Hello Lovely,

Here we are heading full steam into September. More fires in California with lots of wind have the air quality feeling very poor...Not unlike my state of mind at times. How are you feeling?

The thing that perks me up and energizes my day is thinking about what can be done differently in fashion and what I can do to help shift the narrative of not knowing what to wear or how to dress. For too long the industry has dictated what we should be wearing based on trends or advertising dollars, selling a dream that is rarely accessible for most women. And now, on top of being home most the day, it is hard to feel motivated or to even want to look through the closet. 

To assist with the ‘what to wear’ conundrum I have started this email series on body types and silhouettes so we can feel empowered wherever we choose to go shopping. This week’s focus is on the wedge or upside down triangle. I have listed the dates and topics below in case you want to dial in on your shape and skip the others. To determine your shape you can refer to the previous Undressed email on measurement. 

The wedge is defined by shoulders wider than the hips. This shape tends to be more top heavy with broader shoulders and tapering as you go down. To create a more balanced silhouette, i.e. more of a figure eight, it’s important to detract attention from the shoulders and chest and accentuate the waist and broaden the hips. 

To create a balanced look for the wedge:

For the top half -

• No horizontal stripes 
• Refrain from boat neck collars or any shape that expands latterly
• No shoulder pads 
• No bright colors or bold patterns

• Wear neutrals or smaller patterned motifs
• Long narrow lapels
• Tops with some vertical lines or detailing that draws the attention downwards
• Long accessories like scarves or necklaces or dangly earrings

For the lower half - 

• Belt your waist, the wider the belt the better
• Wear bright colors or bolder patterns
• Try layering or wearing skirts that add volume
• Ruffles below the waist
• Small back pockets on jeans

It’s important to note that sometimes we want to create this look. It has a powerful energy to it and can sometimes be classified as masculine. Thus we tend to see a greater use of the shoulder pads in the 40s and 80s when women were going through a change with respect to their roles in society. 

So if wedge is your silhouette don’t be afraid to also play it up and accentuate the shoulders with colors and horizontal shapes to draw attention to the upper half of your body. See if you  notice a difference in how others relate to you. 

Have fun playing with this and seeing what you have in your closet that works best for you.

Till next time. 

Xoxo,

RM