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January 12, 2020

12 Joys of Colour – Part 2

12 Joys of Colour:

My version of the 12 days of Christmas to share vibrancy and happiness in the lead up to the festive break.

Day 4 – Orange

Orange sits on the warm side of the colour wheel.

It’s a mixture of strong, passionate red with the sunny optimism of yellow.

Orange is one of my favourite colours. When I wear it and see it, I feel energised and happy!

People with warm or neutral skin undertones can wear this colour successfully. If you have a cool undertone orange will make you appear jaundice rather than healthy and radiant.

One of my recent clients, Bronwyn, came for a colour consultation. We discovered that her best colours were cool colours. Bronwyn said she’d been yearning to wear orange and was disappointed that it was not in her colour palette. (Sometimes we just need to wear a certain colour because of the way it makes us feel.)

I suggested 3 ways that she could wear orange and still look good:

Wear it below your waist
Use only very small amounts
Wear one of your optimal colours in-between it (the orange) and your face

Day 5 – Gold

Sparkle and Glamour…

We associate the colour gold with quality, sophistication, luxury and success.

Wear gold if you have warm undertones. If you have cool undertones wear silver.

Like all precious metals, gold accessories will add interest to a plain outfit. It will be the focal point of the outfit so ensure you place it where you want people to look i.e. around your neck so they are drawn to your face, or around your waist if your waist is an asset.

If you find yellow gold too showy opt for the more subtle versions: brushed gold or rose gold.

Gold pairs beautifully with warm neutral tones like chocolate, olive green, khaki, rust, taupe and caramel.

How bold or how subtle should you go? You decide. Make a statement of ‘full blown glamour’ (think of the long evening dresses you see on the red carpet or Bollywood), you can wear it in the form of subtle sophistication (like simple gold and diamond studs worn with a black dress), or you can choose something in-between.

Day 6 – Purple

Purple is a combination of 2 primary colours: red and blue. When you look at a colour wheel or colour spectrum you will see that purple is called violet.

Centuries ago the ingredients to produce purple dye was so rare and expensive that only the very rich could afford it. Small mollusks, found exclusively in the Tyre region of the Mediterranean Sea (now modern-day Lebanon), were used to make the dye.

That is why we associate mid to deep purples with royalty, luxury and power. Lighter versions, like lavender and lilac, are seen as soothing, romantic and mysterious.

Recently I had a wardrobe audit with Ella and discovered a beautiful purple, navy and white striped skirt with the shop tags still attached. Ella said that even though she loved it, she had no idea of what to put with it. So, I searched through her tops and found a red blouse and a mint green tee – both looked fabulous with her skirt.

Other colours that team well with purple are orange, yellow and other purples.

Book in for your personal colour consultation and wardrobe audit to fall in love with your clothes again, create new outfits from the clothes you already own, and gain a boost of confidence.

Image Credits: Pinterest, Unsplash, Tommy Bahama, weddingbee.com

Sticky

December 16, 2019

12 Joys of Colour – Part 1

,

12 Joys of Colour is my version of the 12 days of Christmas which aims to share vibrancy and happiness in the lead up to the festive break. Here are the first three colours:

Day 1 – Green

“Green, which is Nature’s colour, is restful, soothing, cheerful, and health-giving.” Paul Brunton

Colour surrounds us. Subliminally, it affects how we feel and how we are perceived. Cultural and personal experiences can also influence the way we view colour.

I’m going to focus on the positive messages green evokes.

Below are some shades and hues of green and how they may be perceived by others and how they might make you feel.

Deep greens, like seaweed and bottle green = reliable, strong, tenacious
Lighter, brighter greens, like lime and mint = cheerful, playful, fun
Grey greens, like khaki and sage = wisdom, trust, nurture
Emerald and jade greens = lively, sophisticated, regal

So what colours team well with green?

