Fashion Trends for Summer 2023

Summer 2023 is here, and that means it's time to update your wardrobe with the latest fashion trends. Or is it? Just because something is on trend doesn’t mean it should be mindlessly adopted by us all. Before adding the latest ‘in’ thing to your wardrobe, there’s a few factors to consider if your goal is to look absolutely fabulous and stylish.

1. Will it suit your lifestyle?
2. Does it work with your body shape?
3. Will it highlight your positive features?
4. Is it age appropriate?
5. Does it complement your style personality?

So, with that said, here’s some of what you can expect to see in stores this summer.
1. Romantic Rosettes.

Romantic style personalities are going to love this one. These delicate floral accents have been popping up on dresses, chokers, and even swimsuits. Anyone remember the 80’s? Well, these pretty embellishments were popular then and they are making a comeback this year. Should you embrace it? Well, your body shape and colouring shouldn’t determine whether this trend works for you. It’s going to be all about your style personality. 

2. Sheer Clothing.

It’s usually only a daring few who feel comfortable exposing parts of their bodies generally only revealed at the beach. So, at first glance you might think this is a trend only for the Alluring / Sexy style personalities, but it is a trend which can be adopted by all body types and colouring. The only caveat may be how much skin you care to reveal and on what part of your body. So, if you’re sporting a lot of sun damaged or crepey skin on your arms, legs or décolletage, you may not want to go too sheer. After all, style is about highlighting our positive attributes and minimising any negative ones. A more universally flattering version of this trend is to layer sheer pieces over opaque ones. Do this to create an ethereal look that is current and contemporary.

3. The Peplum.

If you're looking for a flattering and stylish option, you may want to try this trend. It certainly adds shape and definition, making it perfect for those who want to accentuate their waist. It’s a great style strategy for rectangles with straighter torsos. It’s also a clever enhancement for inverted triangles by balancing their broad shoulders. However, if you have a triangle body shape, be careful. Peplums made of stiff fabrics that stand out from the body add unwanted volume to the lower half exacerbating horizontal imbalance. However, if the peplum is made of soft fabric which sits close to the body, the enlarging effect can be minimised.

4. Oversized Garments.

I can hear all of you Classics groaning at the thought but if your style is Natural Relaxed, then you’re possibly going to love this fashion trend for summer 2023. Comfort is the key word here. Baggy t-shirts and unstructured blazers will offer an effortless and casual look that requires little effort. The caveat here is if you’re carrying weight or you have a horizontally unbalanced body shape. Adding conspicuous volume isn’t a desirable thing for many of us. If you’re a size 8 and don’t mind looking a size 12 go for it but as a size 14, I’m not rushing out to look a size 18. How about you? A more figure flattering way to incorporate this trend is to wear one oversized garment with another more streamlined one. All over bagginess will make you appear heavier. However, if you choose to add a little volume only to your smaller half, you could actually create some visual balance. Think slim tank top with oversized pants. Or wide top over slim pants. So, before discounting the idea entirely, this trend may be worth trying on for size, no pun intended.

Summer is a time for having fun, socialising with friends, holidays and simply enjoying blue skies and sunshine. Summer fashion reflects this lighthearted time of year. So, don't be afraid to experiment with different trends and find what works best for you. Whether you're embracing sheer clothing, romantic rosettes or oversized pieces, be sure to enjoy your summer fashion with or without these fashion trends for summer 2023.

When it comes to dressing our body type, we often hear about the horizontal body shapes, pears, apples, triangles, rectangles or whatever other names stylists have conjured up. However, the vertical body type is just as important. It focuses on the balance between your torso and your legs. Today I’m suggesting some do’s and don’ts if you have a long torso and short legs; don't worry, you're not alone! These vertical proportions are more common in shorter people but I have assessed many tall men and women with these proportions. Their legs may be long compared to someone of petite stature but this is about THEIR leg length relative to THEIR torso length.

It's worth noting here that if you have a long torso and short legs, the plus side is you are long-waisted and this gives you some styling options balanced bodies or long legged bodies don’t have. Think layering your tops - short jacket over slightly longer top.

Before I give you my list of recommended do’s and don’ts, remember that your horizontal body shape and other features like a sway back or large bust for example, may mean not all these do’s will work for every short legged person out there. So, with that caveat in mind let’s talk about some general styling tips that can create visual balance for the long waisted body type.

THE DO LIST

1. Try hip-length, floaty shirts and blouses that sit away from your body to conceal the point where your natural waist starts.

2. Wear a dress! Dresses make it less obvious where your torso ends and your legs begin. By the way jumpsuits can work just as well.

3. Add a belt higher up than your natural waistline to maximise the effect of rebalancing your proportions.

4. Wear longer length dresses, skirts or pants; it’s the continuation of colour that gives the illusion of greater length. If worn with heels, your legs will appear even longer.

