With Easter and spring around the corner, figure out which dress style is the most flattering on your particular body. Whether it's a fit & flare, sheath, empire or wrap dress, each style is good at flattering certain aspect you want to flaunt and also areas you may want to draw less attention to.

There are thousands of different types of women and many have a unique shape, which requires an adjustment or two for an ideal fit; that's especially true with pants.  You need to consider the the hip to waist line ratio, whether a woman has a long-torso or a short one, all these factors affect whether a pair of pants fit and flatter a woman. We are not mannequins.

This video contains some general principles for women with wider hips and a narrow waist and how to avoid "back gap" and other fit issues. For a six-page analysis specific to your body of which styles are most flattering for your particular body, submit your photos and your measurements for this personalized analysis.

        >> Click to submit your photos and measurements 

Okay, so anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a fabric nerd.  My bachelor's degree is in Clothing and Textiles and I loved playing scientist in the textile labs when I was a student.  One of the most practical lessons that I learned in my three semesters of textiles chemistry is the value of caring for your jeans and denim.
 
Any woman who has shopped for jeans knows that the entire...

...experience is not only an investment in money, but also time.  Jeans have become such a staple in our wardrobe that we are willing to go through the entire ordeal of shopping for that perfect pair.
 
But once you find the perfect pair of jeans, and yes, ...it can be done with the right guidance (>> click here to stay tuned  for blog posts on choosing jeans and swimsuits to flatter your body-type), you will want the jeans to last for as long as possible.
 
Here are a few of my tried and true tips for keeping your jeans and denim looking as "new" as possible.
 
1  For the "first " washing of the denim, especially with dark wash jeans, always wash in cold water. We are going to "set" the dye. Remember to keep your jeans looking new, only wash your jeans every three to four wearings.
 
2  Use one cup of distilled white vinegar, pour in the washing machine and let it distribute well in the water before placing the jeans in the washer. NO LAUNDRY SOAP for the first washing.  Then I alternate using vinegar or laundry soap to clean my jeans, after I have "set" the color in my denim after the first washing. Use only a small amount of laundry soap with denim.

3  Turn your jeans inside out before placing in the washing machine (you can wash more than one pair at a time, but the dye lots must be similar). Always turn inside out to preserve the "face" of the denim.
 
4  Jeans will release the largest amount of dye in the first wash cycle. The vinegar will set the dye and prevent it from transferring onto other clothing items and onto your skin.
 
5  After the jeans are finished washing, the first time and every time, take out of the machine and re-shape the jeans. Make sure that pull the legs down to give you a little more length in the hem. Make sure to zip up the zipper and lay flat on a drying rack to dry.  NEVER put jeans in the dryer, the heat breaks down the stretch fiber (Lycra content) and the finish on the denim. The jeans will be a little stiff after you grab them off the drying rack. Loosen them up by rubbing them with your hands.

The jeans above are mine and my favorite. They are some of my more expensive jeans, although I rarely pay full price for anything, but when you consider cost-per-wearing, these jeans have been a good investment; a staple in my wardrobe.  These jeans are three years old.  You treat your jeans well and they'll treat you well.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR BODY-TYPE IS CRITICAL TO FIND THE PERFECT FITTING PAIR OF JEANS:  Two women can be the same height and weight, yet have very different body-types.

• Are you long or short-waisted?
• What's the ratio between your waist and hips?
• Where is your natural waist?
• How does your inseam relate to your torso?
• Where do you carry your weight? 

These factors affect the rise of the jeans, the width of the waistband, the wash, the style of the leg, etc. for the perfect pair of jeans.  If done well, you shouldn't have muffin-top and back-gap and the cut will truly flatter your assets.

When I work one-on-one with clients, without fail, they all want a great fitting pair of jeans.  For 15 years I've been analyzing women and their body-type to teach them how to recognize that perfect pair of jeans that flatter their assets and minimize their challenges.

When you find that perfect jean, you want to make it last and look great as long as possible.

>> 3-steps to be more accepting
and less critical of your body!

