Looking Slim with Colour

Monochromatic dressing is the key ie wearing just one colour. This gives a strong, unbroken, vertical line that elongates the body. You can use texture to add interest, shades of one colour (eg chocolate, coffee & cafe au lait) or different colours of the same value (imagine they were in a black & white photo: same value would be the same grey).

Have you ever wondered why so many folk in the fashion industry wear black with black with black? Monochromatic dressing ensures you look slim, everything goes with everything and it's hard to tell the cost!

Personally, I disagree that wearing all black makes you look slim: you look heavier, it's hard to see your shape, and you're silhouetted against almost every background. Black can be hard to wear near your face, even if you are a Winter (and it's one of your neutrals).

Bend the rule slightly by adding a bit of colour. The simplest way is to wear your dark, base colour in your trousers/skirt and jacket/cardigan with a flattering colour in your scarf/blouse ie 'inside' your silhouette.

The other option is to keep your inner silhouette monochromatic (top & bottom) with colour introduced via a jacket/cardigan. While this will work, it isn't as versatile because

• a) jackets are usually more expensive than tops
• b) coloured jackets are more memorable (so you can't wear them as often) and
• c) we take our jackets off (losing the uplift colour).

I use this 'rule' all the time - just look at my profile photo! The charcoal grey (better than black now my hair is greying) with a hot pink scarf really works well for me.

Body Shape and Barbie

Did you realise that if Barbie were life-size,
her measurements would be 39-23-33 inches? (100-58-84 cms)

In each workshop, I teach on the design lines of clothes and basic body shapes. Understanding our silhouette & shape helps us make the most of the lines within clothes - so we can camouflage our figure 'challenges' and highlight our assets.

Virtually every time the comment is made, "I'm not as bad as I thought I was" or "I'm not so big in the hips/waist/shoulders." While I'm sure I'm not dealing with the true psychiatric disorder of Body Dysmorphia (being excessively concerned about and preoccupied by an imagined or minor defect in physical features) it's sad that so few are positive about their body.

We are continually fed LIES via magazines, TV, movies etc. The body shape of models exists in just 4% of the population, and even the super-models have their photos enhanced & changed ... the women we see in the media DON'T EXIST!

Yes, of course we need to be fit and healthy; eating food that's good for us and exercising appropriately (not always easy in our hyper-busy culture) but please look around and make sure you are feeding realistic, healthy images into your mind.

The mind doesn't know the difference between fantasy and reality - that's why the imagination is so powerful and visualisation can improve an athlete's performance. But if you focus on an unachievable, unrealistic goal you are setting yourself up for constant disappointment and failure. Don't be so cruel to yourself!

Reducing Stress

The Ten Commandments for Reducing Stress

1. Thou shalt NOT be perfect, nor even try to be
2. Thou shalt NOT try to be all things to all people
3. Thou shalt leave things undone that ought to be done
4. Thou shalt NOT spread thyself too thin
5. Thou shalt learn to say "No"
6. Thou shalt schedule time for thyself, and thy support network
7. Thou shalt switch off and do nothing regularly
8. Thou shalt be 'boring', 'untidy', 'inelegant' and 'unattractive' at times
9. Thou shalt NOT even feel guilty
10. Especially, thou shalt NOT be thine own worst enemy, but be thy best friend.

Body Shape

Understanding your Body Shape is one of the basics to choosing the design lines that will work best for you. I like to keep things simple - I refer to four basic shapes (Hour-Glass, Triangle, Inverted Triangle, and Rectangle). But there is an even simpler classification: Straight or Curvy.

Straights usually have rounded stomachs, a 'soft' waistline and fairly flat bottoms; any extra weight is carried on their tummies or upper hips.

Fitted dresses, skirts & trousers work well, as do skirts with straight lines. Choose minimal waistbands & slim fit rather than full, gathered or pleated skirts/trousers.

Make the most of your shapely legs, and SKIM the waist (don't try to create/emphasise what you don't have).

Curvys tend to have wider hips with flatter stomachs, rounded bottoms and curvy upper thighs; their extra weight is carried on their lower hips, bottoms or upper thighs.

Soft, flowing lines on the lower half works well but shift dresses and straight skirts don't. Highlight your waist & top half.

Viewing Colours & Common Terms

Did you know that natural daylight is the best light for viewing colours? Artificial lighting affects shades - incandescent lights have more yellow tones whereas fluorescent tubes have more blue tones. That's why I prefer to have workshops during the day; it makes identifying a client's most flattering colours much easier. Seeing colours properly is why it's harder to shop at malls - lots of artificial lights.

I looked back through my newsletters and found the following; taken from a paint shop's colour chart.

