The Oblong or Rectangular Face

Because it is longer than it is wide, the oblong face needs a frame that is deeper than it is wide to shorten the face or to create the illusion of a shorter face.  Frames should break the length of the face, making the face appear shorter and wider.    Frames should have top to bottom depth.   To soften the face, try round, deep, or low triangle shapes, or frames with strong vertical lines.   A low bridge will also shorten the nose.

Finding a great pair of sunglasses is a must!  Personally, I suggest having at least two different pairs.  But if you can, have a whole sunglass wardrobe based on your mood, outfit, or location.  You’ll need a casual pair, dressy pair, very dark pair for the beach/pool/water, and a lighter pair for those partly cloudy days.  You can then add in a few differently styles depending on how fashionable you want to be.  The large Jackie O variety, retro 80s styles, or classic aviators are still considered fashionable.  Here are a few tips for finding frames that suit a square shaped face.  You can employ these same tips when looking for regular eye glasses as well. 

The Square Face
A strong jawline, a broad forehead, and a wide chin and cheekbones characterize a square face.  Width and length have the same proportions or are equal.  Frames should make the face look longer.   Gently curved narrow styles will minimize squareness and add length.   Frames should be more horizontal than vertical.   Try oval shapes with temples in the center.

My client Ann, was looking for a simple, fast, yet effective makeup update.  As you see from this before and after, we certainly didn’t give her too much makeup, yet she looks younger and more polished in the after picture.  The whole makeup routine takes no more than 15 minutes max, and it suits her simple, laid back lifestyle.

This is a pretty large can of worms that I am about to open up here, but I thought I needed to address this annual dreaded occasion.  Most women I know absolutely hate shopping for bathing suits, so here are a few things to think about to hopefuly make this event a little easier.   

Go Up a Size - Always try one size larger than you think you wear.  When a bathing suit is too tight, the edges cut into your body creating bulges where you’d rather no one look.  When a swimsuit fits a little looser, the skin is squeezed less and creates fewer unwanted bulges.   

Dark Colors and Skin Tones - Remember that darker colors recede, making your silhouette appear smaller.  So dark-colored suits work well.  Skin tone suits give the impression of an all-over monotone look, which is also always a winner.  Loud Prints and ColorsSmall or sparse prints are ok, but big prints attract attention and make you look bigger.  If you can’t resist being covered in hibiscus flowers, at least make sure you wear the print where it will draw attention away from problem areas.   

Stripe Cleverly - Cleverly placed vertical or diagonal stripes can help slim your silhouette if they are placed in the right spot.  Where stripes start and end on a swimsuit is the key to whether you are drawing attention to or away from problem areas.   

Buy Separates - If one half of your body is much curvier than the other half, you have probably had difficulty finding a one piece swimsuit that fits well.  The good news is that there are many brands today that sell tops and bottoms separately.   

Busted - Full-busted women need a little extra support.  Try under wire tops or suits designed for long torsos as your bust will take up some of the extra material.   

High Cut - The higher the cut, the longer your legs appear.  The longer your legs appear, the leaner they look!  Go for the highest cut you feel comfortable in.   

Short Cut - Boy shorts may be a good alternative to wearing thong underwear, but stay away from them in bathing suits.  This style makes your legs looks significantly shorter and adds a horizontal line across your thighs.  It can also make your thighs look larger if the leg opening is too small which squeezes any extra flesh. 

After numerous requests from my clients, and my constant desire for women to look and feel their absolute BEST, I have added customized skin care and makeup to my services.  Not only will I continue to provide you with personal style and image services, but I will now include customized skin care and make up consultations with all of my color and style consultations.  You will walk away with a completely new image that is updated and true to yourself as well as the knowledge to recreate your new look successfully on your own every day.  You’ll learn tips and techniques for effectively applying your makeup based on your face shape, hair and eye color, lifestyle, and personality, so you can easily look fabulous every day.  I invite you to call today to schedule your complimentary skin care and makeup consultation during the month of June. (714) 351-3849 or erin@erinstafford.com.

Please visit my website www.beautipage.com/erinstaffordto order all of your fabulous Beauti Control products today.

I was just browsing around for some new beachwear, when I stumbled upon the “Flatter Your Figure” section on the website for Diane’s Beachwear.  I’ve always loved this shop, but I am even happier to see that they’ve given women tips for flattering a full bust, small bust, midsection, full hips and thighs, full bum, small bum, short torso, and long torso.

I’ve included their tips for flattering a full bust, but you can check out their website for all the details.  They even give you brands that work best for your body type.  Love it! 

FULL BUST

Extra support and some sexy cleavage is the aim of the game!  Halter bikinis are a great way to give you some lift and allow you to make adjustments for personal fit.  Also look for underwire tops that add extra support.

Best Brands:
Swim Systems
Sunsets
Moontide
Vix
Body Glove
Betsey Johnson

For more information on swimwear to flatter every figure, check out the website for Diane’s Beachwear at http://www.dianesbeachwear.com/_main/Index.cfm/content.flatteryourfigure