I am pleased to start a new column on examiner.com titled: DC Women’s Image & Wardrobe Examiner. I will be writing articles similar to my blogs but with a DC spin and slightly more editorial. My page can be found here: Examiner Page. My latest post is on Summer Casual Style especially for the upcoming July 4th holiday. Read all about it HERE. What I love about the format of the columns is the slideshows so you get to view plenty of pictures and where to buy information. One of my favorite stylish and functional pieces for summer is a hat. Check out this really funky fedora available at Bloomingdales:

If that isn’t effortlessly chic I don’t know what is! One more teaser, this really cool chiffon tiered tunic from urban outfitters

If you dare you can wear as a ultra short mini or pair with shorts. Either way, you’re sure to turn heads!

Please bookmark my examiner profile page and favorite me as I will be updating it at least three times a week. Don’t worry I’ll still be blogging too!

Have an awesome 4th of July!

The Image Diva, Elan Image Management

Hello legs! If you haven’t noticed, ultra short minis are in style for summer. Both Beyonce and Alicia Keys wore versions at the BET awards on Sunday and  other celebs have been spotted rocking the look lately. A few words of advice. If you’re going to show off that much leg your legs  have to be in tip top shape! With these minis it is ALL about the legs. Second you have to find a silhouette that is flattering. When you are going that short you can’t have too much construction or detailing in your dress—the line has to be pretty simple for it to work. And the dress needs to have sleeves for balance. Third, be careful with layering a jacket over the dress because it can make you look top heavy. Fourth, to ensure your leg muscles are working overtime high heels are a must—they elongate the leg that much more and help them look sleeker. And finally, for ladies with full thighs you want to be really sure that hemline is not hitting you at your widest point—the effect will make your thighs look even wider!

I am going to critique a few celebs on their mini choices using  few photos from www.instyle.com .

First up, Alicia Keys, who I think never looked better in this mini sheath dress from Jenny Packman. Its so short she can have worn the dress as a tunic and it would have been appropriate. And even though Keys has full thighs she looks fantastic—the dress drapes nicly over her curves, the beading detail gives her the glam factor and that curly hair balances her body so the overall effect is stunning. And I love that she wore nude tones shoes to keep her legs looking really long.

Beyonce also wore an ultra short printed mini for the BET awards. Not one to show that much leg in a dress (but with her new bare legged videos she has certainly gotten less modest) she looked edgier than usual. I wasn’t crazy about the print and I hated the green hoops which cheapened her look. On her I think the dress was a tad too short too—depending on the angle her thighs looked thicker than they needed to—see photo below. And it is SO short I wondered how she prevented peek-a -boo when seated? Beyonce has great legs but I don’t think this is a look she should replicate.

Leighten Meister sports a fab mini sheath dress from Thakoon. She looks young, fresh and lovely. Note again this is a print but with very simple construction. Just a draw string waist. And black strappy gladiators punctuate her look. Also note that all these dresses have ¾ length sleeves. If you’re showing a lot of one body part it is advisable to keep the rest covered so you don’t veer into trampy territory.

More on this post to come!

The Image Diva, Elan Image Management

Ladies, here is the much anticipated second installment of bathing suits for all bods. First, suits for the small busted woman.

Small breasts
There is hope small busted gals. The variety of push up padded bikini and tankini tops definitely help augment your bust line. Also look for tops with ruching or detailing in the top to give you more depth in that area. Avoid strapless swimsuits or those with high necklines which only emphasize your lack on top.

This bikini from Victoria’s Secret with the ruching on top is perfect for the small busted. The ruffles and texture from the varied ruching help add bulk where you need it the most.

This hot number gives you push up AND padding to maximize your breasts to their fullest potential. Trust me, these tops work. Get instant cleavage with a push up padded bikini bra top. Available @ Victoria’s Secret.

Here is a small bust Don’t. Kate Hudson, cute bod and all, is small busted and the bikini she sports here does nothing to augment her boobs–the tiny triangle emphasizes that she has none. She is as flat as a pancake on top–not too sexy. She could do WAY better.

Rectangle shapes
Women with few curves can create them in a couple of ways. One is looking at swimsuits with cut outs on the sides—there is a new silhouette called the monokini which is perfect for creating the illusion of curves. Another technique is looking for color blocking that creates curves. Or a cris cross design at the waist. Or even try for a belted hip.

The new monokini’s as they are called are great to create the illusion of curves which rectangular/boyish shapes need. The hallmark of a monokini is that it is a one piece but it shows so much skin especially around the waist it is almost a bikini. Personally I think it can be sexier for many shapes than a bikini. If you want curves, curves, curves then this style is perfect for you. Available @ Victoria’s Secret.

This number from Adidas is also great for boyish figures because the design also creates the illusion of more curve and indentation at the waist. If your tastes are more modest than the monokini suggests, then look for a design like this that works for your figure.

This suit from the Gap is a more modest version of the monokini. Very pretty colors, enough coverage for more modest tastes and still the cut outs at the sides to give a sexier silhouette. Love it!

Long Torsos
The Tankini is your friend! Love the tankini! And in the variety of styles those you with less than perfect 10 bodies for whom the bikini is not an option and neither in the one piece, the tankini my friend is for you!

Love this Tankini from Victoria’s Secret. Sexy cut, belted hip and playful print. Great for long torsos or those who are just not all that comfortable in a bikini or monokini but want the flexibility of two pieces. The tankini is a great look for plus sizes as well as it provides enough coverage once the tummy is not too pronouced.

