Senior Style Guide

What

Wear to

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Let’s

ready

get

3 The Basics 8 Wardrobe by Body Type 14 What’s my Undertone?

21 Styling Tips 24 Define your style 38 Polishing your look

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the basics

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What to Wear Bright – jewel toned colors or neutrals.

Complimentary layers.

Functional clothing: if you want to get the most out of your poses, you need to be able to sit, squat, stand etc comfortably in all your outfits.

Dress for the season & location.

Classic and thin chained jewelry paired with simple earrings.

A variety of outfits that show off your true personality: at least one classic outfit + jeans, shorts, dresses, skirts, and more. Mix it up!

Nude undergarments.

Tailored clothing that accentuates your best assets.

A variety in style: casual, prep, glam, boho, etc.

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What Not to Wear Winkled & dull clothes or neon colors.

Busy patters: camo, plaid, etc.

Short length skirts, dresses and/or shorts that expose too much when sitting, squatting or bending over.

Wearing clothing meant for other seasons like wearing a spring dress in the winter.

Trendy and chunky jewelry that can draw attention away from your face.

The same outfit pieces over and over. For example: wearing three dresses/outfit style over the course of your shoot may not show enough variety.

Cleavage-baring top & blouses.

Clothing that exposes undergarments.

Tight fitting clothing that can accentuate problem areas.

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Wardrobe by

Body type If you’re worried about what to wear to best accentuate your body’s shape, have no fear!

Over the next few pages, we’ll help you make great selections depending on your body type.

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Rectangular Body Type

Traits: Your slender upper body tends to be the same width as your slender lower body.

You may often consider yourself boxy.

Your wardrobe goal: Enhance your figure by creating curves with hemlines and colors.

Do’s and Don’ts Don’t be afraid to experiment with colors – if you want to accentuate your upper body, wear a brightly colored top with darker bottoms, and vice versa if you want to accentuate your lower half.

Shapely tops like scoop neck, v-neck, sweetheart and halter necklines can create curves on your upper body.

Refined patterns in classically bold colors help give depth and a richness to your frame.

High-waisted belts will give you the illusion of a smaller waist which will add curves.

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Hour Glass Body Type

Traits: Your upper and lower body are similar in width while you have a small waist.

You often refer to yourself as “curvy” with a small waistline.

Your wardrobe goal: To accentuate your curves without looking suggestive.

Do’s and Don’ts Wear fitted/tailored looks that aren’t too tight or attention drawing.

Waistline belts can help accentuate your stomach and show off your figure.

Skinny jeans and boot-cut jeans look best on you.

Nude high heels can lengthen your legs.

Try not to wear your skirts/dresses too short or low plunging tops as it can look suggestive.

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Pear Body Type

Traits: Your upper body (shoulders, chest and stomach) is more slender in comparison to your wider, lower body (hips, thighs and bottom.)

Your wardrobe goal: To balance out your lower body by creating optical illusions on your upper body with appropriate clothing.

Do’s and Don’ts Keep your tops lighter in color than your bottoms. It will bring attention to your thin, upper frame.

Wear blazers and jackets that stop at the hip line.

Brightly colored cardigans/tops will always draw attention away from your hips and up towards your face.

Your pants should be boot or flare cut.

Wear A-line skirts instead of pencil skirts. It will help balance out your hips.

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Wedge Body Type

Traits: Your upper body (shoulders, chest and stomach) measure wider than your smaller lower body.

Your wardrobe goal: Minimize your upper body and accentuate your lower body to create balance.

Do’s and Don’ts High-waisted bottoms are great for this look because they help bring attention to your shapely hips.

Keep your neckline soft: go for cowl necks, deep v-necks or even scoop necks.

Stay away from spaghetti straps as they can draw attention to a larger upper body.

Do use a high-waisted belt to accentuate your waistline.

Go for simple and darker toned tops, while experimenting with brightly colored or refined, printed bottoms.

Wear wide-legged pants to balance out a wider upper body.

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Apple Bottom Body Type

Traits: Your middle body holds most of your weight (chest, upper arms, stomach, hips & bottom).

Your wardrobe goal: Lengthen your torso and create the illusion of a waistline.

Do’s and Don’ts Wear a great tummy shaper to minimize any bulge at the waist and an uplifting bra to create separation between your waistline and bra line.

