Style Tips For Your Summer Get A Away.

By Coral Turner, Couture Fashion Designer

As we spring into summer, it is the time when most of us, hopefully, will be jetting off to some exotic, romantic, or adventurous land to relax, rejuvenate, and even a learn a thing or two about a different culture. However, packing for our adventures has become more difficult, with tight controls on luggage weight, additional and expensive baggage fees, and increased airport security. That is why my one-of- kind jersey couture designs are ideal for your travel needs.

It is great to look stylish while in transit, but avoid wearing jewelry and heavy accessories. Keeping accessories to a minimum will make going through the airport security checkpoints much easier. Moreover, keep your clothing options limited to fabrics that will breathe and move with your body and that won’t become a wrinkled mess after you sit for a few hours like a jersey fabric (that I happen to use).

When selecting your wardrobe for your trip, you will need to ensure that they are suitable to the type of trip which is obvious. If you are doing an African safari, you are going to want clothes that are light, and airy. If you are doing a museum tour through the South of France, you will want your look to be more sophisticated and tailored. If you are taking a cruise on a cruise line like Silver Seas, you are going to need to need a formal attire. Silver Seas’ dinners are formal and require formal attire for dinner. In the case of Silver Sea where there are no more than 250 people on the ship, you will need a dress for every evening. If you are traveling on a guided tour, you should expect at least one evening of formal dressing for dinner.

Rosetta

This is why I love jersey fabrics. You can create formal dresses like Rosetta or Russian Doll that can be worn to any formal dinner. And what makes them ideal  is they are easy to pack. Further, if you need to wear the garment twice, they can be hand washed in a basin and hung to dry. I am would love to assist you in developing your wardrobe. 

Russian Doll

Then there is the bathing suit—usually torture for most women when it comes to buying one. If this is the case, I strongly recommend that you go to a place that sells bathing suits and understands body shapes. For the rest of you, my quick style tips are as follows:

• If you are curvy, you want to look at bathing suits that have subtle ruching that will accentuate your curves.

• If you are petite, you want to see high-cut bottoms to give your legs length. 

• A bikini is appropriate for a tall girl, to break up the long torso. Don’t forget to get that perfect cover up. 

I personally like sheer, large, rectangular scarves in complementing colours to a bathing suit. They can be tied at the bust line and draped or folded in half and then tied around your hips to cover your buttocks and upper thighs. All you need after that is a great pair of sandals, a marvelous hat, and effective sunscreen to be ready for your beach or poolside vacation.

Whether you spend your holidays at home or traveling abroad, I would love to help you in your wardrobe planning and make you fall in love with the versatility of jersey fabrics and couture design. Don't forget to shop at my online store.

Have a safe and wonderful summer! 

Fashion Mistakes That Make Your Curves Look Hefty: Fashion tips for the full figure woman.

By Coral Turner, Couture Fashion Designer

Naturally, you want to look beautiful. Looking hefty, however, means that you are not meeting your objective. The words, hefty, bulky, sturdy and solid best describe a powerful horse rather than an attractive woman.    As a couture designer, I work with models that are ‘model’ thin but I work with clients who are all shapes and sizes.  And, you don’t need to be ‘model’ thin to look beautiful in my couture fashions or someone’s designs.  I have written an article for tips for plus size women, this article is for the woman who is built like Kim Kardashian i.e. full figured.  

Clothing size 

Wearing clothes that are too large or small will result in you looking heavy and large. Tight clothing clings to every fold and crease of your body and baggy clothing hangs on you as though you are a lampshade. Clothes that fit you, however, make you look curvaceous and attractive.  I know I have talked about fit before but as a couture designer, I cannot tell you how it drives me crazy to see an ill-fitted garment on a woman, because it takes away from her beauty.

Colours 

A mishmash of colours will afford you the appearance of a patchwork quilt, which surely is not the look you are aiming for. Wise women know that wearing the same colour from tip to toe is slimming. Notice, I’m not saying to wear all black.  You can wear colour-bright and bold beautiful colours. To inject an accent colour to contrast the outfit use accessories rather than your main outfit. 

Stripes 

As a rule of thumb, wide horizontal stripes make you look wide, and thin horizontal stripes do not make you look either wide or slim. Vertical stripes can make you look tall and thin. However, use them sparingly, as they can be overwhelming especially if you are a petite woman. 

Skinny jeans and low-rise 

Skinny, low-rise jeans look fabulous on skinny women with short waists. Full figure  women, however, look hefty and chubby in them. If you want to look thin, wear boot-cut, medium-rise jeans, they also make your legs look shapely.

