Stylish women know what not to wear

NEW YORK -- For a fashion victim, the first step toward recovery is admitting the problem.

Once she acknowledges a flabby tummy, short legs or thick waist, it's fairly easy to find the camouflage that will best hide the figure flaw and let a woman concentrate on her assets, which -- believe it or not -- are sure to outnumber the problems, say Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine, hosts of Britain's "What Not To Wear" TV show.

"If you know what's wrong, you can do it right," Woodall says.

Woodall and Constantine, who also inspired but don't star in the U.S. version of the show on TLC, recently visited New York to promote their new book, also called "What Not To Wear" (Riverhead Books), and, of course, to shop.

On their TV show, the women pick apart the wardrobes of people who have committed one too many fashion faux pas. Constantine and Woodall are ruthless, having their clients (or victims, depending on whom you ask) try on every garment in their closets and take long hard looks in the mirror; anything that's unflattering goes straight into the trash.

Build a better wardrobe

Then they build on the few pieces that do work, which become the basis for a new wardrobe.

In the book, though, it's Woodall and Constantine who do the modeling, showing in full color photos why unfitted, sleeveless shells are not the right choice for Constantine's large bust and thick arms, and why Woodall and her saddlebags steer clear of long wrap sweaters.

To top it off, both women are now pregnant, which has made them even more acutely aware of their body shapes and what works for them. And, they add, it's because they are so honest and open about their own looks that women trust them.

On this day, Constantine, 41, wears a striped, knit cardigan in shades of brown, red and pink over a white tank top that hugs her bulging belly with a fitted below-the-knee skirt; Woodall, 39, has on a polka-dot tunic with a deep V-neckline surrounded by ruffles and loose, long pants.

They are each other's voices of reason when it comes to hideous prints in unflattering colors that Constantine might fall in love with or dresses that squeeze Woodall's rear a little too tightly.

"We do know the answers about good style but we do know how to get it wrong," acknowledges Woodall.

There are at least two universal fashion "don'ts" (tapered pleated trousers and big baggy T-shirts) and all women should wear bras that fit properly, Woodall and Constantine advise, and a one-button, knee-length coat should hang in every woman's closet.

Another edict: Teenagers have the right to experiment, trying all sorts of wacky styles that may or may not fit their shape, but once people are ready to interview for their first full-time jobs, they should figure it out and stick to their most flattering look.

"Having style isn't about fashion, it's about looking good," Constantine says.

Shoppers -- and women in particular -- make excuses to buy clothes that don't work for them because they either love the color, plan to lose weight or can't resist a bargain-basement price, Constantine observes, but they also instinctively know to keep these less-than-stellar purchases from seeing the light of day.

Most people know what looks best on them but they just don't want to limit themselves, the "What Not To Wear" women say.