FASHION NEWS ROUNDUP

 *Dillard's will donate over $1.6 million to the Ronald McDonald House Charities thanks to all of the shoppers who purchased a copy of the Southern Living Cookbook @ Dillard's.
*The CEO of Urban Outfitters has resigned. This is a tough blow for the company who is already facing financial woes. Urban Outfitters' stock has plummeted due to investors walking away from the compa...ny. Their financial problems will probably increase due the resignation of Glen Senk.
*The Crocs company announced yesterday they made $1 billion from the sales of their shoes. Hideous looking they may be, it seems these shoes are not going away any time soon.
*Skechers is replacing their spokeswoman Kim Kardashian with a dog! The french canine will soon appear in ads for the company.
*Finally, mark your calendars! Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week will take place from 2/9 to 2/16.

Body Shape: Bottom-Heavy or Pear

Women with this body shape should bring attention to their small waist and create an even balance between their bust and hips.  In order to achieve this look, select trousers that are tailored, have a flat-front, and wide or straight legs.  You want to choose dark wash jeans that flare at the ankle or straight leg and have stretch fabric.  A-line, wrap or draped skirts and dresses are other fantastic options.  Avoid prints on the bottom half of your body.  Skinny pants or jeans are not flattering, as they will create the dreaded ice-cream cone affect.  Avoid jeans with embellishments.  The fabrics you select should not be too loose and not too form-fitting.

Body Shape: Boyish

Women with a boyish shaped body (straight up and down), look fabulous when they create the illusion of curves.  Select pieces that showcase your small waist.  To create the illusion of an hour glass figure, choose pleated and peplum skirts and dresses; as they will add roundness to your bottom half.  Ruffles, bows, and v-necks create the illusion of a bigger bust.  Have fun with prints, but you should not go overboard.  Shirt dresses and wrap dressesalso add curves.  If you do not want to add curves but still want to look chic, A-line and shift dresses are perfect options.

FASHION NEWS:

1. KARL LAGERFIELD HAS A NEW LOWER PRICE LINE CALLED "KARL." THE LINE WILL DEBUT ON JANUARY 25, 2012 ON NET-A-PORTER. SIGN UP AT NETAPORTER.COM FOR UPDATES.
2. PANTONE HAS RELEASED THE 2012 COLOR OF THE YEAR, TANGERINE TANGO. THIS COLOR IS A REDDISH ORANGE AS SEEN IN THE SWATCH TO THE LEFT. DESIGNER'S WILL LIKELY USE THIS COLOR IN THEIR FALL 2012 COLLECTIONS. PANTONE WILL PARTNER WITH SEPHORA FOR A LIMITED EDITION BEAUTY LINE SET TO LAUNCH IN MARCH 2012. THE LINE WILL INCLUDE NAIL COLOR, EYE SHADOW, LIPSTICK, GLOSS, AND ACCESSORIES.
3. CHANEL'S NEWEST POLISH IS CALLED DIWALI. IT IS A METALLIC GOLD SHADE. EXPECT TO PURCHASE THIS POLISH IN THE SUMMER OF 2012. YOU CAN GET A SNEAK PEAK OF THIS SHADE AND CHANEL'S PRE-FALL 2012 RUNWAY SHOW AT FASHIONISTA.COM OR STYLE.COM.

Body Shape: Curvy

Curvy women should show off their waist by selecting clothes that are structured, nipped at the waist, and form-fitting.  Form-fitting does not mean tight.  Look for clothes that skim your curves.  For example, A-line skirts and dresses, empire waist shirts and dresses, color blocking, tonal dressing, pencil skirts, and pieces that come with a belt.  Curvy women will notice pants and jeans fit your bottom, but leaves a gap in the back.  Have the jeans or pants tailored at the waist.  Avoid large patterns, as they will only make you appear larger.

What is your body shape?

The secret to looking great is selecting clothes that look like they were made just for you.  You can achieve this by taking your measurements to determine your body shape.  Wrap a tape measure around your bust at the midline.  Measure your stomach by wrapping the tape measure around your body at the belly button.  Take the measurement around your hips or thighs, whichever is bigger.  There are four body shapes.  A woman can be curvy as an hourglass, top-heavy, boyish as in straight-up-and-down, or bottom heavy.  Plus-size women will also fall into one of these categories.  Once you know your measurements, you can save a lot of time when shopping, especially online.  You can also select clothes that flatter your body.  Look below for examples of the four body shapes.  These photos can help you to determine your body shape also.

The New Neutral for Fall 2011

Fall's new neutral for 2011 is heather gray.  I'm loving this color.  It is chic and glamorous.  Don't get me wrong, I still love my black pieces.  However, too much black all of the time can seem boring.  Heather gray is just as soft, sexy, timeless, and elegant as black.  One can pair pastel hues with heather gray for as a nod to Spring or select head-to-toe gray for a streamlined effect.  I prefer wearing this hue from head-to-toe.  How do you feel about this hue?  How will you incorporate this gray into your wardrobe?