Fashion wins few medals in London Olympics

The opening ceremony offered up a riot of costumes and colours that gave a taste of things to come.

The striking yellows and greens of the Jamaican team's kit designed by Cedella Marley, the daughter of reggae great Bob Marley, won many fans, while the Czech Republic's striking outfits provoked mixed reactions.

Fashion journalist Carolyn Asome in The Times newspaper said the Czechs sported "the most hideous plastic blue boots known to mankind," while Hadley Freeman in The Guardian awarded them her fashion gold medal for the Games.

Even when the temperature went up on Thursday, Czech athlete Zuzana Hejnova donned her boots to collect the bronze in the medal ceremony for the 400m hurdles.

The Mexican team added a ring of authenticity at the opening ceremony with their multi-coloured ponchos -- which Asome said were in keeping with this season's trends.

Armani himself was roped in to design the outfits for his homeland, Italy.

The Spanish athletes were however the first to malign their own red and gold kits complete with go-faster flames, which were provided -- for free -- by Russian sportswear company Bosco Sport.

"It's not at all Latin, it's clearly more Eastern European," canoeist Saul Craviotto grumbled on his Twitter account, next to a photo of him trying on his uniform.

Russia's 1980s football shirt-style outfits were also designed by Bosco.

The US delegation -- decked out in Ralph Lauren as they had been during the 2008 Beijing Summer Games and the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics -- raised eyebrows with their very French-looking berets.

But while the rest of the uniform looked patriotic enough there was a furore in the United States when it emerged ahead of the Games that the uniforms were made in China, stirring up an inevitable debate in this US election year.

For outfits worn during competition itself, the French won style points -- if not medals -- by bringing in luxury fashion house Hermes for their equestrian team, who wore navy and red blazers made of a special fabric to aid movement.

The beach volleyball outfits of all the participating teams have attracted much attention for their sheer skimpiness, particularly in the sometimes British summer.

The Stella McCartney-designed vests for the British team received the "gold medal for riskiness" from L'Officiel, a French fashion magazine, for their variation on the Union Jack.

McCartney -- whose father Paul of The Beatles fame performed at the opening ceremony -- had "clearly kept white and the blue as the dominant colours, minimising the presence of red, only using it on the shoes and collars," the magazine noted.

British athletes have kept quiet about their outfits, but during their biggest gold rush since 1908 many of them have been notably keep to drape themselves in a real Union Jack after their victories.

Meanwhile the British opening ceremony outfits, consisting of white tracksuits with gold collars and armpit patches, attracted flak at home as they were produced by high-street brand Next.

"Britain, you suck," wrote Hadley Freeman in The Guardian.

the Spice Girls' updated styles at the Olympics

the Spice Girls' updated styles at the Olympics
Victoria Beckham stayed true to her "Posh" aspirations in a Giles Deacon mini that revealed her legs. The British designer updated her classic look "with tiers of ruffles and a giant high-low train that flapped behind her in the wind."

Geri Halliwell, famous for accessorizing the Union Jack in her heyday, strutted about in a shiny red strapless dress by Suzanne Neville that still featured a British flag -- albeit less prominently than in the past -- and "finished off her outfit with gold accents: glittery ankle boots and a sparkling tiara."

"Baby Spice" Emma Bunton turned back the clock in a pink Maggie Cooke dress, updated for a more mature look with "glittery structured shoulders and a low-dipping neckline."

Eighteen years after the Spice Girls took the world by storm, Melanie B wore a "glittery gold and skintight" catsuit designed by Zuhair Murad and left her "signature wild hair" flowing.

Mel C, aka "Sporty Spice," burned calories on the stage in a white tracksuit, hopping about in silver platform sneaker wedges.

Back in 1996, the British all-female band put itself on the map with the debut single "Wannabe" and introduced the whole world to the concept of "Girl Power," which doubled as the name for the group's first international tour. The Spice Girls parted ways in 2001 and were briefly reunited in 2007.

