Saturday

What to Wear After 70? -- Wear CONFIDENCE and a Whole Lot of ATTITUDE!


I found this documentary about six women who are defying the aging process, living with style and panache into their 90's. The "Fabulous Fashionistas" series about Bridget, Daphne, Jean, Gillian, Sue and Lady Trumpington explores the art of aging, and how these women have something inspirational in common: a determination to keep going, to look fabulous and have fun with fashion.

One of my favorite moments in the video is when one of the women says, "I like to wear short skirts. Some people look at me and think who does she think she is?  Well, I don't give a toss!"

That's my new favorite phrase of the week -- "I don't give a toss!"

Click on the link below and be inspired!  

Thursday

What Mature Women Should Wear to Land the Job Interview

or... 

How to look energetic and current in today's younger generation job market and still be yourself. 

It's hard to believe you're getting older even when you still FEEL really young on the inside.  If you're in mid-career, and competing for a job among the twenty-somethings, remember, you've got more wisdom, experience, breadth and depth than a twenty-six year old person.  You have years of gathering knowledge and the maturity to make sound decisions -- you're a fantastic and powerful woman! Here are some tips on presenting yourself as current and powerful.  You can make an impact with your put-together, young flare (but not over-the-top), and still be YOU:

Tip #1: From the neck up, make yourself look current and hip.
  • Get a trendy hairdo.  If you've been going to the same hair stylist for ten years, it's time to get a new perspective.  I know it's scary, but remember if you dislike the results, HAIR GROWS!  A new stylist can look at your assets and give you a fresh and youthful look.
  • Wear makeup that highlights your best facial features.  Go to Sephora or a department store and get a free makeup consultation before your interview.  I suggest makeup colors for my clients, and wearing the right makeup makes a huge difference. As you get older it's more important to use moisturizing products that give you a dewy glow.
  • Get your teeth whitened.  Young teeth are sparkling white!  Old teeth are yellow.
Tip #2:  Wear colors that make your skin look radiant!
  •  The right colors make you look radiant, healthy and ten years younger. Your skin tone and hair color are changing, so the colors you wore ten years ago may not work for you anymore.  Story time:  I'm over 40. I was in Trader Joe's a few weeks ago buying groceries and wine, and the young checker asked me for ID.  At first I was flattered, then I thought he was joking, then when he seriously made me produce my driver's license I knew he thought I looked younger than my age.  Turns out this is a trend to ask people who look 40 and younger for ID.  I'm still flattered he thought I was 40!  I swear it's because I was wearing vibrant, radiant colors. Get your colors done by a professional and wear them all the time. It will change your life.
  • Wearing your colors is a transformational experience.  Your true beauty shows up. Your outfits will always be color-coordinated and put-together.
Tip #3:  Wear clothes that fit you like a glove, look stylish, and look like YOU.
  • Tailored clothes give your body the structure it may not have
  • Current trends appropriate for a job interview are: leather skirt paired with a soft flowy blouse and tailored jacket; mix and match textures such as a tweed jacket, cotton blouse and pencil skirt; peplum suit jacket over a slim pencil skirt
  • Take your clothes to a tailor if they don't fit your body perfectly -- especially your interview outfits
  • Choose a neckline that complements your face shape
Tip #4: Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize!
  • Add a colorful scarf to pull your outfit together, look chic, and cover your neck
  • Wear a beautiful necklace and bracelet in your metal
  • A pop of color can come in the form of a purse or sophisticated shoes

Monday

What to Wear When Your Body Isn't Perfect (Isn't that just about everyone?)

When you look at fashion magazines, the airbrushed models are breathtakingly beautiful -- their skin is taught and glowing, bodies are paper thin and buff, and muscles bulge in all the right places. 

But that's not reality! Real people have blemished, bumpy skin, baggy eyes, big bums, small breasts, large breasts, bigger on the bottom than on top.  That's the way life really is.  Most people are somewhere between looking trim and fit and carrying extra weight in certain areas.  

So, how can you dress in a way that accentuates your positive features and mitigates your flaws?

Here are 3 sure-fire ways to dress your natural shape in an attractive, balanced way:

Tip #1 - Create the illusion of a longer body shape with silhouette and color.

