Home | Fashion & Beauty | Fashion Articles

Fashion SOS: getting the look

28 January, 2011 07:47:00 Kavita Cassimjee

Determined to be ‘in fashion’ Kavita Cassimjee hit the malls in search of an outfit that would give her that effortless casual chic look that’s so in vogue…

My goal is to look effortless chic and glamorous. That can’t be all that difficult, can it?

Okay. Let’s start. It’s the beginning of a new day and today I am going to be a fashionista when I go to the mall. I have all the building blocks, so I will start with a step by step approach.

Firstly, let’s get the babydoll top. I so admire the models in babydoll tops that are featured in the fashion magazines. They just ooze casual chic.

After lots of searching, I finally set my sights on the perfect top. It was a sheer button front pastel with a blend of small floral motifs and adjustable sides. I slip it on and feel it slide into place.

Now for a look in the mirror. Huh! It’s strange how different a similar top can look on a differently proportioned person.

So, how do I explain just what my carefully selected top does for me?

The pleated and prominent bust line and flowing sides’ makes me look a little, how shall I put it: stumpy.

Maybe if I adjust the sides...

However tightening the sides has the effect of making me look top heavy and like I somehow squeezed myself into the top. I was dangerously close to cutting off circulation in my upper torso. And don’t even talk about the print. Enough said.

However, let’s not be so hasty. Loosen the top and slip on the pants, I say to myself. How can I judge myself on half an outfit?

Now, for the skinny jeans

Will they elongate my legs and streamline my silhouette? Pulling it up my legs seamlessly seems to be a bit too optimistic, so I lie on the bed and wriggle and wrestle. No good. I take it out and check the size on the off chance that I picked a size smaller by mistake. Nope.

Okay! Take two! I persevere by lying on the bed, holding my breath and pulling on the pants. It seems that standing back up is a bit of a challenge after that, but I wobble up and take a breath. Bad idea! The top button looks dangerously close to popping. It is however a stretch pants and after a few attempts at short jumps and squatting, I feel secure enough to tumble to the mirror.

OMG! Is it the mirror or did I not notice that my knees were so knobbly before? Not quite what I expected to see. The skinny jeans highlight every bump and crater from my thighs to my ankles. Maybe putting on some shoes might make a difference.

Now do I put on pumps or stilettos?

According to the fashion magazines both are ‘in’. The pewter pumps which had beckoned to me from the shoe store window would match the outfit.

I slip them on and survey myself. I know that pumps are a fashion trend but it takes some getting used to when one is accustomed to wearing heels albeit slight heels.

So I try on my stilettos which do give me the height I need but how practical is it to be tottering around precariously on stilettos through the length and breadth of the mall. Decisions, decisions.

To complete my outfit according to the pictures I admire in the fashion pages, I will need to twine a scarf around my neck in such a manner that it looks suitably casual. Easier said than done.

On the first attempt I succeed in getting my hair tied in with the scarf

On my second attempt I look like I have a huge knot protruding in front of me. On my third attempt, the scarf resembles something close to the picture but is still too bulky. This seems to be an art form that escapes me.

So, to recap, by following my step by step approach, I have finally completed creating my outfit.

The goal: an effortless chic design comprising a babydoll top, skinny jeans, pumps and a casually draped scarf.

The actual look: a top that cuts off the upper part of my body, jeans that emphasise every contour of my legs (and that I have to shuffle about in), shoes that feel like I am sweeping the floor and a scarf that is throttling me.

The solution: my trusted A-line cotton knit top that gives a sleek, flowing look on my upper torso, my beloved bootleg jeans that fit and flare and are so comfy, my wedge heel shoes that lift me off the ground and a dainty necklace to finish off the look.

Not quite the look I was going for. What can I say but thank God for the return policy!

Three hours of happy shopping for my high fashion outfit has resulted in an hour of standing in queues waiting to credit my purchases. I can only look enviously at the girls that have managed to put together the look that I long for.

But I will never lose hope. In my heart I know that there is a fashion diva waiting to emerge with a flourish. Chin up, I say to myself: tomorrow is another day.