Flatter your figure and find your perfect denim match!

Jeans are a staple in every woman's wardrobe, but the style you choose can make or break an outfit.

Selecting your denim based on your body shape means you'll be able to step out confidently knowing that they are flattering and fitting in all the right places. Take a look at some top tips below to determine which denim style is your perfect match!

BOOT CUT
A modern classic that is a figure-fixer for most body shapes.

Best for
Triangles, inverted triangles and full hourglass body shapes.

Style with
The slimming and leg-lengthening effect of boot cut jeans is enhanced when they're worn with a heel - opt for a wedge or chunky heeled boot if comfort is a priority (we're talking to all you naturals out there!)

SKINNY
Currently the most fashionable take on denim; but are they right for you?

Best for
Petites and lean column body shapes.

Style with
Wear with ballet flats or ankle boots for an edgy look. Skinny jeans are most flattering when worn with longer tops, but make sure your top falls either above or below your widest point.

Kaleidoscope

BOYFRIEND/WIDE LEG
A more mannish shape that is currently very fashionable.These are currently really fashionable but you need to think about how to get the look.For a "Casual Friday" ensemble, they are perfect, as long as you choose the darker option, team them with a nice blazer, a smarter shoe and don't embellish with tears and rips! Otherwise, they are perfect for creating a "date night" look if you team them with a little top, a sandal with heels or wedge and some eyecatchiing earrings.

Best for
Rectangle and inverted triangle body shapes.

Style with
Play up the boyish vibes with a pair of funky trainers and a simple top, or offset with feminine details like heels, a fitted top or blazer.

Remember that jeans these days are really not mainly for boys. Add some sparkle, sequin, embroidery or other detail and you can pull together an outfit that is easy wear, yet stylish and comfy.

Kaliedoscope

Finally; don't forget to consider the weight of your denim.
Thicker, heavy denim holds it's shape and is very durable, making it ideal for straight body shapes.

If you have a curvier body shape opt for softer, more fluid styles that will move with you rather than constrict your fabulous figure!

Levi's Bootcut

Those boots just keep on walking!

In the UK we just love our boots! Boots are more than just staple footwear for winter; they can be practical or uber-stylish and are extremely versatile for dressing up or down. Investing in a couple of pairs will see you through from workdays to weekends to evenings out.

As they are usually a big investment, buying the right ones is essential, simply follow my tips below and you’ll be beautifully booted in no time!

Go long?or short?
The important thing to remember when buying your boots is not, just what fashion is dictating, but what suits your personal style and your leg length and shape. It’s so easy to fall in love with a great- looking pair of boots, but are they going to look great on your feet and will they flatter your overall look? The good news is that with such a fabulous choice this season in the sales you will find several styles that work for you.

Ankle boots and shoe boots
The ankle length styles with a flat heel are practical and cute. If you are shorter in the leg, however, they can be unflattering if worn with a skirt so make sure you keep your tights the same colour to avoid ‘chopping’ your legs to look shorter.

The shoe boot is perfect for a smarter look when worn with trousers and the elegant styles could even be worn with your work suit. The more funky styles will work with jeans or for evening wear so you can wear them as an alternative to heeled shoes on a night out.

The knee highIf you wear knee highs with a skirt then make sure it is an appropriate length. If you have nice knees then you can wear a skirt that finishes just above or on the knee. If you have bigger knees then the skirt should finish just below them where the leg is slimmer so that you won’t draw attention to them. If, like many of us, you can’t find a pair of knee highs that fit your calves then check out specialist boot makers such as duoboots.com, the shoetailor.com, both who offer a wider fit or stretchy inserts.

The UGG boot
Who would have thought Australian sheepskin could be so stylish – even in the hot weather? I have spotted many young girls wearing them with a cute short skirt. They are ever popular with some new versions appearing and are perfect for slouchy comfort in style. The key to knowing which boots are best for you and how to wear them is understanding your body shape, scale and style personality.

Transitional Outwear For The New Season

Getting dressed at this time of year can be tricky. Days start out cold and crisp but end warm and sunny, frequent bouts of rain necessitate outerwear but it's not time for your Winter coat just yet.