Just in time for a getaway from the winter blahs…sail to the Caribbean and take a friend! I’ve teamed up with Six Sisters’ Stuff, Tone and Tighten and Columbus Travel to bring you the “Power of You” Cruise and you can win a passage for yourself AND A FRIEND.... so tag the friend you want to take and double your chances of winning!

I’ve been leading shopping and sight-seeing tours to China, Food and Fashion of Italy,  and my annual Girlfriends’ Getaway to NYC for 10 years, but I’m truly excited about this “Power of You” Caribbean cruise.  First off, I don’t know about you but I get sick of the snow, and the cold and the blah air conditions here in northern Utah in January so I can’t wait to escape it and get to the warm Caribbean weather and beaches.   And yes I love the Holidays, but the stress of it all…you know.  So the timing could not be better.

So in addition to the sun and the beaches and the time of year, I love that we’re going to have the “Power of You” classes while on board.  This is where women can re-charge their batteries and gain some perspective on their life as they meet other women.  My classes will focus on how I use clothing to help women to have a healthier body image.  It’s kind of like, “Wax on! Wax off!” that Mr. Miyagi taught his young student Ralph Macchio.  As I teach women my Fit & Flatter philosophy, it’s a natural by-product that they start to look at their own bodies more acceptingly and quiet that inner-critic.

Now the price, we got the price down to $289 (plus taxes) for 6 days and 5 nights and 2 ports in the western Caribbean.  For all the details on the cruise and the “Power of You” seminars, go to www.ColumbusVactions.com or call 1-800-373-3328 or email them at: info@columbusvacations.com.  

And just a word about Columbus Travel, as I said, I have been leading tours for 10 years and not all of those have been with Columbus Travel but they have been the best to work with and so honest.  I’m completely confident in recommending Columbus Travel to anyone for this or any of your travel needs.

Now to the giveaway… enter below by providing your email address.  When you sign-up for the giveaway, you are subscribing to the Chic on a Shoestring email newsletter, but then you unlock 18 other ways you can add more entries into the giveaway.  Below the entry form you’ll find the FAQ and official rules.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the cruise this upcoming January!

Frequently Asked Questions:

What exactly do I win?
• One inside cabin for two occupants on the Power of You cruise
• Two complete Power of You seminar packages
• All dining room meals
• Access to shipboard activities
• Two tickets to the opening night reception

What if I have already given my deposit for the Power of You Cruise and I am chosen as the winner?
Your deposit will be refunded in full.

Can I win and use the cabin alone, or do I have to bring someone?
You can take whomever you want or no one at all.

Can I attend the Power of You seminars if I purchase cruise passage from another source other than Columbus Travel?
No. The Power of You seminars are available exclusively through Columbus Travel. In addition, if you purchase cruise passage elsewhere, you will not be in the group of cabins by each other, or in the dinner groups to meet other Power of You passengers, group port excursions or opening night reception.

If I come alone, will there be opportunities to meet other women on the cruise?
Yes. There’s a reception on the first night and during the classes. In addition, if you book early, your cabin will be by others in the Power of You group and you will also dine with them and participate in group shore excursions.

If I enter, are you going to sell my contact information?
No. Your contact information will not be sold or leased to any third-party.

Can I take my husband and if so, does he have to go to the Power of You classes?
Yes he can definitely come, but he would probably not enjoy the classes as they are geared towards women, but there are plenty of other activities on the boat.

Can I take my kids?
Yes! This is a family-friendly boat. However the classes are geared toward adult women.

What if I win but then I can’t go, can I give my award to someone else?
Yes, if Columbus Travel is notified by October 31, 2014.

If I win can I apply this towards travel credit for another trip?
No. This promotion and giveaway is for the Power of You cruise only.

If I attend the Power of You seminars will I still have time to play and relax?
Yes. The classes are not during the port excursion days and only a couple hours during “sea days” so there’s still plenty of time to do whatever you like.

Is food included?
Yes. The meals on board the ship that are included in the ship fare are included in the price of the cruise passage.

Is alcohol included in the giveaway?
No. Alcohol is an extra cost for all passengers.

Are there port excursions too?
Yes. There are group port excursions for both Progreso and Cozumel.

Are there advantages to booking early rather than later?
Yes. Cabins are available on a “first come, first serve” basis and at this price they are selling quickly. Also, if you order later you may not be grouped with other Power of You cruisers during dinner and your cabin may not be by others in the group.

