Steps 3 & 4 to Wardrobe Renewal!!

Step 3 in the Wardrobe Cleanout!! Go through every piece still in the wardrobe and ask the following questions - does it fit properly? do you wear it? does it go with other things in your wardrobe? does it make you feel good? is it a fabric that works for you? Is it in your wardrobe for a practical reason, not an emotional one? Anything that gets a Yes, stays. Any other answer and the article joins a pile on the floor. The piles are 1 - recycled shop (excellent condition, clean and under 3 years of age); 2 - friends (possibilities for friens of a different colouring, size, lifestyle); clothing bin (clean, good condition but not going to be worn again by your good self); alterations - good pieces that require a little "fixit" to bring them back to perfect. Repeat this process with each piece of clothing that you own. Shoes, bags, scarves and all accessories. Be thorough and be honest. There is a pile for all the discards. Take a deep breath. Step 4. pack the piles and put the bags into your car. Move them out today, now! Do not leave anything in Limbo - it will find its way back into the wardrobe. Once you have dropped off the bags - to the appropriate places go and look at your new, clean, organised wardrobe. Well done, now it is time for coffee, tea or wine - you have earned it!!

Wardrobe Cleanout - 4 Step process

Wardrobe Cleanout time. This is a 4 step process. Today is Step 1 - how predictable of moi!! Step 1. Set aside at least 2 hours - sounds a lot, but it will be worth it. Make sure you have all your clothes gathered in one spot (or repeat this process in each room where you have clothes). Pur all your shirts/tops together in order of colour from lightest to darkest. Then repeat this process with any printed/patterned pieces. Do the same with skirts, pants, dresses and jackets. If you have had your colours done, this should be a breeze. For others (you really should have your colours done, just saying) start with white, then work your way through from lightest to darkest. Step 2. Check each piece - does it need any repair/s (buttons, hems, snags) if so, set it aside on the "to be repaired" pile. Does it still fit? (if so, great. if not, is there any real chance in this lifetime that it will fit - if yes, keep it. If the honest answer is "no" - set aside in the "to relocate from my life pile.) Coffee, tea or wine (depending on time of day) break. Steps 3 & 4 will follow shortly!!

Spring is just around the corner

Lots of great colours coming through for Spring - yes I know it is still chilly, but you can't fight with fashion companies!! Also, LOTS of pretty dresses. The more adult stores (Trenery, Sportscraft, David Lawrence) seem to be heading for navy, white and a rather fetching green. Great for Winters & Summers. Waisted dresses ONLY really work on Vertical C's. Okay on B's and only "ho hum" on A's. And only slim A's! The windows look good, but remember to play to your strengths and stick to your best colours and styles - you will thank me in the long run AND look a whole lot better now!!!

The trouble with Fashion ...........................

Is that you simply can't wear it! I know that sounds harsh, but bear with me and I will explain.

Once you pass the magical (and I do mean that in a very positive way) age of 40 - well really 35, let's not quibble; fashion is something that should be viewed and never worn.

Fashion is, by definition, something that changes, evoles and sometimes revolves. Fashion is extreme - it has to be. If it wants to be seen as new and innovative, it cannot be conservative - it must be extreme. In colour, shape, texture or all three.

Most women are NOT extreme. Most women do not change (significantly), they may evolve a little, but in a majority of cases - we do not embrace extreme change.

Fashion makes a stand. Sometimes we head back to the 50's which is wonderful - do you have the time to "create" that perfect hair, make-up and hoisery look on a daily basis? I do not. The gorgeous models in the fashion shoots have an army of people to make them look good. And they arrive there looking stunning! We mere mortels, have a bathroom cupboard, a blow dryer and nowadays a straightener (I have singed finger tips on a regular basis) and around 20 minutes to get dressed.

Sometimes fashion is bohemian - I thought that would work for me. I then became a little "lost" under the layers of beads, scarves and fabric. I love scarves just not quite that many.

Short, short skirts, oh please spare me. Clingy tops with tight singlets underneath - uh, no! I get hot and they cling to all the wrong parts.

Belts do not work on most people. When you put on a big, contrasting belt it does not only show off your tiny waist (oh no) it draws attention to your hips and thighs. Now if they are perfectly proportioned and free of extra "stuff" - then well and good. But are they perfectly proportioned and free of "wobbly bits"?