Waistbands 

Elastic waistbands are your enemy. If you want to create a slimmer look, avoid them at all costs. Thick waistbands that sit just above your hips but not around your actual middle are beneficial. 

Footwear 

Ankle boots suit women with delicate, small ankles. In addition, shoes and sandals with ankle straps only suit women with thin ankles. Long boots and peep-toe shoes with heels are comparatively favourable. 

Accessories 

As laughable as it might sound, carrying a small bag will make you appear large. Carrying a large bag will have the opposite effect. Additionally, the same applies with regard to belts and jewelry. Wear a large belt and a big, long necklace in order to look small. It is about ensuring that everything is proportional to your size.

It is actually the one thing that drives me crazy about the Duchess of Cambridge style.  She always carries these dainty little clutches and they are not proportioned to her size. For me, she looks like she is carrying a cell phone case not a purse.  Often, the clutches she carries are a stunning accessory but they are overshadowed by her and her outfit.

You do not have to look hefty when you can make your curves attractive by avoiding the pitfalls described above.  Of course, I am happy to design and create your ideal garment for your special occasion.  And I will even help give you suggestions on what undergarments will suit it best as well as accessories and footwear tips.    

Everything You Need To Know About Buying A Bra By Coral Turner, Coral Turner.

By Coral Turner, Couture Designer,

As a couture designer, the overall fit is what makes a garment look fabulous, however in my experience, a poorly fitting bra can often be found to be the culprit if this happy medium is not forthcoming. For clothing to look optimum especially if you are buying one of my exclusive jersey fashions, you have to have the properly fitted bra, it not only lifts your assets but your confidence also. Finding the right bra is not difficult; you just have to do your homework first. Once you now the basics you can determine your correct size and decide what kind of style you want. Correct fit is the most important aspect of a bra, not just for comfort, but also for the best possible support and overall look. Styles and fabrics are important, too. These needs can differ with your body type, personality and dress.  So ladies, take some advice from this couture designer who has been dressing women for over 20 years, this is all you need to know about getting a proper bra.

Measurement and Fit

Many women wear the wrong size bra. Don’t just guess and don’t go by feel alone; spend a few minutes with the tape measure and you’ll find bra shopping and fitting much easier. Be sure to measure in the right places to guarantee the best fit:

Band

Place a tape measure at the middle of your back and around the top of your bust. This your band width. Most stores carry bras with band widths from 30 to 40 inches around that have three different hook placements for wiggle room.

Bust

Next find your bust size by measuring around the fullest part of your bust (around the nipple) parallel to the ground. Bust size is accommodated through strap adjustment.

Cup

Determine your cup size by subtracting your band width from your bust size. The number difference between band and bust should range from 0 to 6 inches. This number than corresponds to the regulatory letter cup sizes (AA-DDD). 

Band width – Bust size = Cup size

0 = AA

1 = A

2 = B

3 = C

4 = D

5 = DD

6 = DDD

Coverage style

There are different levels of coverage, from total to scant, depending on your body, personality and what you’re wearing.

Full coverage

Offers the most possible coverage and support; best for full-figured and/or busty women.

Demi

Provides half the coverage of a full; better for smaller, slimmer women.

Multi-way 

This style has movable straps that can be manipulated to accommodate asymmetrical or “complicated” tops and dresses; perfect for halter tops, racer backs and one-shoulder tops.

Push-up

The push-up creates lift and cleavage when you want it; great for evening wear.

Wireless

Features no under wire, for comfort with flexible, light support; best with blouses and sweaters.

Fabric

Different bra fabrics behave differently under clothing. Some work better than others to complete your look. The rule of thumb is to match the bra material to the clothing material. A satiny bra, for example, will look more seamless and natural under a silk top than a cotton bra, which may cause the top fabric to cling and stick.

Cotton

Works best under other cotton tops (T-shirts) and linen blouses.

Eastern Promise

Satin

Best with like tight and/or clingy dresses, tops and sweaters like Olive, Cerise or Eastern Promise which are in my online collection.

Rosetta

Blends (nylon, rayon, etc.)

Works well with most all clothing fabrics including jersey fabrics that I use. If you need examples, Rosetta and Happy would work well with a blended fabric bra. 

Happy

Lace

Best for the bedroom; it often does disrupts the line of the clothing.

Whether you’re small, busty, perky or a little droopy, the right fitting bra is equally essential for all women. Ensuring the best bra fit will benefit you, both physically and psychologically!  Follow these tips, and you will look and feel great.  

Remember, I am happy to meet with you to design and create wardrobe for your holidays or for that special occasion that you have this summer.