Your style aim is to create the illusion of proportional balance between your upper and lower half.  Where you are SHORT, optically lengthen, by wearing long, straight pants to lengthen your legs, or by wearing a longer top to lengthen your upper torso. Look how long her legs appear!  By layering pieces on top you'll give the illusion of longer torso and legs. One monochromatic color is another way to elongate your body, and you don't have to stick with the same, exact color, but rather mix and match with different tones of the same color.  Try a royal blue printed skirt with a chambray blue blouse and touches of sapphire accessories. 

Tip #2 - Accentuate the best parts of your body.

Whether you have a small waist, delicate facial features, shapely thin legs, or gorgeous feet, every outfit should celebrate your best features. 

The easiest way to call attention to a feature is by using a pop of color.  If you want to call attention to your face, wrap a beautiful, colorful scarf around your neck or wear a fabulously colorful necklace. Call attention to the smallest part of your body, such as your small waist, with a belt.  And adorn those gorgeous feet with bejeweled, strappy sandals!


Tip #3 - Divide your body into pleasing proportions.

Our bodies actually measure eight head lengths.  Really!  Take a tape measure and measure from the top of your head to your chin. That's your head length.  You are three head lengths from the top of your head to your waist, and five head lengths from your waist to your feet.  

A pleasing proportion to wear is 2:3, or 2 head lengths from shoulder to waist, and 3 head lengths from waist to knees.  A dress with a belted or tucked waist, or a blouse and skirt combination  follows this 2:3 proportion.  The dividing line of the outfit falls at the waist and draws attention there. 

Generally, it is more attractive and interesting to wear outfits that divide your body into thirds, not in half.  See the example to the right.  You can use color, horizontal lines or different shapes to demarcate between sections.

Have fun trying different proportions.  The goal is to visually alter your body proportions and create an illusion of perfect proportions with your clothing. 

Wednesday

Fall 2013 Trends for Women

Fall is already here, and the fashion magazines are two inches thick with "What to Wear Now" advice for women.  They want to get you excited to go out and buy NEW clothes and accessories, and you can do exactly that -- even on a tight budget!  Bottom line, ladies, continue to wear what looks good on you, and let the other trends go.  The key is to wear clothes that give you an elongated body, complement your coloring, and bring you comfort and joy.

Not all the new Fall looks and colors (emerald green, charcoal grey, hot pink) are going to look great on you, so you need to be selective when you adopt the new trends. 

And if money is a little tight for you right now, choose one new trend and go hunting for it in consignment and thrift stores:

Colors
Winter white and, of course, black, is hot this fall.  Remember my viewpoint on black?  It's not for everyone, but everyone has their own version of black.  Pantone's fall fashion colors range from Mykonos blue to Acai purple to Vivacious hot pink.  For those who are familiar with the True Color palettes, Mykonos blue looks great on COPPERS and PLATINUMS, but it has a wide appeal so try it on. Acai purple looks great on everyone (depending upon the tone). Vivacious pinks and emerald green are best on a SILVER.  Linden green is a great GOLD color.  Samba red will make a COPPER pop!  So everyone get out there and try on the new Fall colors.

Leather

Zoe Saldana is showing off a gorgeous leather coat over skinny leather pants. Leather is really in this season, and you'll find combinations galore -- leather sleeves, leather skirts, jackets, in combination with other textures.




Sweater and Skirt Pairing

Look for cable knit, ribbed and fine gauged classic sweaters. Wear them with a feminine skirt be it a slim pencil skirt or a flirty full skirt. What's makes this look new is a mix of the casualness of a sweater with an ultra feminine skirt. Hot tip: Borrow your boyfreind's cable knit sweater and wear it with your most feminine skirt!"
Read more at http://newyorkfashionweek.com/index.php/articles/469-trend-sweaters-skirts-fall-winter-2013#Ls4bcoElCW2s3vzf.99
Look for cable knit, ribbed and fine gauged classic sweaters. Wear them with a feminine skirt be it a slim pencil skirt or a flirty full skirt. What's makes this look new is a mix of the casualness of a sweater with an ultra feminine skirt. Hot tip: Borrow your boyfreind's cable knit sweater and wear it with your most feminine skirt!"
Read more at http://newyorkfashionweek.com/index.php/articles/469-trend-sweaters-skirts-fall-winter-2013#Ls4bcoElCW2s3vzf.99
Reminiscent of the 1940's oversized look, the best look is a chunky, cable sweater over a feminine, flowy skirt.  Play with the texture combinations, but keep it monochromatic or muted to give it a chic look.  What makes this look new and fresh is a mix of the casual sweater with an ultra feminine skirt.  Hot tip:  borrow your husband's cable knit sweater!  Be aware of your body shape, and don't wear boxy sweaters that add weight. 

Peplum

This is such a put-together, flattering sophisticated look that plays up your waist.  The length, volume, drape and choice of fabric of the ruffle makes a difference. Here are some tips for different body types:
  • If you're short, choose peplum with less volume, a single color will help lengthen your frame
  • Boyish figure, structured or flared peplums create curves
  • If you have a slight tummy, choose a slightly higher waisted peplum with a streamlined, soft ruffle.
    choose peplum with less volume if you’re on the shorter side; the width of the flare should, ideally, be eight inches or less. A single colour outfit will also help lengthen your frame - See more at: http://www.estylista.com/2013/07/peplum-how-to-wear-it/#sthash.dJ44NcZE.dpuf

Faux fur
They're everywhere!  Check out Express, Old Navy, Piperlime, and even your local thrift store (I picked up a short faux fur vest at my local Goodwill in perfect condition!). Oversized, inspired by menswear. These animal-friendly vests can be layered over t-shirts to dresses and keep you snuggly warm!

Mixed and Matched Textures

Finally, tweed is back!  All you COPPERS out there, pay attention and go shopping.  They're mixing all sorts of textures, from leather, lace, wool, knits, tweeds, and furs.  This gives you a definite statement look, so take it easy!  My advice is to layer your looks tastefully, like this Marissa Webb tweedy short-sleeved tee, edged with leather details, worn over a silk blouse.

Monday

7 Tips to Look More Attractive, But Not Provocative, at Work

Ladies, if you want to be taken seriously at work it's important to look attractive and put-together, but not sexy or provocative.  Here are 7 style rules that will create an attractive professional image:

Tip #1:  Your skirt and dress length

The style rule is to wear a length that is proportional to your height and appropriate for the situation.  The professional "power woman" rule is for your skirt and dress length to hit just above your knee.  The reason is when you sit down, your skirt hikes up naturally, and you don't want to cause a distraction.  A tasteful maxi skirt is fine as long as your top is more fitted and conservative; add a belt and a short jacket over it to create a complete outfit.

Tip #2:  Neckline cleavage

Where would you like someone to look when he or she is speaking to you during a business meeting? If the answer is "your eyes," then your neckline should not reveal any cleavage.  There is a way to determine the most attractive neckline that balances your face -- it's called a Balance Point.  Artists use balance points when painting portraits.  Measure the distance from the top of your hairline (if you wear bangs, your hairline is where your bangs end) to your chin.  Then take that length and extend it from your chin down to your bodice.  Wherever that measurement falls on your bodice, that's the most attractive neckline opening for you.  If it's too low, and would show cleavage, then place a necklace at that point.   

Tip #3:  Tight clothing

Most people wear clothes that either too big or too small, thinking it makes them look thinner.  That's a myth.  Squeezing into a sausage casing will only make you look...well...you get the picture.  Clothes should skim your body and fall naturally. Clothes that are too tight actually call attention to your body flaws, or worse, create body flaws where you have none!  Dressing in overly tight clothes sends the wrong signal at work.  

Tip #4:  Amount of skin showing

For women, the more skin you show, the less influence you have. Do you really want to work harder to earn the respect of your co-workers and boss?  A good rule of thumb is to divide your body into thirds:  one-third on top from shoulders to waist, one-third from waist to knees, one-third from knees to feet.  Show skin on one third only.  If you have a skirt that ends above the knee, then wear a conservative blouse with long sleeves.  If you're wearing a cowl-neck top (no cleavage!), this calls for long pants.

If you wish to be seen as a professional, limit the amount of skin showing.

Tip #5:  Color and fabric

Of course, the best way to make a statement about who you are is to wear colors that make you look radiant and energetic, and wear the highest quality fabrics you can afford.  It's better to own a few memorable pieces than a closet full of forgettable ones.

Your best colors are determined by your natural skin coloring, eye and hair color, and even your personality.  I can do a virtual color consultation for you, determine your colors, and provide a color card with your color palette. It's a great way to create a mix-and-match wardrobe that brings you confidence and joy!