What to do?
Thick layers, hats and heavy coats are still several weeks away but in the meantime you may be looking for some transitional outwear to keep out the chill whilst we move from Summer into Autumn.

Here we showcase three top choices for Autumn 2015...

The Coatigan
This year's must-have outerwear is the coatigan. Providing warmth as well as the opportunity to add some colours to your wardrobe, a coatigan is the perfect weekend cover-up.

Who Can Wear It?
The cocoon shape and soft fabrics of coatigans will look great on Oval body shapes whilst those with Natural style personalities will love the loose fit and casual nature of this style.

Due to the relaxed fit of most coatigans it is likely you'll be hiding your body shape a little underneath so opt for something that perfectly complements your colouring to ensure your skin glows and your eyes sparkle!


The Trench
In our opinion there is nothing more timeless and elegant than a trench coat year-round. A staple of many women's wardrobes for decades now, the classic cut and understated simplicity of a trench coat will never go out of style.

Who Can Wear It?
A trench coat in a stiff fabric will be better suited to straighter body shapes like Rectangles and Triangles. Those of you with Hourglass figures should opt for a version in a softer fabric that will work with your curves. The belt detail will show off a small waist but beware of too many pockets or large lapels if you have a large bust.


The Cape
The ideal layering piece for the season - the cape epitomises grown-up sophistication and is sure to give you an air of elegance and authority wherever you wear it. Whether worn with a sleek pair of cigarette pants and stilettos or denim and boots, a cape will add a touch of glamour to your look as you sweep through the seasons.

Who Can Wear It?
Capes look fabulous on those who are grand in stature as they tend be to quite voluminous, so you need some height to carry them off. That being said, if you're petite simply go for a fabric that is slightly lighter in weight and cut more neatly so you don't get swamped.

Add some colour to your look with your cape - this season they come in all shades and patterns, some even have fabulous faux fur trims to really up the glam factor!

Red “Tit-bits”!

A survey by dating website OkCupid found that women who wear red in their online dating profile photos are more likely to get messages and dates than those wearing any other colour. Careful though as lead author Dr Fangfang Wen wrote in a study, published in the journal, Evolutionary Psychology. that by choosing red, women are reflecting their sexual intentions ‘from the beginning’!

Psychologists at Central China Normal University, in Wuhan, China, showed 280 heterosexual students 32 pictures of the opposite sex and asked them to rate them according to how attractive they found them. These photos showed people wearing either blue, white or red. Male students found ‘feminine’ women wearing red the most attractive and also rated them highest for looking ‘warm’ and competent. ‘The colour red was shown to have a boosting effect on the sexual attractiveness of women with feminine facial traits,’ claims Dr Fangfang Wen

Scientists from the University of British Columbia in Canada, last year, claimed that women tend to wear red or pink when they are ovulating – the time of the month that they are at their most fertile – in a bid to attract a mate.

We know that red is synonymous with romance, passion, lust and fertility across nearly every long-standing civilisation, with males perceiving that they have a higher sexual opportunity when females adorn themselves in red! Other studies back this belief that red clothing also has a ‘marginally significant effect on men’s sexual attractiveness’. This may be because red can indicate higher status in some vertebrates and females evolve to prefer males that are high in status to provide for their babies. In addition, men are more attracted to women wearing red compared to other colours because they believe they are less likely to be rejected.

The Canadian research team claim that the colour red carries subtle but powerful messages about how receptive a woman might be to romantic advances and so men find it more alluring. Could this explain why women in red dresses have become such a provocative image in modern culture?.

When men were shown photographs of women wearing a red shirt they found them more attractive compared to when they saw the same women wearing green or white garments.

Another study, which tested 96 men from the United States and Austria, also found that the men felt the women would respond positively to their advances. Echoing Desmond Morris' belief, Adam Pazda, a social psychologist at the University of Rochester, in New York state, who led the research along with colleagues at the University of Innsbruck, said the response may be hangover from humans' evolutionary past, as animals such as female baboons display patches of bright red skin to indicate they are ready to mate.

He said: "We find it fascinating that merely changing the colour of a woman's shirt can have such a strong influence on how she is perceived by men.