How Structured Outfit Looks Sknnier

1. Buy the right size. Clothes that are too tight will show every flaw and excess pound your body has, and clothes that are too baggy will make it look heavier than you actually are. Only clothes that fit you properly will flatter you.
2
Avoid boxy clothing. Stiff, uncompromising fabrics in straight “box” cuts usually make people look heavier than they are. These fabrics are especially hard to deal with in jackets and other tops.
3
Also avoid clingy clothes. Tight, spandex-like material will cling to your body and show every roll and fold you have. When you want to look skinnier, you should deemphasize excess fat instead of showing it.
4
Stick with loose, flowing fabrics. Materials that lightly drape over your frame are the best way to go since they have enough structure to follow along your body's contours without smothering them.
5
Introduce a little black into your wardrobe.
Introduce a little black into your wardrobe.
Introduce a little black into your wardrobe. Black has a slimming effect and can look especially nice on trousers, skirts, and dresses. Do not overdo it, however. Too much black can easily create a drab, depressing look, so you should pair it with other colors.
6
Add some dark wash denim and other rich colors to your style.
Add some dark wash denim and other rich colors to your style.
Add some dark wash denim and other rich colors to your style. Most dark colors have a slimming effect similar to the effect created by wearing black. A good way to bring color and interest into your wardrobe is by including a variety of rich colors, from deep plum to dark olive and navy blue to chocolate brown.
7
Look for bold colors and patterns. Bold patterns can distract the eye and camouflage your outline, causing and observer to notice the item of clothing instead of your size. Choose patterns in bright or deep colors, though, since patterns in light colors may actually draw further attention to your imperfections and make you look larger.
8
Try monochromatic color schemes. Large blocks of solid color draw the eye up and down rather than side to side. As a result, the eye takes in more height than width, causing you to appear thinner and taller. Try wearing a dress in a solid color or a deep blue top with dark wash jeans.
9
Stock up on v-neck tops.
Stock up on v-neck tops.
Stock up on v-neck tops. V-necks and other vertical necklines draw the eye up and down, elongating and narrowing your torso. Avoid horizontal necklines, like crew necks and boat necks, since these may make your shoulders and bust look wider.
10
Opt for vertical details and avoid horizontal details.
Opt for vertical details and avoid horizontal details.
Opt for vertical details and avoid horizontal details. Think pinstripes, pleats, and vertical zippers, and avoid horizontal stripes or rows of embellishments. Vertical details prompt the eye to look up and down instead of side to side, which helps create the illusion of slenderness.
11
Balance out your legs with flared pants.
Balance out your legs with flared pants.
Balance out your legs with flared pants. Look for straight-leg, boot-cut, and other pant styles with a slight flare. These styles deemphasize any thickness in your upper leg, creating an overall leaner look. Avoid skinny jeans and other trousers with a tapered leg, since these may only make you look top heavy.
12
Look for A-line, knee-length skirts. A-line skirts are fitted at the hip and upper thigh, but flare out toward the knee, creating a balanced look that prevents your legs from looking thick and top heavy. Knee-length skirts are the most universally flattering, but many mid-calf styles may also work well depending on your height.
13
Hide problem areas.
Hide problem areas.
Hide problem areas. For instance, if you carry excess weight in your stomach, look for tunics and wrap tops that glide over your stomach without drawing attention to it. Lean toward clothing that carefully masks your problem areas without adding too much bulk.
14
Avoid placing details over your problem areas. If you carry excess weight in your thighs, look for bottoms with few pockets and no embellishments on the hip. Details draw attention, and any part of your body covered in visual detailing will look more noticeable and wider.
15
Accentuate your positive features.
Accentuate your positive features.
Accentuate your positive features. If you have firm legs, show them off by raising your skirt's hemline a few inches. If you have a well-defined waist, look for nipped waistlines and belts that really call attention to it. By drawing attention to the most slender parts of your body, you create the illusion of overall slenderness.

Dress Details to Look Skinnier

1
    Try a high heel or platform. High heels make your leg look long and lean, and a leaner-looking leg helps create a leaner look overall. If you have a wider foot, you can also wear a short platform without making your foot look too chunky or out of proportion.
    2
    Avoid strappy sandals and kitten heels. If you have wide feet, strappy sandals will only accentuate the heft of your foot. Similarly, a large foot looks even larger when squeezed into tiny kitten heels. Stick with closed styles that have a decent amount of height to slim down your foot.
    3
    Also avoid shoes with ankle straps. Ankle straps place a horizontal line at the top of your foot, which cuts off your leg and makes it look shorter. A shorter leg also looks stouter, which reduces the illusion of overall skinniness.
    4
    Draw the eye to your face with the right make-up. A touch of eye shadow or a pleasant shade of lipstick keeps the focus on your face and off your body. Never wear too much make-up, however. Add a bit of color to one feature—usually either your eyes or your lips—but keep the rest of your make-up looking natural.
    5
    Style your hair. Ask your stylist about styles that elongate your neck or face. In general, wide bob cuts may add too much width to your face, but many long, layered styles direct the eye up and down instead of side to side.
    6
    Accessorize with boldness. Think bright, sassy necklaces and dangling scarves that drape over your front. Stick with jewelry and other accessories that create a vertical look, and avoid horizontal accessories like chokers that may make your neck or other features look thicker.
    7
    Try a belt or sash.
    Try a belt or sash.
    Try a belt or sash. Even though it creates a horizontal line across your body, a fashion belt tied around your natural waist may emphasize the narrowness of your waist and create a flattering, slim silhouette. Stick with narrow belts over thick belts to create this silhouette without encouraging the eye to focus on your figure from side to side.

Dress Fashionally

1.organize: Get out all your clothes and decide which ones you want and don't want. Donate, sell, or re-purpose anything that you haven't worn in a year (that isn't seasonal), doesn't fit or is plain ugly!

2
Flatter: Look at yourself in the mirror and as objectively as possible, pick things about your physical appearance you like and dislike. What do you want to disguise? What do you want to emphasize? What's your body type?
3
Style: What do you like? Do you want to incorporate trendy items into your wardrobe, or do you prefer a classic look? Spend time flipping through catalogs, or surfing websites that feature clothes. Do you even want to figure out a way to incorporate witty T-shirts, or is pleather more your style? There are tons of different pieces that will look phenomenal on you- what do you like?
4
Context: Where you live, where you go and what you do are major factors in dressing fashionably! If you wear a ballgown to the office, that is not fashionable; if you wear a business suit to the prom, likewise. Think about what kind of clothing is appropriate for the things you're going to be doing.
5
Shop: The best thing to do is to buy long-lasting pieces that will retain their class throughout seasons. Fashion changes extremely quickly! Don't fill your wardrobe with things that won't be appropriate the same time next year, and don't spend a lot of money on fashion items. Think about step 4 again. What kinds of coats, jackets or sweaters do you need? Put this kind of information in the context of what flatters your body.
6
Shop more: Now that you've got the basics, it's time to have fun! Buy some great shoes, cute accessories and get a haircut! No need to go classic here unless that's your taste - handbags, shoes and jewelry is the place to show your sassy side. Bright purple pleather trench looks too tacky? A handbag in the same style will be fantastic.
7
Ask someone else to go with you shopping. It's always good to have an outsiders perspective. Bring along someone who can give you well-formulated critique regarding your clothes. The image we see in the mirror isn't always how you really look!