A darker toned, longer length cardigan can help elongate your torso and cut your middle horizontally in half. ¾ length sleeves are best for your tops to draw attention away from your upper arms.

Heavier fabrics are best to help hide any trouble area. Any lycra or spandex in your clothing will mean that it may cling to your body.

Bootcut bottoms will help lean out your body.

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What is my

Undertone?

An undertone is the color from underneath the surface of your skin. It affects your overall hue. When selecting your wardrobe, always consider your undertone for best results.

Turn your arms over: Cool undertone: purple or blue veins (you probably also burn in the sun) Warm undertone: green (you probably get a great summer tan)

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Cool Skin Tones Skin tone: blue, rosy and pink The colors that look best with your skin tones are considered sea shades (teals, blues & greens) as well as frostry shades (berries, blue grays & icy tones). If you’re in the mood for neutral colors, check out crisp whites.

Quick Tip: If you have blue eyes, wear blue. If you have green eyes, wear green.

Complimentary Colors: blues, greens and purples

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Warm Skin Tones Skin tone: green, yellow, golden and olive The colors that look best with your skin tones are rich, earthy tones in shades of reds, oranges, yellows, greens and browns.

If you’re in the mood for neutrals colors, check out the warm grays like mushroom and off-whites.

Quick Tip: jewel tones still look good on warm tones, but deeper in color (eggplant instead of purple, deep teal instead of electric blue)

Complimentary Colors: khaki, gray, olive green, orange and coral.

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Neutral Skin Tones Skin tone: ivory, beige and light olive The colors that look best with your skin tones are blush toned pinks, pastel yet rich berries. If you’re in the mood for neutral colors, check out off-whites or grays.

Quick Tip: most neutrals have hazel eyes and can accentuate the green in their eyes by wearing purples

Complimentary Colors: jade green and placid blue

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Hair Do:

Do: wear your hair down and styled.

Don’t: try out a new trendy hair style or chop off your precious locks.

Pro Tip: we have a partnership with Panache and we can make a hair appointment for your session.

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Make Up opt for a natural or classic look. At minimum, wear foundation, blush, mascara and a lip color otherwise you can look washed out.

Don’t: go overboard on make up (except if you are going for a glam look).

Pro Tip:

go to your salon or we can book an appointment with Panache.

Nails Do:

Skin Do:

go neutral. Your hands (and sometimes feet) will be in your portraits. Nude, light pink or clear are your best options.

Don’t: wear bold or neon polish. Your nail polish will compete with your face and outfit. If you do opt for color polish, make sure it isn’t chipped (or bring extra nail polish with you).

Pro Tip: treat yourself to a manicure & pedicure a day before your shoot.

stay out of the sun or wear sunscreen for the two weeks before your shoot.

If you burn easily, redness will show along with tan or burn lines.

Remember to keep it natural. If you don’t normally tan, don’t.

Don’t:

lay out before your session. Don’t use self-tanner unless you know you are great at applying it! An exfoliator will help for self-tanner issues.

Pro Tip: go to a professional if you want a spray tan for your session.

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1

Define your

Style 2

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Beach

Vibe

Where to start: When deciding your senior portrait wardrobe, be yourself. Our most popular destination is the beach. When selecting your outfits, make sure your style fits. We start on one beach and move to another during your session so you will have the opportunity to change. Mix it up. Wear a top and jeans to start and a flowy dress for sunset. If you have a sunrise session, start with a dress and then change into a more casual outfit. For the most part, you will be barefoot so don’t stress about your shoes.

Extra Tips: Demin is a casual classic. Whether it’s shorts, boot cut jeans or denim skinnies, you can always transform this look into whatever you want it to be.

To keep this look casual, keep your top loose fitting and/or flowing.

Keeping your colors light and airy works beautifully against a colorful backdrop.

You will most likely be barefoot for the shoot. Make sure to have your toes polished. Neutrals always work best unless you want to match your outfits.

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Flirty

Floral

Where to start: Who doesn’t love being surrounded by beautiful flowers? When selecting your clothing, keep in mind that flowers will be adding texture to your portraits. Solids tend to work best against colorful flowers.

You are the focus. Your clothing should compliment you and the environment.