"It is possible that women actually wear red clothing more when they are interested in sexual encounters. We are currently investigating this possibility, and preliminary evidence suggests that this is indeed happening."

It would appear that whether the studies have been carried out in Asia, Europe or the U.S.A., there is a resounding similarity throughout various studies, that men perceive women in red to be both attractive and more receptive!

Red is therefore a powerful communicator and it probably will benefit you to understand how to use it in the judicious way that you would choose!

Shop Smart in the Sales

We all love a bargain, but don't let the slashed prices cloud your style judgment.  It is very easy to fall into the "buy it because it's cheaper" trap for everything you see.  Discounted pieces that you will rarely or never wear can still be a fairly costly mistake.   Ideally, you want to do some research beforehand.  Look at what your wardrobe is missing and try to go with an idea of what you need rather than a scattergun approach.   Obviously, there may be that unexpected item that catches your eye, but make sure it attracts you for the right reason.

Beware of... Hanger appeal Just because it looks gorgeous on the hanger, it doesn't mean it will look as good on you. Try it on! What condition the item is in Is it discounted because the fabric is damaged or the zip needs replacing?  You don't want to spend money having it mended. Fashion prints Will you wear it in two months time, let alone next autumn/winter? Colours that you know don't work for you When you know, you know.  Yes you would love to be able to wear fuchsia pink and it is such a gorgeous top, but every time you try on that colour you look dreadful in it. Put the item down!    Styles that aren't 'you'  Sometimes we are attracted to clothes for reasons we can't seem to explain.   You never wear chiffon but this chiffon blouse is calling to you. And it is discounted. That's not to say you can't experiment and step out of your comfort zone now and again, but ask yourself "Is it really you?". If you don't feel 'you' in it, you will never wear it. All that glitters Leftovers from party wear collections.  It is always useful to invest in some party outfits and even better at discount. Just be sure that you genuinely like the style and that it's a good look on you, don't buy it simply because it's a cheap(er) party dress.       Of course, all sale items can be returned and if you are taken with something but can't decide (even after going through all the tips above!) then you might be better trying it on at home at your leisure away from the packed sales racks.  Winter sales pieces to look out for Coats Always a good investment. Make sure the cut works with your body shape and  stick with styles that are fairly timeless like the trench, parka and Crombie.   Don't be afraid to buy a coat in a colour rather than the default black, grey or navy.  Choose a colour you know you look good in that will work with most of your wardrobe. WorkwearSmart jackets, trousers and skirts are not the most exciting buys, all the more reason to get them at discount.   You still need to make sure they are suitable for your work place and look good on you.  Boots Winter can be fairly long in the UK so our boots get plenty of wear.  It is useful to have some casual and smart pairs but boots aren't cheap, so take advantage of the sales.   Evening shoes If you are one of those (us!) who struggles to find the right shoes at a reasonable price when the party season comes round, now is the time to invest in a bargain pair. HandbagsAs many a woman has said, you can never have enough handbags! So, picking up an extra one (or two) at a good price is always worth it.  Make sure it is the right size for YOUR size and proportions. If you are a petite figure you don't want an enormous bag to swamp you. Accessories are a great way to bring colour into your outfits so you can have some fun with handbags in different shades Still not sure what styles or colours really work for you?   Make 2015 the year you find your unique style.  Book now and start your journey to finding your personal style. clare@looksmagic.biz 07877 654543

Time for a new coat???

