Layer like you ‘ve never done before

Unusual tips to astonish with your style and avoid looking “stuffed”.

One of the good things of belonging to the XS clad, is firstly that you can wear many layers of clothing without looking like “a big meringue” as Emma Thompson said in “Four Weddings and A Funeral”, and secondly that you get to become an expert in the “art” of layering.

We suggest that you try some not-that-common layering tips, which you may find useful, whatever size you normally wear, especially now that with springtime ahead, the ever-changing weather will have you putting on and off pieces of clothing during the day. Yes, at first you may laugh with some advice, but if you follow it the right way, you ‘ll see that unorthodox practices can sometimes work miracles.

• Opt for contrasts in styles and colors: you don’t want your layers to look like a mess of the same color and fabric, so don ’t be hesitant to choose different styles or various bright colors. It’s a way of showing that you are confident about your style and that you are not trying to hide something.
• Add extra volume by wearing a skirt under a dress: this will help create a “balloon” effect on an A-line dress. Pick a soft “ballet” mini skirt in a light color, so that it remains invisible underneath. It will instantly give a ballroom or chic 50’s flair to a cocktail dress or a sundress, by making it look slightly puffier. Wear it with bright-colored pumps and you ’re ready for a wedding in the countryside or a chic dance party.
• Buy two college sweaters that are one size larger than what you normally wear: a jacket or a cardigan may feel “too much” in-between seasons, while a mere T-shirt not enough to keep you warm. The best way to handle a season on the brink, is the youthful look of a loose college sweater over a sleeveless summer top, that side-hangs on one shoulder, a style that would otherwise not look right if both pieces of clothing had a slim fit. Actually, if your age is appropriate, you can add an 80’s touch by cutting the sleeves of the sweater or some inches off its waist-line (while singing “Faaame, I wanna live foreeever”).
• Wear a corset over an elastic turtleneck: if you think that a sweater does not look good over a turtleneck or that a cardigan or a costume jacket are too conservative, look through your boudoir: a “modest” bust or corset that can also be worn as outerwear (i.e. it is not slutty and could be easily worn together with a pencil skirt in the summer) can embellish your plain turtleneck if worn over it. This trick will make your office look far more interesting, while with a touch of a little more make-up once you finish work, you will be ready for after office drinks or dinner
• Wear a leotard blouse with puffy shoulders underneath a sleeveless top or dress: the classic single-colored “gym” top, with the puffy trois-quatres or short sleeves and the wide décolletage can be an alternative to the classic solution of a bolero or jacket, and “broaden” narrow shoulders of figures that would look too thin with a top that is just hanging down from the neck. You have to be careful though: in some cases, it is ok for both décolletage lines to be visible, while in some others, you should hide one under the other. If you look like a 5-year-old that dressed itself clumsily, try something else. The mirror cannot lie. This is a layering trick that is especially useful when you want to go out clubbing and you need something more than a single top under your coat or jacket, or when you want to wear your favorite sleeveless dress in the winter, but without having your shoulders and arms exposed. Moreover, if you slightly pull down the blouse’s sleeves so as to reveal a bit of your shoulders, you can create a chic ingénue look.