This one piece from Nordstrom can be a great look for a long torso because of the deep plunge that draws the eye to the waist and the crisscrossing detail at the waist which breaks up some of the space in the torso. Sexy too!

Petites
Bikinis can be great for petite if you have the body to rock it. If going for one piece, look for one that shows more skin than not—cutout styles can make the torso look longer.

These two suits from Victoria’s Secret, works with the petite small figure–not too much distraction in print/fabric or construction. The monokini above will make a short torso look more elongated. Petites and plus sizes should avoid any suit with horizontal stripes or design.

Enjoy looking sexy and feeling great in your swimsuit this summer!

The Image Diva, Elan Image Management

Its that time of the year ladies! When we bare our bods and belt to the beach. A scary prospect for so many gals though. But I am here bringing good tidings!! Perhaps more than other seasons, this summer I truly believe  there are options aplenty for all shapes, sizes and level of modesty. So without further ado—here are some suits suited for you!

Perfect bodies
For the 15% of real women who have ‘perfect 10’ bodies they can wear the full gamut of styles and for most the bikini will be a no-brainer. For women who fall into this category just be sure to choose a pattern and color that really enhances. Too often I see women with great bodies wearing bathing suits in a color that actually takes away from their great look. So perfect body or not, think of the colors that put you in the best light.

A great example of using color and print to enhance a great body!

This is a celeb wearing a poor fitting bikini in a color/print that makes her look washed up.

Full in the hips/thighs
For women who have a pear (triangle) shape, minimizing the hips and often rear is the challenge. An easy strategy is to use color blocking—wear a darker color on your bottom and a brighter/lighter one on top. Another alternative, the skirted suit or tankini in a straight to slight a line silhouette (not flared!). Boy shorts provide coverage in the rear. Also bring as much attention to your top half by details, accents, design to detract from your larger bottom half. Avoid horizontal stripes on your bottom half!

This suit from Norma Kamali is perfect for a pear shaped woman. The ruching all over minimizes and hides bulges, the dark colored bottom balances her shape out and the sexy white top brings the eye above the waist. Moreover the straight skirted suit camoflages the larger hip/thigh.

For pear figures that are not too exaggerated, the gradated color blocking in this suit from Victoria’s Secret  from light to dark will do the trick. I also love the necklace collar which draws the eye up and away from the wider bottom.

Tummy
For gals with a tummy step away from the bikini! Too often I see ladies with their little paunches all hanging out and honestly they can do so much better. For you, I highly recommend the minimizing  one pieces. Or a one piece suit with ruching at the waist/tummy which is an excellent camouflager. Or a suit with a wrap over style to minimize bulges. A high waist retro styled bikini bottom with high spandex content can work wonders for the mid section. The key theme in whichever suit you choose is a high percentage of spandex to hold in bulges.

This red hot sexy very ruched one piece from Victoria’s Secret is just what the stylist orders for those with mid section bulges. Love it! And cool that you can pull the skirted part up or down depending on your coverage needs.

Not crazy about the color of this swimsuit from Bloomigdales but the construction and design is PERFECT to hide numerous figure flaws most notably the tummy or thick waist. The ruching in the middle and panelling on the sides is very strategic and figure enhancing. And the modest cut of the panty also works for those needing to minimize hip bulge!

This really mod high waist bottom is great for those with a tummy but a great figure otherwise. The graphic print also helps detract. Kate Perry is wearing for style not function but this would really work on a woman with a little poof in the middle.

Large breasts
Women with large breasts really need proper support. Bikinis are fine once the top has the proper underwire support to keep the bust lifted. With one pieces, you absolutely want to look at a deep V neck or wide U scoop necklines which enhance your bust. To avoid like the plague? Little itsy bitsy tops or stringy halters that look at odds with your proportion and provide zero support. Also any top that adds bulk to your breasts.

This very pretty bikini has great underwire support for fuller busts–from Shoshana @ Bloomingdales.

This bikini from Victoria’s Secret is cute on the model but would not be so cute on a full busted woman. The ruffles add bulk she doesn’t need and the strapless bandeau dsign provides little support. A ‘Don’t’.

This halter one piece can be great on the full busted because the molded cups provide great support while the substantial straps of the halter match her proportions. Available @ Victoria’s Secret.

Look for the rest of this post later this week!

The Image Diva, Elan Image Management

Even though it’s 6 weeks old I’ve finally uploaded my interview on ION Media Network’s Metro Magazine feature with host Tanya Dallas Lewis. I am very proud of this interview. The 20 minute segment highlights Elan Image Management’s mission and passion for empowering women: from the Mogul on the make to the Mom needing a remake.The interview shares my thoughts on the importance of image in influencing perceptions as we are constantly sending silent signals about ourselves based on our image. I share how I work with my clients, my target market and all the many services Elan Image Management offers. I loved talking about some of the women I see as great fashion influencers such as the First Lady, Michelle Obama who I do have a strong point of view about. So watch the video to hear about it!!

Thanks to Tanya and ION Media networks for giving me the opportunity to share with viewers what I do!

Video accessible here: www.elanimagemanagement.com/html/elan-at-work/metromagazine.shtml Enjoy and do send me your feedback!

The Image Diva, Elan Image Management, image consulting