Chic Tip #8: How to Take Your Body Measurements

Since the introduction of the custom made cheongsams, we've been receiving queries about how to measure oneself. So it's a great time to share some tips on how to take your body measurements! Here it goes:  

 1. To take your bust measurement, take the measuring tape around your back and bring across the fullest part of your bust, under your arm pit. Your arms should be relaxed, down at your sides. 

2. Waist is the smallest part of your waist and is usually an inch or so above your belly button. It is also called the natural waist.

3. It's good to leave a finger-space or two of spacing between your body and the measuring tape, to adjust the level of 'tightness' or looseness that you're comfortable with. This is especially important for bust, waist and hips. But don't do that for shoulders. 

4. Measure shoulders from the end of one shoulder to the other end of the shoulders - that's the broadest. Most dresses' shoulders (esp. sleeveless) should be smaller than the breadth of your shoulders. 

5. Make sure that your measuring tape is parallel to the ground when you are measuring bust, waist and hips. 

6. Measure your hips (the widest parts of your hips, across your hip bones) while standing with feet together. 

7. Measure yourself after a meal (lunch/dinner) to get the most accurate reading. 

8. Try to measure a few days before or after your menstrual period to avoid measuring yourself when there is water retention. 

9. Last but not the least - the most accurate measurement is done when one is wearing only underwear! :)

Chic Tip #7: Seven Cool Laundry Tips!

  Picture modified from http://www.twigandthistle.com

1. Sprinkle baking soda at the bottom of your laundry basket to absorb odour.

2. Minimise wear-and-tear of clothes by washing them inside out.

3. Fasten buttons, zips and tie up strings before tossing them into the machine to prevent the clothes from being tangled up.

4. Soak new clothes in a pail of water with a cup of vinegar for 15 minutes before washing. This will keep the colours from running.

5. Place a small tray in your laundry area to collect forgotten items in pockets such as coins, or dropped buttons, etc.

6. To get rid of perspiration stains on shirt collars, apply some shampoo on the collar, leave it for 10minutes before washing. 

7. Avoid dry cleaning white shirts as that may cause it to turn grey.

Chic Tip #6: How to Wear Cocktail Dresses

This Chic Tip is modified from LCB Spree#11 Frocks Rock | Cool Tunics!

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Yeah, it's the time of the year to shop for Cocktail Dresses!

We all know half the fun of any do is the shopping and dressing up way before that! So, let's start early shall we? :) Well, what kind of dresses to choose, especially with the variety of choices we have! Simple answer: start with the dress silhouette. 

Full-Skirted Frocks

Off the Runways of the 2010 Autumn/Winter collections, is a nod to the 50s feminine glamour, started by the Dior House back then (and revived now thanks to Mad Men). The nipped-in defined waist and full skirt is in! Celebrate your curves with the frocks!

Streamlined Tunics

A more streamlined look can be achieved with tunic dresses. One of the easiest ways to dress chic and simply, a tunic in an outstanding colour or texture is statement enough! Cinch a belt to complete the look!

Clean Lines A-lines

The A-line dress is, in many ways, a girl's best friend! It fits most figures, and is especially effective for bottom-heavy figures as the skirt smooths out that part.  Also, the fitted bodice creates attention upwards - a great way to dress for the right attention! ;)

Fun with Bubble Skirts

Inject some fun into your dresses if you're anticipating an evening of fun and laughter! A bubble skirt dress silhouette does just that for you! A few simple style tips for wearing bubble skirt dresses: wear them short (a good way above knees), wear them monochromatic (keep to one colour scheme),  wear an oversized obi-style belt to define your waist (or find a dress with a large waistband!)

Body-Hugging Sheath

Slim cut and figure-fitting sheath. Think: a pair of 5-in heels and a glam clutch. Need we say more...? ;)

Beautiful Empire-Waist Dresses

The high-waisted dress is great for those of us who normally comb the 'petite' racks for our sizes. And to avoid putting others on the unnecessary bumpwatch, remember this when you're wearing empire-waist dresses: wear flowy fabric (like silk or jersey) that skim the body at the right places; make sure the tightest part of the bodice cinches just right under your bustline at your rib cages (the smallest part of your body); and use a hemline that is around the knee.