When I take clients out on personal shopping trips I quite often pair green with blue (navy especially), purple, brown and tan, charcoal, yellow and other versions of green.

Day 2 – White

Ivory, snow-white, snow, milk, milky-white, chalk, pearl, antique white, chalk, seashell, cream, linen, ghost white, beige, cornsilk, alabaster.

These some of the words we use to describe the many variations of white.

Classed as a ‘neutral’, white is a blank canvas that allows other colours to shine. It is ideal to use in your home and to have in your wardrobe.

Have you ever searched for white paint? You were probably shocked to discover that there are thousands of shades of white paint available. And, you would have worked out pretty quickly how important it was to choose wisely because it influenced how the room looked and felt e.g. bright, warm, cold.

The same applies when you choose your white clothing. There are very few people who can wear pure white successfully. Many of us look tired, pale and sick in pure white. Instead, wearing a soft white (white with a tiny drop of yellow, umber, grey or green added) compliments your complexion and gives you a healthy glow.

If you would like to see how soft white looks on you, dye one of your white tee-shirts in tea. It’s simple to do: Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to the boil. Steep two teabags in the water for 15 minutes. If you want a light, yellowish colour use green or white tea. If you’re wanting something a little darker, use black tea.

I feel calm, fresh, stylish and relaxed wearing my versions of white. How does white make you feel?

Day 3 – Pink

“Pink is the new black.” Diana Vreeland

Known universally as the colour of love, pink was once seen as a ‘girls only’, sissy hue.

But social attitudes have evolved and pink is more widely accepted as a colour for everyone. As an image consultant and personal stylist I’ve found that there can be resistance to wearing pink, but generally, once all of the other elements of the outfit are added there is a change of heart.

Pink is a wonderful mix of red and white – the white subduing the fiery energy of red.

Dark pinks can have similar effects to red. Viewed as strong and bold, dark pinks can heighten emotions. On the other hand, paler pinks are perceived as soothing and approachable.

Salmon, coral, hot pink, fuchsia, blush, flesh, flush, fuchsia, rose. Which is your best version of pink? Is it pale, cool and icy, a yellow-based coral, or more vibrant and striking like fuchsia? Match it to your complexion and your skin will glow.

Book in to have your Personal Colour Consultation

Sticky

December 15, 2019

7 Key Colours to Wear With Navy

What are your favourite colours to wear with navy?

Navy is a deep blue and a great staple to have in your wardrobe. It works well for all seasons and is a timeless, classic neutral. You can wear navy at work to relay a reliable and dependable vibe (think police uniforms). Or, for casual wear, navy jeans always look smart. And, who doesn’t love a navy blazer over jeans and a tee?

There are so many different colours you can wear with navy. Honestly, the list goes on and on! So I’m just going to give you 7 examples for inspiration.

There are so many ways to wear navy

Navy always looks fabulous with other variations of blue. Creating a monochromatic scheme with shades of blue creates a sophisticated look.

Navy and orange sit opposite on the colour wheel. This colour combination creates a high impact, dramatic effect.

Here I’ve created a more subdued look by teaming navy with two neutrals: ivory and grey. The classic ivory blouse is from Zara and the very comfortable navy skirt is from Cadarra. Other neutrals that work well with navy are white (always crisp and fresh), soft khaki, beige and taupe.

Woman wears a ivory coloured Zara blouse with navy Betty Barclay jeans.

Two neutrals such as the navy and grey in this outfit can look very chic and stylish.

Another eye catching colour that works well with navy is red. If this is too bold for you then choose its lighter version – pink. And, yet another option is to wear burgundy, a rich shade of red.

Blue, in all of its shades, sits next to green on the colour wheel. This mint green knitted top works harmoniously with my navy culottes. Other greens that would work just as well are lime, viridian, and teal.

If you decide to wear a few colours with navy make sure that only one colour dominates and the others play a supporting role. Remember the 60/30/10 rule of design. In this outfit the navy top and jeans make up 60% of the outfit. The coral jacket makes up 30% and the small pops of colour in the scarf make up the remaining 10%.

