In our regular fashion dilemmas column, fashion editor Susannah Conway answers your most pressing fashion queries. This week, she addresses concerns from readers about finding flattering swimwear, graduation outfits, and mother-of-the-groom attire.
A reader with a petite frame (5ft 2, size small, 34B bra) seeking a bikini for a Spanish holiday is advised to try sporty styles such as boyish briefs and racer back tops. Conway suggests enhancer bikinis with padded or liquid-filled cups for a natural shape, and notes that triangle and string bikinis can work well for smaller busts as they offer less support.
A mature student and mother of two graduating in July asks for outfit ideas. She is size 12/14, pear-shaped, 5ft 2, and prefers pastels like pink, blue, or lilac. Conway recommends looking at the Designers at Debenhams range, including Ben de Lisi, Maria Grachvogel, and Edina Ronay. She suggests a tailored knee-length skirt paired with a silky white blouse and an embellished cardigan with three-quarter sleeves, completed with kitten-heeled slingbacks.
Another reader, a 53-year-old petite woman (4ft 9, size 6-8) attending her son's wedding, seeks a silky dress or trouser outfit and hat advice. Conway recommends a cap-sleeved dress with a co-ordinating jacket, V-neck for flattering effect, and knee-length to avoid swamping. Designers such as Betty Jackson, Maria Grachvogel, Amanda Wakeley, and Ghost are suggested. For headwear, she advises a small hat or, for long hair, feathers woven into an updo as an alternative.
