Kimberly Jarman Photography

Do you ever stop and think about how complicated it is to be an American woman?  We’re sort of amazing.  About 100 years ago, we were viewed as less-than-a-citizen and couldn’t vote.  About 50 years ago we were placed in one role and one role only: housewife.  About 20 years ago, we were supposed to be both high-powered career moguls while also having a casserole on the table by 6pm while also looking a lot like Cindy Crawford.  About 2 years ago, a woman was running for president.  Women in this country shift and change and morph and become a different breed each decade—while men are still doing the same thing they’ve always done.  (Don’t get me wrong, no one loves men more than I do, but seriously, get a new outfit, dudes.)

What I like most about this Pygmalion-esque  crusade throughout American Womanhood is that it all gets reflected in the clothing.  In the early 1900’s, women were covered from head to toe in styles brought over from Europe and pared down into functioning styles depending on the economic class of the woman.  In the 1950’s, full-skirted, good-girl dresses and perfect lipstick completed the housewife and mother look necessary to convey the womanly profession of the time.  In the 1970-1990’s, women started wearing a lot of men’s style clothing, as we stormed those glass ceilings and fought the equality fight.  And then there’s today:  a slight return to the pretty, the feminine, and the girly which tells me one thing- we’re no longer trying to be viewed the same as men, we’re comfortable being women while expecting the same treatment.  I like this era.  I like the differences between men and women, and I don’t think there’s weakness in it.  I think we hold a lot of upper hands-and as I often have said, “You shouldn’t underestimate the power of pretty.”

This got me thinking about modern women in other areas of the world, and how their lifestyles get reflected in their clothing.  What are they wearing and what does it mean?  So…..let’s check out some world fashion, shall we?

China

This is a group of women changing a lot right now, as they are moving steadily forward in a women’s liberation from a very heavily male-dominated country where women are traditionally taught to always be subservient.  Very long gone are the days of foot-binding and all the other traditions that haven’t always been especially kind to this gorgeous group of women.  On top of all this change and shifting toward feminine power, Chinese fashion is evolving.  One of the coolest things about Chinese fashion is the constant melding of the traditionally beautiful styles of the culture and the Western influences moving in.  The colors might scream MTV but the silk fabrics and cap sleeve cuts keep in mind the Chinese culture.  Like always, the fashion is reflecting what’s happening.  The women are moving out of some of the traditional roles, and the clothing is too.  One thing that won’t ever change; that glossy hair, that great skin, and those delicate features.  These women are so celebrated for beauty, and they always will be!

I feel empowered just looking at these women!  Gorgeous!

Colombia

Oh man these women are beautiful.  It’s almost like a national export, The Colombian Woman.  Latin America has always been a great place to showcase and celebrate the female beauty, and this culture is pretty ripe with machismo and rigid traditional roles.  The great thing about these women, though, as Shakira shows us over and over again, is that they celebrate their role!  They don’t shy away from their sensuality, their sexual power, their unrivaled beauty and they fully utilize the power in such things.  While you don’t hear much news on women’s liberation or changes in this area, it’s because for the most part, everyone is happy in their roles.  The average Colombian woman has a job or a family, and is actively being a hot chick as a side job.  What on earth could one complain about that?  Their fashion is always so much fun because it’s skimpy, sexy, bright, and fun—just like the women!  (Sidenote- Google “Colombia Fashion”…it’s ALL bikinis.  What an amazing place.)

Be hotter Colombia, I dare you.

Paris

If we’re talking about women of the world fashion, then obviously the only place we really need to discuss is Paris.  The Parisian woman is so effortlessly chic and put together that you could write an entire book on it (and people have, many people have).  The women of Paris are much like American women in their pursuit of careers, education, and success, but the similarities end there.  France, as a country, is much more focused on the pleasures of this world, and the women there are an indulgent, lucky breed.  We have guilt, they have love affairs.  We try to do right, they try to do fun.  They write memoirs, we make scrapbooks.  They strive for beauty, we strive for function.  (I’m so jealous of French women it’s unreal, in case you can’t tell)  The main difference in fashion is that these women own a lot less clothing than we do, but all of it is a lot better.    Whereas I might own 20 fun, cheap sundresses, a Parisian woman is probably going to own 2 absolutely perfect suits that will last her the next 20 years.  The refined Parisian lifestyle and taste is reflected in their gorgeous clothing and sophistication that cannot be copied or taught, you’re just born that way over there, I guess.

Ahhhh Paris fashion, you are never wrong, never old, never less than perfect.