And as always, make sure that when you wear any colour close to your face that it’s undertone blends with your unique colour palette so that you always look healthy and vibrant.

I’d love to hear about your favourite ways to wear navy.

Sticky

June 27, 2019

Your Perfect Fit: Top Tips For Buying a Jacket

These tips for buying a jacket can be invaluable when you go clothes shopping. We’re all different shapes and sizes, so finding clothes that fit perfectly off the rack can be quite a challenge.

Why is getting the perfect fit so important? It’s kind of like a ‘three bears’ scenario. Too loose and the garment looks like it belongs to someone else. Too tight – people might assume you’ve put on weight or the garment has shrunk. But, when it’s ‘just right’ you look polished and stylish. People can see you’ve made an effort.

Jackets can be expensive items to buy, so you want to get it right. They are investment pieces that stay in your wardrobe for many years. So, it’s better to own one great fitting piece that costs a little more than owning three less expensive ill fitting ones. Whether it’s for work or play a jacket elevates your look creating positive first and lasting impressions.

Sometimes when you’re clothes shopping instinct tells you if an item is working or not, and sometimes it doesn’t! Use this checklist to be absolutely certain the jacket is a great fit for you.

Top Tips for Buying a Jacket

Sleeves should finish just under your wrist bone, and no more than 1cm below it. You can roll or push up longer sleeves of casual jackets.
Fold your arms across the front of your body. Does it feel too tight, too loose or just right?
Vents (slits that open at the back of the jacket) should lie flat.
Even if you think you are never going to wear the jacket buttoned up test to see that you can close them and that the buttons are not pulling.
No pulling across the shoulders.
The seam where the shoulder and arm meet should sit right on the edge of your shoulder bone. If you notice divots, wrinkles or pulling try another size or style. Alterations to the shoulders are costly and they can change the shape of the garment.
Lapels should lie flat – not pucker or bulge. Lapels are the folded back pieces of fabric either side of the front opening.

Woman wears red jacket and carries black handbag

Man wears good fitting blue checked jacket.

So, you’ve followed my guidelines and your new jacket looks great, but the sleeves are too long or the waist area needs tapering. My advice is to find a trusted tailor who can make those minor adjustments for you. It’s worth every penny to achieve your perfect fit.

If shopping for your wardrobe seems like a daunting task contact me to have a conversation about helping you find clothes that suit your personality, lifestyle, colouring and proportions, and boost your confidence.

Image credits: Nordstrom for Women, Nordstrom for Men, Pagani, Pinterest, Just Jeans

Sticky

June 23, 2019

In HomePage-Blog, Style

The Only Travel Packing Tip You Need To Know

Travel packing can be a time consuming, overwhelming ordeal. Whether you’re going away for a weekend or a couple of months, knowing what and how much to take can be tricky. You really need to be prepared for all seasons without taking your entire wardrobe.

Using the capsule wardrobe system will help you cut down on what you pack, and take your travel packing nightmare from mission impossible to mission accomplished.

Some of the benefits for packing this way are that your suitcase will be lighter (feeling exhausted after lugging your bag around will be a thing of the past – remember getting your bag up 4 flights of stairs in that cute Italian pension?), you’ll have more space for the bits and pieces you buy along the way, packing will be quick and easy, AND you’ll achieve stylish travel looks with a minimum of fuss.

The main aim is to take clothes, shoes and accessories that mix and match together, so that even though you’re wearing the same items over and over again, the outfits always look different.

Here’s an example of a travel capsule wardrobe I packed for two weeks in Cuba. Temperatures range from an overnight minimum of 19 degrees Celsius to around 30 degrees during the day.

This combination weighted 9 kilograms and only took up a quarter of my suitcase. By mixing and matching the 12 elements (excluding the accessories) I can create 30 different outfits!

