Monthly Workshops (something new)

By popular request, Group Workshops are being held at my home on a monthly basis.

Minimal overheads mean a fantastic price of just $79
(covering colours, wardrobe planning, style personality, scale, body shape & proportions, flattering design lines, & how to camouflage figure challenges).
Group size is limited to 7, days and times vary each month.

The next one is on Friday 21st March, 9.30am to 2.15pm.
Please contact me to book your place or for more details:
Mobile: 021 234 8561
Email: margaret@personal-style.co.nz

Autumns 2014 Fashions & Trends

Have you had a chance to look at the new fashions coming into the shops? There seems to be something to suit everyone; useful essentials in neutrals (jackets, skirts, trousers), a fabulous array of colours and textures, plus a great variety in accessories.

There are many different patterns: tartans, checks, stripes, polka dots, and florals. If you prefer to wear solids you can keep it interesting by choosing them in different textures or opting for patterned accessories.

The lady-like style continues with lots of focus on skirts; they're longer (hemlines to the knee and below) and fuller. Team with a sweater - style knit and ankle boots to be right on trend.

Tailored masculine-looking suits are popular especially in tweeds and pin-stripes, rounded shoulders and over-sized. Soften the macho feel with gorgeous accessories and fabulous footwear.

Highly practical in chilly climates, winter coats are big - literally! Again, over-sized and with rounded shoulders. Tailored in heavy fabrics and available in various colours but especially popular in pink (dusky pinks are in high demand).

Autumn 2014 Fashions & Trends cont

Pantone advised Radiant Orchid was the fashion colour for 2014; you'll see many variations of it from deep purples to lilacs through to fuchsias.

Blues are widespread including navy blue (very useful and kinder than black), cobalt blue, some dusky blues.

Autumn 2014 Fashions & Trends cont

Grunge and Punk themes abound; leather, chains, spikes, mesh with tartan ... okay, not for everyone.

Have fun with interesting textures such as feathers, crocodile-skin prints, metallics and faux fur.

Statement sleeves, deep plunging V-necks, and polo-necks are in vogue. (And yes, it's fine to layer the high polo-neck with the deep V-neck.)

Black and white monotones continue, also available in warmer tones ie black with ivory or cream).

Lots of denim - waistcoats, shirts, jackets, dresses and, of course, jeans.

A delicious variety of browns are coming through eg cinnamon, nutmeg. Some deep burgundy reds, and a few oranges.

Autumn 2014 Fashions & Trends cont

Jewellery trends include chandelier earrings, fringe necklaces, and big chains with oversized links.

Tribal styles, and turquoise jewellery plus the punk trend (leather, chains, spikes and studs).

In footwear there's men's styled shoes, ankle- and high- (even above the knee) boots, with lots of details.

The trend for bags includes clutches, crocodile-print or fur bags, and the structured doctor's bag (now that's practical).

PS

It was a pleasure working with Mothers of the Bride / Groom this summer. Sometimes a phone call or email discussion was enough (no charge). For some, a meeting to see what they had and discuss options; with others a shopping trip. I always do a bit of research before taking clients to shops; in one case the ideal item was found at our first shop (I love saving you time and money!)

We enjoyed wonderful family times over summer, and are looking forward to some special get-togethers in the next couple of months.

What a blessing Skype is (video calls via computers) especially as children grow up so quickly - but there's nothing like face to face! (here I am with Adam, my youngest grandson.)

M

PS

I never tire of helping women discover their personal style; realise their figure assets and how easy it is to camouflage their figure challenges. I'll come home on a high, absolutely buzzing.

I particularly enjoy hearing how fabulous my clients felt at a special event. Being MOB or MOG (mother of the Bride or Groom) is an important day; if there are complications (break ups, new partners etc) then it's even more fraught with stress and anxiety.

Ladies, I can relate! Let's meet and talk it through; maybe we simply need to review what you already have and put it together in a new way. Or look at what's available in the local shops and find something fabulous for you. Perhaps you'll shop further afield once you know what you're seeking. I'd love to help ... there's nothing quite like feeling gorgeous and knowing you look your very best!

Wishing you a very merry Christmas and wonderful new year - M

PS

Lovely to see the sun, warmer weather and fab new fashions popping out.

I've had the pleasure of working with hundreds of women over the last eight years yet it's still the most exciting fun sharing a workshop and helping women discover their personal style. Not everyone wants to 'go public' but being privy to their stories and seeing the impact our time together has had is magic, and very precious.

We have a new little grandson to dote on! First-born to my son and his wife, Adam is - of course - absolutely gorgeous! He arrived a little sooner than expected; an early birthday present for his Dad, and ensuring a Father's Day celebration this year.

