I may be asking the impossible here.......!

[sweetheart]

I would love to be less fashion victim and more chic! I'd love to have my own style which suits me. I'd love to buy more expensive key items, mix and match them and wear them to death then spend every new season shopping the low end for this season's must have!

How on earth do I do this? Does anyone actually know?

When u find the answer can u let me know plz :o

I thought it was impossible!

I think it helps to know your body shape (as in Trinny and Susannah Style Bible) and then from that what skirt shape/ length suits you best, same for trousers, tops etc. Also what colours you look best in. Then match the 2 up and buy a capsule wardrobe a la Gok. Sorted! Do you know what body shape you are?

Agree with mumtoted's advice.

Be sure though that you only buy things you love rather than because they suit. eg I have a wrap dress in my wardrobe because it should suit me.....I have worn it 3 times in the 7 years that I have owned it and I don't recall the last time I put it on.

I'm pretty sure you'd classify me as a pear shape but I think you also have to consider what parts of your body you like when dressing so you know what bits to show off and which bits to hide.

and sweet, if you find out, get 'em to write the book, will ya?

Mumtoted has good ideas, I just wait to hear Gok coming a bit more detail :)

So come on then, we need your height, which bits you like, which bits you don't! Do you have broad or narrow shoulders? What's your tummy like? Slim calves or chunky thighs? Long legs or long body?

right well, I've stacked on a fair bit of weight in recent weeks but I'm planning to loose it so I'll go on the "old" me if that's ok!

I'm 5ft 5.5 inches, usually weight about 10 - 10St 7Ib. I'm not sure what you'd classify my shoulders as? I usually like my boobs, arms are ok and tummy is usually ok and pretty flat - I do however carry weight around saddle bags, hips, bum, thghs etc. My legs are rubbish and I have chubby knees and cankles! My legs look marginlly better when I'm in heels but my upper half is much better than my lower! I'd guess and say I have shorter legs and a longer body, I always have problems getting trousers to fit. There was a thread about it on here quite some time ago, but I can't remember what the diagnosis was.

Anything else?

I think I genrally suit much more structured dresses but my life doesn't really call for me to wear things like that so I find myself a bit stuck.

I know there are certain style rules I should live by but I get seduced by the constant changing fashions and thinking I can look young and trendy!

Oh yeah - I can usually wear anything from a size 6-10 on top and a size 10-14 on bottom

Well according to the bible, I think you may be a skittle (sounds attractive doesn't it). Well it can't be all bad as an examples of a skittle is Halle Berry! So she is your new style guru :o

here and here and here
Does that sound right to you?

haven't heard of a skittle. Thought they were all to do with fruit and veg!

in that first link I think the coat they have put on that skittle woman is a awful length! Hmmm I don't want to be a skittle but suspect I may be - it's the chunk calves thing that does it!

Right so with that in mind how on earth do I pull off this chic thing? I have no idea what my colouring is?!?!

I would love some amazing trousers - although those guides say I should be wearing wide legs ones but I think they make me look like an elephant! I'm much happier in a boot cut.

I agree, she does look awful in that outfit! I'm wondering if Trinny is a skittle, I remember one episode where she showed just how short her legs were, and with clever dressing we all think she has really long legs.

Re trousers, they suggest expensive tailoring: Max Mara, Nichole Fahri, Giorgio Armani, or Wallis!! I can vouch for Wallis (not tried the others, funnily enough). Until last week I would have agreed with you that wide leg trousers made me look like an elephant (I'm a skittle with big boobs, hour glass they call it!) but I have just bought 2 pairs of wide leg jeans from there, and they fit beautifully and certainly not elephanty. There aren't really wide, they look more boot leg on. They were in the sale and sold out now but they were this sort of shape with a nice wide band at the top, which flatten the tum and make the bum look smaller/perter! And no gape at the back, a first for me.

There were some links the other day to some colour websites, but I didn't find it easy to decide. You could always ask your close friends whose judgement you trust what colours they like you in best. What colour are your hair and eyes, do you tan well or not at all and do you have freckles?

Trinny always seems mega tall and gangally to me?!?! Wow just looked at Max Mara trousers - £400, yeah ok then! I know I said spend a bit more on key pieces but not that much! I'll check out Wallis though so thanks for the tip. I have been thinking about getting some trousers made by a tailor and there also seem to be a couple of design your own jeans websites around.

I'm having my colours done in a couple of weeks but I'm blonde with fair skin and blue eyes. I burn easily in the sun but I can tan if I do it carefully and gradually. I had freckles as a kid but not really now.

Apparently she's 5'9, but honestly she is long bodied & short legged, just a clever dresser! Hope you get on OK in Wallis, bit cheaper than Max Mara then (£400!!!) And let us know how you get on with your colours, I find the spring/summer, warm/ cool very confusing!