Yet another Polyvore example!

Metalics have been popular the last few years. You can find gold bags, bangles, belts and more. But incorporating metalics stylishly and not garishly can take some thought.

I suggest pairing metallics with solid dresses and sweaters. You want to match your metallics, and make them match your outfit: look at the shoes.

I would not pair bold patterns with metallic accents. Nor would I wear gold with a color too close to yellow. Pair bright metallics with dark solids.

The red sweater adds texture to the outfit, without minimizing the elegance of the gold. The belt cinches in at the middle to maintain the feminine form. The flowing sleeves also add a graceful, feminine shape.

The heels elongate the legs (good for short legs, like mine :P). The metallic accents are edgy as well as elegant. The overly feminine shape of the clothing prevents the edginess of the accents from making the look "hard."

Duplicate this look from your closet:

Remember the flowing sleeves popular almost 10 years ago? Dig 'em out! Pair under a sleeveless dress or tunic--something short, to elongate the legs (if your short). And then follow with either 2 skinny belts or 1 corset belt, to get the same effect. Toss on your metallic accents, and you're good to go.

A Note on Gold:

Gold-- the most perilous of metals, the easiest to create an accidentally gaudy look. If you don't trust yourself to be able to pull off gold, don't try to.

Silver-- easier to work with, especially if your color scheme leans towards the cooler end.

Copper-- presents a rustic or unique look. If you look good in bright colors, using a deeper, ruddy metal can create the inverse of this look.

Bronze--which has a darker cast than gold can be used as milder substitute.

Our ranking of metals is generally based their price and that influences their perception of value/desirability. But creating a classy look means setting these ideas aside to play with color and shape. Trust that when you put cloth and metal together in the right proportions, you will exude a classiness that does not depend on how much you spent on your jewelry.

The key to any wardrobe is selecting basics. But how do you know what's right?

If you want to create a classic wardrobe, one that can be added to each year and never fade from style, you need to identify your colors, shape, and then how to expand on the theme.

Knowing what you look good in is partially knowing what you are comfortable in. Dressing daily for office, hang-out afternoons, date night, or special occassion begins with these simple steps.

Short Girls: Go for looks that elongate your legs, this will make you look taller.

Tall girls: Concentrate on pulling attention upward. Long, straight lines will help your legs.

Small bust: Go for V-necks, embellished tops. When you layer, layer your core, and find a means to cinch the waist, or button a tight-fitting sweater to just-bellow the bust. This will create the illusion of a larger chest.

Large Bust: Go for high-necked sweaters. Keep the lines from collar to waist straight. This will not make your bust less noticeable--if you got it, there won't be a way to conceal it--but the straight lines of these basics will keep your tops flattering and classy all at once.

Narrow hips: Employ the cinched waist and flaring trouser or skirt. You want higher waists, wider skirt hems. Jeans, pants and skirts that sit on your hips will cut off your form at the hips and make them look even more narrow. Steer clear of pencil skirts. Form-fitting bottoms are not your friend--unless you are also short--in which case, skinny pants are your friends, and form-fitting minis as long as they also have a high waist.

Wide hips: You want slimming pants and skirts. Pencils are okay, but to be worn with caution. Pants and skirts that sit lower are better. Keep pant lines clean. Don't go in for embellishments along the hip-line.

Long waist: Wear high waisted skirts and pants. Be fond of babydolls and belts.

Short Waist: Stay away from loose tunics, they will swallow your form.

Skinny legs: If you are worried that the muscle tone in your legs is lacking, don't be. If you are also short, skinny pants, tights and leggings can be worn to their best affect. If you are tall, you want to go with wide-legged pants, mid-shin and maxi skirts. Flowing is better.

Thick legs: Keep to flowing skirts and pants. These will not make you look larger if you create a waist.

Abundant Form: If your form is rounder, you can create an hourglass shape by cinching at the ribs, just under the bust line. If you are also short, make certain that the lines of your outfits flow loose and straight from this point. If you are tall, employ pants and maxi skirts with low-waists under belted tunics.

Not-so-Abundant: If you're afraid your size is more narrowly-linear than curvy-hourglass, follow guidelines for small bust and hip.

Color:

There are two considerations for color--

skin tone
personality

Skin Tone:

The basic distinction is contrast. Paler skin looks better in darker colors and darker skin looks better in paler/brighter colors.

But even in "pale" and "dark" populations is there variation.

I am pale, with a slight olive undertone to my skin. I look best in blues, purples, dark reds, black, charcoal and teal. I can swing some corals and brighter reds, but wear few oranges and no pastels.

If you have darker skin with a rosy undertone, pinks, pale blues, mint, warm taupes/browns, some oranges and black suites you well.

If you are dark with deep undertones (brown-blue) you will pull off yellow, orange, bright red, pastels--any "loud" color to full affect. If this is your tone, but not your personality, see the next section.

If you are pale with rosy (pink) undertones: Deep pinks, soft pastels, greens, lighter blues, soft browns, and coral will suit you well.

Medium skin tone with a brown undertone: yellow, brown, black, orange

What you want: use color in cloth to make your skin more vibrant. You want the undertones to stand out, but the contrast with your "dominant" skin-tone characteristic to be muted through contrast.

Personality:

Feminine: Classic colors. Keep it on the darker end of your skin-tone selection.

Sporty: Earth tones. Keep it cool, and don't go for dramatic colors. Tend toward complimentary colors and monotone outfits.

Artsy/Bohemian: Bright. Doesn't match your skin tone? Mute with a mix of earth tones, navy and black.

*if the colors that bring out the undertones in your skin don't match your personality, use darker versions of your colors paired with the bright. Darker shades will tone down the brighter colors. Wear bright colors in the forms of: tee, scarf, undershirt, that peaks out around the collar somewhere. The goal is to make the natural colors in your face stand out. Other option: choose a dark blazer, cardigan, top with bright patterns.

A few carefully selected basics can give you a whole new look that can bring out both form and personality!

Last week Natalie Portman won an award for best actress for portraying a ballerina.

In the 1980's the return of swing dance and movies such as Dirty Dancing and Flashdance were followed by the poofy, short skirt trend. Leggings entered the 80's fashion with the exercise trend.

Modern fashion can take a more sophisticated look, by incorporating ballet inspired accents. These accents have been around for a few years now. But with the popularity of Black Swan, it is entirely possible these trends will be around for awhile.

I am grateful for the appearance of these trends. The short skirts can help to make short legs look longer. the high, trim waist can make narrow hips look wider or a long waist look shorter. The chunky sweater can tone down the fancy dress, while the shoes--heeled or flat--can create a dressy outfit.

Complimenting colors serve to make the short girl look taller, and all together either of these outfit--or anything with a similar shape--can be a feminine and elegant addition to a girl's wardrobe.