Molly Bloom knows style

peplum - Short flounce attached to a snugly fitting waistline. Peplums are attached to jackets (shown above), dresses and tops.

I wrote a new style column for KOIT radio. It’s about the best necklines for certain body types. You should read it.

Update:

This column was originally written for KOIT radio in San Francisco. They don’t archive content so now I can share it with you.

Fashion is all over the place right now. Some necklines are high and tied, with a nod to the 1940s while others are how-low-can-you-go daring. French-inspired nautical knits whisper opposite flowing, dipping tunics. We’re going back, to all different decades. One of the most important components to staying current is an appropriate and body-concsious neckline.

I thought boat neck (or “bateau neck”) looked great on everyone, until a petite friend with a slim build complained about the glut of such tops on the market. These tops emphasize her narrow shoulders rather than create an hourglass shape as they do on average and busty figure types. But for most women, boat neck is easy to wear. Look for fine wool boatneck sweaters and even dresses. Regardless of how you’re feeling in your body that day, you’ll be comfortable showing off your shoulders.

This year’s flashiest look is the low scooped neckline. These deep plunging shirts and dresses are difficult for most women to carry well. The more endowed woman looks a bit too racy or eye-popping, and more athletic builds will find the low scoop gaps open to the sides and midriff. Women with more average figure types will find their bustline is enhanced by a plunging neckline. If you’re going to brave a low-scooped bodice, be sure to use a safety pin so your bra doesn’t show, or opt for one of the specially made bras which dip between the cups.

The prim, tie-neck blouse is transitioning into fall. These 1940s-inspired tops add a bit of sophistication. Women with round faces may find the look is too claustrophobic for them, so tie-front blouses that knot below the clavicle work best. Be sure to chose a color that works well with your skin tone, since the fabric is so close to the face. Solid colors and small prints are best.

Another retro look is the high, round neckline. The neckline is reminiscent of a T-shirt but without the knit band. It looks good on some people but not all. There are a lot of wool and crepe shift-type dresses for fall which feature this simple neckline. High necklines are surprisingly flattering on a larger bust and can even be minimizing if the sleeves are the right length, such as three-quarters. The simple sophistication of high neckline dresses are great for accesorizing with brooches and scarves.

This may surprise you, but I’m not a huge shopper. I prefer to buy only what I need, deduce where I could buy such an item, perhaps do some research online, and pounce. I tend to buy nice things that I’ll have for a long time. For the most part I stopped buying quickie, trendy items that won’t last or be in style for long (the occasional Delia’s T-shirt being an exception). There are a few things I shouldn’t have bought, but there are very few things I regret not buying.

Sometime in the late ’90s I went to a big sale at Saks Fifth Avenue. I couldn’t afford to shop at Saks, and probably still can’t. I was there to socialize with friends. And then I saw it: a crisp black snap-front dress shirt, made by Samsonite, which promised not to wrinkle or fade and to dry quickly. I tried it on. It fit perfectly. It was on sale, but I was between jobs and the purchase would have put me in the poorer house. I summoned up my willpower and I put it back on the rack.

Nearly a decade later, I still think about the black Samsonite shirt. I search eBay from time to time, and still haven’t found it. I wonder if I would still be wearing the shirt and if it would have performed as promised. I’m glad I didn’t empty my account or go into debt, but still I wonder about that shirt. Some day, my pets. Some day.

“Blue jeans are the most beautiful things since the gondola.”
Diana Vreeland

When I moved to the Bay, the song “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)” was playing as the car entered the airport lot. Eerie, no?

Regardless of your location, pinning a few flowers in your hair is always stylish. Adding a floral touch works with any ‘do, long or short, frizzy or straight. If you’re going the fresh route, orchids are easy to work with and will last through the night. They’re quite easy to install and only require a hair pin. Be sure to leave a little less than an inch of the stem on the flower so the bobby pin will catch.

Normally I don’t approve of fake flowers, but they make great hair clips. I have a red silk peony clip that is perfect with red lipstick and a black halter or dress. One advantage to using a faux flower (or fruit!) is that they last longer and are at the ready, no pinning required.

When you go floral, less is more. Tone down the jewelry, especially around the face. Clothes should be simple and sophisticated, never fussy. A flower can dress up casual wear or add a romantic elegance to the little black dress. If you’re having a night on the town, bring a fresh flower along for your date to wear as a boutonniere or corsage.

tankini - A two-piece bathing suit with the upper portion resembling a tank top.

hobo bag - A roomy, unstructured bag, typically with a top zipper and shoulder strap.

Apparently a writer at the Boston Globe has a problem with clown shoes. I’m partial to flashy, outsized footwear and clowns. I may be doubly offended.

I have no issue with Crocs. I’d rather see cheapish foam shoes covering American feet than cheap plastic flip-flops that bare all. Crocs are a bit weird, to be sure, and they should be worn with extremely casual clothes to places that are extremely casual (the beach, the grocery store, the dog park). I bought a pair of Crocs two years ago with the intention of attaching them to my pack with a carabiner for ready use as slip-on shoes at the end of a long hike. It was on such a journey when I learned Crocs float. Crocs are anti-microbial, which means they won’t stink (unlike other sockless footwear). I am in favor of shoes that can not, will not and do not get stinky.

That said, I saw Crocs Charms for sale and declared them one toke over the line. Too messy.

And I’m totally digging the Crocs ballerina flat-inspired shoe called Prima’s.

cap sleeve - A small, short sleeve that sits on the shoulder, either forming a stiff cap or falling on to the arm to provide minimal coverage.

My latest style column is up at KOIT radio. Pop on over and read it if you have a chance.