"Not a girl... not yet a woman"

Growing into a woman's body while still a kid can be a struggle!

Today I met with a wonderful woman who came to me for a style assessment. After about two hours of discussion about what looks good on her, what her colors are, etc... she told me about her adolescent daughter.

Her daughter is young and beautiful... but she looks like a woman. At just 12 years old, she has already begun developing curves and has outgrown the junior-style clothing.

She asked me what I could do to help improve her daughter's image. Her daughter doesn't think she looks BAD but she doesn't like her body either.

The mother expressed concern about her daughter's clothing not fitting her body right - plumber's crack here, a little too much stomach there... just the realities that come when you are a 12 year old girl trapped in the body of a woman.

So just where can we go from here? What can mothers do to help their adolescent daughters face this sometimes cruel world of fashion and appearance?

#1 - DO NOT MAKE FASHION AND THE MEDIA THE ENEMY. We have a tendency as a culture to blame the media for all of our issues. "It's Britney Spears' fault that my daughter has an eating disorder," or "If fashion was actually made for women instead of beanpoles, I would be fashionable.," etc...

Britney Spears did not give your daughter an eating disorder and Marc Jacobs isn't to blame for your dislike of fashion (unless you just don't like his style).

When we make the media the enemy, we can never win. You can't shield your children from the media. You just can't. You can put parental controls on the television and computer - hell, you can even get rid of the TV and computer... but they are still going to be exposed to the media and they are still going to know who Britney Spears is.

We need the media and fashion on our side. Fashion is art. Britney Spears has a stylist (at least she used to before she got all crazy)... and she was told what to wear based on her body. She isn't pin thin. She was told how to dress in a way that complimented her body.

SO, back to where we go from here.

We teach our daughters (and ourselves) that a number is JUST a number. Cut the sizes out of every pair of jeans you own if you have to.

We realize that fashion can be on our side if we decide that the clothes have to fit us, we are not going to struggle to fit the clothes.

We shop at stores that fit our bodies and our budgets.

We get rid of the clothes that we are holding onto just HOPING that we will fit into them again. You tell your daughter to donate her clothing and in exchange, she will get new clothing that fits her new body.

Make her new body a good thing... something NEW and exciting. (I know it's not that easy, trust me! But, the more you love YOUR body - curves and all - the more likely she is to accept her new curves).

Then, be conscientious of where you shop. Here are some ideas of some flattering looks for your developing adolescent:

This is the way to wear skinny jeans. Her top comes down long enough that it created balance and makes for a nice, flattering look.  

A longer dress that hits just above the knee with a calf-length boot is a great way to dress up but still look casual.

Mid-rise jeans look amazing AND make sure you don't give everyone a show when you bend-over. 

Feather earrings are always a fun accessory.

Bangles are still very in-style right now! Stack 'em on!

I adore cute flats! They are a great substitute for heels (seriously, what girl can walk around high school all day in heels?) and still look classy and polished!

Riding boots are a great way to still wear your skinny jeans. Just make sure you top is long enough to cover you tush!

UGGS. Oh, Uggs. This style isn't going away anytime soon - especially in Colorado. Just PLEASE don't wear them with mini-skirts or shorts!

Find the jeans that are right for your body. For a thinner look, stick with DARK, bootcut or flare jeans. Wear distressed jeans with caution- always pair them with a nice, more-conservative top. And of course, make sure that your jeans come up high enough. No one wants to see a plumbers crack!

Add some personality with your shoes!

You can't go wrong with TOMS! (For every pair purchased, a pair is donated to a child in need). Look good and support a great cause. 

Belts are a great accessory. When you belt just below your chest, it creates a beautiful silhouette. The same is true with coats. Try one in a bright color that fits your color palette. 

These could make for a fun, everyday high school outfit

Kristen Cavellari rocks Victoria's Secret's PINK line - and she makes sure that her top isn't too tight. Don't be afraid to go up a size!!!

These short heels are great because they are a bit thicker - perfect for someone who doesn't need to walk a catwalk!

Layer!!! Layer color and texture for a comfy, cool look. 

Make like Victoria Justice and make sure your shirt is the right size and your jeans have a good rise. Always add a great smile, too. 