Enjoy this new season - M

Versatility

While I don't enjoy the winter temperatures, I do like creating new looks with some of my wardrobe treasures.

A simple Little Black Dress can be layered up with a slip, a net top, leggings/tights, shoes or boots (yay for warm socks inside knee boots) and a coloured cardigan, or a bright scarf and denim jacket or a thin coloured merino under the dress and a tailored jacket. Easily topped with a coat, scarf, hat and gloves at night or on unusually cold days.

PS

Hello
The family wedding I mentioned in my last newsletter went well, and I squeezed in two shared Private Consultations (two friends on Friday, mother & daughter on Sunday). It made for a busy few days so I appreciated the time alone with my hubby as we drove down and back.

I bought the Dalston dress at Hula Fashions, and had it adjusted to fit (taken in at the back so it didn't fall off my narrow shoulders or gape at the bust).

Thank goodness I knew how to do some sneaky layering as Wellington was a bit chillier than we hoped. My extra layers included some shapewear, a slip, pantyhose (with open toes to wear with peep-toe shoes), and a turquoise pashmina. I swapped the pashmina for a lovely warm, bright blue cardigan at the reception.

The bride looked like a fairytale princess, her mum (my sister) looked fabulous and my grand-daughter Bella was a lovely flower girl (awww!). It was wonderful having most of the family there to celebrate together.

I'm looking forward to wearing my dress again next summer; let's hope we have another lovely hot one!

Meanwhile, enjoy the change of seasons and the opportunity to find some winter wardrobe treasures.

Margaret

Newsletters

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Little & Often

Did you know Personal Style has a business page on FaceBook?
(you don't have to be a member to view it)
It's easy to keep up to date, be reminded of key points from your Workshop, ask questions and make comments.
Visit www.facebook.com/personalstylenz 

Travelling Light

Going somewhere this summer? I used to take far too many things 'just in case' (and feel embarrassed about how much luggage I had) yet only wear some of them!

"This is NOT working." I grumbled. So I spent some time trying to figure out what did work, and how I could pack less but better.

Using the capsule concept to build your wardrobe really helps; neutrals for core essentials with flattering colours to liven things up. When you're packing, limit yourself to two neutrals eg a dark and a light*, and two colours (one main, one minor).
*a light neutral is good for holidays in the sun

Make sure you have an outfit for each type of occasion: Casual, Smart, and Dressy. Some items will work in two (or three) categories eg well-cut trousers for Smart and Dressy. Consider your trip; is it 50% Casual, 25% Smart and 25% Dressy? Then pack to that proportion.

Separates offer the most flexibility so pack more tops than bottoms (5:1)

Select items you can layer for maximum versatility. Take multi-purpose favourites - the ones you turn to again and again.

Choosing neutrals for footwear means they'll go with whatever you wear. One pair for each type of occasion; pack two and wear one for travelling (make sure they're comfortable as you'll probably do more walking than you expect, especially if you're flying - airports are enormous!)

Accessories don't take up much space yet can quickly take an outfit from Smart to Dressy. Scarves and sarongs are useful because they're so versatile: tied as a dress, a skirt, a top or a jacket. They'll cover your head / arms when sight-seeing or over-dosed on sun, and warm you in chilly air conditioning (or an NZ summer!)

Ideally, opt for things that hardly wrinkle (most creases will fall out if you hang items in the bathroom while you take a shower - it's the steam).

It can make sense to wear your Smart outfit to travel in as: a) you may be upgraded, b) you make a good impression en route and upon arrival, and c) you don't have to pack it (jackets can be bulky).

Facebook

Do you know Personal Style has a business page on Facebook?
(you don't have to be a member to view it)

Visit me at www.facebook.com/personalstylenz

Here are some of the recent posts:

• How do you know if you have a short or long neck? ...
• Do you have favourite outfits? Just now this is one of mine ... [photo]
• How to camouflage a tummy ... [photo]
• Had a quick wander around Fashion Island this morning ... [photo]

'Tis the Season

Hello and welcome to this quarter's newsletter.

Hooray! the pohutakawas are in blossom, there's Christmas music and decor in the shops, and (my favourite) warmer weather.

It is a bit silly to have so many parties and get-togethers over just a short period but ... oh well!

I recently spent an afternoon at home trying on different Dressy outfits and seeing which worked, which didn't, and what was suitable for each event.

A few months ago I'd bought some shapewear (think of it as smoothing-out rather than sucking-in) plus made a real effort to maintain my weight over winter, rather than let it creep up. So I was very pleased to try on hardly-ever worn dresses and find they fitted.