A new winter coat is the most exciting buy for winter (along with new boots) and the High Street is exploding with new colour palettes, textures and styles. Whether you are looking for something versatile or something that makes more of a statement, here's our pick of this season's coats followed by some tips on how to narrow down the choice and find one that is just right for you. The Season's Styles Every winter we see the same styles reappear with a bit of an update, whether it be new colours and textures or twists in the detail. Favourites are the trench, pea coat, Crombie and parka. These are all great staples because they never really date. Whilst it's easy to go for the safe options, try to get out of your comfort zone and experiment with new shapes. You just need to make sure the style suits you and works with a variety of outfits. You also want to enjoy wearing it. The big coat stories this season are oversized/boyfriend, pared back tailoring, wraps and capes. The New ColoursYes it is practical to have a coat in a neutral shade (grey, navy, camel or black) that goes with everything, but your coat is not just serving a purpose, it is part of YOUR style. If you choose carefully and get the right colour for you, a colour can be just as versatile. If you like something a bit different you might want to try some colour block pieces. The colour stories for coats this season are cobalt blue, pale pink, hot pink, orange, red and yellow. Pattern and Fabric Stories Tartan is THE pattern to go for and we're not looking at traditional weaves here. There are varying colours and big checks. Following closely behind tartan are Aztec-like patterns mostly in rich colours and fabrics in wrap and cape styles. Both themes make your winter coat more of a statement. Shearling is back along with faux fur and we are seeing these textures mixed with other fabrics too. The furs are fun but not in the least bit practical, but go for it if you dare! Tips to consider when choosing your coat What do you like? Long, short, classic, on trend, creative, neutral shade, colourful, smart, casual? You want something that reflects your style and fits with your lifestyle. There is no point buying a long coat if you are in and out of a car all day, or a short one if you walk miles to the train station. What do you need? First and foremost it needs to keep you warm. Check what it is made of. It must fit well and make sure when you try on your coats that you wear a jumper or jacket underneath. Decide if you need it to be versatile or something different for particular occasions, perhaps a super smart or statement look. Do you have a coat wardrobe? You may consider having a few coats in your wardrobe depending on the occasion: one for every day, another for shopping (you don't want to overheat), one waterproof, and so on. You don't need to buy them all at once, but over two or three years you can build a coat wardrobe. Don't be afraid to try new styles and colours! Happy coat shopping!

Autumn is blowing in...!

It must be officially Autumn now as my boiler has blown again,so I am thinking it’s time to get my wardrobe and self under wraps! I adore ponchos and capes, a hangover from my dalliance with those wonderful Bohemian styles of the ‘70’s. So words like Retro, Folk and Gypsy all have an appeal when allied to fashion terms. There are so many wonderful capes to drape, from sparkling to sumptuous, luxury to cosy, featherlight to blanket style and if that’s not your choice then a cocooning coat will be easy to find this season. Just think about your personality and scale before you invest. If you are a petite then you have to balance your consideration for warmth and practicality with that of the weight of the garment. You don’t want to be weighed down by lots of bulk and massive collars, so clothing which allows you to layer up will work to your advantage. The taller you are the more you can add the tassels, texture and bold patterning. Curvier ladies will benefit from the draping qualities while more angular body types can enjoy the duffle coats and heavy wraps.

The duffle coat reminds me of my winter school days and I just loved those toggles!

This cape reminds me of what I aspire to, crisp cold, no rain and no kids!

A swish of luxury, marginally practical but a very nice addition to a stylish wardrobe

And finally, this is when the invitation arrives to that lavish event in a top class venue where there is definitely central heating! Enjoy a warm and cosy and naturally stylish Autumn and Winter!

Wear Your Colour Vitamins

Wear your colour vitamins! by looksmagic featuring a blue tee

Pleated skater skirt
£9.82 - amazon.com

Summer day dress
£13 - prinkko.com

Blue tee
£8.76 - prinkko.com

Lorac lipstick
£9.35 - loraccosmetics.com

A SEASON OF COLOURFUL EQUILIBRIUM

According to Leatrice Eiseman of Pantone, designers are taking a modern twist on the traditional for spring 2014 by pairing soft pastels with vivid brights to create a colourful equilibrium. Inspired by a mixture of blooming flowers, travels abroad, and strong, confident women, designers are using colour to refresh, revive and defy conventional wisdom.

So, whether you make a statement wearing a head-to-toe colour, or bring different shades together, you'll be bang on trend. Having experienced the wettest winter in recent history, I think most people are feeling a bit blue at the moment! While Leatrice states that “This season, consumers are looking for a state of thoughtful, emotional and artistic equilibrium," the UK consumer probably needs a little bit of warming up! Luckily Spring’s palette includes freesia (yellow), celosia orange and cayenne (a soft red) which all work perfectly with blue.

You can choose from Placid Blue, Violet tulip to Dazzling Blue and make this your wardrobe staple. The more vibrant versions, as always, belong best to the Cools, Clears and Deeps but Warms, Softs and Lights will wear their blues in lighter and softer versions, the placid versions.

