Get the "F" Factor

In the many years that I have been an Image Consultant, I have enjoyed the privilege of browsing through many women's wardbrobes. As well as discovering what the thought process has been behind some fabulous purchases and some overwhelming disasters, there has been some consistency.

As an abiding rule, despite many attempts to revolt and express “ourselves” we have been inspired or held back by our mothers and close friends/partners and, secondly, no matter what our budget, we simply love to bag a bargain!

My “bargain-hunters” are just as likely to enjoy a hefty bank balance as they are to be restricted to a stringent allowance. The beauty is that looking great need never depend on how much you paid. How often have you received compliments in an outfit that you bought for peanuts in the sales or on ebay and felt smug that it didn’t even cost a fortune. Charity shop finds have become the latest in true fashionista shopping and refashioning items is an upcoming trend.

The joy of shopping successfully is all down to knowing how to wear clothes that suit you and suit their purpose. Whilst I appreciate that well tailored clothes in sumptuous fabrics with design and detail will dazzle and and delight, the “D” factor can easily be diminished by the powerful “F” factor.

The Frugal Fashionista is finding her place by securing fabulous pieces that still fit, flatter, feel great, function and add fun. So remember ladies, it is not about what you spend, it is about what you buy! A bargain is only ever a bargain if you would have loved it at full price and every purchase must have a place in your heart before it is worthy of a place in your wardrobe, whether it cost five hundred or a fiver!

Clare can show you how to identify the gaps in your wardrobe or create them if you need to declutter! Contact her at www.looksmagic.biz or clare@looksmagic.biz

Photo taken at a recent event at Phase Eight, Truro.

 

The Magic of Girl Talk

Taken from an excerpt of presentation given at Stamford University...it is often said, among other things, that one of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married to a woman whereas for a woman, one of the best things she could do for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends. At first everyone laughed at the presenter, but he was serious.

Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences. Physically, this quality “girlfriend time" help to create more serotonin - a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can create a general feeling of well-being. Women share feelings whereas men often form relationships around activities. We share from our souls with our sisters/mothers, and evidently that is very GOOD for our health. The lecturer stated that spending time with a friend is just as important to our general health as jogging or working out at a gym.

There's a tendency to think that when we are "exercising" we are doing something good for our bodies, but when we are hanging out with friends, we are wasting our time and should be more productively engaged—not true. In fact, it is the failure to create and maintain quality personal relationships with other humans that is as dangerous to our physical health as smoking!

So every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something good for your health, well, I suppose as long as you aren’t overdoing the drinking and smoking at the same time!

Celebrate Your Curves as a Figure Magician

Dear Clare: What happens when my body has adapted well to surviving an Arctic storm but I haven’t seen a snowflake in years?

Dear Jeans R. Bustin: Well, there are two options here.. One is to move...! Or simply to hold the blubber..in. and keep them guessing where you have hidden all that exciting flesh! Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising are essential, but let me share these useful tips on how you can be: Your own “Figure Magician”!

Black is always back! Providing the fabric isn’t too shiny, black absorbs light and, as long as the garment fits well, it’s an instant way to look a couple of pounds lighter - but, of course, always mix with your most flattering colours!

Monochromatic makeovers Top-to-toe dark neutrals are visually lengthening and slimming. Keep the eye up - down as opposed to across. Don’t wear too many high contrast colour combinations as your figure cuts up into more obvious pieces, thereby eliminating that illusion of slenderness.

Skim the Skin Skim the body, not painted on the body! If you can't bend over without hearing that scary strain on the fabric ( I know you’ve heard it! ) your trousers are too ... Petite!, just buy the next size and cut off the label!

Be fair and don’t share... that extra pound of flesh! Belly baring is in, but if you look more cuddly than beanpole then keep it all under wraps .... Why spoil the surprise!.

However...Do not try to hide your body under big, shapeless clothing! Masses of fabric doesn’t hide your body or size, it just hides your shape and can be very frumpy, even ageing! Instead, wear clothes that define the best parts of your body. Defining your waist with a belt, for example, can accentuate your curves

Lycra It takes more than your loved one to hold you tight, unless he’s called Lycra! As long as you can move and “it” doesn’t, then you are sorted! We all need a bit of support now and again and who says it can’t be from lycra!

Go trendier Stuffy styling adds years! Lighten up your image by dressing young at heart and you’ll feel lighter all over!

Sew simple! Keep styling simple, yet trendy, and leave the frills out. Fussier means fuller, fuller means fa.....! A few distractions is all you need!

It’s all in the balance! - If you find yourself looking bottom heavy, wear tops with broader shoulders or horizontal stripes to appear more visually symmetric! Sometimes shoulder pads can be a real bonus in creating balance if you have larger hips.

Reveal your beauty! Beauty is revealed, never applied! Pay attention to your face and leave the rest to its own fortune! You'll divert attention away from the cuddly bits!

Perfect Foundation! Supportive underwear is vital and can significantly affect your overall look. It is extremely important to have on a great-fitting bra and beautiful briefs. Feel good, look good!

