Are you weary of wardrobe worries? Do you stand catatonic before your closet? Does the fashion rulebook ruffle your feathers? Never fear — Megan is here!

In the June edition of our fashion advice column “Ask Megan,” Style Coach Megan LaRussa Chenoweth of Megan LaRussa answers all of your fashion queries. She demystifies and decodes the “fashion rules,” delivers practical guidelines and gets to the heart of your style rut, so you can face your closet quandaries, your prêt-à-porter predicaments and the garment gauntlet with the bravery of Joan of Arc and the panache of Coco Chanel!

Style Coach Megan LaRussa ChenowethPin
Style Coach Megan LaRussa Chenoweth

Bathing suit shopping is my nightmare as everything is either frumpy or not supportive enough. What is the best bathing suit for a busty woman?

Excellent question! Just because you have a bust doesn’t mean you can’t look and feel fabulous in your swimsuit! The No. 1 swimsuit rule for busty women is to find a suit with underwire. The No. 2 swimsuit rule is to select top styles with adjustable, supportive straps. This means that spaghetti straps and strapless styles are not always your friend when it comes to swimwear. And the No. 3 rule is to select a bathing suit with a scoop or v-neck as that is always a more flattering neckline for women who tend to feel top-heavy.

Whether you love a one piece, tankini or high-waisted bikini, there are many options out there to ensure you feel lifted and supported all summer long. Here are three of my favorite options:

The number one swimsuit rule for busty women is to find a suit with underwire.Pin
The No. 1 swimsuit rule for busty women is to find a suit with underwire. Image: Macy’s
The number two swimsuit rule is to select top styles with adjustable, supportive straps. Image: ShopbopPin
The No. 2 swimsuit rule is to select top styles with adjustable, supportive straps. Image: Shopbop
And the number three rule is to select a bathing suit with a scoop or v-neck as that is always a more flattering neckline for women who tend to feel top heavy. Image: Macy'sPin
And the No. 3 rule is to select a bathing suit with a scoop or v-neck as that is always a more flattering neckline for women who tend to feel top-heavy. Image: Macy’s

While shorts are fine for the summer, I would love more casual summer dresses. I like that they are easy to throw on and keep me nice and cool. Where do I get the perfect casual summer dress?

In my opinion, there’s nothing better than an easy, breezy summer dress — one that you can just throw on, run out the door and still look stylish and pulled together. When it’s blazing hot or when you just aren’t in the mood to pull together an outfit of separates, a dress always saves the day!

I work with women of all body types and ages, and I know that there is a casual summer dress out there for everyone, even if it may not feel like it! When looking for that perfect dress, focus on breathable fabrics, easy yet flattering silhouettes and a bit of interest to keep you looking polished.

Here are a few of my favorites:

When it’s blazing hot or when you just aren’t in the mood to pull together an outfit of separates, a dress always saves the day! Image: EloquiiPin
When it’s blazing hot or when you just aren’t in the mood to pull together an outfit of separates, a dress always saves the day! Image: Eloquii
This jersey linen sheath dress with a double-ruffle hem is a fabulous blank canvas! Image: NordstromPin
This jersey linen sheath dress with a double-ruffle hem is a fabulously versatile blank canvas! Image: Nordstrom
We love this laid-back shirt dress! Image: NordstromPin
We love this laid-back shirt dress! Image: Nordstrom
Simple yet fun, this denim dress with frills can be dressed up or down. Image: MangoPin
Simple yet fun, this denim dress with frills can be dressed up or down. Image: Mango

My wardrobe seems not to have changed much over the past few years. I keep adding things to my closet, but I never seem to be able to find anything to wear! What do I do to get out of this style rut?

I love discussing the topic of style evolution, which is exactly what’s happening to you. I am a firm believer that we as women evolve with every year, decade and milestone of our lives. We change jobs, have children, travel the world, enter new decades, educate ourselves on new topics and so much more. By growing as a person we are subconsciously evolving our personal style too. Why? Our personal style is a direct reflection of who we are at any given moment; thus, if we have personally grown but our wardrobe has remained the same, we come up against a style rut!

Even though you are adding more clothes to your closet, they are probably not the right clothes for you in this stage of your life. They may have served you a few years ago, but who you are now needs something different, and it’s time to dig deep and figure out what that looks like.

I invite you to watch my short and sweet style video on this exact topic.

All in all, I encourage you to focus on something that I have my style-coaching clients do when we first begin our work together, and that’s defining and refining your personal style. Treat it as an experiment, and approach this new stage of your life with curiosity. Play with Pinterest and magazines, cleanse your closet and ultimately infuse fresh pieces into your wardrobe that speak to this evolved style that is all your own.

RELATED: If You Never Wanted a Style Coach, We Bet You Will Now …

I know basics are important and worth investing in. What are the must-have basics that every woman needs to own?

You are 110% correct! Basics are important for two main reasons. The first is they are the backbone of your wardrobe. They allow you to mix and match and make outfits with ease, as they are your blank canvas. The second reason they are important to invest in is something called “cost per wear.” If you purchased a pair of dark wash jeans for $200 that were cut in a flattering style for your body type and you wore them 200 times, that cost per wear would be $1 per wear. Pretty good, right?!

