Page 9 - Real Style September 2018

ommends pairing your frock with contrasting fabrics. If you are worried about appearing bulky or heavy, fear not — the key to wearing this trend is to think sleek layers.
“You can layer a sleek faux leather dress with a beautiful velvet sweater,” says MacMillan. “Dresses are great versatile investments — they can morph season over season. Pairing them with separates to achieve the seasonal trend is both refreshing and cost savvy,” she adds.
If you invested quite a bit into your summer ward- robe and want to get the most wear out of your airy dresses, you can also transition these frocks into the cooler weather ahead to extend their wear.
“Seasonal transition is probably one of the most creative times for your wardrobe,” says MacMillan. “A great faux leather jacket is the most amazing way to bring a summer dress into fall. Layering a chunky knit over or placing a turtleneck/basic white tee un- der is always a good way to transition a summer dress,” she tells us. For those particularly chilly morn- ings, MacMillan also recommends wrapping up in a scarf, or styling your summer dress with an oversized sweater and belt.
Although the designer strongly believes that “style is all about what makes you feel good,” she also has a few dress style recommendations for individual body types.
“For a petite frame, I think a well-fitting wrap dress is a great choice. A petite frame always benefits from a strong relationship with a good tailor to help bal- ance hemlines, sleeve lengths and waist darts. In ad- dition, pairing tone on tone shoes with your dress helps elongate the legs; for example, if you have a bare leg or nude nylon, wear gorgeous tan shoes to lengthen your look,” MacMillan says.
Taller ladies can pull off a column dress or an A-line mini dress, along with a slim belt to create a balanced silhouette and enhance the figure. If you’re curvy, MacMillan recommends defining your waist and emphasizing your feminine form with a wrap dress, ruched frock or colour blocking.
“To balance curves in a professional setting, ap- ply the idea that if your legs are bare, your arms and bust are not and vice versa. If you are showing more on the top, scale it down on the bottom,” she says.
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