Do I need a passport?
No. Technically you do not need a passport when you travel by cruise ship from a U.S. port and return to a U.S. port, but a passport makes cruise ship boarding much quicker. The required travel documents to embark a cruise ship are an official copy of your birth certificate issued by a government agency (you can’t just photo copy yours) and a photo ID. Here’s Carnival Cruise’s official recommendation:

   http://www.carnival.com/core/faq.aspx#q-1394828

Many choose a passport card for $55 or a passport for $135 rather than obtaining an official copy of their birth certificate.

How many suitcases can I bring?
Each person is allowed up to 200 pounds of personal luggage on board. However, if you are traveling by air, the airline will allow up to two checked bags under 50 pounds each, but check with your particular airline.

Do I need to dress up to go to dinner on the cruise?
There is a “formal” night on the cruise where men are expected to wear suit/jacket and a tie and women are to wear a dress. Other than that, you can wear casual clothes (one night of dressing up is fun!).

Will I need an electrical converter?
The current on board is 110 volts AC. However, some high-voltage hair dryers, electric rollers and electric razors may require a converter. Hair dryers are provided in each cabin.

What about guests with special needs?
Carnival Cruises welcomes guests with special needs. Of course, it’s best to give advance notice in order to accommodate special needs.

Is there a doctor on board?
A physician and nurse are on each ship to provide medical care and services at customary charges. Commonly used medications are kept on board and may be prescribed by the ship's physician.

Can I go on the cruise if I am pregnant?
Carnival Cruises will make every effort to accommodate you, providing you have not entered the 24th week of pregnancy when the cruise ends.

What if I need to stay in touch while away?
All of the Carnival ships have computer terminals you can rent by the hour at the Internet Café. You can also use telephone, telex, radiogram or fax to anywhere in the world and be billed at applicable ship-to-shore rates.

What about tipping on the boat?
There isn’t cash tipping of attendants during the cruise, you are however charged a daily gratuity.

Official Rules of this Giveaway:

This promotion is sponsored and administered by Columbus Travel, Six Sisters' Stuff, Chic on a Shoestring, and Tone and Tighten and is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Carnival Cruises, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube. We hereby release Carnival Cruises, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube of any liability.

This giveaway will run for seven days, starting Thursday, July 31st at 12:00 AM MST and ending Thursday, August 7th at midnight MST. To qualify your contest entries you must have subscribed to and confirmed your subscription to the email list of Columbus Travel, Six Sisters’ Stuff, Chic on a Shoestring, and Tone and Tighten with a valid and active email address. Each follow of the social media channels of the four contest sponsors will constitute one (1) entry into the contest. Each deposit for passage on the Power of You cruise paid before the contest ends will constitute nine (9) entries into the contest. If you are chosen as the winner on the contest your deposit will be fully refunded by Columbus Travel.

Once the giveaway contest ends, winner will be chosen using Random.org and then verified that the winner has subscribed to the email list of all four contest sponsors. The winner will then be contacted within 24 hours by the email provided. Winner will need to respond within 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen. This post will then be updated with the winner's name once we have heard back from them. This "Power of You Cruise" contest is open worldwide, except in Puerto Rico and anywhere else prohibited by law. Winners must be of full legal age in the jurisdiction in which they live. Prize pack includes cost of “Power of You” cruise passage for two people in one inside cabin, two complete seminar packages, all dining room meals included with a paid fare, access to shipboard activities included with a paid fare, and two tickets to the opening night reception (retail value $748). All taxes, cruise fees and gratuities, airfare, shore excursions, and any other additional or personal expenses will not be covered by the giveaway.

By providing your email address as the required entry, you will be added to the email subscription lists of Columbus Travel, Chic on a Shoestring, Six Sisters' Stuff, and Tone and Tighten. Your email address will never be sold to a third party or anyone else. You have the option to unsubscribe from any of these lists at any time, however, if you are not subscribed at the time the winner is chosen, you will not be able to win this prize.

    >> Sign up and be the first to know about similar giveaways and contests!

