Iconic style: Tina Knowles gives expert advice on dressing the part

Known as the notable mom behind megastar Beyonce, Tina Knowles is a woman who can do it all. A true Jane of all trades, she has conquered the roles of mother, grandmother, author, philanthropist and fashion designer in iconic style. After years of serving as the brain behind the star style of Destiny's Child, Solange and, most recently, Trin-i-tee 5:7, Knowles took her trendsetting designs to the next level. In 2005, she created contemporary clothing collection House of Dereon. Its success paved the way for the trendy denim-based Dereon, Dereon Girls and Miss Tina, a women's collection sold on the Home Shopping Network.

ACCENTUATE THE OBVIOUS

When styling gospel group Trin-i-tee 5:7, Tina focused on accentuating the body parts of which the women were most proud. "Ask yourself, what's the part of your body that you like the best? That's the first place to start. If you like your legs, then find a dress that shows more leg. If you like your arms, then wear a halter-top that shows a great shoulder. You should always accentuate your waist if you have a small waist."

BESPOKE IS BEST

The proper fit is one of the first things Tina considers when styling, designing or dressing herself. "I like classic tailoring like a fitted jacket and a straight-leg pair of jeans. Find a pair of jeans that fit you really well. Spend $20-$30 on getting them tailored so they fit your body like a glove." A man in an ill-fitting jacket is one of Tina's pet peeves. "I always see guys' jackets that don't fit them. Go to the cleaners and get it tailored in the waist. You will look fashionable and pulled together."

TAKE A PICTURE

Tina often takes a Polaroid of her clients to ensure that the outfit looks perfect on the red carpet. "As stylists we will have something that looks great to the eye and the camera will pick up a bad hem. When you go shopping, take pictures of yourself in several styles in the dressing room. Go home and lay out the pictures and you will see what looks best. You can develop your style by trying different things on."

PATENT ADDS INSTANT PIZZAZZ

Tina's must-have fashion trend this season is patent leather. "It dresses everything up. Patent leather bags, patent leather shoes, I love it!"

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WHEN IN DOUBT, ACCESSORIZE

"I think accessories are as important as the outfit you have on," says Tina. "My favorite store for accessories is Forever 21 because they have great necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Just put on a T-shirt, jeans, great accessories and you will look fabulous." Tina applies this same rule when going glare. "You can have on a simple little black dress, beautiful rhinestone earrings and bracelets, a good pair of shoes, and it becomes a dressy outfit."

A PURSE THAT PACKS A PUNCH

The perfect bag makes a statement and Tina suggests you invest in a surefire showstopper! "When you walk into anyplace, whether you are shopping or at a party or whatever, carrying a great bag will turn heads."

CONFIDENCE IS KEY

Tina hosted a recurring series on The Tyra Banks Show in which she gave four deserving women makeovers. One of her biggest challenges was boosting their self-confidence and changing their approach to their own beauty. "We had the most tim just changing all the things they had in their head about what they were limited to. One woman lost 60 pounds and thought she was too big to show her legs. I told her, 'Oh, no!' and put her in a bold minidress!"

COPYRIGHT 2008 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning