Style Fashion Guides
Don't Flash That Flesh!
It's time to cover up. The day of the naked midriff is officially over. Cut off t-shirts are being sold less and less, and girls are now being encouraged to cover up - at least where their naked midriff is concerned. Relieved? Most of us are probably are! The fortunate few in the habit of flaunting a taut, young tummy are likely to be a tad disappointed. The rest of us can hail the return of pulling power to the firm favourites of boobs, bums and legs. So take your eyes away from your middle and focus on your strong points.
Fashion Exposé
When did the obsession with revealing all begin? And is the kind of nakedness we see regularly on our high streets actually sexy or just trying too hard?
Back in the 60s, when women began to reveal more, there was more of a sense of balance. If legs were on show (in mini skirt or hot pants), then cleavages were covered up. To have both on show was thought to be, well, just too much.
In the 70s, we entered the monastic world of the midi and maxi, complete with tent-like smocks. A man had about as much chance of discovering a woman's va va voom as finding a needle in a haystack. And as if this wasn't bad enough, the 80s brought power dressing. This was sexy in a dominatrix kind of way, but wasn't tarty. Scary, maybe. And ridiculous, certainly - especially the shoulder pads.
The 90s were the decade of the bustier and perhaps that's what started the rot. Suddenly, Vivienne Westwood made it OK to show off your boobs in daylight. So as the (well-named) noughties dawned, girls, armed with a wonderbra, let their combats drop and suddenly we were in the era of the cleavage / naked stomach combo.
Getting the Balance Right
So how much is too much? If you're young, firm and beautiful, you might be forgiven for thinking that anything goes. But somehow, even a stunning 17-year-old with a size 10 figure still looks distasteful with everything hanging out. It's far sexier to reveal just one of your best features.
If you have great legs, you can wear a tiny skirt from Top Shop, but add a top with a high neck, or even an elegant wide boat-neck top with long sleeves. If you want to wear a low-cut top, then mix it with a good pair of jeans or a longer, flirty skirt - this will look feminine rather than tarty. If you are unduly blessed in the chest department, however, take care. Tiny strappy tops with mounds of flesh spilling over the top doesn't look sexy - it just looks plain desperate.
When did the obsession with revealing all begin? And is the kind of nakedness we see regularly on our high streets actually sexy or just trying too hard?
Back in the 60s, when women began to reveal more, there was more of a sense of balance. If legs were on show (in mini skirt or hot pants), then cleavages were covered up. To have both on show was thought to be, well, just too much.
In the 70s, we entered the monastic world of the midi and maxi, complete with tent-like smocks. A man had about as much chance of discovering a woman's va va voom as finding a needle in a haystack. And as if this wasn't bad enough, the 80s brought power dressing. This was sexy in a dominatrix kind of way, but wasn't tarty. Scary, maybe. And ridiculous, certainly - especially the shoulder pads.
The 90s were the decade of the bustier and perhaps that's what started the rot. Suddenly, Vivienne Westwood made it OK to show off your boobs in daylight. So as the (well-named) noughties dawned, girls, armed with a wonderbra, let their combats drop and suddenly we were in the era of the cleavage / naked stomach combo.
Getting the Balance Right
So how much is too much? If you're young, firm and beautiful, you might be forgiven for thinking that anything goes. But somehow, even a stunning 17-year-old with a size 10 figure still looks distasteful with everything hanging out. It's far sexier to reveal just one of your best features.
If you have great legs, you can wear a tiny skirt from Top Shop, but add a top with a high neck, or even an elegant wide boat-neck top with long sleeves. If you want to wear a low-cut top, then mix it with a good pair of jeans or a longer, flirty skirt - this will look feminine rather than tarty. If you are unduly blessed in the chest department, however, take care. Tiny strappy tops with mounds of flesh spilling over the top doesn't look sexy - it just looks plain desperate.
