What French Women Know and You Don’t

French women are generally considered the most “stylishly chic” in the world. But why is that? Surely they haven’t cornered the market on beauty and style. How is it that they look so fashionable without appearing that they’re trying too hard?

The answer is stay “simple and unique” which, along with a strong touch of confidence, will prepare you for the world of everyday women. It’s all about the basics and then adding flair, that unexpected and glamorous touch in accessories that changes the simple into a unique outfit. And for the average crossdresser on a budget or with the lack of experience in accessorizing, having the right accessories is the key. And wearing the latest trends and buying jewelry, shoes and handbags for every outfit is NOT the answer; nor is looking like every other fashionista at the mall.

So you want a quick and easy way to expand your wardrobe without spending a lot of money?

Dust off some of your fashion accessories and start putting them to good use!

That’s right — all those shoes, handbags, scarves, and “stuff” that you have crammed in your closet and drawers can literally transform your wardrobe — if you know how to use them correctly.

Unfortunately, most women don’t, so why would you be an exception.

Women buy certain accessories to go with certain outfits and never wear them with anything else. Or, they buy one thing, like a handbag or watch, and wear it with everything they own, from workout gear to evening apparel. Still others are so devoted to following the latest fashion trends that they don’t really understand the impact certain pieces have on their overall image — like oversized earrings, no hose, or slip-on shoes.

It’s a real shame.

What if you could take one garment and wear it dozens of different ways? What if, just by changing a few fashion accessories, you could wear the same dress to a bridal shower, a barbecue, the theater, and a church service — with no one the wiser?  One dress, lots of different possibilities. How much would that help your budget? How much less stuff would you have to pack when you traveled?

Accessories give you the ability to change an outfit from one mood to another and can take you from the back yard to the ball game to the ballroom with a minimum of fuss. Here are some of the things that accessories can do from Diane Pemberton-Sikes.

• Draw attention to your assets
• Pull attention away from your trouble spots
• Give a variety of looks to a single outfit
• Make a garment look expensive
• Revise or update classic clothing styles
• Relate different items of your outfit to each other
• Define your personal style

So you say, Tasi, what are we really talking about here? Well, we’re talking about handbags, jewelry, scarves and necklaces, and of course shoes, but I’ll leave shoes for another time. There is an art to it. Wearing the wrong or too many accessories (too much bling) is the No 6 fashion mistake by crossdressers — see my book on the Top Ten Fashion Mistakes by Crossdressers and How To Fix Them.

You’ll find that I’m from the classic school of thought (except when I want to go Bohemian and then a little extra bling is OK).  When it comes to jewelry, keep it classy and pretty basic. Pearls and diamonds are both great choices because they can work with any look, whether you’re grabbing a morning latte or heading out on the town at night. And no, they don’t have to be real — no one ever questions a fashionable woman who looks confident with her style choices!

Now I’m not talking dangling earrings although they are great to wear with a LBD, but simple gold hoops or button earrings are often the better choice. And of course a statement necklace but you need to give some thought to matching your necklaces to your neckline. It brings the proportions into balance.

There’s actually a little more to it than this and you are going to want to read the Savvy Shopper’s column in Sister House on Mannequin Madness, Part 1 and Part 11. All is not as it appears. That beautiful necklace that falls between the cleavage on the model may be a choker on you. Your neck is thicker and shorter than the model. If you see an ad for that piece that you just must have and no length is mentioned, BEWARE.

Of course handbags, without a doubt, are the most important fashion accessory we own and choosing the right handbag for the occasion or for your body type, while seemingly complicated, isn’t. Here are a few helpful hints.

And then too, hats, headbands and scarves are also encouraged! Our philosophy at Sister House is “Because being a woman is fun” as seen by the picture on the right. A simple straw hat with the attached fascinator puts “zing” into a casual fall outfit.

But then, so too do scarves. I am a hugh fan of scarves and have many in my wardrobe which I drape in many different ways around my neck and across my body. Not only are they a cheap way to add color, but there are endless variations to wearing them. They are also useful in covering the Adam’s apple if that is a problem for you and in drawing attention away from that apple-shaped body which those of us of a more mature age are prone to. This short video from Coldwater Creek will give you a few ideas.

What? You had no idea you could use accessories to do so much? Neither do most women — which is why so few enjoy the polish that well-chosen accessories can give. From finishing an outfit to drawing attention away from figure challenges, accessories can do the job.

Well, here’s one more secret and don’t you tell anyone. You may have bought your fabulous knee-length skirt at Target, or maybe you found that awesome party dress at the local thrift store, and that’s great –everyone loves a good bargain, but who needs to know? To look like an authentic Parisian woman, it doesn’t matter what you spend on your clothes only that you look the part.

I did say “Because being a woman is fun” so let’s look at some trendy and unique fall accessories from ”Hello Street Style” as they cruise the Big Apple. So until next month, enjoy life, look beautiful, and come visit us at Sister House.

Hugs,
Tasi

Tags: crossdressing, fashion, featured, opinion, passing, style

Category: Style, Transgender Fashion