As you might imagine I have read a lot of different articles and books about different body types: pear, apple, V, M, goddess, etc. All attempts to help us weed through the overwhelming sea of options out there. The trouble, as some have already heard me say, is that clothing is a mass-produced industry for humans... of which no 2 are exactly the same. I'm sure you have seen that someone else that wears the same size as you can look totally different in the same garment. So I thought I might do the next few posts about figure characteristics that are less often addressed but can be challenging when it comes to finding clothes and what to do to look your best.

First up, the high-rise petite. When a garment comes in both a petite and missy size the petite will be shorter in the length from top to bottom but also from shoulder to bust, bust to waist, waist to crotch, crotch to knee and knee to cuff. The measurement from the crotch to the top of a pant or pair of shorts is called "the rise". Some women find that petite pants are great in the inseam and knee placement but much too low in the rise. When it comes to jeans this is especially challenging because jeans tend to have a low rise and shortening the rise for a petite can be obscenely low. If this sounds like you then try "NYDJ" (Not Your Daughter's Jeans) in the petite cut. These jean's characteristic high rise is often a Godsend for petites with a high rise. Dresses and skirts are also very flattering on high-rise petites because it removes the need to define the area and evens out the body's proportions. It's especially good to wear dresses that focus on the waist.

Lastly, wear shoes that do not cut off the leg. If you want to take advantage of this season's ankle strap trend then look for ankle straps that are close to your skin tone. Otherwise look for shoes that are open to the toe box or front of the shoe.

Do you have a fashion frustration? Recline on the chaise and tell me all about it... I'll do my best to give you some possible solutions.

Thanks for reading! Jodi

Damnet! I was just getting accustomed to teeter-tottering around on platforms. But one thing you can always depend on in the fashion industry is change and this spring's remodeling focus will be on your feet. After years of platform heel heights towering higher and higher designers have decided to put their foot down (or rather ours since most of them are men and don't wear the darn things in the first place.) According to Vogue's January 2013 issue, platforms are on their way out and single soles are the way to go. Don't worry, you needn't quit cold turkey, keep rockin' those platform heels. As a matter of fact, a lot of the designers were showing a mix of platform as well as single sole pumps and sandals in their Spring 2013 shows. But if you're planning to take advantage of all those after-Christmas and New Year's sales you might want to focus on single soles . Ultimately you'll get more seasons out of a trend if you buy it at the start.One particular shoe style seems to be popping up all over the place. The ankle strapped pump.

: Tom Ford - Spring 2013 RTW (Photo: Style.com)

Gorgeous, sleek, sexy... but not so flattering if your legs or ankles are less than svelte. If you still want to embrace this trend without cutting off the line of your leg too much try a pair with a nude ankle strap or another color closer to your skin tone.

Now if you'll exuse me, I have to go buy stock in Dr. Scholls.

Happy 2013!!