Silk Scarves

I have more gorgeous silk scarves available, thanks to my nephew recently visiting my daughter in Cambodia. I asked Cherie to select extra Autumn and Summer colours, as I had so few.

So if you'd like to have a look at the new range, please ring and arrange a time with me. (Sorry, only available to local residents.)

Creating Colours

Pure Hues are clear = Winters (sharp, icy, brightly contrasting)

If you add white, a hue becomes a Tint = Springs (fresh & bright)

If you add grey, a hue becomes a Tone = Summers (soft & muted)

If you add black, a hue becomes a Shade = Autumns (deep & rich)

Remember to choose hues that flatter YOU :

WARM for Springs & Autumns

COOL for Summers & Winters.

Looking Slim

continuing a series based around Leah Feldon's 10 Rules for Dressing Slim (www.leadfeldon.com) It's good to know her Top Ten are covered in the Personal Style workships, so consider this a refresher for you.

Rule 7 Beware of Stiff, Shiny or Bulky Fabrics

Clothes made from stiff fabrics tend to look shapeless, boxy and larger - and so will you if you wear them. Even soft fibres eg silk, can make stiff fabrics so if it looks and feels stiff; avoid it!

Shiny textures reflect light thus visually enlarging you and the garment. The reflected light also highlights every bumps & bulge however minuscule. A little bit of shine can make for interesting texture mixing but all-over shine will make you look bigger.

Consider the thickness of a fisherman's sweater or heavy corduroy trousers; bulky fabrics add mass to YOU. Anything Fluffy, Feathery, Fuzzy, and Furry adds volume (so choose carefully where you use, ie not all over). Generally, opt for finger, light-weight varieties however don't over-compensate as fabrics must have enough weight to skim not cling.

Select fabrics that move and drape. Picture yourself walking in a soft fluid skirt that falls into slimming vertical lines around your body. Now imagine you're wearing a rigid A-line skirt ... obvious isn't it?

Conversation Starters

Introduce yourself, "Hi, I'm xxx - what's your name?" Make a comment about their name (it will help you remember it) and ask a question eg "Hi Janeen, what a lovely name - were you named after someone? / How do you spell that? / that's unusual, where does it come from?"

Use open-ended questions (closed questions can be answered with one word) "How do you know xxx (the host/s)?

Make an observation followed by a question; you could comment on the venue, the people or something pertinent. "That's a great gift you gave xxx, where did you find it?"

Or try this: "If you had to choose between two super-powers, would you rather fly or be able to turn invisible?" (nb in a study, men preferred flight while most women chose invisibility.)

Jackets

The right jacket can be very flattering to you as well as 'making' an outfit. Conversely, the wrong jacket can emphasise figure faults and ruin an ensemble.

Remember, it's virtually impossible to buy a perfectly fitting jacket off the peg (ditto for most items actually) so please budget for alterations.

Here's some advice on how to choose the right length for you.

SHORT JACKETS: end in line with your waist or slightly below. They will make you look taller BUT will also highlight any extra weight you may be carrying around your middle.


MEDIUM JACKETS: end just below the widest part of your hips which they'll emphasis (avoid if you are a triangle / pear shape)

LONG JACKETS: Measure the distance from the top of your shoulder to the floor (take off your shoes when measuring). Now halve it. This is your personal long-jacket length ensuring your body looks in proportion. (NB for easy reference, note where this is on your body eg end of your little finger or take a tape measure with you when shopping.)

EXTRA LONG JACKETS: suit taller women (over 1.65m or 5'6"). They work best with slim pants and short to knee length skirts (definitely not long skirts - they'll mess up your proportions). I love this look but I'm too short to wear it!)

Choose a jacket that fits your shoulders (avoiding expensive shoulder alterations) and skims your waist (a semi-tailored fit is universally flattering).

Sleeve length is important; they should end just below your wrist bone (if they end at the widest part of your hand they make your hands AND hips look wider.)

Travelling Light

Developing your wardrobe with the capsule concept makes travelling light easy to achieve. I think everyone has taken far too many items 'just in case'. On returning home you realise you only wore 20% of what you took!

