Dear Rissa,
I’ve seen many fashion magazines tackle women’s problems on body types and how to dress accordingly. I’ve heard endless stories on what to wear if you have small breasts, large breasts, big hips, small hips, a long torso or short torso, and a big bottom or flat bottom. I’ve read about fashion fixes for every body type whether it be slim, curvy, boyish, athletic or a plus-size. But those aren’t the only problem areas of a woman’s body. There are other parts of my body that I’m quite conscious of, too.
What do you recommend for people with long feet? I’m only 5’5" but I wear 8 1/2-size shoes. Must be my long toes – my friends tease me that they look like fingers! I’ve also got chunky ankles, what do I do about that? And lastly, I’ve got a long neck. What kinds of blouses would best flatter me? – Frustrated Farrah
Dear Frustrated Farrah,
For long feet, consider buying shoes with a low-cut vamp (the part of the shoe that covers the top of the foot) and a slight-to-moderate heel. A shoe with a high-cut vamp is likely to highlight your long feet. Also go for styles that emphasize the width of the foot rather than the length. In other words, the main decorative elements of the shoe should run across the foot rather than down the foot.
For thick or chunky ankles, low heels are more flattering than flats. A low vamp shoe style will work well not just for your long feet but for your chunky ankles as well. That’s because a low vamp will draw the eye down from the ankle. Avoid T-straps, mules, clogs, ankle boots, or any other shoes that lure the eye up toward the ankle rather than down toward the toes. And ankle bracelets aren’t a stylish choice either.
For your long neck, look for blouses with standup or high collars. Skip collarless jackets or tops. Also consider using scarves and jewelry that hang just at the base of the neck. Choker necklaces are a good choice. Avoid using scarves or necklaces that hang very low. Dangling earrings will also give the illusion of a shorter neck but make sure to avoid the long, straight, thin kinds. The extending lines parallel to your neck will keep your neck looking long.
Dear Rissa,
I’ve been shopping lately (well, just window-shopping!) and I’ve just noticed that one brand can have so many names! Like Ralph Lauren has Polo Sport, RL, and Polo Jeans. I never really thought about it but what’s the difference? I mean, why do they have so many lines when it’s all just the same designer? Is there even a difference? Just wondering. – Brand Babe
Dear Brand Babe,
Big-name designers are aware of the "glitter factor" surrounding their names. But at the same time, they know that only a small percentage of the buying public can actually afford a $1,000 suit. That’s why in the ’80s and ’90s, these designers began to create spin-off lines. The pieces in these secondary lines are made for customers who crave the labels but can’t afford the expensive price tags on high-end pret-a-porter.
A more appropriate term for the mega designers’ by-products is "diffusion" lines. The lines come from the same "name" as the collections but are focused on a different direction or market. These often have the words "jeans" or "sport" somewhere in the label. These are usually targeted to younger customers that’s why the prices are lower compared to the other lines produced by the designer. But notice that it’s still more expensive than comparable merchandise from non-glitzy manufacturers. A T-shirt may just be like any white tee in a department store but because it’s D&G, it costs 10 times more. The name or label makes it more expensive.
In general, the lower the price point of a diffusion line, the less direct the designer’s participation. All they do sometimes is give an ok to prototypes made by sub-designers. In some cases, the design and/or manufacture is licensed out to other companies. The name on the label means the "glitter factor" is still there but otherwise, the items may be just like the cheaper ones. Buyers either don’t know or don’t care. They’d willingly shell out an expensive extra for "a few grains of stardust." Be familiar with the different strengths and flaws of the diffusion lines. Some are great, offering serious quality at reasonable prices, while a few are bad. When shopping, simply trust your own eyes and hands.
Here’s a list of designers and their diffusion lines but it will likely change over time.
Alberta Ferretti
Philosophy
Anna Sui
Sui
Anne Klein
Anne Klein II
A Line
Bill Blass
Blassport
Christian Lacroix
Bazar de Christian Lacroix
Lacroix Jeans
Calvin Klein
CK
Calvin Klein Jeans
Cerruti Arte
Cerruti 1881
Cerruti Club
Dolce & Gabbana
D&G
Dolce & Gabbana Jeans
Donna Karan Signature
Donna Karan New York
DKNY
D
DKNY Jeans
Escada / Margaretha Ley
Laurel
Escada Couture (eveningwear)
Escada Elements
Escada Sport
A Priori 7
Geoffrey Beene
Beene Bag
Geoffrey Beene Sport
Georges Rech
Synonyme
Unanyme
Gianfranco Ferre
Ferre Studio 000.1
Ferre Jeans
Gianni Versace
Istante
Versatile (eveningwear)
Versus
Versace.intensive
Versace Jeans Couture
Versace Jeans
Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani Borgonuovo 21
Le Collezione
Mani
Emporio Armani
Armani A/X
Armani Jeans
Helmut Lang
Helmut Lang Jeans
Jean-Paul Gaultier
Junior Gaultier
Gaultier Jeans
Jones New York
Jones New York Country
Jones New York Sport
Isaac Mizrahi
Is**c
Karl Lagerfeld
KL
Kenzo
Kenzo Jeans
Krizia
Krizia per Te
Liz Claiborne Collection
Lizwear
Liz & Co.
Lizsport
Elisabeth (large-size)
Emma James
Villager Signature
Louis Feraud
Louis Feraud Contraire
MaxMara
MaxMara Basic
MM by MaxMara
Weekend by MaxMara
Marella
Marella Sport
Pennyblack
Piano Forte by MaxMara
Marina Rinaldi (large-size)
Sportmax
I Blues
Prisma
Missoni
Missoni Sport
Moschino
Moschino Cheap and Chic
Oscar de la Renta
Oscar
Prada
Miu Miu
Granello
Prada Sport
Ralph Lauren Collection
Polo Sport by Ralph Lauren
RL
Ralph by Ralph Lauren
Polo Jeans
Lauren
Rifat Ozbek
Future Ozbek
Sonia Rykiel
Sonia Rykiel Inscription
Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Girl
Ungaro
Emanuel Ungaro U Collection
Emanuel Ungaro Parallele
Emanuel
Emanuel/Emanuel Ungaro
Liberte
Valentino
Miss V
Valentino Studio
Oliver
Vivienne Westwood Gold Label
Vivienne Westwood Red Label
Anglomania
Yves Saint Laurent
Rive Gauche
YSL Variation
Yves Saint Laurent Encore
For more tips on fashion, beauty and lifestyle trends, watch The Kikay Machine daily on Juice TV, Channel 47 on Destiny Cable and Channel 15 on Dream Cable. The show will soon be on SkyCable and Home Cable. Watch also Fashion TV Philippines on ABC-5 every Sunday at 11 p.m.
For your questions, comments and suggestions, e-mail the author at rissa_ms@hotmail.com.