When I tell people that I’m a professional wardrobe stylist, I can tell that often the first thing that they think of are celebrities walking the red carpet and designer gowns, but I’ve always been much more practical in my approach to wardrobe and styling.  In fact, my clients are not the rich and famous, they are moms with REAL bodies and REAL budgets.  

I’m a mother myself with four kids and I know what it’s like to live on a budget and the changes your body goes through during the child-bearing years.

I started my training with a degree in Clothing and Textiles from Brigham Young University, and my first position after college was as to head up a personal shopper service in a high-end clothing retailer, but over the last 15 years my focus has changed from having the latest “must have” trends to a practical approach for women to have a functional  and flattering wardrobe.  I often tell people, “You take a shopping list to the grocery store; you should have a plan for wardrobe.”  Creating a strategy for your closet helps people to save money and reduce frustration, but it’s the emotional benefits of putting some thought into your clothing that is most fulfilling to me.

When I work with women during my one-on-one consultations, I always ask them to identify at least three parts about their body that they like.  Most women can’t.  They are quick to list off what they don’t like, or the part they will like after they lose this much weight, or after that happens… I interrupt them, and say, “What do you like about your body as you are right now?”  My experience as a professional stylist for 15 years is that women are way too hard on themselves; they often focus on the negative instead of the positive.

At the heart of my Fit & Flatter Dressing Guide is helping women to identify their body assets and then I teach them how to dress to flatter those assets and then also how to minimize any “challenge” areas they struggle with.  For many women this is that proverbial paradigm shift as they look at their body with a less critical eye.  In fact, with my experience working with women of all sizes and shapes, I use this knowledge to focus on the positive and flaunt their assets and to be beautiful as they are right now.

Clothing is the vehicle I use to get women to focus on the positive.  As they learn what their body-assets are and how to dress to bring out their personal best, they look at themselves in the mirror differently.  Instead of focusing on what they don’t like, they see how wearing certain styles and cuts of clothing can make a huge difference on what they focus on.  Their self-perception changes and their confidence skyrockets.  How a woman how feels in her clothes has a great affect on her self-perception, outlook and life.

But there are three benefactors of an improved body image are:

     1.     Yourself

     2.     Your Spouse and Your Marriage

     3.     Your Daughter(s)

I’ve had many husbands contact me after I’ve worked with their wife to thank me.  One memorable comment from a husband was, “Thank you for helping my wife to see herself as beautiful as I see her.”  And others have gone into some detail of how having a wife that now focuses on the positive in her body has affected their physical relationship in a positive way.

Society often tells women they will be beautiful when they do this, or when they have that, or when…it’s truly an endless list.  So to help a woman to see herself as beautiful as she is right now is not a small thing.  This change in perception also has a rippling effect with other women in their lives, especially their own daughters.  A mother is always teaching her daughter(s) to have either a healthy body image or an unhealthy body image.  And it matters more what your daughter sees you doing and your attitude towards your own body than what you say.  As young women growing up and changing, we pay special attention to the older women in our life.  Those subtle statements by an influential mother can have an indelible effect.  If you want your daughter to have a healthy body image, she needs to see that in you.

>> 3-steps to be more accepting
and less critical of your body!

I love Becky!  She’s lost more than a few pounds through diet and exercise and now I showed her how to lose another 20 by choosing more flattering clothes for her body-type.  These 14 small details combine to create...

... a pulled together look that complements Becky's outgoing personality.  Let's get started.

Becky is 5’4” so she fits into the criteria of being petite, but this is a guideline and not a hard and fast rule. In Becky’s case, she has petite or shorter legs, but her torso is not petite, in fact, she has a relatively long torso.  This is one of the reasons it’s critical to really understand YOUR body-type to learn how to dress so that you flatter your assets.

While Becky is thrilled with her weight loss, and deservedly so, she’s struggling to dress her new body.  I gently showed her what she was doing “wrong” and how she could choose different clothes that would de-emphasize her struggles while steering attention to the areas that she wants to emphasize.

What Becky was wearing before her makeover:
1  The stark contrast of her dark jeans and white layering shirt created a horizontal line at her fullest part.  This is not the optimal shirt length for her body-type, and  the white horizontal line creates attention where she doesn’t want it. 