Add your warm tonalities of Fusion Coral, Azalea Pink, Pink Carnation and Sachet Pink and add a dash of sunny lime for good measure! Azalea pink evokes drama and glamour and is best suited to Cool colourings or Deep or Clear colourings with cool skin tones. Blush pink in a key piece or top-to-toe can be a statement look too. It is a great shade on all colouring (aka a universal colour!). The delicate pastel sachet pinks are made for the Lights but can be mixed with bolder pinks for those that can. A pastel pink in shiny fabric will turn a simple garment into something more special. Warms should go for more corally shades of pink (fusion coral) or head for or celosia orange! Peach Whip and Flamingo are also the delicious names of colours being bandied around... I am thinking of fun and sunshine for a change!

Radiant Orchid has been hailed the colour of the season and this sits somewhere between violet and pink so perfect for most colour types!

Are you ready for some sunshine? Then say hello to Yellow! It's a sunny, feel-good colour but you need to get just the right shade for you and have the confidence to wear it. Choose from the vibrant freesia or head towards precious amber for a richer tone. You can add this to pattern or go quite bold, but remember you will be seen, so choose your most flattering version.

And finally Spring wouldn’t be Spring without those lovely shades of green which remind us of everything fresh and full of life, saying that Hemlock is a fashion shade!

New Cosmetics - Colour Me Beautiful

Looks Magic introduces an exciting new addition to the Colour Me Beautiful make-up range and, number 1 best-selling product from Color Me Beautiful, America, our foundation primer is perfect for every day use as well as special occasion make-up.

 
Also, Hoorah for SIX NEW LIPSTICK shades : Mango Punch, Sueded Rose, Plumberry, Glam, Mocha Berry and Red Carpet and the NEW edition of the famous Colour Me Beautiful book, with even more tips and advice to ensure you look good on the outside and feel good on the inside.

Contact me if you would like any information about these products or would like to order them.

email: clare@looksmagic.biz 

or go direct to www.colourmebeautiful.weebly.com to order on-line

Clare Greenwood is the Colour Me Beautiful Image consultant in Cornwall and Devon and trained as Colour Me Beautiful South West consultant. Feel free to contact her if you are interested in her colour and styling consultations.

Getting to Know YOU!

Getting to know you is all about understanding what it is that you have which is unique. We all follow certain patterns, but, at the end of the day we come together in our own way, so don't try to emulate...create!

Understanding Colour
Colour works like magic and gives you an instant boost, which can make you look younger and certainly makes you feel more vibrant - so that's your first step! Love yourself by choosing only those shades which love you back, it's a perfect relationship! Those nearest your face are most important as they quickly reflect on you, so that's your focus!

Love your Body! 
Caress those lines and curves with styles that match and embrace you. Too many women are scared of every lump and bump and end up hiding all their assets. You can critique yourself without being critical! Do you love it, do you wear it, do you get compliments in it? Do you feel comfortable or twitchy? Or, have you simply forgotten what it feels like to feel great!

Don't waste your time by not feeling fabulous... every day is worthwhile, not just those special occasions! Even your doggie walking gear and gardening stuff can be flattering...your old clothes should still be ones which you once worn as "best"!

You do not need to spend loads of money. Charity shops are a worthy source of unloved items which could just fill that gap perfectly! If you have some treasured clothes that you think are really very old now, just re-label them as "vintage" and wear with pride! It is not all about new or fashion..it is about you and feeling good. Anything that you didn't like when you bought it...why?? Well, those should certainly head to the nearest source for recycling.

So, while the weather is dreary and unrelenting, take some time in and go through your wardrobe. Sort into your three piles - love it, doubtful and what was I thinking. The "love its" can be fixed up and placed reverently back into your wardrobe, either in colour order or garment order, I can never work out which I prefer! The "doubt its" may be simply that someone else has given you bad feedback, but you love it. Really think about what merits it has for YOU! If in doubt, leave it out. The bad mistakes are only filling your wardrobe and creating negative karma. But, before you relinquish them, take a fresh look at why they got there in the first place.