Russia

Ok, these women have some interesting lives.  First off, there are actual laws prohibiting women from working “too late” or carrying too heavy of objects in jobs.  You can get temporary contracts allowing you to work after midnight, but this is not the norm.  (I’m all for these laws, even though it’s so anti-feminist of me, but I want some legal reasons why I can’t help my friends move anymore).  Women are doing MUCH better here post-Soviet days, making up half of the employed population, but like most countries, pay is still pretty male-dominated.  These ladies are so tough, though, coming from a country that has been through many wars/upheavals/etc.  They also happen to be sort of goddess-like beautiful!  The climate is freakishly cold, but this doesn’t mean these girls don’t like to dress cute just like we do!  While some traditional “village” garb is still out there (and let’s hope they never lose it, culture is important!) modern day Russian outfits are a lot like modern-day Russian women.  Functional, contemporary, and quite pretty.  Oh, and no one, NO ONE rocks an awesome winter coat like a Russian woman!

I LOVE these looks!  Russia is looking gorgeous on the fashion front these days!

Now obviously, I have left out about a million places, but I think this is a pretty good array of world fashion for today.  Sometimes it’s easy to get a little ethnocentric about being American (because hello, we’re amazing) but I like to learn about our worldly sisters so much.  Fashion is such a universal thing.  I don’t care if you’re Chinese, Israeli, Canadian or from the Bronx, every single woman in the world wakes up and does at least one thing to make herself look a little cuter today.  That’s a world movement I fully support!

One of my favorite readers, little miss Allison Bess, suggested I do a post on sunglasses for every face shape, and girlie you are right on!  Sunglasses are to me what a cape is to Superman—the necessary accessory to complete my superhero getup (or just to cover my makeup-free, tired face…erroneous).  I love sunglasses so much that I carry two pairs in my purse, (one black, one brown) and I have an emergency pair in my car at all times (except when a certain little sister that shall remain nameless rides with me, puts them on her face, and magically forgets where they went after our driving excursion.  Yep.  You know who you are.)

Anyway, let’s get to it!

Determing your face shape

Yes, I know we all learned our shapes back in preschool, but I swear sometimes I have a long face, sometimes I have an oval face, and sometimes my head grows 86 inches overnight and I have this huge, freakish hideous head.  It happens.  Anyway, it’s not like our faces come with easy to follow outlines, so let’s talk about what the  face shapes are, and get yours into a category.  Start with looking in a mirror and answering the following questions:

Following my hairline and jaw-line as the outer border of my face, what is the overall shape?

How wide is the widest point of my forehead when compared to my jaw-line?

Is the widest point of my jaw-line wider than my forehead?

How prominent and rounded are my cheekbones compared to my forehead and jawline?

Ok, have we got our answers?  Let’s apply them!

If:

Your face’s length equals one and a half times the width, you have an oval face.

Your face is almost as wide as it is long, you have a round face.

Your hairline width is almost exactly that of your jawline, you have a square face.  (not to be confused with a round face, a square face shape does not have that circular feel to it’s angles, but sharper ones)

Your jawline is wider than your forehead, you have a triangular face.

Your jawline is noticeably smaller than your forehead width, you have a diamond face.

Great!  Now we all have a face shape with a name!  So let’s pick out our shades ladies.

Round Faces

Obviously, the goal is to thin out and add some length to a round face. Go wider than your widest portion of the face and keep it square in the lens. The idea is to balance a round face shape with a more square set of sunglasses.

Round-face rock stars!

Square Faces:

You are the opposite of a round face so you want to minimize the sharpness of your widest portions and add some shape.  Cat-eye shapes look SO good on square faces that I get really mad I don’t have one!  Round and oval lenses are needed here, because you already have a square shape under them.  Much like the round face/square lens idea, to balance a square face, you want rounded corners on your lenses.

Square-face starlets!

Triangular Face:

You want to decrease the attention to your prominent jawline by balancing it with the eyewear.  Your width should be at least as wide as your jawline. The shape of the lenses aren’t as important here as the width and size in respect to your jawline.  Balance is the word we keep repeating…..

Triangular-faced tarts!

Diamond Faces:

Like the triangular face, but in opposite, you want to balance your wider forehead and not overwhelm your smaller jawline.  Rounded frames will work best and keep your width in control, not going further than your cheekbones. If your face is sharply pointed  at the chin line (like Reese Witherspoon) keep your lenses curved, not square.

Diamond-faced darlings

Oval Faces:

Brats.  I put you last because this face can wear anything! You’re really not going to go wrong with sunglasses, so I say jump on the trendiest, flashiest thing you find!  Whatever speaks to you, buy it, your face can handle it all.

Oval-faced Ophelias!

Oblong Faces:

Ok, I feel like I have a squarish-oval face—so I say that my face is oblong. My goal is to soften the square parts while shortening the length, so I don’t go wider than that widest part of my face. Round or square frames don’t really matter, I just like them big and covering half of my HUGE head.

