Synopsis
Dressing the Petite Woman is the essential guide to selecting clothes that will help you look sensational! If you’re 5’4” or shorter, you have some challenges besides height—whether it’s a pear-shaped torso, an over-endowed bust, hefty hips, or any of a myriad of trouble spots. In Ellen York’s words, "We’re not real-life dolls." Even fashion models deal with problem areas. No matter what your body shape, there are clothes out there that will make you look and feel like a million bucks. You just have to know how to find and choose what is right for you from among the bewildering array of choices. In Dressing the Petite Woman, you will learn the timeless principles that will help you emphasize the positive and minimize the negative—and result in the new you! Ellen, founder and president of the Ellen York Image Institute, has 25 years of experience as a dress designer and image consultant. Demonstrating her savvy in dressing women of all sizes and shapes, her book is replete with photos of clothes and accessories carefully selected from many department stores. And the "before" and "after" models are "real." Here’s what Dressing the Petitie Woman offers: Dos and don'ts. For example: If you’re a small petite, avoid snug-fitting tops and shirts. And stay away from turtlenecks—they’ll hide your neck and make you appear even shorter. Wear shallow V-necks and open collars to make you appear taller. Before and after makeovers. In the eye-opening "before” and “after" photos, you’ll see women transformed before your very eyes. Techniques for dealing with figure challenges. Can a 5'2” woman weighing 250 pounds look elegant? Absolutely! Can a woman with heavy thighs wear pants? Yes indeed! "How to" Advice. If you’re carrying some extra weight, don’t try to hide in black. Place yourself as a “season” in the color scheme of things and watch a whole new world of color open before your very eyes. The practical wisdom in these pages also includes how to accessorize with jewelry, shoes, shawls, and more. Where to shop. You don’t have to visit specialty shops. Most department stores have a Petite department, but you don’t have to limit yourself. Many of us mix and match clothes from the Misses department and the Petite department to meet our specific needs. Shopping tips. Among the practical suggestions: Look for blouses and tops with 3/4-length sleeves and a rounded or V-neck. Dress in a softly draping or straight skirt that shows off some leg (straight skirts should be mid-knee to 2" above the knee; soft skirts should fall about mid-calf). And more! On every page, the petite woman will find answers to looking good by dressing in clothing styles that reproportion her body so she looks fantastic while camouflaging areas she doesn’t want to show.
About the Author
It took the dreaded diagnosis of breast cancer to kick off a new adventure. That’s exactly what happened to Ellen in April of 2004. She didn’t want to begin the rigorous cancer treatment without having something positive on which to rivet her attention. Hence the seed was planted for this book and the ones to follow in this series. With many years as a sought-after image consultant preceded by a career as a successful dress designer, Ellen's brand-new series of books combines her experience and expertise in a way that has excited her from the onset. The prospect of reaching a wider audience and helping people look their best thrilled her then and grows with time. As an image consultant, Ellen's goal is to reveal each person in his or her best possible light. Whether in a career or to fit a lifestyle, her "whole-person" approach covers the spectrum from group presentations to individual consulting and spans everything from basic clothing choices to color-typing to accessorizing—even social graces and table etiquette. Her goal is to unveil the new you! Ellen's workshop style combines wit, visuals, and an energetic public speaking style in motivational presentations and demonstrations in which the most frequent and common feedback is: "When are you coming back?" Before Ellen became an image consultant, she founded Ellen York Dress Design in Seattle—one of the first couturiers to design suits and dresses specifically for working women, who were frustrated in the "hide-and-seek" search for clothes in the retail market that would turn them on. Seizing the moment, she sold her designs to welcoming department stores and boutiques in the Pacific Northwest, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, catering to the private client as well, and sewing for every body shape imaginable. Ever since Ellen was a young teen, she yearned to be a dress designer but started her career on a different track — using her musical talents as a nightclub performer — singing and playing piano and Hammond organ. It was fun and exciting to play with other talented musicians, too. But despite packed clubs when the audience knew she was coming to town, her inner voice led her to her childhood dream, dress design, which started her down the path she's on now. Now you can benefit from this information in print! Enjoy Ellen's first book, Dressing the Petite Woman, for women 5'4" and under — ideal weight through Plus sizes. Look for her forthcoming book, Dressing the Big and Beautiful Woman and the rest of the series to follow!
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