Was it a cast-off? These can be great, but not if you are just lending wardrobe space to someone else's mistakes! Were you shopping with the wrong friend? Perhaps she loved it because it would have suited her. Did you have that niggle of doubt before you even paid for it? Did you buy it in the sale thinking it was a bargain? Next time you may be better to buy something at full price which is of true value.

Work on all the bits you love and play down the others. Dressing well is all a game of balance, disguise and adding the touch of magic.

Dabble with fashion but be its mistress, play with it, tease it but don't be led too far astray! You may have been a Quant girl of the '60's, a Laura Ashley fan of the '70's, a Dallas fan of the '80's...perhaps you can still play with an element of that look which suited you then?

You don't need to choose one look, your lifestyle and personality can stretch across many trends, you simply need to be comfortable about expressing what you feel.

Style is...what is style? There is no answer! That is the beauty, the challenge and the fun, but you will know it when you find it!

Enjoy the magic!

Vivien Westwood knows all about style, colour and confidence!!

www.looksmagic.biz

Colour Me Beautiful Products

To make it easier for you to purchase your "Colour Me Beautiful" products on-line, I have created a specific site which caters purely for these products.

Hopefully you find this an easy site to use and I welcome any feedback!

All other services you will find business as normal on my main website at www.looksmagic.biz

Here's the new link:

ColourMeBeautiful

Keeping Your Cool

Keeping your ‘cool’ at work can be a challenge during these hot and muggy spells, but you still need to be aware of the impression you create. While the South West is blessed with the opportunity to dress down a bit, be careful not to look like everyday is POETS* day!

So check out this list of potential no no’s!

Don’t forget that too much flesh on show is never appropriate in the business world, medical or teaching professions. Forget what you have been told, a cover-up job is now essential! It’s a sheer waste but you now need to layer up those lightweight fabrics! Strapless is a definite no-no and, generally, a short sleeve rather than no sleeve will ensure propriety.

Legs should be kept under wraps, so slightly above the knee is as far as any skirt should be allowed to creep and the flabbier or more abundant the flesh is, the more it needs to be harnessed! While young flesh is more sightly, it can still be quite distracting! Getting cheeky with clients or colleagues will not be tolerated. While underwear these days is both attractive and practical, the name defines where and how it should be worn. Any flesh that decides it has it’s own get out clause, should be firmly dealt with, extra fabric, fastenings and layers called in as reinforcements.

Flip flops tend to be a call to your bodyboard rather than the boardroom and too obvious a fake tan could look like you are faking it until you make it and spending your time downing the shots rather than calling the shots.

Jangly jewellery will ensure that fellow workers lose their cool so keep it simple and eyecatching not noisy. And finally, hosiery! The given rule is to wear at all times, but I take a more lenient approach! As long as your legs have a bit of colour and it is not immediately obvious that they are bare, then you may just get away without!

Enjoy the sun while it shines!

*Poets - piss off early tomorrow’s Saturday!

The perfect sunless addition to your cosmetic list

www.arbonneinternational.co.uk ID 441090402

Be Seen and Heard

As the recession filters more and more into every aspect of our daily lives, businesses are increasingly under more scutiny, as are you and your role.  Your profile and visibility become even more important, whether as a team member or individual pioneer.  Now it’s imperative to stand out and deliver.

My motto is “Be Seen and Heard”, set the scene, don’t follow the herd! This message is all about branding yourself or business in such a way that you have the impact and presence that attracts people to YOU! With every enterprise, this takes into account that you need to attract the appropriate business that benefits you and your customer/client base, it is a case of mutual attraction.

It is vital that you engage people in a positive and vibrant way. If you fail to recognise that it is human nature to identify with success rather than failure, your business is doomed! So, whether your business is booming or feeling the hideous drain of a dragging recession, you need to manage the perceptions that others have of you.

Look like a failure, you start to feel like a failure and the spiral will surely whirl downwards. Look great and feel great and suddenly you engage with a more positive energy which in turn attracts more visibility and engagement.

Whether on a more personal or professional level, you need to be seen, be consistent with who you or your brand is and make sure that people like what they see! This of course means that you have to be seen to be proud and enjoy what you are offering. One of the biggest lessons that it is worth reminding ourselves, is that if we don’t like ourselves, why would we expect anyone to like us. Put that into a business model and learn to love every aspect of your product, even if that means you. Then you have some chance of sharing this love with a world that needs you and what you have to offer!