Travel packing step by step

I started with 2 pairs of pants and a jacket which are in neutral colours (Neutrals include navy, white, cream, beige, black, brown, grey and khaki).

Note: You could easily substitute pants for skirts or shorts or a combination.

Then I added 4 tops from my personal colour palette.

3 pairs of shoes: Sneakers, espadrilles and flat, brushed gold sandals.

Add 2 lightweight dresses and voila!

And finally, some fun accessories to complete the overall look.

This diagram illustrates how it works:

If you added another top, the outfit options would increase from 30 to 36. Increase or decrease the items you take depending on the destination, what activities you will be doing and the length of the trip.

Try this excellent travel packing tip if you want a more enjoyable, convenient and stylish trip away.

Wishing you happy and safe travels. Bon Voyage!

Sticky

April 01, 2019

In HomePage-Blog, Travel & Lifestyle, Wardrobe

Underwear Essentials: Your Guide To Flawless Style

Good underwear essentials are the foundations of flawless style.

Get it right and your clothes will appear to fit better, you’ll look great and you’ll be comfortable!

Get it wrong and ill-fitting underwear will ruin your day and ruin your outfit.

Can you remember a time when your bra was digging into you so much that you couldn’t concentrate, it made you grumpy and as soon as you got home you threw it in the bin? And, what about when your undies were so tight they achingly dug into your skin creating lumps and bumps that had never existed before? Or undies that rode up and ‘disappeared’ because the elastic had given up the ghost?

Here’s how to stop these annoying situations ever happening again.

Underwear Essentials 1: Your Bra

History’s not clear about when the bra (as we know it) was first invented. In 1889 French born Herminie Cadolle separated a corset into two pieces. The upper part supported the bust using ‘rubber thread’ shoulder straps (the equivalent of modern day elastic). A few years later Marie Tucek introduced the forerunner to the underwire bra by using metal support plates in her design. But, it was Mary Phelps Jacob who patented her lightweight, soft ‘Backless Bra’ in 1914 that paved the way for the bras we wear today.

I highly recommend having a professional bra fitting every year. Our breasts and bodies are constantly changing. Your bra needs to be comfortable, fit perfectly and support you every day. A professional bra fitter will ensure the band, cup size, straps, hooks and wires suit your body shape and proportions.

It’s amazing what a great fitting bra can do for the way clothes hang on your body. When your bust is lifted you look more youthful and, if you have a large bust, your waist looks slimmer. A few times during personal shopping trips I’ve recommended we start with buying a new bra. Clothes looked so much better when their bust was properly supported and shaped.

Large department stores like David Jones and Myer offer fitting services. Storm in a D Cup in Sydney’s Bondi Junction specialises in D to K cup bras.

Have you found that clothing sizes vary dramatically? Well the same applies to bras. ‘Try before you buy’ is my motto. A Berlei 14C will be different to a Victoria’s Secret 14C or a Simone Perele 14C.

Invest in a couple of ‘workhorse’ bras. They’ll have no lace or embellishments and will be nude in colour. Both practical and versatile, they can be worn under most of your clothes, even finer fabrics and tees.

If you’re prone to nipples that protrude, wear a slightly padded bra or invest in reusable nipple covers from B Free or Cotton On.

Underwear Essentials 2: Your Undies

Panties, undies, knickers. Whatever you call like to them, choose wisely. A visible pantie line (VPL) is a sure-fire way to ruin the look of your outfit. VPLs happen when the outer edges and seams of your underwear show as a ridge or depression in the clothes you’re wearing.

Laser cut panties

How can you avoid it? If you find g-strings and thongs uncomfortable the answer is laser cut underwear. No elastic in the leg, waist or sides creates a smooth, nearly invisible appearance under your clothes. For hygiene and comfort reasons look for brands that stock undies that have a cotton crotch like Berlei, Triumph and Uniqlo.

Laser cut undies come in all shapes and sizes.