5. Stick to slim or straight-legged pants.

6. Incorporate clothing, especially bottoms with vertical stripes or patterns into your wardrobe. Vertical lines have an elongating effect.

7. Preference high-waisted pants, skirts, and shorts to visually lengthen your legs

8. Hip length or shorter length jackets balance the length of your torso more readily, especially when you’re not wearing heels.

9. Tuck your tops into your waistband.

10. Match the colour of your shoes with your pants.

11. When feasible wear heels, even a lower stacked heel or wedge heel can be a good compromise between comfort and style.

12. Choose a low-fronted shoe rather than one that covers your foot.

13.. Shoes with pointed or almond shaped vamps will visually add more length to your leg.

14. Opt for nude or neutral-coloured shoes. These shoes create a seamless transition from your legs to your feet.

AND NOW FOR THE DON’TS.

1. Avoid low-rise pants or skirts.
2. Avoid horizontal stripes, especially on the lower half of your body.
3. Avoid overly loose, baggy or wide-legged pants.
4. Avoid shoes with ankle straps, glamorous they may be but they visually cut off your legs and make them appear shorter.
5. Low waisted styles may not be in at the moment but they may come back. These are your worst option.

How to choose your best skirt length is a question many women ask. Once upon a time the length of our skirts was determined by social values, morality and religion. In more recent times fashion also had a say in where our hemlines finished, though it can argued that moral values strongly influenced fashion. As western society has become more liberated and religion’s influence has diminished, women’s hemlines have become shorter and shorter. In the past 100 years acceptable hemlines have moved from the top of our shoes to the top of our thighs.  But as the trend upwards continued unabated in the 20^th century, it wasn’t until the last 30 years or so that individual taste and preferences dictated the length of our skirts. Prior to this, women wore their skirts at a length deemed to be fashionable; few women dared to break ranks with the current trend.  In the 50’s if a woman wore her dresses above the knee she would have been branded as ‘cheap’. In the late 60’s however, if her skirts were knee length or longer a woman was dismissed as a ‘square’ or old fashioned. The length of your skirt had little to do with what suited your legs or your lifestyle, it was all to do with conformity.

Nowadays, I’m pleased to say it’s quite different. Most women would have a range of maxis and/or minis and/or midis in their wardrobe. Comfort and practicality can be as important as aesthetics when we decide the length of our skirts. However, if looking good is a priority, there are a few things to consider when determining how to choose the best skirt length for you.

1. THE SIZE OF YOUR LEGS

Hemlines in the main are horizontal lines and wherever we place such a line we broaden that area. So, if you have heavy calves, you would be advised to never end your hems at the widest part of your calf. Opt for above or below. Similarly, if your thighs are heavy, you do yourself no favours by wearing skirts that finish at the widest part of your thigh.

On the other hand, if your lower legs are thin it can actually be helpful to choose a hemline that finishes mid-calf as this can create the illusion of a little more width.

2. THE SHAPE OF YOUR LEGS.

If your legs are not particularly shapely, like my calves for instance then choosing to end your hemlines at a point where the leg narrows can create the illusion of a little more shape.

3. THE STATE OF YOUR KNEES.

If your knees are bony, knobbly, soft and pouchy (like mine) or just plain fat, then choosing lengths that are a couple of cms below the knee can be a wise move. In the words of the famous movie mogul, Louis B Mayer, “If it aint pretty, don’t’ show it”.

4. MARKS, VEINS AND BLEMISHES.

If you have something to hide, then this can also dictate the lengths you choose.

5. YOUR WEIGHT

If you are carrying extra weight and you don’t want to appear heavier than you are hemlines on or slightly below the knee are your most slimming option. Apart from being an elegant length, it helps to elongate your body thus helping you appear slimmer. There is an adage that says, ‘the shorter the hemline the wider the wearer’.

Finally, the length of your skirts affects your apparent vertical proportions. So, if you are quite short or your legs are shorter than your head and torso i.e you are short legged then skirts worn between mid-calf and

ankle can make you appear even shorter and/or even more  unbalanced. Shorter lengths can help you appear taller. Similarly, if you are long-legged with a proportionally shorter torso, ultra short skirts can make you appear even more vertically unbalanced – regardless of how great your legs may be.

Finally, here is a formula for working out your most flattering skirt and dress length. It comes from another stylist and personal shopper’s blog site, Missus Smarty Pants Blog Spot. You might like to check out her articles too.

 

Here is the "formula" for figuring out your most flattering length:

(You'll need a cloth measuring tape)

You’ll take 2 measurements: from your hipbone straight down the outside of your leg to the middle of your kneecap, and from the middle of your kneecap (outside edge) straight down to the middle of your ankle bone.

