The picture one imagines of a woman,is that of a person who has style and a flair for clothes which make her look smart and polished. This desirable appearance is attainable by every woman provided a few fundamental facts in attire about fit, colour and fashion are kept in mind.

Fitting Good fit is supposed to take care of individual body structure. Take a keen look in the mirror. Study the length of the neck, the size of the head, set of the shoulders, the size and position of the bosom, girth at midriff, width of hips, length of waist, arms and legs. Value the things that are best in yourself and make the most of them

Some tips for the Ladies A short woman should avoid large, bold prints, horizontal stripes, sarees with broad borders and large palloos, dresses with wide belts and sleeves with wide cuffs. Narrow sleeves are preferable, as wide sleeves make the arms look shorter. Wear matching or toned top and bottoms instead of contrasts, so that the eye travels without interruption up and down the body. A person with short legs should wear high heels rather than flats. Draw attention away from legs by avoiding calf length dresses, ankle length pants with cuffs. Tall women should avoid tiny prints and vertical stripes. They should avoid wearing clinging churidars and short kurtas. They can minimise their heights visually by wearing large coats or kurtas. Use of contrasting colours for tops and bottoms would break the vertical line. A fat person with a well rounded figure should avoid horizontal stripes, checks, large prints and big borders. Wear vertical stripes, smaller prints and small borders. Extremely thin people should avoid sleeveless blouses and dresses. Go for big, bold prints rather than tiny prints. Horizontal stripes and checks would also give an illusion of being fuller than one really is. Slim women can carry off frilly designs well. Open necklines with a "V" give an illusion of being slim. Sheer, soft fabrics that have a graceful fall also enhance this illusion. Stiff or thick fabrics add to bulkiness. Avoid anything that accentuates the waist if inclined to a paunch. Wear clothes that are loose around the waist. Do not wear fully gathered skirts with side gathers or side pockets which will draw the attention away from the bulging stomach.

Focus on Your Strengths Discover your assets and focus on them; remember no one is perfect, but we all have our strengths which we should highlight. The clever thing to do is to dress in a manner that will focus attention on those parts you are proud of. If you have a slim neck and big hips, wear a flattering neckline to accentuate your neck and take the focus away from your hips by wearing dark colours, or a short-out.

COLOUR COORDINATION Colour plays a very vital role in the make up of the wardrobe and the total picture that one presents. It is colour that first catches the eye. Colour must necessarily harmonise with the complexion and personality. It is said that the genes that decide the colour of the skin, eyes and hair also determine which colours suit different individuals. Some tips on colour co-ordination Choose colours that compliment your complexion, figure and personality. For example: plump people should choose black over white outfits. Those with weatish complexion look better in brown shades of make up, rather than pink or purples. Beige is a great colour. It works universally with most skin colours, and for most occasions. Wear pastels in summer and during the day while darker colours are appropriate for winter and evenings. A riotous profusion of colours, especially in the hot weather, tends to have a jarring effect whereas cool colours soothe and the wearer feel comfortable. Black is one colour which helps you look thin. But the clever thing to do is to block colours and place black strategically to cover weak spots. Panels of black at certain places can work wonders to shape up the entire look of the body. Red is a great colour for an evening outfit. When you want to stand out at a party, wear red. But while choosing a style for this stark colour choose something very simple. It looks best in straight, crisp lines. Avoid ruffles and frills. Keep it as plane as you can. However red is a bad colour for television, it tends to bleed on screen. A white cotton shirt is a must-have for every wardrobe. It can be worn with almost everything, at almost any place and can be worn again and again, yet look different each time.

ACCESSORIES Accessories add that stylish touch to one's appearance. They must be in harmony with the overall picture that a person presents and should serve as an expression of the "inner woman." Accessories like bags, shoes and belts should be thoughtfully co-ordinated. Jewellery Jewellery is the most important accessory that a woman wears. But whatever one wears must compliment and not overpower the personality of the wearer. Strive for simplicity. The more understated, the more elegant is the effect. Pearls are very versatile. If you have a small frame avoid too much embroidery and jewellery. It will only stunt you further. The best thing to do when you wear a lot of jewellery is to keep your clothes really simple and straight-lined. With a heavily embroidered outfit you don't need to wear equally heavy jewellery. And use your hair and make-up to balance your total look. Never overdo it! Don't wear all the jewellery you possess to proclaim your status. Each ornament has its own individual beauty and a haphazard combination of ornaments would lead to losing of their individual beauty.

You are Your Best Judge

Each time you dress up, make a note of the colour, style or the outfit that you felt right in. there are always those times when you have dressed up and felt just perfect. For an important occasion like an interview or a party, settle for something you have tried and that was worked for you. It would disastrous to experiment and try to discover something new when you are pressed for time or an anxious.

Develop a Personal Style

Personal style is "the individual self" and the way one projects one's own image with the right clothes, right make-up, right accessories and the right jewellery. Be comfortable with who and what you are. Never ever try change and be like anyone else. Do not get intimidated by fashion and instead of falling prey to fashion; make fashion your slave. Be yourself. Develop your own distinctive style.