Five lessons from Trinny & Susannah

Trinny Woodall and Susanna Constantine are frank fashion advisers who have revolutionised the way in which women see their bodies. They have hosted "What Not to Wear" and "Trinny & Susannah Undress the Nation", and have written several books to much success. So, what have we learned from these two style revolutionaries?

Accentuate the positive

Trinny and Susannah have never advocated a look or type. Though they are labelled fashion advisers, what they practice is far more about personal style than fashion trends. Their philosophy is all about self-acceptance and making the most of what you have.
T&S Lesson 1: Learn tolove the skin you are in This is not about an esoteric acceptance of who you are nor is it about trying to fit into a cookie cutter ideal of what a body should be like. This lesson is all about taking an honest look at yourself - physically that is. Each one of us has aspects of our bodies that we should accentuate, and things that we should conceal.
T&S Lesson 2: Know your body shape According to this style team, there are 12 female body types, ranging from the traditional pear and apple shaped, to the newer additions of vase and brick. The secret to looking good is learning how to dress for your body type. Work out which shape you are, and you can then dress in accordance to that shape to maximise your positive attributes. T&S Lesson 3: Rediscover colour Black may be considered to be slimming, but colour is far more fun. Trinny and Susannah are passionate about getting their audience dressing in colours. Colour is incredibly important when choosing what to wear as the wrong colour can make you look washed out and sallow while the correct colour for your skin tone can make you radiant.

Eliminate the negative

While accentuating your positive bits, sometimes you need to downplay your not-so-positive bits. One way to do this is by choosing the correct underwear.
T&S Lesson 4: Get fitted for a bra Man women wear the wrong size bra. An incorrectly-sized bra won't provide the correct support to the bust, and can cause unflattering back fat rolls, or creases on the shoulders. Take the time to have a professional bra fitting to ensure you are wearing the right size undergarment. T&S Lesson 5: Sometime you need to fake it Slimming knickers are worn under your clothing to flatten and smooth out any body bits you aren't entirely happy with. Trinny and Susannah even have their own range of control undies called Magic Knickers.