Here’s the formula:

(LONGER LEG LENGTH minus SHORTER LEG LENGTH) divided by 2 = X

X is the number of inches above or below the knee your skirt length should be.  If your shins are shorter than your thighs, raise your hem X inches above your knee.  If your thighs are shorter than your shins, lower the hem X inches below the knee.

Basically you want to visually equalize the length of the upper and lower leg.

So, I did it and here are my calculations...

Hipbone to middle of knee: 24"

Middle of knee to ankle bone: 17"

Difference = 7"

Divided by 2 = 3.5"

So, my IDEAL skirt length can go up or below my knee 3.5"..

by Missus Smarty Pants Style Blog

 

If you do this little calculation to work out how to choose our best skirt length remember however, all the other points I first mentioned. No point in wearing a length that suits your vertical proportions but makes your legs look wider or shows off wrinkly knees. Well, that’s what I think anyway. You may think entirely differently, and that is your prerogative.

Whatever length you choose to wear your skirts, do so with confidence and aplomb because you will never be stylish if you are not comfortable in your own skin.

Sharron-Del Wakely

Stylist, Colour Analyst and Personal Shopper

 

Call it a muffin top, spare tyre or whatever you will, many women, especially those of us over 40 carry excess weight on our stomach. I have met very slim women who are fit and trim but still struggle with a flabby tummy. There are a plethora of solutions offered on the internet, most of which involve diet and exercise, but regardless of whether you have tried a few of these, are in the process of trying  them or you have put it all in the too hard basket, knowing how to dress a flabby tummy can really help. So, here are AbFab's ten best dressing tips to help you look absolutely fabulous, even with a little pot belly.

1. Distraction. This involves drawing attention upwards and away from the trouble area. Do this by:

• Wearing eye catching necklaces and/or earrings
• Decorative or interesting necklines
• Interesting shoulder detail

2. 

   Define the waist.

Many of us succumb to hiding a flabby tummy beneath a big boxy jacket. Problem is we only succeed in making ourselves look big all over. Instead wear a jacket or top that nips in at the waist and is at least low-hip to crotch length.   Ponte and unlined stretch fabric jackets work well.

3. Don’t tuck in.

Soft flowing tops with a little wriggle room are a great way to hide what lurks beneath. They also help to elongate the torso. Remember, what looks longer looks thinner.

 

 

4. 

   Raise the waistline.

Choose empire line or raised waistline tops and dresses. However, avoid tops that are too loose and baggy. You don’t want to create the impression that you are pregnant. A fit and flare style skims, not clings to the slimmest part of your torso underneath your bust and then flares out over thr tummy.

5. Wear patterns. Patterns can be more slimming than a block colour because patterns confuse the eyes, they don’t know where to settle so they don’t settle anywhere. And as we don’t want eyes settling on our tummy, that’s a good thing. A few pattern tips include choosing:

• Medium sized patterns
• Deep to medium-deep backgrounds
• Angular patterns as opposed to circular.

6. Open Jacket or vest or cardigan.

When you wear an open jacket you are running two long vertical lines down the centre of your body and this is one of the most slimming strategies ever! As well as the vertical lines working their illusory magic, the jacket of course also hides the tummy beneath.  In summer, you can opt for a sheer, light weight fabric in a jacket, cardigan or vest.

7. Ruched, light to medium weight fabric camouflages a soft tummy. Look particularly for styles that have a ruched centre panel. The sides are smooth and only the central area of the garment is ruched. This is a particularly useful strategy for swimwear.

8. A medium to wide belt.

Preferably elasticised, wear a belt that can sit over the tummy area and ‘suck it in’. This works really well if combined with strategy No. 6

9. 

   Shapewear. I’m not talking about the whale bone corsets that our great-grandmothers endured. Today’s shapewear is pretty darn clever and pretty comfortable to boot. Try high waisted undies, slimming camisoles and slips or full body suits. Whatever you decide, make sure it is not too tight because otherwise you will put them on and take them straight off again. I have read that you should buy your shapewear in the same size as your clothes, or even a size smaller. However, I recommend going up a size, this way the garment will definitely fit, feel more comfortable and still smooth out the lumps and bumps. Give it a go and see what works for you.

10. Combine two or more of the above strategies!

 

 

Patterned pants are a very popular fashion trend this year. They are frequently colourful and just a little 'out there'. For the past couple of summer seasons, floral pants were the in thing, but in  Summer 2014/15, there has seen a shift away from flowers to abstract and geometric patterns. The colour options have been varied, and of course that's great because with a little discernment we can a find a pair of patterned pants that blend beautifully with our own colour palette. However, all that being said there are a few things to consider before spending dollars on this latest trend.