Extra Tips: While keeping your color solid, add some texture by wearing a lace. It will play to your more feminine side.

A flowy dress can give movement and those phenominal twirling shots.

We recommend suble or delicate jewelry.

We have found that styling your hair with a little curl or texture look great. With a little breeze, your hair will flow beautifully.

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Glam

Gorgeous

Where to start: This is the time to memorialize your senior year - and what better way to do that than to showcase your formal dress from Homecoming or Prom? Glam it up with your favorite dress that flatters you to the core!

Of course, you’ll have pictures from Prom or Homecoming taken with a point and shoot camera, but it’s a whole other story to have professionally styled and captured images of you all glammed up at a location to match.

Extra Tips: The length of your dress speaks loudly!

A short dress means you’re the life of the party and ready to go! While a long dress exudes elegance and Hollywood glamour!

Always remember to bring the appropriate NUDE undergarments for your dress: strapless or convertible bra, SPANX, seamless underwear, shape-wear, etc.

Keep in mind that the more sequins and embellishments on your dress, the less accessories you will need. Vice versa goes for a simple dress.

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Patterns

Pretty Where to start:

If you’re feeling fun and flirty and want to show off your girly side, floral prints are a great way to achieve that. There are a lot of options out there in color, size and print.

You will have a lot of variety to choose from. While florals have always been a timeless trend, there are lots of ways to wear them that will represent you in your senior portraits.

Extra Tips: If you want to add a simple statement piece to your minimal outfit, wear a floral kimono or duster.

Whether your floral prints are tiny or huge, allow your piece to be the main show by pairing it with solids. For example, if you’re going to wear a floral top, pair it with solid pants or a skirt.

Patterns are a fun way to mix it up and show your personality. The trick is to not let the print over power you. It should compliment you and your skin tone.

Make sure to show off the smallest part of your waist. If you select a boxy dress, use a belt to create curves.

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Lovely in

Lace

Where to start: Whether it’s a lace top, lace shorts or a lace dress, you can never go wrong with this fun and flirty classic! Keep it modern by wearing it in bold and rich colors or keep it timeless with muted tones of cream and blush. Play it up with a strand of pearls.

It’s feminine and always soft when you want to keep your senior portrait style all American with that “girl next door” look.

Extra Tips: To keep lace looking high end, be sure to purchase only those pieces that are scalloped or open hemmed. That makes the piece look unique and intricate.

Remember that lace is usually see through, so pair your piece with nude undergarments. Refrain from using anything other than nude undergarments because it can come off as less than classy.

If you are foregoing pretty pearls for a more modern look, stick with thin chained necklaces when wearing lace as not to compete with the pattern in the lace.

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Studio

Chic

Where to start: Start with a blend of rich, understated colors. Add a little dark-on-dark with accessories. Don’t be afraid to spice it up with a subtle color splash, jewelry and flattering necklines. For darker tones, try black, charcoal, burgundy, navy, or jewel tones. For lighter tones, try champagne or ivory.

Let your personality shine. When you bring extras, it makes your session unique. Whatever you come up with, we will create something great for you!

Extra Tips: Dark clothing tends to slenderize. Longer sleeves also thin and flatter. If one’s arms are not tone, consider long sleeves. For ladies, it is better to have an outfit with a waist.

Bring the colors and clothes you look and feel best in. Bring formal dresses, sweaters, or lace for the more traditional look. For casual and photos, dress comfortably with jeans or khaki. If you have favorite outfits, bring them.

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Let’s talk

Accessories

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Polishing your Jewelry:

Look

To make a simple top pop, add a colorful and interesting necklace in complimentary colors. To add glam to an edgy look, pop on a super glitz collar or bib type necklace to instantly dress up the look.

If you’re wanting to wear a deep neckline but are uncomfortable about the amount of skin shown, throw on a beautiful statement necklace to bridge the gap a bit.

Hats: Make sure that your hat fits your head and isn’t too large or tall. A hat that it too tall for your head can make your head look much bigger than it is, and a hat that is too large, can come down too low on your forehead causing dark shadows above your eyes.

Scarves: Wanting to add a pop of color to an otherwise dull outfit? Throw on a scarf bursting with a beautifully colored pattern and you’ll have the look you’re going for.

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