Underwear Essentials 3: Your Shapewear

Excruciatingly restrictive whalebone corsets, and old-fashioned girdles worn from the 20s to the 60s have thankfully morphed into the shapewear we know today.

Think of period movies like Gone With The Wind, Titanic, Elizabeth and Marie Antoinette that give us an insight into how gruelling it was to get into these devices and how uncomfortable they were to wear. The options we have today trim, smooth or lift virtually any area of your body, encourage natural curves and are comfortable.

Underwear Essentials blog. Model wears a modern day version of a girdle - the OnCore mid-thigh bodysuit from Spanx.

Underwear Essentials blog. 1942 advert for a Berlei girdle.

Underwear Essentials blog. Model wears a modern day girdle: the Strapless cropped mid-thigh bodysuit by Spanx.

The most important tip I can give you is to buy the right size. Too small and you’ll create bulging lumps outside the shapewear area (and be screaming on the inside). Too large: you’ll add wrinkles to your outfit fooling no-one about what’s going on underneath.

Putting shapewear on is easy if you wait a few minutes for your body to cool down and dry completely after you shower. And a small amount of talcum powder dusted over your skin will help too.

These days there’s an abundance of underwear brands offering a huge choice of styles, fabrics, sizes and fits to suit your preferences and needs. Update and invest in your underwear essentials for ultimate comfort, confidence and flawless style.

What is your favourite underwear brand and why?

Image Credits:

vintagedancer.com

Philadelphia Museum

Lacy Hint

eBay

Spanx

Sticky

January 12, 2019

In HomePage-Blog, Style

Palazzo Pants – How To Wear Them Well

Move over skinny pants, palazzo pants are back in!

Coco Chanel wore them in the 20s and Katherine Hepburn wore them in the 30s. But it wasn’t until the 60s and early 70s that palazzo pants were embraced and worn by the masses. One of the reasons they became popular is because some of the ritzy restaurants in Europe insisted on enforcing the rule that women had to wear skirts or dresses to their restaurants. The women wanted to wear pants, so they found a way around it by wearing long, loose, floaty pants that looked similar to the dresses and skirts.

If you’re keen to wear this latest fashion trend read on…

Palazzo pants can be tricky to wear for those of us who are ‘vertically challenged’ and for anyone who carries weight on their hips and thighs. The volume of fabric and the full, broad leg can make you look wider and shorter.

3 pairs of palazzo pants. The first pair features floaty fabric. The second pair of palazzo pants feature a hemline that covers the shoes. The third pair is too short. It makes the wearer look short and wide.

Soft, floaty fabrics and longer hemlines are best.

Here are my top 6 tips to wearing palazzo pants well:

Wear heels to visually elongate your legs. Wedges are a comfortable option.
Choose light floaty fabrics.
Hem them as long as possible (but not too long that they’re a trip hazard ?).
Wear lighter or colourful tops, and jewellery to draw attention up to your face.
Choose solid colours or small dense patterns.
And, as well as the suggestions in point 4, you could also wear the same colour or a similar colour to your pants to make you look longer and taller.

Striped palazzo pants with a bright top. the bright top brings attention to your face.

Stripes elongate and the bright top brings the eye up to the face

Black palazzo pants teamed with a black top and high heels makes the wearer look taller and slimmer

Look taller by wearing a top in the same colour and heels

There are plenty of colours and styles at online stores like The Iconic

If you want more info on how to create stylish outfits using loose, baggy clothing like palazzo pants, you can read my article on the Principle of Volume.

Sticky

November 16, 2018

In HomePage-Blog, Style

This Capsule Wardrobe System Will Make Getting Dressed A Whole Lot Easier

What is a capsule wardrobe, and why would you use one?

Do you ever waste time in front of your wardrobe wondering what to wear? No matter how organised you are, the chances are you have. It’s stressful! As you stand in front of your clothes you can feel time ticking away. All you want to do is create an outfit that looks good and get out the door.

