Dear Empress: What Can I Put with This

My Cardigan Empire Darlings,

There are forsaken singles in your closet. Solid fits and pretty details have not yet attracted their eternal ensemble: skirts without tops, sweaters without shells, trousers without blouses.

This Thursday could mean a soul mate for your loneliest garment.

Mix & Mingle
Kierland Commons Anthropologie
15210 N Scottsdale Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Thursday, Feb 25th, 6-9 pm

old + new
During the soiree, we'll help you pair your favorite closet mainstay with something fresh. Or bring a vintage item that hasn't gotten enough wear to the front of your closet with the assistance of some new accessories.

confections + camarades
Gather your friends and the garments you need matched up. Myself and the other trained professionals at Kierland will be ready with complimentary treats and fashion assistance.

Space is limited
RSVP by Wednesday, Feb 24th
by email or phone (480) 951-4230

Hope to see you, your friends, and your lonely garments there.

Dear Empress Giveaway Winner: Downeast Basics

Christa's will have a cheerfully clothed bottom half thanks to her lucky number Forty Seven, contact me so we can get you your Get Gorgeous Skirt from Downeast Basics.

Happy Monday!

Dear Empress Giveaway: Can Lower Figures wear Colorful Skirts?

Dear Empress,

"...Can I still wear colorful skirts even though my bust/waist/hip measurements designate me as a lower figure?..."

Perfectly Pear (aka Edith of See the Songers)
-----------------------------------

Response Sponsored by:

Lady Edith,

Even the juiciest of pears can tastefully wear a colorful skirt. Color is but the final consideration in the garment evaluation quartet. Thus, lower figures are certainly not destined to a life of black below the belt. Color can help to compensate for violations of higher rules, but it's not cardinal cannon unto itself.

Following is the
Garment Evaluation Tetrad

(While our example centers on lower figure and skirts, this same theory may be applied to all body types and garments)

one. Cut
The shape of the garment trumps every other determinant. Does it taper against your flare, ruffle along your round? The shape should highlight your narrowest features and balance your fullest. Imagine the garment as a minimalist ink outline, then evaluate whether the shape complements your own figure.

two. Cloth
For your area of concern, look for flat, structured fabrics that drape rather than cling. While you don't want bulky wool sweater kilts adding inches to your hipline, you also want to avoid the dimple prone vulnerabilities of a cotton jersey pull-on skirt. Look for fabrics that will hold a clean line without excessive volume or transparencies. And opt for matte over shine, our strongest curves need only to be outlined not amplified.

three. Composition
Properly applied patterns, textures, and prints are camouflage to body insecurities. In fact a bright pattern is often more effective than a neutral solid since it has a little something to offer distraction.

four. Color
Lastly we consider color. Certainly some colors are less flamboyant than others. But if the garment excels in cut, cloth, and composition you don't have to follow color minimizing rules fanatically.





Take for example the Still Life Skirt from Downeast Baics.

Cut - A-line
Ne'er hugging a single curve of the thigh
Cloth - Cotton broadcloth
Flat smooth, and able to hold its own starch
Composition - Playful
The wood block inspired floral will keep all eyes moving
Color - Light & Bright
While the color isn't a textbook ideal, it certainly follows enough more important rules to get a complimentary ruling.



Pair it with this equally bright and playful Frosted Flowers Cardigan and you'll achieve a stunning balance.

Care for your own DownEast Basics Skirt?

Either: Go to DownEast Basics, inspect their skirt offerings, and leave a comment on this post identifying your preferred skirt of choice.

And/Or: Become a Cardigan Empire Follower so you can be privy to future offers and giveaways. Leave a confirming comment on this Cardigan Empire post.

The winner of the Colorful Skirt Giveaway will be selected on Monday, February 22nd.

Dear Empress: What Looks Emphasize the Waist?

Dear Empress,

I'm a young hourglass, and I need a way to flatter my little waist with my limited budget and closet full of jeans and t's. I have fallen in love with waist high skirts but I need a quicker solution that doesn't mean buying all new bottoms!

Shan o' Seventeen
(So She Said)


-----------------------------------

My Hourglass Lass,

Following are five different ways to emphasize the same little feature:

one. A tie or banding at the waist. You can buy inexpensive options with this feature already applied, or you can add it on to some of your existing closet inhabitants.


two. High waisted bottoms: As you mentioned a skirt or trouser that hugs high on the torso will dramatically highlight your center. Tuck your t-shirt or blouse in for ultimate impact. Don't be afraid to take the waist of a hip skirt in so that it falls at the waist. Just be sure to test the resulting length before you initiate alterations.

three. Half sleeves. Hemming the arm band at the waist will draw the eye back to your favorite feature. Try adding an elbow-skimming sleeve under or over some of your favorite cap sleeves and tanks.

four. Cropped. Layer a cropped sweater, vest, or jacket to a basic tee and you'll see immediate waist-centric results.

Five. A belt silly. An hourglass without a belt is like a sugar cookie without frosting (yours look divine by the way). Layer this accessory over dresses, extended sweaters, or whatever else needs cinching.

In summary my mythically delineated dear, do whatever you can to visually mark and outline the circumference of your mini midriff.

My ladies who care not to highlight their abdomens (there's a dear empress in draft for you my soft delicious centers) do the exact opposite, at least for the time being.

Truly,
Empress

Dear Empress: How Do I Find Boots for Wide Calves?

Dear Empress,

"My calves are 17" around. Regular boots don't fit and plus sized boots are way too big. Help!"