No, the Olsens do not have oblong heads like me, but they do rock the HUGE glasses!

Universal Glasses:

The Jackie O style are pretty universal because they’re so big you’re barely seeing a face anyway!  Just pick between square and round lenses to compliment your shape (remember—opposites, round face=square lens, square face=round lens)

Inspired by Ms. O

Color:

Brown and black are obviously the safest bet for purchasing sunglasses, because you can wear them every single day, but colored glasses are super fun.  I think this is totally a trial and error operation, though, save a couple universal ones.  Red glasses are fun on everyone, I really don’t know anyone that can’t rock a big, red pair of shades.  Also, white can work on most people, but style is so key because you should always think of white as a highlighter.  Otherwise, go try out that purple pair before you buy them, might be the cutest thing you’ve ever bough!  Kim Jarman has an amazing turquoise, swirly, colored, big, square pair that rock-star her out in seconds!  Color can be super fun.

Tips:

Watch where the connection over your nose goes.  I don’t have a dainty little nose, and sometimes certain styles have a bridge that goes really high, on the very top of my nose, and I hate this because it adds like 67 inches to my already 67 inch nose!  Also, be careful with how tight the ear-bars (is this a word???) are, because I’ve had some raging headaches from too-tight sunglasses!

Allison, thanks for the tip!  If you are wondering about a certain fashion issue and want an article, totally drop me a line or comment!  I am here to serve you, my darlings.

Boudoir, pin-up, corset, lace, see-through, frilly, sexy.  No, surprisingly I’m not talking about your undergarment drawer, I’m talking about the latest fashion trend of outer-wear resembling underwear!  Is is just me, or have you guys also noticed the influx of Moulin Rouge-looking pieces creeping into TV shows, department stores, and my closet?  Well, it’s because it’s a viable observation; the new trend of lingerie-inspired clothing is really taking over, and I’m telling you it’s do-able people.  With, of course, some JennyP Guidelines.

Guideline #1:  Know your audience.

If you work in a corporate office, are a Supreme Court judge, a police officer, headed to your 7^th grader’s honor roll breakfast, or attending the Republican Party Convention, then maybe save this trend for another day.  While these styles have definitely been adopted to wear outside, it doesn’t mean they are for every occasion!  There are little touches you can add into your outfits that exude the trend without appearing inappropriate, though.  A frilly top under a blazer, a corset style top under a sheer top with full coverage, a lacy shoe, a frilly bag, or a bow in your hair.  I’m telling you, this stuff can be added in with little touches and make your whole vibe a little girlier, a little trendier, and a little sexier.

Guideline #2:  Know your body type.

I have, in kind terms, a very small bustline (or as some jerk in 9^th grade described it, “a two-sided back”.  Clever, but now he has a beer gut.  Karma.)  Anyway, I have tried on quite a few of the corseted-shape tops that are popular in this trend, and while a couple worked, I just don’t fill out most of those styles at all.  They look amazing on my friend, Cathy, though, who was blessed with a one-sided back.  What I’m trying to say, is that if you try on a piece and it just doesn’t work on your body, go with another version of the style.  So while I look like a pre-teen boy in the corsets, I can ROCK the teeny, tiny, frill-covered dresses.  Take that 9^th grade jerk (I did an air-karate chop).

Guideline #3:  Fit, Fit, Fit.

Fit is KEY.  Ok, I am a fit freak anyway.  I won’t buy anything unless it fits perfectly, but when you’re trying to do this style, you have to make sure things fit really, really well.  You don’t want gaps, bulges, folds, or pleats in the wrong areas.  Lingerie is meant to show off the body and blend into your shape, so lingerie-inspired styles need to do the same thing.  If something is too big, it will look silly and frumpy.  If it’s too small, it will look cheap and make you look….curvier *wink*.  So watch the fit of these pieces.  If you can’t move your arms, bend over, or show your mother, move on sweetie, there are other clothes awaiting you!

Guideline #4:  Remember, you’re not a celebrity.

Don’t take this look too far.  Don’t walk out of your house IN lingerie, that’s not the goal here!  Don’t go to work in a nightie.  Don’t go to school in thigh-high fishnets.  Don’t forget your pants (Lady Gaga aside).  Don’t wear a bra….and only a bra, no matter how pretty it is.  The idea is to wear things inspired by lingerie, not actual lingerie, so unless you really are a Moulin Rouge extra (lucky!), make sure your clothing is actually meant for daylight and the public.  I would classify the following looks as:  The Wrong Way.

While I love all things Gaga, most of us need to wear pants.  (And by most, I mean all….)