Accessorise make the most of the fashion fab accessories - focus on your features, disguise the rest!

Don’t go flat out with an added inch to your heels you lift your bum to more flattering heights!

Love yourself! Find something you enjoy about yourself and flaunt it! Be proud of who you are and respect yourself! Anything goes - luscious legs, radiant skin, nicely trussed boobs, knock ‘em dead!

www.simplybe.co.uk

Here's a great dress that will hug your body but keep the curves neatly in place! Then you simply add your favourite accessories for the appropriate occasion!

Or you can try the the softer look and help to disguise the bits you don't want others looking at!

Try something like this which diffuses any lumps and bumps by creating distractions!

http://products.drct2u.com/content/images/products//vx/vx101/d04vx10151w.jpg

Joe Browns at Simply Be.co.uk

Arriva...the new cosmetic shades from Colour Me Beautiful....!

What a lovely little package arrived in the post today...enclosed, some yummy new shades of eyeshadow ready for Summer!

Introducing...
Golden Honey - a great replacement for toffee so you girls can be happy again!
Purple - a rich and strong shade, I’m thinking ideal for deeps, cools and clears..I’ll have to have a play!
Eau de Nil - simply gorgeous, it’s a clear aqua but not overbright...this could be a great all-rounder but especially perfect for you blue-eyed girls and...
Pistachio...it literally is, it looks edible and I know us green eyed girls will love it, but again this will mix across the palettes!

Order from: http://www.greenwoodstyle.com/Buy-from-Online-Shop(1040100).htm
or email: clare@greenwoodstyle.co.uk

Phone me if you want to pop in and see... or look out for my Open Days...
Invitation coming soon  ...!

Morgans Well Being and Fitness Centre, Greenbottom, Truro...

You are most Welcome!

http://www.trurofitness.co.uk/

“Handbags and briefcases”

Just thought I would give you an insight into why it can be worth considering my Corporate Image Services to give you as much credibility and confidence that you can muster! I have personally questioned why money seems unfairly biased towards promoting women in business and the following article has opened my eyes!

By: Carleen Kelemen, Director, Convergence Partnership Office
 Barriers to top-level promotion  “The BBC recently reported research for the Institute of Leadership and Management that showed nearly three-quarters of women say that they still face barriers to top-level promotion in the UK, with women supporting positive action to tackle this issue. Sheelagh Whittaker, non-executive director of Standard Life summed up this view nicely on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, “I am a big supporter of quotas. I believe that we will only have true equality when we have as many incompetent women in positions of power as incompetent men.”

Should women receive special treatment? “So should women receive special treatment when celebrating business achievement, receiving career advice or business support? Doesn't equal opportunity now mean that 'one size fits all'? Why should there be single gender groupings and special business support for women? The answer does not lie in the definition of a single gender but in the evidence which highlights an underperforming, sometimes disadvantaged, often undervalued group in our society and the potential contribution that they can make to our economy.

 “Does it matter? Well wiping out 52 percent of your potential talent in the population does not bode well in a competitive global society whichever way you look at it!

Under-represented in top business roles “12 per cent of directors on the FTSE 100 are women. Yet 52 per cent of the population are women and last year 57% of first class degrees were gained by women. A recent study projects that it will take 73 years before there are an equal number of women across the FTSE 100 boardrooms.

Extra barriers exist locally “In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly extra barriers exist – peripherality, social isolation and a high proportion of low wage industries which, research shows, women are more likely to gravitate towards rather than higher paid professions such as engineering.

Convergence initiatives to support women  “Because of this initiatives have been set up including Empowering Smart Women, Outset Cornwall and Enterprising Women – which receive European Social Fund or European Regional Development Fund Convergence investment.

Equality of opportunity “I have long championed women aspiring to start up or in business and those who wish to progress into employment or in their chosen careers. It is not a biased cause because of common gender. It is about believing that any person, regardless of gender, origin, sexual orientation or ethnicity is able to choose and work towards their personal goals and ambitions.

 "Vive la difference! The best talent is not predicated by gender (or origin, or sexual orientation or ethnicity) and should never be stifled by it!"

Carleen and I putting the worlds to right at a CommStat meeting....we were listening to Nigel Hudson's opinions as well!!!

Photo by Paul Richards http://www.pr4photos.co.uk/

Playing with Colour

An immediate way to see if colours work well or not is to simply play with colour! The best colours give lift and radiance, the wrong shades can look dull and unexciting! Here the warm undertones work well in highlighting warm hazel eyes!

Colour Me Slimmer

Wear the right fabrics, styles, colours and accessories and you can look and feel slimmer in minutes!
Learn about the shape of different parts of your body and which clothes will flatter you!
Find out which colour combinations will make you appear slimmer
Understand scale and proportion for a balanced look
Get the foundations right with the best underwear for your shape
Discover how to use the magic of make-up!

Colour Me Slimmer book available online@ £12.99
www.greenwoodstyle.com
Alternatively phone Clare to book your personal one-on-one session to discover how you can look and feel fabulous! 01872 277066