Chic Tip #5 - Don't Have a Measuring Tape? Make Your Own! :)

Do you enjoy online clothes shopping but don't have a measuring tape to measure yourself? Fret not! Here's a lovely measuring tape for you to download!  It even comes with specific instructions on how to print it out properly so that your measuring tape works. :) 

Chic Tip #4: I've Got Nothing to Wear!

I'm sure many of us have looked into a wardrobe full of clothes, and yet still wailed, 'I've got nothing to wear!'

In order to have a functional wardrobe, it's essential to first take a good hard look at what's in your closet, and decide if it's time to purge!

So, how to purge, and what to purge?

~ Consider shelf life: If you never wear it, apply the twelve-month rule, and recycle. If you must, allow yourself a few exceptions.

~ Discern: Be ruthless, or bring in a ruthless friend - preferably someone whose style you admire.

~ Document: Take out your mobile and start snapping! Document outfits you come up with your wardrobe.

~ Fill Gaps: List what you need and like, and buy accordingly.

~ Organise: Redesign your closet so you can see everything, and group things - whether by size, colour, or use - in a way that makes sense to you.

~ Restore Order: Make your closet a haven of order and function. Weed out what no longer fits. Determine what you reach for daily and give it an easy-to-reach place in your closet.

~ Recycle: Keep a box on the floor for charity donations.

~ Party!: When the purge is finished, invite friends over for a giveaway!

Adapted from CHIC Simple Series on Women's Wardrobe

Chic Tip #2: What types of hangers to use (or not)?

I've always thought - how lovely my wardrobe would look if all my clothes are hung on the same type of hangers (okay, this is the organisational freak in me talking). But, if you see the banner of Le Chic Boutique - you'd understand. ;)


I love the look of having just 1 type of hanger to do the job of hanging clothes, until I found out that this is not to be the case if one is to preserve one's clothes. In fact, some clothes shouldn't be hung - that's death sentence for them! (Pun intended.)


So, what hangers to use, and what not to be hung, here are some of them:


1. For blouses with shoulder pads, dresses and lightweight jackets: use wide plastic or padded hangers


2. For tailored pieces like suit jackets, and heavier pieces: use padded or wood hangers


3. For slacks and skirts: use hangers with clips and clip them by the waist


4. For pants: if you fold pants over a hanger, be sure to readjust them once in a while, as they collect dust and fade at the point of folding!


5. Wire hangers are the Worst! If you must use them, use them for hanging lightweight shirts or blouses without shoulder pads


6. Knitwear should be folded, not hung, to avoid stretching


There you go, with all the varieties of hangers needed, my wardrobe no longer looks uniform, but hey, it's all for the good of the clothes, right? ;)




Reference: InStyle: Secrets of Style

A more detailed version is featured at Ezine Articles here: 

Chic Tip #1: 3 Simple Steps to Buying Clothes that Fit When Shopping Online

I want to first thank my customers for raising this very real issue of clothes measurements when buying from online shops. Absolutely valid point - how to make sure that the clothes that you buy from online shops fit you?

Nobody wants to waste their $$ for buying something that doesn't fit. Me neither. And I've been wondering how to help my customers to minimise the risks.

So, here's how we do it. Since we can't measure ourselves by ourselves, we use our clothes.

For more accurate measurements, use clothes similar to the ones that you intend to buy. So, if you would like to buy a t-shirt, then, use your current t-shirt as the gauge. If you're thinking of getting a non-elastic piece of clothing, use similar fabric as the gauge.

It just take 3 simple steps:

Step 1: Take out pieces of clothing that you think fit you very well, and you really like the fit. Choose one t-shirt, one dress and a pair of shorts.
Step 2: Lie the clothes flat, either on the floor or on the bed. The best is to choose (if possible), materials that will stay quite still. Flimsy materials like silk and satin are harder to lie flat nicely. Step 3: Take a measuring tape and measure the relevant parts of the clothings. These are the measurements that you will see on Le Chic Boutique clothings as well:

And voila! You have your own personal 'benchmarks' when shopping online for the various types of clothing!

~ Happy Shopping! ~