Here's a simple system: limit yourself to two neutrals - one dark, one light - and one colour (two if you're away for a week or more). *see below for your seasonal colour suggestions

Make sure you have an outfit for each type of occasion: Casual, Smart, and Dressy. Remember, some items will work in two categories eg well-cut trousers (Smart and Dressy) as long as you have the right accessories to zhoozh it up.

Think of your time away as a pie and consider how big each slice needs to be. Is your trip 1/2 Casual, 1/4 Smart, 1/4 Dressy? Then pack accordingly.

Layers are the most practical solution when travelling to different climates. Opt for light, breathable fabrics such as merino wool, silk, or rayon and choose items that are multi-use eg camisoles which can be worn alone or under tops.

Large scarves are easy to pack and wonderfully versatile: sarong skirts & dresses, shawls & shrugs, they covers arms and/or heads as well as providing an extra layer.

Wear your Smart jacket to travel in; it will arrive less wrinkled than in your bag and maybe you'll be up-graded!

Travel Capsule Suggestions

Winters: black and white with bright turquoise

Summers: charcoal and white with smoky, medium blue

Autumns: chocolate and oyster white with muted green turquoise

Springs: camel and ivory with bright aqua

Lipsticks for your Season

Knowing your Colours (season) makes life so much easier - especially when it comes to choosing lipsticks.

I found a UK website which sells lipsticks and lists them by your season. While you may not want to buy from them & pay the postage etc, the site is useful to view the recommended shades.

Spring: Coral, Warm Pink, Poppy

Summer: Dusky Rose, Sweet Pea, Garnet Red

Autumn: Warm Spice, Copper, Ruby Red

Winter: Burgundy, Fuchsia, Cranberry

Go to www.janefardon.com

Pilling - those annoying fuzzy balls

Pilling is created when short fibres roll, creating a ball.

The best quality knits will NOT pill (some woollen and cashmere garments have a combination of short and longer fibres woven together).

If a garment has a high acrylic content it is much more likely to pill.

So that's the problem - what's the answer?

Buy really good, quality knits - which are more expensive (although price alone is not a guarantee).

Or be prepared to spend time depilling items using a small fabric shaver. Do NOT use a razor - I can virtually guarantee you'll nick the garment and create a hole (yes, this is the voice of experience speaking)!

Photo Update

We caught up at the Women's Business Web March meeting. Phyllis - what a gorgeous silk scarf you're wearing! It's definitely one of your colours :-)

I sold the silk scarf to Phyllis, it comes from Cambodia where my daughter works. 75% of the money goes to support projects in Cambodia (IRD view it as income so 25% is retained to pay taxes)

She's Someone Special (3)

For the photo shoot Phyllis' daughter-in-law helped her put her hair up, and Phyllis did her own make-up (ie NOT professional).

But the 'after' photo is very definitely showing the difference a professional photographer can make to a photo - wow! Isn't Phyllis stunning?

Oh yes, and here's the update: early in 2009 Phyllis attended a family wedding in Australia. She bought a new outfit in Sydney - she looked (and felt) a million dollars! Note: she didn't need my help when shopping because she now understands her Personal Style.

And that's why I love my work!

She's Someone Special (2)

Charmaine took another 'before' photo of Phyllis, this time she wore a lime green polo neck jumper (see Undercover post on why this style doesn't suit full figured women).

She's Someone Special (1)

I love my work! I meet such wonderful women; teaching and sharing some style basics. Sometimes I hear about the changes they've made as a result and the effect that's had. Some may say 'it's only clothes' but changing what you wear can change how you feel about yourself (and how others see you).

Late in 2008 Marinkovich Photography and I created a package deal titled "She's Someone Special". It consists of an Individual Consultation with me (Personal Style Workshop and wardrobe assessment) and a Design Consultation and Portrait Shoot with Charmaine, all for just $300

To help us promote this package we worked with Phyllis; we have some great 'before' and 'after' photos to show for our time together.

When I arrived at Phyllis' home she was wearing a shapeless, warm red shirt and her hair was a golden honey blonde (see photo). During the Personal Style Workshop we identified she's a cool Winter. We spent time going through her wardrobe and selecting clothes she already owned, which would be ideal for her portrait. Before the shoot, Phyllis chose to re-colour her hair to Ash Blonde.