2  She had a closure at her fullest part with her cardigan sweater, which creates an unwanted focus point.  I like cardigan sweaters but you need to be careful that they don’t close at your fullest part so it doesn’t create a “barrel” effect on your torso.  Where a sweater closes tends to be a focus point and you can use this to your advantage or disadvantage.

3   Because of her long torso, Becky didn’t look at herself as petite, but her legs are shorter, so she should keep that in mind when shopping for pants.  Consequently her jeans were not the proper length, which resulted in an excess of fabric gathering around her ankles, making them look thicker.  Truth is that she has nice ankles and I look at them as an asset. 

4  The monotone, top to bottom, blue not only wasn’t the most flattering color for Becky’s skin tone and hair, but it does little to camouflage her “challenge” areas.  Color use can be a powerful tool to hide “challenge” areas and create attention to your body assets.

5  Her statement necklace is making an unwanted statement by hanging too low.  This type of necklace, while longer than most, should frame the face and neck.  The bottom of the necklace should hit mid to high bustline to create a crisp and sharp statement, rather than sagging toward her middle.

6  Becky has narrow shoulders and a bit broader through the hips and lower abdomen, but she hasn’t balanced the line between her hips and shoulders, which again draws attention to her abdomen, usually the last place where people lose weight.

What I changed with her makeover:
7  Not everyone can pull off this color of green jacket, but it looks great on Becky.  It’s good for her skin tone and hair and matches her personality and draws attention to her beautiful face.

8  The shoulder line on this structured jacket helps to balance out her hip line.  This helps to bring your attention upward toward her face.

9  This fitted, structured jacket helps to give her a higher waist, while the looseness of the top helps to camouflage the fuller part of the tummy.

10  Rather than an excess of material around her ankles, these cuffed boyfriend jeans show off her great ankles.

11  The pattern on top is much better at camouflaging her tummy than the horizontal stripes of the cardigan sweater in the "before" look.  The floral pattern is also up-to-date and a flattering scale.  She’s wearing the pattern instead of the pattern wearing her.  Without the jacket the pattern may become “too much” but peeking through the jacket is perfect.

12  The mid rise of the “after” jean is better at hiding the belly bulge than the high rise jeans from the “before” photo.  Depending on your body-type, high rise jeans can garner that infamous “mom jeans” label.

13  The contrast of the bright green and orange floral print creates a strong vertical line, which again de-emphasizes her belly.

14  Her overall look is smart, casual and looks more up-to-date than her “before” look.  The before and after photo were shot the same day with the same make-up, yet she looks happier and more confident in the "after" look.

Becky runs Utah Sweet Savings (www.utahsweetsavings.com), which uses group power to get amazing deals all over the web, not just Utah.  All of Becky's clothes in the “after” photo are available from Ann Taylor Loft Outlet store.

   >> Click here to order.

Are expensive jeans worth it?

Last week I was working with a client in her closet.  I was helping her to build a core wardrobe and make decisions on what should stay and what should go.  As I do this...

...my first consideration with every piece of clothing, "Does it fit and flatter your body?" Often when something doesn't flatter your body, you stop wearing it and those become the regrets hanging in your closet.

About half way through the closent inventory my client held up a pair of jeans, and bragged, "These are $300 jeans!"
    "Great! Why don't you try them on and we'll have a look," I encouraged her.

I looked at the cut of the denim and I knew they wouldn't look good on her body-type, but I wanted her to see that for herself.  So she proudly put the expensive pair on, making sure I saw the label and that's all she seemed to look at as well.  Then I asked her to put on another pair of jeans that cost her $30.  She only wore these in case she was going to get dirty.  With the "cheap" pair on, I pointed out how well they fit her waist and how they didn't gap when she would squat (showing her goods to everyone).  But she insisted that the expensive pair were better.

I asked her to put the expensive ones back on and then had her squat and move around.  It took several times of going back and forth between the expensive and less expensive pair for her to finally look past the label and see that the cut of the cheaper jeans was actually much, much better on her body-type.  Just then her husband walked into the closet and told her that he's always like the way her butt looks in the cheap jeans.  This got her attention.