One's a gorgeous long pink dress I've had for at least ten years; it's so simple and timeless it can be dressed up or down. Love that versatility!

Another is a Little Black Dress whose original price tag was well beyond me, but it was dramatically reduced in the sales. I've worn it on several special occasions and, with varied accessories, it looks different each time.

That's why accessories are very useful and worth buying.

The trouble with weddings is that photos are taken ... ensuring everyone can remember what you wore!

So for a family wedding in April, a new dress is required and before I'd really started looking, I found it!  I was browsing in a local shops, tried on a dress and was absolutely stunned at how good I looked in it - uh oh! when it makes you look that good ... it's a must-have!

Please take a moment to have a look at my new website - the address is the same, but a different design; far simpler for me to update now.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year; I hope you enjoy the celebrations, the weather and some relaxation time.

Margaret

Thank You!

In my last newsletter I mentioned the 'Clothing 2 Cash 4 Cambodia' sale (held on 14th June).

We'd hoped the raise $NZ1200 to build a house for the poor in Cambodia. That figure was totally blitzed - over $NZ1800 was raised!

Resulting in: one complete house, a substantial donation to The Princess Project*, and the remainder went into building another home. Fantastic! Great work Breakfree Expeditions!

*The Princess Project rescues precious daughters, along with any siblings or family they might have. Providing food, clothes, shelter, education, school supplies, vocational training, dental aid ... and their lives are being transformed.

Have you heard of Pinterest?

I remember spending hours on rainy days going through magazines and finding pictures I liked, cutting them out and pasting them into a scrapbook. Did you?

Now I can do it online!

I've found pictures of clothes (of course!) hair styles, lovely decor and beautiful places. Not only can I 'pin' them onto a 'board' but I can also trace it back to the original website (very useful).

You're welcome to look at my boards and there are many others to explore ... Enjoy!

http://pinterest.com

Be quick to save $$

Katikati Resource Centre is hosting two more 'Affordable Wardrobe Planning' this year (these consist of Personal Style's Workshop 1 in the morning and Workshop 2 in the afternoon).

Saturday 15th September is already booked out, Saturday 27th October is nearly filled.  You can book in via their website or telephone them on 07 549 0399 to reserve your place.  Please note these workshops are heavily subsidised and limited to 10 per group.

PS

The joys of Spring! I think my favourite season is Summer (because it's so lovely and hot) yet Spring is my next choice; the temperature is warming up (finally!) and the new fashions are coming into stores.

Not everyone enjoys shopping but while I get frustrated when the budget won't stretch any further, I do love looking around the stores and getting a feel for the new styles and colours.

Although I'm not a fashionista - I think style is more important than fashion - there are some excellent fashion magazines I read to keep me up to date. Yes, most of the clothes and accessories they showcase are expensive, but I think of it as a way of educating myself - like looking at old masterpieces to appreciate art.

Here's another application for the 80/20 rule:  80% of your clothes are timeless essentials and 20% fashion.  Within that 20% are current colours, shapes and accessories - which you may already own.  For instance the cobalt blues, teals and turquoises that are so popular just now - I've been gathering items for years because they're my colours.  Ditto the bright pinks, blacks and whites, lace and florals - they're all part of my personal style.

So now's the time to go through your wardrobe, review your capsules and consider what's missing ... you probably only need to buy a couple of items to refresh and update your look.

Please feel free to contact me with your queries - phone 07 575 7415 or 021 234 8561, email margaret@personal-style.co.nz or FaceBook message me www.facebook.com/personalstylenz
M
wish there was more (pictures, tips etc)? then "Like" my FaceBook business page

PS

So the crazy season is over (Christmas, New Year, summer holidays, Christmas bills, back to school, more bills) Did we have Summer? How can it be March already?!

Well, we did manage to spend some quality time with friends and family, and enjoy some wonderfully relaxed days. The grandchildren are growing up quickly; so precious when the youngest is delighted to see me and squeals saying "Nana!" while the older ones can't wait to show off their latest skills and accomplishments.

During the summer break, I took action on client comments and feedback. I split the Personal Style three-hour (sometimes longer) workshop into two, then added more information on identifying and overcoming Figure Challenges. So now you can choose to do Workshop One (focusing on colours and wardrobe planning) then follow up with Workshop Two (specialising in style personality, scale, flattering design lines, body shape & proportion).

Both workshops take about two hours, and can be done as a Private Consultation or Small Group. In a Private Consultation a 90 minute wardrobe audit follows each workshop; the practical application of workshop discoveries. More details and prices are on my website.

As always, I love to hear from you and am happy to answer any queries you may have. Do look at my new look FaceBook business page - it's full of tips and handy hints.

Margaret