Dark wash jeans are one of the must-have basic items for every femme, as is a well-cut dress in your favorite hue. To learn what other items are on my “must-have basics” list, snag my stylish gift to you!

Some must-have basics include:

Dark wash jeans

A great pair of dark wash jeans is a must-have for every woman. Image: MangoPin
A great pair of dark wash jeans is a must-have for every woman. Image: Mango

A classic dress in your favorite hue

A classic dress in your favorite hue, like this red Lanvin sheath on Kate Bosworth, is a closet staple. Image: Who What WearPin
A classic dress in your favorite hue, like this red Lanvin sheath on Kate Bosworth, is a closet staple. Image: Who What Wear

Tailored white blouse

A tailored white blouse can be the workhorse of a woman's wardrobe as it looks chic in formal and casual settings and everything in between! Image: Fashion CornerPin
A tailored white blouse can be the workhorse of a woman’s wardrobe as it looks chic in formal settings, casual settings and everything in between! Image: Fashion Corner

RELATED: Beach Cover-Ups, Shorts for All Ages & the Perfect White Button-Down: Ask Megan!

Help! I’m a stay-at-home mom, and I am stuck in activewear when running errands, around the house or taking the kids to the playground. How do I break up with my yoga pants, but still remain comfortable and practical?

Thank you for being honest and asking this fabulous question! I know other femmes are wondering the same thing, but in a sea of activewear, it can feel daunting to stray from the crowd and rock a different casual look.

I have worked with countless women of all ages on getting them out of their stretchy pants and into something much more chic but just as comfy. The first thing you need to do is make a weekly goal. If you know that you wear activewear five times a week, then set a goal to only wear it twice a week, and wear regular clothing the rest of the week. Start slow to ensure this sticks, and you’ll come out on the other side looking and feeling fabulous!

The next step is to go shopping! To keep yourself on track, you must have easy, go-to, casual pieces ready to roll in your closet. Some of my favorite up-leveled casual items include:

 A casual T-shirt dress

You can pair a casual t-shirt dress with almost anything! Image: NordstromPin
You can pair a casual t-shirt dress with almost anything! Image: Nordstrom

Stylish sneakers

These flatform espadrille-style sneakers are on trend this season. Image: ShopbopPin
These flatform espadrille-style sneakers are very much on-trend this season. Image: Shopbop
If you like bows, these Michael Kors suede skate sneakers are for you! Image: Saks Fifth AvenuePin
If you like bows, these Michael Kors suede skate sneakers are for you! Image: Saks Fifth Avenue

A well-draped tee

This tie-cuff tee is laid-back with a touch of sweet! Image: AnthropologiePin
This tie-cuff tee is laid-back with a touch of sweet! Image: Anthropologie
This V-neck has a flattering cut for feminine curves. Image: Lou & GreyPin
This V-neck has a flattering cut for feminine curves. Image: Lou & Grey

Personality-packed casual pants or shorts

These red-pink-and-black printed shorts make a stylish statement. Image: Ann TaylorPin
These red-, pink- and black-printed shorts make a stylish statement. Image: Ann Taylor
Petal embroidery adds an undeniable dash of personality! Image: AnthropologiePin
Petal embroidery adds an undeniable dash of personality! Image: Anthropologie

I get so overwhelmed every time I walk into a department store. How do I streamline shopping to make it more successful and less stressful?

You are not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the plethora of options at a department store, not to mention the often overly packed racks full of clothes that don’t seem to “go together.” It’s similar to having an extremely packed closet that, despite being full of clothes, makes you feel like you have nothing to wear. Remember having too many options is not always a good thing. Physical clutter can equate to mental clutter, and it can make you stop right in your tracks when you have to make an educated decision when shopping.

When I take a style-coaching client shopping, I share with them a few simple tips that will ensure they leave the store with exactly what they need every time. The first tip is to always have your shopping list in hand when shopping. Just like you would take a grocery list to the store when preparing for a dinner party, you need a shopping list when visiting a department store. It’s important to be purposeful in your shopping to keep you focused, on track and savvy with your purchases.

The second tip for tackling the department store pertains to actually trying items on. Yes, that means you need to always try on any item before purchasing. But also, it means that it’s vital to think about what the item will go with, based on your current wardrobe and where you’ll wear it. And, if it is on sale, ask yourself if you would buy it full price. These questions will keep you accountable to your shopping list, and again ensure you leave the store feeling stylish, stress-free and successful.

It’s important to be purposeful in your shopping to keep you focused, on track and savvy with your purchases.Pin
It’s important to be purposeful in your shopping to keep you focused, on track and savvy with your purchases.

Happy Shopping!

Have fashion questions? Ask Megan! Submit your own fashion-related questions for possible inclusion in this monthly column by emailing [email protected]. 

To learn more about Megan LaRussa, or to view style-coaching options, book an appointment or sign up for Megan’s newsletter, visit meganlarussa.com.

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Author: Megan LaRussa Chenoweth
About the Author
Megan LaRussa Chenoweth

Megan LaRussa Chenoweth of Style Yourself Chic is a Style Coach that loves nothing more than guiding her clients & community to look and feel their best everyday.