Fashion tips 101

Wondering what's hot out there in the designer world? We have a few fashion tips that can help you decide what and what not to wear!

First of all, dress for your shape. Determine your body shape and find the outfit that suits that shape. For example, if you have an hourglass figure, then you can emphasize your thin waist with a fitted top. If the bottom half of your body is wider than the top half, try wearing darker pants and lighter tops.

If you have love handles around the waist or a protruding belly, you might want to take steps to hide that extra calorie storage! Of course, you should stay away from short shirts or anything that is tight-fitting. Wear something that is loose around the tummy but curves upward near the hips.

Women with large chests that need extra support should wear long jackets like fitted suit jackets. A blooming skirt can also help balance the look created by a large chest.

A trendy fashion statement these days among young people are silicone wristbands. These wristbands not only say something about your fashion, but increasingly they are used to say something about the wearer. Silicone wristbands are used to relay messages about what causes one supports, the groups you belong to, the people you like, etc.

Although you always want to keep up with the trends, it's good to have a good basic wardrobe at all times. You want those items that are always cool like jeans, khaki shorts, denim jackets, sandals, an assortment of belts, etc. Make sure your basic wardrobe covers all seasons -- summer, fall, winter and spring.

Once you have your core wardrobe ready, you can supplement it with whatever novelty items are in fashion at the time. Of course, check the fashion mags and stores to figure just what's hot at the moment because it might not stay that way for long!

While you certainly want to keep up with the trends, never forget the golden rule of being yourself. Always follow trends in moderation only choosing what works for you.

Peter Jensen is a Danish creator, journalist and stylist.