Does this mean go out and buy cheap jeans? No, not at all.  It means look past the label and worry about the fit first.  When clothing fits you well, it flaunts your assets and camouflages the challenges with your body.

My client was right about a couple things.  More expensive jeans are typically constructed better and made of a higher quality fabric so they should last longer than cheap jeans, but does that really matter if you stop wearing them because you don't look good in them?

I then instructed my client on which cut of jeans would be the most flattering on her body-type and then suggested several brands, all at different price points, that would look good on her body.  This is at the heart of what I try to do as a wardrobe stylist.  I teach people my Fit & Flatter principles and then they can decide where they want to shop and the price point they are comfortable with.

So the next consideration is cost-per-wearing.  If you take any article of clothing and divide its cost by the number of times you wear it, you get a good feel for its value.  The most expensive item in your closet is the piece of clothing you wear once or twice, or not at all.  But a lawyer that wears a suit daily should make an investment in their core wardrobe.  More expensive clothes will most likely last longer and look better even a few years down the road.  But if you don't have to wear a suiting on a regular basis, don't invest as much into it.  It all comes down to this cost-per-wearing.

For my client she wears jeans on a regular basis so she was a bit surprised when I told her that a more expensive pair, that fits her body-type well, would be a good investment.  

In my personal life I know which cut of jeans fits my body best and I do want a high quality so it will last longer and endure my children and all that I do, but I NEVER pay full price for my expensive jeans.  An upcoming post will share my strategies for shopping for denim.

>> 3-steps to be more accepting
and less critical of your body!

Every February Macy's and the American Heart Association team up for their Go Red event! The models for my TV segment are survivors of various heart ailments and I love working with these women...

...each and every year.

These Go Red! pants look great on Ally, but it was a process to complete the look.  She told me she had, "too much hip," to wear colored skinny denim, but she fell in love with these once I was done.

Here's how I flaunted her assets:

1  To lengthen her neckline, I chose a top and jacket that didn't constrict her neck too much.  Showing her upper chest as it blends into her neck gives the illusion of having a longer neck.

2  Before we put on the bold chevron jacket, yes the focus was on her hips with tight red denim.  But the chevron jacket completes the look and balances out the hip and shoulder line, drawing your attention upward.

3  The bright red pants and dark black ballet flats created too much contrast and too much attention on her feet.  So I rolled up her pant cuffs just a little to show more ankle, break up the stark contrast and help people to look up at her glowing face instead of at her feet.

>> 3-steps to be more accepting
and less critical of your body!

I have been shopping at H&M for years, long before there was a local store.  During my shopping trips, I have taken clients to H&M in New York, Chicago, Rome and Florence, Italy...

   ...and even Beijing, China.

H&M embodies my philosophy for Chic on a Shoestring.  It's fashion forward European styling at truly affordable prices.  People not familiar with H&M cannot believe the price point until they experience it for themselves.  And many H&M fans don't realize that they have maternity wear and sizes 14 - 24.

To celebrate the grand opening of the newest H&M location at Station Park in Farmington, Utah (View map)

I've teamed up with H&M to offer ALL my Chic on a Shoestring fans a chance to win and special discounts.

Now that you've chosen your prize entry.... verify contest eligibility by:

• Following H&M USA on Twitter AND Facebook. (Click each to verify)
• Following Chic on a Shoestring on Twitter AND Facebook. (Click each to verify)

Additional Contest Entries:
Each action below gives you an additional entry into the prize drawing.  You can use the share buttons to make this easier:

1. Click on the H&M image above to Pin it and make sure you put "#HMStationPark" in the description so the action can be tracked.
2. Tweet or re-Tweet this post and include "@hmusa @chicshoestring #HMStationPark" in your message.
3. Post on Facebook and share what you love about H&M's clothes.  Make sure you tag H&M and Chic on a Shoestring in your post so we can verify.

  Thank you and good luck!

Keep in Mind:  It is against Twitter's policy to create multiple accounts and to re-Tweet excessively in order to enter a contest and this action may cause Twitter to deactivate your account.  Excessive posting to enter a contest on Facebook may also cause a deactivation.

Can you believe that TLC's hit show "What Not to Wear" is going off the air?