Clare delivers “Be Seen and Heard”  life coaching and personal or business branding sessions so that you can develop an authentic, attractive and visible profile.

Choosing the right colours and styles creates your most flattering visual effect!

(Photo George Greene @phaseeight Truro)

The Demise of Shopping

Having celebrated that fact that I had filed my tax return , an annual dread and chore, I decided to enjoy the luxury of spending the afternoon in town, well the big City of Truro, that is! Living so close and shopping for clients, rather than myself, I spend surprisingly little time popping in and out just for a peek.

Luckily, I had the perfect excuse, as I was going round delivering invitations to our launch at Princes House Cornwall in Truro on 7th February. So, armed with a pile of invitations and reasonably comfy boots I headed into one of the few snowless towns in the UK!

Timed with yesterdays’s announcement ,on the news, that Christmas hadn’t heralded the shopping revival, as first predicted, this proved an enlightening experience!

Let me first take you back a bit! Do you remember what Christmas Shopping used to be like before the advent of the internet! Perhaps you remember it as I do, with the bustling excitement of anticipation, the cheerful lights, the buzz of frantic shoppers and the joy of playing and prodding and poking! Or, are you the person who remembers the cold, or freezing, conditions, shops packed full of coughing and sniffling and argumentative people, the battering of other combative shoppers armed with their loads and then the struggle of getting on the bus or carrying it all back to the car?

Of course, depending on which of these shoppers you are will have determined whether you spent your time on-line or out in the colourful, real, touchy feely world of shopping! I think you know which kind I am!

It is true to say that on-line shopping has taken on such a mantle that Parcelforce has increased its workload immensely, and, it would appear that, on the whole, people get what they expected and return no more of their internet purchases than their “real world” equivalents! By 2016, it is estimated that at least 25 percent of all shopping will be on-line, but talking to retailers and friends, I am surprised we haven’t already hit that figure!

So back to the lovely high street retailers! I am sure Truro reflects many towns across the country. I visited shops that are new, shops that have been around for 25 years and shops that have been family run for over a century and all of them were reflecting how quiet things are for them. I talked to people whose hours have been cut, who don’t know whether it is worth them reinvesting, who don’t know how to read shopping moods any more and who have changed their buying patterns in anticipation that they will have that vital something to offer! I even walked right past the recently closed Jessops whose curtains have already fallen which was the reality check and will be for all those retailers walking past the boarded up facade.

It is true to say, that some people seek out ideas on-line then head to the shops to feel and test the items, whilst others feel and test the items then head home looking for an internet bargain, at the expense of the retailer who has to account for stock.

The world is a changing place and judging by the feedback on the High Street, they are all feeling deflated, nervous and reticent to invest, which, of course, will not boost the economy!

What will life be like if we lose our towns to boarded up frontages, broken glass windows and tatty facades. Where will we meet and mooch? Shopping is a whole social experience of touching and feeling and conversation and aspiration and engagement and I, for one, hope that the “Real World” wins and that Truro and all the beautiful towns, villages and cities survive to enjoy a more vibrant future.

www.simonburtphotography.co.uk

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Come to the Grand Launch of Princes House Cornwall...my exciting new location!

Princes House, the Grade II listed Georgian townhouse on Princes Street, Truro is currently being renovated in time for a grand launch event on Thursday 7th February, just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Princes House Cornwall will be host to the best Bridal and Image Services in the South West and that includes "Looks Magic", my image and colour services. The building is being transformed to bring out its character and beauty, and that’s exactly what we’re aiming to deliver for every bride; the real red carpet treatment. For anyone planning a wedding, Princes House Cornwall is THE place to start.

Of course, all my normal Image Services will also still be available! We're giving away some exclusive prizes at the launch, including a makeover, photoshoot,and vouchers so make sure you book your place to be in with a chance to win.

The launch is open to members of the public from 6pm on Thursday 7th February.

To book places phone 0844 272 0338 or email princeshousecornwall@gmail.com or let me know at clare@looksmagic.biz