Five face and body flatterers
Tis the season to feel pasty. And porky, come to that. But it's not the season to start a boot camp radiance regime. What you need now are instant perk-me-ups and little tricks to get you through the dark season. Here are our top five below.
Teal
Little known fact: on the colour spectrum the bluey green shade teal is the precise opposite of the pink in human skin. This means that wearing teal brings out a natural flush, making you look perkier. The principle applies whether you're a Celtic rose or tanned, though blue-green also looks amazing against black skin. If you have brown eyes, try a flick of teal eyeliner for ultra sultry eyes.
Miss Selfridge teal dress, £42
ASOS faux snake metal tip clutch, £10
Peacocks ladies pussy bow button blouse, £16
Accessorise single eyeshadow, £4
Pippa Middleton/Image: Rex
[See also: 10 New Year's fashion resolutions]
Glitz
There's nothing like a bit of 'disco for daywear' to trick people into thinking you've made an effort. Look for metallic tops and jumpers, or just wear your glitziest earrings during the day. Gold and bronze are especially kind against ashen skin, though if you have a warm complexion silver will work, too.
Dorothy Perkins metallic gold slouchy jumper, £25
Miss Selfridge silver foil printed jumper, £42
Evans Double drop diamond earrings, £4
Topshop gold beaten shape drop earrings, £12.50
Nicola Roberts/Image: PA
The ruffle
There's a reason M&S keeps selling out of 'waterfall cardigans'. They're super flattering on 'mature' décolletages, and a clever disguise over post-Christmas stomachs. Ruffles and floppy bits generally are great for skimming over any areas you'd like to play down — even your hips if you're careful not to go too ra-ra. Look for blouses, cardigans and dresses with ruffles - and they'll become your new best friends.
Roger & Rogers wide rib waterfall cardigan, £16
USC abandon frill front blouse, £25
Christina Hendricks/Image: Rex
The nude shoe
Take a bow Kate Middleton. If you want to look leggier your best bet is to follow the Duchess of Cambridge in flesh coloured tights and a nude court shoe. Note: any kind of ankle strap will defeat the object. If you're so cool that the thought of flesh coloured tights makes you shudder go for black opaques and a black court shoe. Yes, court shoe. No longer in the style dog-house, these are the best thing for longer looking legs.
John Lewis KG by Kurt Gieger Bethany patent shoes, £90
Fashion Union nude Jennie patent heels, £25
ASOS snow berry bow metal trim court shoe, £25
Kate Middleton/Image: Rex
The boat neck
The straight across boat neck is under-rated. It shows off shoulders and necks beautifully, and even flatters a large bust by breaking up the bit between chest and chin. By making your shoulders appear marginally wider, it also makes you look more slender on the bottom half (and isn't that what most of us are chasing in the changing room?). Try it in sweaters, t shirts and dresses — Breton stripe being the classic.
Topshop navy oversize Breton stripe sweat top, £26
Oasis colour block lantern dress, £65
Jayma Mays/Image: Rex
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