Personal profile for Melinda M. 

Referral Bonuses

Interested in $100 or more to spend on styling services with Poplin? Each person you refer who becomes a client entitles you to a $100 credit with Poplin. The names of the women you've referred will be listed below for your reference. Thank YOU. 

Allison Capen, redeemed 1/2015.


Style keywords

  • Put-Together

  • Boho/ earthy

  • Effortless


Silhouette

Short waisted slight Inverted triangle, Secondary body type: Rectangle

Celebrities with your body type: Teri Hatcher, Demi Moore


Style approach

Play up the bottom to balance the body. We’re going for visual balance/symmetry. We're also going to create curves, especially on your lower half. As you are short waisted, we'll give the illusion of lengthening your waist by bringing the waistline down to your hips.

As long as you don't appear to widen your shoulders or highlight your waist, you can do most anything.


Outfits


Colors


Pieces

Tops

  • Sleeveless, asymmetrical

  • V-necks, scoop necks, rounded collars

  • Raglan sleeves (where the seem runs to the collar instead of to the shoulder)

  • Dark colors, vertical stripes

  • Flowy tops

  • A peplum band at the hips

  • 3/4, flare, batwing, tops with mid sized straps

  • Drop tops, trapeze, empire waist

  • Higher cut arm holes

  • Knits that keep a close line to the body

  • Wrap designs as long as the neck is not too wide and they are not belted at the waist

To elongate your waist:

  • End tops at your hip bone or longer

  • Layer shirts and sweaters

  • Don't tuck in tops or add waist detail

  • Tunics

  • Wear monochromatic outfits/column of each color or color palette

Avoid: Wide V-Necks, square necklines, spaghetti straps, light colors, horizontal stripes, halter, strapless, off the shoulder, big collars, detailing around the waist. Cap, puffy, ruffled, pleated or any sleeve with lot of detail near the shoulder. Tops with built-in volume, big shawl collars.

Pants

  • Any style that will accentuate your bottom and leg line, such as:

    • Patterns and prints

    • Straight, boot cut, boyfriend or baggy trousers or jeans

    • Combat, palazzo, flares, wide legs

    • Embellishment on the back pockets

    • Wide belt loops, side pocket details

    • Slim-fitted waist with gradual flare to create width and balance broad shoulders

    • Cuffed or ankle length pants that create curves

To elongate your waist:

  • Wear low rise pants and jeans

  • Longer city shorts

  • Wear monochromatic outfits/column of each color or color palette

Avoid: High rise jeans or shorts. Otherwise, you can wear most any pant. The styles above are most flattering. Skinny jeans with no wow factor don't make you look your best, but you can offset them with bold shoes.

Skirts

  • Belted skirts that clearly define your waist

  • A peplum band at the hips or thigh

  • Detail at the hips, side pockets

  • Horizontal striped skirts

  • Soft a-line with inverted pleats

  • Shorter length

  • Prints or bright colors

  • Straight skirts that just about cover the knee

  • Full skirts

  • Trumpet and flared styles

  • Tiered designs

  • Bubble hems

To elongate your waist:

  • Wear skirts lower or purchase low rise skirts

  • Wear monochromatic outfits/column of each color or color palette

Avoid: Longer pencil skirts, square cut skirts which are shapeless, maxi skirts with a defined or elastic waistline unless layering over

Dresses

  • Sleeveless

  • Minimal and clean at the top

  • Full skirted

  • Drop waist

  • Draped/loose-fitting, asymmetrical

  • Empire seam

  • Wrap dresses

  • Lower necklines

  • Peplum dresses

  • Prints, bold colors, embellishment, etc. below the waistline

  • Body con dresses with patterns or elements that create curves

To elongate your waist: Look for  dresses without a waist, with an empire waist or a drop waist. 

Avoid: Off-the-shoulder necklines

Jackets

  • Hems that end at the hips rather than the waist elongate and draw the eye down

  • Deep (not wide) V neck

  • Jackets that include a low slung belt

  • A peplum band at the hips

To elongate your waist:

  • Wear jackets that end at the hips or longer or have a low slung belt

To elongate your frame:

  • Color blend, jackets and pants/skirts

Avoid: Jackets with hems that are shorter than hip level. Bolero jackets, shoulder pads, jackets that are especially bulky on top, shawl collars

Shoes

  • High heels, nude shoes elongate

  • Ankle straps, booties or other statement shoes

  • Knee-high boots

  • Heavier or rounder shoes

  • Kitten or wedge heels

  • Colorful or print shoes

  • Calf high boots that are angled at the top are elongating

To elongate your frame:

  • Go a shade darker on your shoes than your pants

  • Wear colors of similar intensity

  • Match your boots to your skirt hem

  • Match shoes to tights

  • Wear knee high boots

Avoid: Pointed or dainty shoes

Accessories

  • Low slung belts that do not contrast dramatically with your outfit

  • Bold earrings

  • Statement shoes, bold pedicure

  • Bold handbag that sits at the hips

  • Long necklaces

  • Bracelets, watches, rings drawing attention to your hands

To elongate your waist:

  • Wear hip hugging belts

Avoid: Statement necklaces, unless you balance them on the bottom half or they are long


Suggested retailers

Club Monaco owned by Ralph Lauren, ranked very high for corporate social responsibility

All Saints    No info on CSR

Zara  High ranking for CSR

Anthropologie  CSR Pros & Cons

Nordstrom (especially for shoes) High ranking for CSR.

Nordstrom Rack (especially for leather) High ranking for CSR & LGBTQ rights.

The LimitedCSR policy

Banana RepublicRanked high for CSR.

Velouria (especially for jewelry and accessories) Everything is made in the US or Canada. Partnered w/ Poplin to raise funds for YouthCare.

Vixen Day Spa & Boutique  Partnering with Poplin to raise funds for YouthCare.

Eileen Fisher High for CSR

Other retailers ranked highly for CSR

Adidas

Nike

H&M


Wishlist recommendations

Want personalized, ongoing recommendations for items to extend your wardrobe? Set up a wishlist program and I will post 8-10 must-have pieces here as often as you'd like (monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly or by request).

January, 2015. Wishlist. 

July, 2014 Double Wishlist

May 2017 Wishlist