Evenings for Fall and Holiday 2009 are filled with color! Although the little black dress is still flattering and appropriate, there is an overall anti-black feeling among designers this year. Especially for black tie events, why should we wear black when there are so many men already wearing it? It is time for us women to stand out!

The fabrications are luxurious with gowns in satin, silk, velvet, and chiffon. Beading, rouching, draping, feathering and sheer details were popular looks on the runway that give this year’s gowns a special touch. Long dresses are the strongest look this season and the ball gown is the number one choice for holiday parties and other special events. The menswear inspired tuxedo jacket and smoking jacket are fashion forward and can be ultra feminine when trimmed in fur or worn with a pair of bright high heels.

With plenty of sparkle, sugar, and spice, stock up on dresses for the upcoming holiday season. Go racy in leather, romantic in ruffles, luxe in texture, and flaunt your fashion savvy. If you need help with your holiday attire, contact us 817 763 5081 or send your questions to askbj@bjwilsonandcompany.com

Body Type Style Guide

Everyone seems to out and about shopping for their new fall wardrobes right now. There are a lot of fun trends and wild looks. I will going to dispense a couple tips on what to buy depending on your body shape.

Full Figure: Vertical patterns are slimming as are clothes with inverted pleats and slits that also have the vertical effect. All dark colors, not just black are all slimming colors and this fall you can choose from browns and grey to deep purples and burgundy. Asymmetrical designs and draping effects also compliment this body type.

Busty: Stay away from tops that are too tight; they will only make your bust look larger. Tailored button down shirts and jackets fit larger busts better. They allow for more room without looking oversized and baggy. Avoid skinny leg pants and narrow bottom that will just emphasize your bust and make you look top-heavy. Pants with wide legs, and cuffs that have more substance are a better fit for this body type.

Petite: Solid color silhouettes are best for you to help elongate your body. The worst thing to do is break your body up with horizontal lines and color breaks. Belts should be subtle and not contrast with what you are wearing and it is best to wear shoes the same color as your bottoms. Items with pinstripes and small vertical lines extend height. For this body type avoid overdoing the jewelry. Bold accessories are popular this season but petite girls should pick earrings or a necklace and not do both.

Pear-Shaped: Avoid skinny leg pants and skirts that hug your hips too much. A wide leg pant is going to be more flattering and allow for more room through your thighs. Wear tops that have pleats or ruffles that add volume to your smaller upper body. Adding belts and items that accentuate the waist are usually beneficial and bring the focus away from your lower body.

Pregnant: You will have to invest in some good maternity jeans and other pants but you do not need to purchase maternity tops. There are plenty of blouses and tunics that allow a lot of space in the waist for your belly bump to fit. Consider buying some long cardigan sweaters-- there is enough fabric to cover your belly and they can be worn post pregnancy too. Buy tank dresses and shift dresses that are also looser fitting through the tummy instead of a sheath dress that is more structured. Wrap sweaters and oversized chunk knits will fit your body through pregnancy and can be worn post baby bump.

Mad for Plaid

One of the hottest new trends for fall is plaid. Wearing a little touch of plaid will help you look current and up-to-date. For the more conservative and traditional, add a burberry scarf or a plaid shoe to your wardrobe. It will help make all those basics in your wardrobe pop. For the more fashion daring, invest in a plaid dress or skirt. The british rock look is popular this fall so use this plaid trend to add a funky edge to your wardrobe.

With plaid being so popular this season, I though it only fitting to discuss the whereabouts of this fabulous pattern.

Plaid, more traditionally called Tartan, can be traced back all the way to the 5th century in Ireland, the home of the Scots. It was originally a type of uniform that the Scots wore to help associate them to their specific clan. Although we can trace tartan back so far, it looked very different from what we think of plaid today.

The first piece of tartan clothing was a long shirt, almost to the knee called a léine probably made of linen. The colored stripes were later added to help indicate the rank of the person wearing it. The more stripes equaled the high the power. Tartan grew from a shirt to a large piece of fabric that the Highlanders would wear like a hood with pleats around their waist for warmth at night. By 1730, the pattern had evolved into something what would resemble today's plaid.

After becoming a staple garment in the Highlands, during the battle of Culloden in 1946, the English Army invaded the Highlands, destroying textile production and banning clan tartans. Facing the consequences, the Highlanders insisted on wearing their tartan which became a large part of the Scottish culture signifying the fellowship of the Scots.