This upcoming season is the 10th and will be their last; they wanted to go out on top.

This last summer I had the privilege of styling a fashion show with Clinton Kelly.  As a spokesman for Macy's, Clinton has traveled the country...

...doing fashion shows and seminars at Macy's special events.  For the fashion show in Salt Lake, as he did for all of his fashion shows, he specifically requested a variety in the models.  In other words, he didn't want a bunch of size 4, 20-year-old models; he wanted variety in ages and sizes.

I was already excited to work with Clinton, but even more so when he requested this model line-up.  I went through and picked out 4 outfits for each model, complete with accessories, shoes, hairstyle...it was a blast, but a lot of hard work.

When Clinton arrived, he gave me the biggest compliment that any other stylist has ever given me.  Most wardrobe stylists typically work with size 4 models on magazine or catalog shoots, but for 15 years I have focused my business on REAL women with REAL bodies, so when Clinton reviewed what I had picked out for the "non-traditional" models, he said to me, "You really do style the everyday woman!" and he didn't change a single item I had chosen.

He said that as he's been traveling the country, working with local stylists at each of these events, and most of the stylists don't have a clue of how to dress the average woman and he has to go through and style these women himself.  So he was elated that he didn't have to do this at the Salt Lake show with what I had chosen for these women.

I credit Clinton Kelly as one of the first "celebrity stylists" to bring wardrobe styling to all women, not just the Hollywood elite walking the red carpet.  For the last ten years we've seen Clinton and Stacy London work with women of all sizes.

I too have worked with women of all types and sizes for the last 15 years.  I've done one-on-one consultations with women size 0 - 26, from petite to 6"4" and my priority has always been two fold:

1. Identify their body-type, and then
2. Teach these women how to dress to flatter their body-type.
   

While I'm grateful to Clinton for the trailblazer he's been in the industry, he will never understand what it's like to be a woman and go through the changes that a woman endures during pregnancy, and the struggle of getting back to "normal."  Then later on, menopause and how that affects the female body.  This is one of the reasons that I have made my focus REAL women with REAL bodies and REAL budgets, because I am one of them.

In addition, I would love it if someone sent me to New York with $5,000 in my pocket to spend on clothes, but that's not my reality.  When I teach people how to fit and flatter their body-type, they can take these principles and shop anywhere they want.  I have shopped with clients at the local Target to expensive boutiques in Italy, but no matter how much an article of clothing costs, fit and flatter is, and always should be, the first consideration.

With "What Not to Wear" coming to an end, what have you enjoyed most about the show?

It's been four, almost five, years since my last pregnancy, but I remember all my pregnancies fondly.  Women should celebrate this time of life...

...get dressed up and allow their radiance to shine.  However, I wouldn't call maternity wear an investment piece so how do you look stylish on a budget?  With a little help from Target, Macy's and H&M.

    >> SIGN UP FOR H&M GIFT CARD DRAWING!

Liz:
  All clothing from H&M:
  ~ Taupe Swing Cardigan (non-maternity) $17.95
  ~ Tropical Print Dress ~ Mama Maternity $17.95
  ~ Leopard Print Ballet Flats $ 19.95

Emily:
  All clothing from Macy's:
  ~ Red Polka-dot Cardigan (non-maternity) ~ Charter Club $29.99
  ~ Black and White Striped Top ~ A Pea in the Pod $39.99
  ~ Turquoise Jeans ~ A Pea in the Pod $90.00
  ~ Metallic Ballet Flats $19.99

Christine:
  All clothing from Target:
  ~ Denim Jacket (non-maternity) ~ Mossimo $29.99
  ~ Purple Hombre Maxi Dress ~ Liz Lange Maternity $34.99
  ~ Wedge Snake Print Sandals ~ Mossimo $29.99

Jenn:
  All clothing from H&M:
  ~ Mint Green Cardigan (non-maternity) $19.95
  ~ Navy and Black Striped Tunic ~ Mama Maternity $17.95
  ~ Floral Print Leggings ~ Mama Maternity $24.95
  ~ Orchid Suede Bootie $29.95

   >> Watch the TV segment featuring these beautiful maternity models.