-Made for Boots
(aka Samurai Mom)

-----------------------------------

Dear Made for Boots,

The standard boot has a 14 inch leg opening and plus size boots can extend up to 20 inches. Your stalwart stems deserve better than droopy enclosures or asphyxiation by vinyl. Below is a solution to your in-the-middle mire:

one. Measure your calves. While you've obtained this vital integer, many buxom gams are uncounted. The squishy definitions of wide calf or plus size are highly ambiguous, so you'll need to arm yourself with specifics.

Find the widest rim of your calf and discover how many inches surround it. Measure both legs and use the larger of the two. This will act as a generally helpful guide. However, if you're investigating an explicit boot, find the boot's shaft length and measure at this height on your own leg. This is particularly important if you're investigating an over the knee or a shortie boot, or if you're petite since the boot will most definitely enclose a completely different section of your lower limb.

two. Shop virtual. There are vastly more flexible soles online than in retail stores. Armed with the information gathered above you will be able to remotely assess fits prior to ordering. For best results search specifically for wide calf boots and explore the diversity available at both online shoe emporiums and the shoe area of plus-size merchandisers.

three. Opt for stretch. If your dream boot is just shy of your ideal, all is not lost. Following repeated wear, real leather will stretch. Other swelling options include gusset panels and lace ups which can be re-laced with longer laces.

four. Alter as needed. If they're only an inch or two shy of perfection, take your booties to your local cobbler. A moderate adjustment can be made on the boot stretcher, more extensive enlargements may require the addition of gore gussets or panels of new leather at the seams.


Suggestions

Endless.com offers an a filter specifically for wide calf boots:

Here were a few of my favorites for you:



Best to you in your boot hunt,
Empress

Domestic Bliss: Biggest Sale Ever Today

The prettiest little boutique around is selling at serious markdowns.

Go there today, or you will berate yourself later.

Dear Empress

"My thighs touch in the center, can I wear skinny jeans?"
Lower Figured in Las Vegas "Where can I find boots for wide calves?"
Sturdy Stems "Can I combine a scarlet blouse with wine hued flats?"
Chromatic Experimenter

Cardigan Empire was founded to serve fashion's sovereign subjects. So send me your fashion quandry (via comment), and the empress shall respond post haste next week.

In the meantime, I shall be conducting fashion research on this subject:

Neutrals Giveaway Winner: Shade Clothing

Guess the winner: Lovely long blond tresses, mother to a pair of girls and a pair of boys, eternally devoted to one Wade. Can commonly be found sewing, running on her treadmill, or snapping photos of her pretty progeny.

Yes it's Kelly L of The Larson Family.

Lady Kelly L could be looking excessively chic in the Shade Clothing Straight Skirt now that she's won a $25 gift card from Shade Clothing.

Joyous Monday!

Downeast Basics Valentines Dress Giveaway Winner

(Victorian Valentines Card)

Kristin (aka #143) of Dustin & Kirstin shall bewitch and beguile this February 14th in her Keep It Real Dress from Downeast Basics.


(please contact me at reachel@cardiganempire.com lucky Kristin)

Don't forget to enter the Neutrals Giveaway

Fitting Room Friday: Neutrals Giveaway

Sponsored by

My name is Reachel, and I am a color addict. I apply it liberally Monday through Sunday: crimson, coral, cobalt, and chartreuse. But there are days for remission, moments to revert back to simple tone on tone sophistication. There is a time for neutrals.

Shade Clothing can help you begin to break your dye based dependence. Start with garments like the Drape Front Cardigan in Oatmeal, purveyed by these quality neutral merchandisers. To select an ensemble in neutral shades of ecru, camel and cream, ensure you've determined the color family which best flatters your complexion, then add texture, shape, and shine as detailed in the following episode of Fitting Room Friday.

Get your own neutral enchantment by taking a digital holiday at Shade Clothing where when you purchase one item, you can acquire a second for 50% off.

Or you can enter up to two times for a chance to win a $25 Shade Clothing Gift Card.

option uno: Become a fan of Shade on Facebook and leave a confirming comment on this post.

option dos: Go to Shade Clothing, inspect their lovelies, return to this post, and submit a comment on your nomination for your preferred neutral foundation.

The winner of the Shade Gift Card will be selected at 8 am on Monday, February 8th. The winner gets a $25 Shade Clothing gift card to apply to her Neutral Regala of choice.

Procure your own empire constitution. Your personalized fashion look book can include your own color theory and much more.

* Post Script 1: Links to the remainder of the Neutral Ensemble

Dollops of Creme Blouse
Jana Herringbone Trousers
Treasured Trinkets Necklace
Three-Beat Belt

How to Dress for Valentine's Day Giveaway

Sponsored by:

I'm ready to frost myself in cherry colored ruffles and lace for the sweetest holiday of the year. For my base, I've selected the delectable DownEast Lost in Love Dress.


Crisscross panels frame a sweetheart neckline in a wrinkle free, wash and wear jersey knit.

You can win your own DownEast Dress in time for a date with your Valentine, here's how:

Either: Go to DownEast Basics, inspect their dress offerings, and leave a comment on this post identifying your preferred Valentine's uniform.

And/Or: Become a DownEast Basics fan on facebook and leave a confirming comment on this Cardigan Empire post.

The winner of the Valentine's Dress Giveaway will be selected on Friday, February 5th.


In the meantime, feel free to pick up your own Downeast Basics Dress for under $25.