These are just some examples and some things to try. Every girl is different and everyone struggles with different issues. Just remember to let you daughter know that EVERY girl feels as insecure as she does - and offer to help her find things that look good.

As always, I'm here to help and just a phone-call away. 720-207-4912. 

Xo, Kristin @ Kristin Golden Image Consulting

www.kristingolden.com

Sparkle and Shine the New Year's Eve!

Today is December 15 - meaning that Christmas - and New Years Eve are not too far away. It is most definitely not too soon to be thinking about that New Years Eve outfit.

Whether you are braving the crowds and hitting the streets downtown or enjoying a more intimate setting, you deserve to look and feel like a million bucks!

While my preference for outfit might change slightly depending on your choice in plans (if you are planning on hitting downtown for the night, you will want to bundle up), I am pretty clear across the board. This year, I love sequins, (faux) leather, heels, tights, shorts, tight dresses, denim, big jewelry, and mixing all of the above!

Here are some outfit ideas to help you ring in 2012 in a stylish way. Just remember, don't overdo it with any one theme. If you choose sequined shorts (I LOVE THEM!), then try and keep the top neutral. You get my drift.

Look number one:

Shorts and tights - I love sequined shorts, denim shorts, leather shorts... they all look super cute with tights!

Just make sure that your top matches appropriately. I love how the leather shorts are paired with a semi-neutral rock n' roll tee. I also love how the denim shorts are paired with a simple top and some fun accessories. Whatever the look, it's a MUST that you wear heels with this look! Some of my favs?

You can NEVER go wrong with a nude pump! But with black tights, an edgy, black pump might look more appropriate. 

Look number 2:

Sequins, sequins, sequins - I especially love the idea of pairing sequins with bright color, more casual pieces, and as a jacket!

The purple dress is my favorite!!! How fabulous that would look with a high nude heel and a black clutch! Killer!

Look number 3

Jewelry! The bigger the better... and the more the better! I have added some pics of some jewelry I love - chunky bracelets, large studded earrings, big cocktail rings... but whatever your style is, use it! If you love bohemian jewelry, then play it up - layer the bracelets and wear a big cocktail ring! New Years is about extravagance!

Look number 4

Leather and denim - I love leather and denim for everyday - but mix it up with some sequins, some colored denim, add some big jewelry, a killer heel, and you have a great New Years looks! I especially love the idea of colored denim with a back sequin top and a black heel. See below for a picture of some colored denim. My favorite brand - J Brand. They have so many colors to choose from, it's ridiculous! 

Look number 5

Finally, we have dresses. New Years Eve is notorious for dresses. I am always a fan of the stand-by little black dress (lbd) but, I also love the idea of adding some fun color this year, especially red. There are some great body-hugging "bandage" dresses this year that can found everywhere from Express to Nordstrom to Neimans. Whatever you do, make sure that the dress fits right and that you have the proper undergarments! There is no shame in investing in some Spanx, just to smooth everything out! 

Some other stuff to think about:

- When planning your look, don't forget to include makeup. I am always up for fake lashes and there is no better occasion than New Year's to wear them! Just make sure you apply them properly and as close to your natural lash line as possible.
- If you know you are going somewhere where you will be walking a lot, don't take your feet for granted. While you will be killing it in those adorable pumps, your feet might be ready to kill you. It is always a good idea to bring a pair of slip-on flats with you. Dr. Scholl's makes a nice fold-up pair that you can stick in your purse. Trust me, it will save you from limping home or worse, risking walking around shoe-less!
- Cameras will be flashing! It's New Years and everyone loves to get dressed up and document the evening with photos galore. One of my biggest pet peeves is when I spend a good amount of time getting ready and someone catches me in an awkward moment and ruins the look. I always suggest bringing your own camera and being the one who takes the pics (and asks other to take pics of you and your friends for you) - that way you can control which photos make it to Facebook and which ones don't. You also get to ensure that you have some photos that you love to make it a night to remember.
- Hair. There are so many different ways to do your hair and of course, it depends on your hair length and style. I have long, straight hair so one "rule" I always keep in the back of my mind is "down during the day, up for night" - besides, this will save you from having to mess with your hair all night!

Happy New Years Everyone! Be safe and welcome to a wonderful 2012!!!

<3 Kristin @ Kristin Golden Image Consulting