Catwalk Challenge
Catwalk Challenge: Military
Caryn Franklin, presenter and style guru, offers her advice on adapting the latest military trend to suit your body - and make it anything but uniform!
"Military inspired clothing is right on target for this winter and I love a woman in a uniform - as do all the designers, judging by the current deluge of brass trimmings!
"But there's more. This season's military styles give us all a chance to enjoy the benefits of great cut and dash. The military trend is a formal look that had added drama!
"Military wear is a hardy seasonal favourite too and one that, since the millennium, has regularly resurfaced to create a jaunty look to winter separates. In fact, military touches are so popular they appear on our clothing on a regular basis without us even knowing. The classic epaulette that sits on the shoulder of your trench coat is one and piping at cuffs and hem are another.
"On my site howtolookgood.com, I answer lots of questions on style and body shape, but here you have me all to yourself, so let's get started.
"One of the best things about the military look is that it gives a plain black coat, jacket or piece of knitwear a real edge. The advantage to this is that you can choose your usual plain black garments with a military touch in the knowledge that you will look more considered.
"This is something I explained to Marcia in Body Matters when I nudged her out of her comfort zone and into a more fashion forward look.
"There's a lot of nautical inspired clothing, so if stripes are a favourite of yours, indulge yourself in the knowledge that small thin stripes will balance a slender frame, whilst a taller or larger frame is better suited to wide slab-like stripes.
"If you are petite, invest in a short jacket, keeping all the military detail like piping and brass buttons at the top of your body. This is where the focus will be. Wear this with a great pair of dark tailored trousers.
"If you are curvy, take a different approach. A softer garment like a knitted cardigan that pulls in at the waist which wraps your body sensuously and has some element to it like piping or brass studding will be most flattering. As with any trend, it's about adapting the elements within the look to flatter your own shape.
"The boots you choose can have strappy elements to them to co-ordinate, but make sure you choose a good chunky heel. www.duoboots.com are my favourite online boots retailer and will give you the best fit with 19 different calf-width fittings to choose from.
"If you are tall, indulge yourself with a long double-breasted coat. You are the only body shape grouping who can get away with one of these since they create a widening and foreshortening effect, so petites beware. And of course the flat black riding boot was made for you! I'm currently wearing mine all day long for the warmth and comfort factor.
"Next week, I'll be talking about colour, so let's catch up here after you've watched the forthcoming episode of Catwalk Challenge on The Clothes Show."
Caryn X
Take a look at last week's Catwalk Challenge: Forties Fashion.
"But there's more. This season's military styles give us all a chance to enjoy the benefits of great cut and dash. The military trend is a formal look that had added drama!
"Military wear is a hardy seasonal favourite too and one that, since the millennium, has regularly resurfaced to create a jaunty look to winter separates. In fact, military touches are so popular they appear on our clothing on a regular basis without us even knowing. The classic epaulette that sits on the shoulder of your trench coat is one and piping at cuffs and hem are another.
"On my site howtolookgood.com, I answer lots of questions on style and body shape, but here you have me all to yourself, so let's get started.
"One of the best things about the military look is that it gives a plain black coat, jacket or piece of knitwear a real edge. The advantage to this is that you can choose your usual plain black garments with a military touch in the knowledge that you will look more considered.
"This is something I explained to Marcia in Body Matters when I nudged her out of her comfort zone and into a more fashion forward look.
"There's a lot of nautical inspired clothing, so if stripes are a favourite of yours, indulge yourself in the knowledge that small thin stripes will balance a slender frame, whilst a taller or larger frame is better suited to wide slab-like stripes.
"If you are petite, invest in a short jacket, keeping all the military detail like piping and brass buttons at the top of your body. This is where the focus will be. Wear this with a great pair of dark tailored trousers.
"If you are curvy, take a different approach. A softer garment like a knitted cardigan that pulls in at the waist which wraps your body sensuously and has some element to it like piping or brass studding will be most flattering. As with any trend, it's about adapting the elements within the look to flatter your own shape.
"The boots you choose can have strappy elements to them to co-ordinate, but make sure you choose a good chunky heel. www.duoboots.com are my favourite online boots retailer and will give you the best fit with 19 different calf-width fittings to choose from.
"If you are tall, indulge yourself with a long double-breasted coat. You are the only body shape grouping who can get away with one of these since they create a widening and foreshortening effect, so petites beware. And of course the flat black riding boot was made for you! I'm currently wearing mine all day long for the warmth and comfort factor.
"Next week, I'll be talking about colour, so let's catch up here after you've watched the forthcoming episode of Catwalk Challenge on The Clothes Show."
Caryn X
Take a look at last week's Catwalk Challenge: Forties Fashion.