Useful terms when planning your home decor:
MONOCHROMATIC: uses one colour, with variations of texture and value (light, medium, dark) to stop it looking monotonous

ANALOGOUS: uses a primary colour and neighbouring colours eg yellow with yellow-green (lime) and yellow-orange (melon).

COMPLEMENTARY: uses colours that are directly opposite each other on the colour wheel eg red & green, purple & yellow. Complementary colours intensify each other and tend to be lively. Best if one colour dominates and the other accessorises.

SPLIT COMPLEMENTARY: uses a colour in combination with two colours directly opposite on the colour wheel eg red with yellow-green (lime) and blue-green (turquoise)

TRIADIC: uses three colours that are equi-distant on the colour wheel eg orange, green, purple. One colour tends to be used as dominant and the other two as accents.

ACHROMATIC: white, greys and black.

Style Personality

Some clients say their wardrobe has multiple personalities! They have lots of casual clothes, with some classic pieces for the office, some feminine things for dates, and some dramatic items just because they were bored.

While I understand how easily this can happen, co-ordinating clothes then becomes very difficult. Also the incongruence is communicating a mixed message. People are quick to pick up on anyone 'acting' a role (hypocrisy), they may not be consciously aware of why they think someone isn't who they say they are - they just 'know'.

Women are particularly good at reading folk; I think it's because of our design - we're usually the ones working with and supporting those who can't communicate (I'm referring to babies and children, but hey! men often struggle to communicate too.)

Recognising your own Style Personality ensures you are consistently being you, no matter what the occasion. Don't get muddled between appropriate dressing ie for an occasion and your Style Personality.

As Kiwis we tend to wear casual clothes most of the time - especially here in the laid-back beach resort of Mt Maunganui. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's your Style Personality. And identifying your Style Personality really helps you select clothes and accessories that truly suit you and will work really well together.

I've Nothing to Wear!

"I've nothing to wear" - a desperate cry from a female, usually said while standing in front of a wardrobe full of clothes with items strewn on the bed or floor or spilling out of drawers.

Statistics show that most women wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time.

I think clothes need to earn their right to be in my wardrobe! I want an efficient yet not extensive range of clothes, with something for every occasion.

Have you ever gone Panic Shopping? There's some occasion looming and you have "nothing to wear" so you go shopping but you can't find anything suitable. Perhaps you buy something and maybe you wear it, or it lurks in the back of the cupboard accusing you.

It becomes a Closet Orphan: it doesn't go with anything else you own nor does it go out much.

Maybe you buy something to keep the Closet Orphan company. Now you have TWO items that don't go with anything else and they still don't go out much!

You need a plan!

Intro

I'm starting a blog so I can say things there's no room for on my web-site! It's a great little web site (www.personal-style.co.nz) but has its limitations - due to my limited budget.

I want to have somewhere for FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and interaction - someone suggested a blog would be the best format. So here we go!

I've always been fascinated by Style and Personal Presentation. I distinctly remember a big red book I had in England (we left when I was 10) which had many different authors and topics. I read and re-read those two subjects ... dunno what happened to the book. It's probably a collector's item now!!

Anyway, although I wanted to ride horses for a living it didn't seem very practical and my parents insisted I have some training for a real job, so I went to secretarial college and had many positions in that field over the years.

Marrying, having children, and moving around meant all sorts of different jobs: as well as secretary, receptionist, telephonist there was selling skin care and cosmetics (did that several times), packing pet food, minding other people's children, second-hand goods shop assistant, and so on.

Managing on a budget became second nature (I can still create a meal from left-overs & pantry items) as did shopping at the local opp. shop. I enjoy learning and over the years I've done heaps of courses. I love reading and read widely; I remember lots of information (useful for games like Trivial Pursuit). I also like analysing - knowing how and why things work.

Repetitive Strain Injury (also known as Occupational Over-use Syndrome) forced a career change. I began teaching adults: literacy, numeracy, basic employment skills, and computer skills. Frustration made me re-evaluate and I opted to teach the basics of style.

Over the years I'd spent a lot of money to be told what my colours were (twice - the first one was wrong), my style personality, my body shape (changeable), and how to plan a wardrobe. I was still fascinated by it all! I'd read and re-read every style book in the libraries, plus I bought a few, read magazines and articles galore.

I knew what worked for me - not many shopping mistakes - whether I bought new or second-hand. I was often complimented on my presentation and it often made me smile - they had no idea how little money I'd spent!

They say if you love your work, you never have to 'work' a day in your life - and that's what it feels like for me. Helping women know what suits them is tremendously rewarding. It may not be saving lives but it is hugely empowering for some.

I get to hear their stories and how a Personal Style workshop has made a difference. Sometimes it's just as simple as having more confidence when you go shopping. Or the great savings of time and money. Attending a special occasion and knowing you look great (especially when your ex is there!) Getting a job. Starting a business. Being a positive role model for your daughter / niece.