That’s where creating a capsule wardrobe can help. Susie Faux, owner of the London boutique ‘Wardrobe’, created the phrase in the 70s. The concept is to build your wardrobe around a few core pieces of clothing: pants, skirts and jackets that are classic and timeless. Then add seasonal tops and accessories to keep your wardrobe up to date. So that your clothes can mix and match, they need to relate to one another. If you can do this you’ll be able to create coordinated outfits in record time.

Capsule wardrobes gained popularity in 1985 when Donna Karan released her 7-piece workwear capsule collection. These days it’s used as a popular way to get great versatility and functionality from your clothes while reducing clutter, creating space and helping with our planet’s sustainability.

I’m showing you just one example of a capsule wardrobe, but there are many different variations. You decide how many items you need to make it work for you and your lifestyle.

How to create your capsule wardrobe

This combination of 10 garments will give you 26 outfits. Mix those 26 outfits with the sneakers, ballet flats and sandals (I’ve left the thongs out) and you have 78 outfits.

Start by choosing 2 or 3 neutral colours like navy, grey, black, white, brown, beige, tan or khaki. Buy your jackets, pants and skirts in these colours. They could be matching pieces or separates. I’ve chosen cream, khaki and denim/navy. (See diagram below) All of these garments coordinate well together. Then you add 4 tops and a dress and the capsule wardrobe is complete.

A Capsule Wardrobe of Casual Wear with Accessories

You can expand or subtract from the template I’ve shown here, but this is a great start. And, you can increase the outfit combinations from 26 to 32 just by adding 1 more top.

Stock up on smaller items like jewellery and scarves that can inject elements of interest if you’re a person who needs more variety.

Use the capsule wardrobe system for your work wardrobe too (if you don’t wear a uniform). It’s also handy to use when packing for a trip (Less in the suitcase = less to lug around and more room for shopping!).

If you have any questions about creating your capsule wardrobe feel free to email me ann@imageconfidence.com.au or call 0408 108 804. And, if you know anyone who could benefit from this article feel free to share.

What are your tips for a compact, functional wardrobe?

Sticky

October 28, 2018

In HomePage-Blog

Improve Your Style using the ‘Principle of Volume’

There are many ways to improve your style, and one of them is by using the principle of volume. It is a simple technique that makes every outfit look good. You may be using it already without knowing it.

This article explains the principle of volume and how you can use it when combining your clothes.

Improve Your Style using the Principle of Volume

A garment is voluminous when it is oversized, bulky, full or wide, very gathered or flared, or there is a large quantity of fabric. Think: palazzo pants, culottes, loose billowy blouses, tops and skirts with ruffles, peasant tops and box pleat or full circle skirts. Here are some examples:

When two voluminous items are worn together the look becomes boxy and shapeless. The fabric swamps you and makes you look larger. The picture on the left (below) shows examples of this.

Now look at the image on the right. I have replaced the full skirt and loose, baggy pants with a tapered pencil skirt and straight cut black jeans. The slim lines of these garments balance out the oversized top giving the wearer some shape which creates a more flattering and visually appealing look. Other fitted garments that will show your shape include slim leg jeans and capri pants, high waisted straight skirts and tube skirts.

Two outfits featuring voluminous garments. These looks do not improve your style.

Two outfits featuring voluminous tops and slim fitting pants and skirt. Wearing this type of clothing combination is a way to improve your style.

The last picture shows the combination in reverse. The original voluminous skirt and pants have been teamed with a red-orange slim fitting top. Tip: If you are petite wear heels to elongate your legs.

The principle of volume works with all body shapes and for outfits for all occasions i.e., casual, smart casual or dressy. Just by using the simple formula of mixing a slim fitting garment with a voluminous one you will create a stylish look. Add accessories to complete your outfit.

Sticky

September 24, 2018

In HomePage-Blog