Mark my words - things that are described as "must haves" in 2011, will be out of fashion within 12 months. Do not invest (spend lots of money) on fashion. If you must buy something that is deemed "in", buy it in a cheap version. You will get the "look" and not break your budget.

Well done UBS!

At last, a company that is prepared to make a stand on presentation and image!! UBS (Switzerland's biggest bank) has issued a 40+ page "dress code" for staff. This is great!! People are told exactly what to wear and how to wear it!

You only have to look around in the street to see how poorly people dress for work. It is not professional, it is not presenting the employer in a positive way and, in some cases, it is just sloppy.

"our style of dress reflects our mode of action" - this being the case, most of us must be fairly unsure of the companies with whom we are currently dealing!!! Most people in business need to be told how to dress.

Business people (regardless of the size of the company) want to impress, gain our confidence and consequently, our business. You would be forgiven for thinking this is not the case, when confronted by the appearance of some folk.

The dress code goes on to cover many, many more related topics and I say "good job". These documents come about because they are needed. If everyone at UBS dressed and behaved flawlessly, there would never have been a dress code written - however, if this document achieves excellent personal presenation and behavioral standards - it will be an absolute winner and something other companies should replicate!

One of the most highly searched topics in the Image Industry is Business Dressing - people not only need to know, they want to know how to dress correctly for business. UBS has provided leadership, instruction and easy to follow direction for their staff.

I would encourage other companies (large and small) to take a leaf from their book!!

Stripes that work and stripes that don't!!

When it comes to clothing there are lots of patterns, prints and colours with which you can play. Some work really, really well and are consistently good! Others, sadly, do not.

Let's take stripes as an example. Vertical stripes make things (people included) appear taller. They are flattering - for most people. In fact, AFL footballers use vertical stripes to magnify their height, thus giving them a mental advantage over their opponents. Vertical stripes that fall in a straight line are flattering and give the illusion of extra height, which has the added benefit of making the person wearing them, appear slimmer.

However, should the vertical stripe curve, gape or wriggle - the flattering effect is lost. A top that is too tight across the bust or back, will make the fabric (and hence the stripes) wriggle and pull. Your stripes become curves - in all the wrong places! A skirt or trousers with vertical stripes must be worn over a flat stomach, slim thighs and a narrow backside. Otherwise, the stripes curve over the stomach, arch over the thighs and squiggle over the tail. Noticeable? Yes! Flattering? No.

Horizontal stripes can be wonderful, when worn on the smallest part of the body. I have yet to see anyone look realy, really good when wearing horizontal stripes below the waist!!
The gathered skirt that had white, grey and black horizontal stripes with lots of pleats at the top and shirt tucked into it (in a size 14+) that I saw this morning, was not flattering! The plain black vest did not help!

Now, had the skirt been in a plain fabric, the shirt in the horizontal print and the vest left at home - the whole look would have been much, much better.

Rugby League footballers use big horizontal stripes on their jumpers (or they used to) to maximise their size and intimidate the opposition.

Next time you are thinking about stripes - stop and really consider their purpose and placement on your body!

Strapless dressess DO NO SUIT everyone!!!!!

For some strange reason there seems to be a plethora of strapless dresses around, not just at the moment but for the past 3 - 4 years (or so it seems). They look great - on very few people. To wear one well you have to have - a perfect length neck, firm flesh on the upper part of your body, a good bust (to hold the thing up) and a great sense of balance!!

A perfect neck so that you do not start to resemble a giraffe - all neck that just goes on and on from the top of the dress!

Firm flesh - so that the dress clings in all the right places WITHOUT lots of extra flesh errupting from the top of the frock. On this note, even the most slim of ladies do not look great in strapless, when time has taken it's tole on your skintone. Age, sun and life tend to make skin less firm and "folds" of skin with age spots, is not a good look!

A good bust - too flat and the dress will fall down. Too full and there will be too much flesh to stay in the dress!!

A great sense of balance - to ensure that you don't trip and catch your foot in the hemline, thus removing the top half of the dress!!

MOST women look better with a sleeveless top, or straps that go over the shoulder. They are more flattering and provide support for fuller busts!!

If however, you do have the perfect body for the strapless dress - then "go for it". Make the most of your perfect features whilst you can!