We frequently write about focal points and just as frequently about the need for balance in our visual image. Both these style issues need to be considered before we buy those colourful pants.
Rest assured, these pants are a focal point. People will notice them and they will draw the eye of the onlooker towards your lower half. For some of us this is a problem, not up there with world peace, but still an issue. If you are a triangular body shape and/or short legged and/or carrying a few extra kilos on the hips, thighs and bottom then the following tips are especially important. On the other hand if you have the good fortune to be tall and slim, these tips can still help you to look absolutely fabulous in your beautiful patterned pants.

1. Choose your pair of pants in a colour that works with your own palette. No point in buying something that doesn't work with the items you already own.

2. As these patterns often feature many different hues, choose the one which is most fabulous on you and base your outfit around this colour.

 3. To counter the downward attraction of these pants, do wear something eye catching on the top half. Choose a coloured top as opposed to a neutral shade or opt for an eye catching necklace, scarf and/or earrings. As well as taking the focus away from lower body figure challenges, this tip creates visual balance.
4. If you are hippy or short legged, avoid

elasticised cuffs. This style makes your legs appear shorter and wider. Instead select a straight or slightly tapered leg to elongate and slim your pins.

 So, with a little careful shopping and clever accessorising, there is no reason why we can't embrace this fashion trend and liven up our wardrobes and ourselves with a splash of colour!

Understanding how colours impact our appearance is the first step to looking younger and fabulous. Understanding how the line and design of garments and accessories work for or against us is the first step to looking slimmer, taller and fabulous.

Know Your Colours

When we wear colours that share the same qualities as our own colouring our skin glows, lines and blemishes are less noticeable and our eyes shine.  The qualities of colour are:

• depth,
• undertone (warm or cool)
• intensity (soft or bright)

Every one of us has colouring that can be described in these terms. Know your colouring and you will know the colours to wear that make you shine.

Line and Design

When we wear clothes and accessories that use the elongating power of vertical influence to minimise the impact of broadening horizontal lines and enlarging circular influence, we appear taller and slimmer.

Take a Look at Julie.

In one guise she is wearing burnt orange which is medium in depth, has a warm undertone and has soft intensity. This conflicts with Julie’s deep, cool and bright colouring. As a result her skin has taken on an unhealthy sallowness and her beautiful eyes have lost their sparkle. In addition, the orange outfit is making her look heavier than she is.

In the 2^nd outfit, the red and black colours are in complete harmony with Julie’s colouring. Look how clear her skin is now and how brightly her eyes shine. In addition, the 2^nd outfit employs strong vertical lines and a lower neckline to help Julie appear taller and slimmer.

Looking great is not hard and does not take any more time. All that is required is a little information and we think that’s absolutely fabulous!

 

Women’s bodies are constantly changing. We Abfab women look in the mirror and see a body that barely resembles the one we had as young 20 somethings. We may still be ‘rectangles’ and ‘triangles’ but that’s probably where the similarity ends with our younger selves.  We have had babies, gained and lost weight and got older. That’s life and that’s all good. Over the years however, we have had to recognise when our bodies shifted a little and accommodated our clothing choices accordingly.

This recognition is vital for anyone who wants to look good in their clothes. One of the essential elements of stylish dressing is correct fit. It doesn’t matter how fabulous the garment or outfit may be, if it is ill fitting on you, your visual image will be compromised. People will notice that a top is slipping off your shoulders, buttons are straining to be free of their buttonholes, hems are too long/short, pants are baggy, sleeves are too long, so on and so forth.

Before you think this means you should discard half your wardrobe, stop!! Remember a couple of minor alterations may save the day (and your bank balance). We personally have extended the life of many garments by having them taken in, let out, taken up or let down. A dart here and there may be all it takes.

However, alterations are not just a way of coping with our constantly evolving bodies. Very few people have been gifted with bodies that have perfect horizontal and vertical proportions that replicate the shape and size used by manufacturers to produce our clothes. Numbers like 10, 12, 18 or 24 have little to do with whether we are short waisted or long waisted, long legged or short legged, have narrow or broad shoulders, flat bottoms or rounded ones, straight hips or saddlebags. The female form is a veritable minefield of variations.

Most of us should open our minds to the possibilities of alterations. We leave wonderful garments behind in the change room when a simple alteration would make all the difference. Shopping can be a lot less frustrating and upsetting if we accept that ready made clothes won’t always fit us perfectly.

We pay far less for our clothes today than women did years ago. Back in the day, women had one pair of ‘going out’ shoes and their Sunday dress. Think about your own wardrobes and the sea of clothes and accessories inside. Mass production and emerging economies like China and India have transformed the garment industry. Minor alterations cost a little (they should not be expensive) but when added to the price of most garments, we are still doing much better than women in the past.

So, our advice is dress for the body you live in today, find someone convenient and reliable to alter your clothes and stop waiting to lose or gain weight before you go shopping! Life is too short to not look absolutely fabulous NOW!