Live Online Chat Thursday July 6th 9-10pm with TV Stylist Angela Buttolph

[carriemumsnet]

BBC2?s ?Dressing Dangerously? presenter Angela Buttolph will be answering questions live on Mumsnet on Thursday 6th July from 9-10pm. An acclaimed stylist and fashion commentator, Angela is part of the GE Money Transformations panel and will be offering advice on how mums can keep up with the latest fashion trends and look stylish on a budget. Post your questions in advance below, or join us here live on Thursday at 9pm.

Hi Angela

Before we kick off with new questions - do you have any answers for the folks who've posted in advance?

hi, love your shows and writing!

I wanted to start with Treacletart's question about how to stay cool in this great/horrid hot weather. Your stats, size 16 and 32H 'norks' (Loving that word ladies), mean that flowing clothes make you look like Hattie Jacques (excellent reference). Ie like a cube shape. I've got a tip from Melinda Messenger (who also has norks)...

ooh, do share it - I'm a big norked woman myself!

Me too!

MM told me, the most important thing is to show that your big norks are the only big bit of you! So you need to emphasise your gorgeous collarbone (always skinny; we love that bit!) and your waist... Best way to do that in hot weather is to wear a wide/deep scooped out neckline (possibly with a wink of cleavage), and then make sure you go empire line, with a fitted waist area. there are loads of great 60s shifts like this at the mo; especially Top Shop's broderie anglais ones, you can go knee length or shorter... how are your legs, Treacle? hope that helps..

Hi Angela,
I've got a reasonable budget for clothes - although there's no way I'd pay up for designer stuff - but number one I hate shopping and number two I have no time and number three I have no idea what's in as I have four kids and am too busy to read the style pages. So I wear nothing but gap jeans and t-shirts and birkenstocks and often rue my lack of a stylish wardrobe when it comes to getting dressed for going out. Any suggestions for a really low effort way of keeping my wardrobe up to date?
Thanks!

Let's do Astrophe's big arms/mummy tummy combo next!

I think you're right, strappy vest tops are only for the arm confident (we can't all do 3 hours of yoga a day like Madonna, some of us have a life!) best tops are those with fluttery sleeves, which make your arms look smaller in comparison (nice and cool in the summer). Its best to avoid tight sleeves (cap or puff or whatever) because this will probably a) hurt, and b) look really unflattering. Possibly the only exception to this is tops with sleeves that finish at the elbow, which sort of elongate the arm.. next up; mummy tummy!

If you're doing mummy tummy, could you do shirts that when you raise your arms people still don't see your belly? Think you'd be doing a public service in my case...

oh please do comfy shoes with a heel!

Hi Angela

What would you advise for a square shaped frame? I am 5' 8", size 12, 32E/F but have virtually no curves. Always see loads of advice for pear shapes, apple shapes etc but not square shapes.

Thanks.

Ladies, this an excellent season to have a mummy tummy! Volume is a big trend this season, and your best friend is the empire line top. this naturally floats around your tummy area, and also distracts people by focusing on your norks. Another good tip is to find tops with a hem that sits accross the middle of your stomach. this sounds so so wrong, but it actually does a weird optical illusion by cutting that area in half. For this reason, a drop waist is often really good too (also tres fashionable this season) The worst thing you can do is wear a long, long tight top in a really thin fabric. so, er, don't. Basically you should always be looking for what we fashion types call "interest" around the tummy area; so ruching, embroidery, etc, all good for distractions!

ps and wear trousers and skirts with lower waists!

how do you wear jeans if you have a long body AND a mummy tummy

in fact, please please tell me which shops/ranges are good for tall/long bodied women as too short tops make me want to fall to the ground clutching my head and sobbing.

Thanks.

As well as general tips for things like floaty shirts etc - do you have any suggestions for the best shops to go to for this sort of thing - or even better places you can buy online?

And I'll second the plea for comfy shoes with a heel... do they exist?

Ooh yes please!

I wish there were empire line swimming cossies!

no, shut up about your proportions, the lot of you

tell me what to buy in the sales for next year

Lets do Palermo's easy ways to update your wardrobe on a budget question next!

I just wish there were miracle clothes that would turn me from a size 16 into a shapely size 12 (well give the illusion of it anyway!!)

And jeans - pleeeeeease, tell me where to buy decent jeans that fit mummy tummy and short stumpy legs...

what can you wear if you look like you have on a rubber swimming ring under your skin?

Okay, this is actually why I am on the GE Money Transformations panel! To give advice about low priced ways to transform your wardrobe. Lots of easy tips this season. There are a couple of cool accessories that are really cheap. Basically, its the season of the waist. You can buy a wide belt for £10 and just wear it over everything to create this seasons lady like silhouette (particularly good for you big norked ladies; emphasising the waist). If you're feeling funky, you can wear a pair of leggings (knee length or full length) under a summer dress (bit hot at the mo, admittedly... more to come!

And LiliLaTigresse (!) was asking about jewellery. right now, I think a bangle is a great way to go; there are some really great wide wooden bangles, I've got a black one I wear with everything... more to come!