PS

Hello - and welcome to my quarterly newsletter. As usual there are a few useful items: ultra simplified wardrobe planning, tips on knowing which items to hang on to and what to let go, how to choose flattering swimwear, the latest on whether your Season changes over the years, plus a fantastic Special Offer.

Looking for gift ideas? Remember, I have gorgeous silk scarves available for sale - they're light and easy to post. Plus they give THREE times by supporting the Cambodian business where they're purchased, you or whoever you give the scarf to, and again in Cambodia helping someone in need.

Or perhaps a Gift Voucher for someone special? A Private Consultation includes full workshop and wardrobe audit for $290 (or $300 if shared between two). Maybe a mini Private Consultation - come to my home and find out your Season for $59 (refer Special Offer). Or one for YOU; use as you choose eg Wardrobe Audit or Shopping Companion (1 hour = $60).

If you'd like to hear from me more often or learn more tips then come and visit my Facebook business page: www.facebook.com/personalstylenz

We'll be celebrating quietly and working through the silly season until late January, then holidaying at home when my daughter and family visit from Cambodia. Malakai is now 4.5 and Jakin is 1.5 - busy, energetic little boys; it'll be lovely to see them in the flesh - Skype is wonderful but real hugs and kisses are better!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - do enjoy the holidays and have a wonderful summer.

Margaret

Easy Wardrobe Planning

Simply keeping to Warm (yellow-based) or Cool (blue-based) colours makes it easy to have a mix and match wardrobe.

Do you remember a little exercise we do in the workshop? After we identify your Season (Summer, Winter, Autumn, or Spring) I ask you to sort some fabric sample into two piles: Cool and Warm.

All the Cool hues and tones harmonise with one another but steal a Warm shade or tint and put it in the Cool group, and it sticks out like a sore thumb!

Similarly all the Warm colours sit quite happily together but a Cool colour clashes with them.

So even if you don't know your Season, by keeping to either Warm or Cool colours, items will 'go' together easily.

If you'd like to know which colours flatter you (Warm or Cool, clear or muted) and more about simple wardrobe planning then ring or email me, I'd love to help (there's a workshop to suit your budget).

Recycling & Renovating Wardrobe Treasures

Haven't we all discarded something only to wish we hadn't some time later? So how DO you decide what's worth keeping?

Look for classics which are timeless in their design, are a great fabric and well made.

• Fashion tends to run in cycles, so while the latest look won't be exactly the same it may take only minor surgery to update your classic item. Good fit is essential; saggy, baggy, too tight or ill-fitting is out.
• A great fabric is usually natural eg wool, silk, cotton and tends to be a good weight. Synthetics have to be really good quality to wear well (poor quality is never classy).
• Being well constructed is seen in straight seams which lay flat (no puckering), patterns and stripes that match up, hems which are smooth and hang properly nb a lining helps create structure and maintains form.

Tips for Choosing Flattering Swimwear

(from Dec 2010 newsletter)

Highlight figure assets with lighter/brighter colours, prints or detailing and camouflage figure challenges with something darker and/or plainer. For example:

SMALL BUST: choose lighter/brighter colours for top half, add a little padding or detailing eg frills or ruching at the bust.

BIG BUST: make sure you get the support you need. Opt for wide shoulder straps rather than thin or strapless nb the right halter-neck can work well. Avoid detailing at the bust - keep it simple, and remember - plain, darker fabrics visually minimise.

Does Your Season Change?

I'm often asked whether your Season changes as you age. In the 80's we were told "No" but now we recognise that the answer is "Maybe" (!)

Assuming the colour consultant was right when she identified your Season, then I've found you tend to stay that throughout life.

However, I have also noticed that a little fine tuning is necessary. For example, I'm a Winter but now my hair is greying, I can't wear Black as well as I did - it's better softened to Charcoal or kept away from my face (and teamed with a skin-flattering colour eg scarf or necklace).

So I did some research to see if this is true for others and have concluded that we tend to cool and soften as we age; which means that our best colours are also cooler and softer (muted).

You know for yourself that you can tell when a woman is colouring her hair if she chooses the same dark colour she had in her 20's, it doesn't look natural (and no, I'm not saying don't colour your hair - just remember to lighten it as you age).

I recommend that as your hair greys or 'naturally lightens', you opt for the lighter, cooler colours in your Season.

For example, a Spring client requested a wardrobe audit following a Small Group workshop. Years earlier she'd been identified as a Spring but now the Summer tones looked good. Had she changed? Not really, but she did need to fine tune and opt for the cooler colours in her palette.

As I tell all my clients; not ALL the colours in your palette will be 'magic' on you - just some of them. Have fun discovering which ones and remember to adjust and update them as time goes by.

SPECIAL OFFER

Mini Private Consultation

Come to my home and find out your Season; notes and printed swatch included for just $59

contact details are on my website www.personal-style.co.nz