Tip #6:  Shoes

We ladies love our shoes!  Shoes make a statement.  They complete our outfit.  Of course, close-toed shoes are the most professional style.  A trendy bootie, loafer, or gladiator shoe is the perfect accompaniment for pants, dresses, or skirts.   Sandals that reveal your toes are becoming more acceptable especially in hot climates.  Here are some things to avoid:  lack of pedicure, worn out shoes, too high (4" and higher), too strappy (those are for date night), and flip flops are out.

Tip #7:  Bare legs

The good news is unless you work for a conservative office that specifically calls for them, pantyhose and stockings can be left in your drawer.  Bare legs are work appropriate.  Fall and winter bring with it the opportunity to add colored tights into the mix, which are a great way to get a put-together look.

What do you think?  What does the line between looking attractive and looking provocative mean to you in the workplace?

How Women can Look Attractive, But Not Provocative, at Work

Women in leadership positions, as well as future leaders of tomorrow, want to be taken seriously.  One of the first things we notice about a woman is her clothing, and we quickly form a first impression.  The same is true for a man, but men have more of a professional uniform that is relatively easy to identify.  There are so many clothing and accessory choices for women to make, that it's easy to miss the mark!  Women can easily project something with their appearance that goes beyond attractive into the realm of sexy and desirable.

Back in our grandmother's generation women were subject to stringent rules regarding what a woman could or could not wear.  Many of our grandmothers didn't work outside the home, so they weren't subject to issues of how to dress in the workplace.  My grandmother never wrestled with intractable problems as she stood hesitating in front of a rack of clothes.  Can you wear a sleeveless shirt dress without a cardigan or jacket to cover your arms?  How much cleavage is permissible to show without looking sexy?  How short is too short for a skirt? Is it ever okay to show your tattoo at work?

Here's the rub:  women still have to be attractive in order to make a good first impression.  However, women must not look provocative because that is sending the wrong kind of attractive signal.  Women should get noticed because they look put-together and because they communicate confidence in their professional skills, ideas, and expertise.

Let's assume you want to express something of who you are in your clothing, not too trendy as to look like everyone else, while concealing your flaws and accentuating your assets.  Whew!  The good news is you can create a powerful first impression without total conformity or losing your individuality. It's all about dressing appropriately for your coloring, body shape, and the situation.

My suggestion is, when in doubt, dress like a Parisian woman.  That's right.  They would never, ever, ever leave the house in sweatpants! Leaving the house calls for dressing up.  If you look like a slob in Paris you let down the whole city.  Take a look at the average Parisian woman....her skirt is the perfect length, her jacket is beautifully tailored, and she spends money on her undergarments to flatter her shape.  Her outfit is pulled together with a colorful, but tasteful scarf.  Her look is brilliantly balanced.  She does this because she believes in good taste -- it's a way of life for her.  She loves to look unique and she loves what she wears.

I've put together 7 fashion tips for professional women who want to look attractive, but not provocative.  See my next post for 7 style tips that will keep you from crossing the line between looking attractive and looking provocative at work.

Thursday

Busy Woman's Guide to Natural Beauty and Style

 Wanting to be attractive is a natural instinct. Women have been moisturizing, plucking, adorning, coloring and fluffing to look beautiful for all sorts of reasons.  And it seems the more beautiful we make ourselves on the outside the more confident we feel on the inside. We may not all be raving beauties, but every woman has the potential to look beautiful on the outside and feel beautiful on the inside.  All it takes is a little self-care, knowing what looks best on you, and the effort to put it all together.  When you walk into a room feeling confident and looking put-together, people notice and respond in a positive way.  Your put-together appearance tells the world you have confidence, credibility and self-worth.

Since ancient civilizations, natural beauty has been considered a sign of one's balance with nature and the universe.  This makes sense.  A healthy body and beautiful inner spirit shows in your face! 

Today, we are reinventing the meaning of beauty and attractiveness.  No longer is there an age limit to beauty -- quite the contrary -- as baby boomers glide gracefully into senior status looking even more vibrant and glowing with confidence.  

No longer is there one standard to achieve beauty.  The good news is we are removing the shackles of what it means to be beautiful; the bad news is there are so many beauty trends to choose from (largely fueled by the cosmetics and fashion industry) it creates huge opportunities for fashion faux pas!  It's difficult to know what looks best on you, let alone walk the tightrope of dressing appropriately for every occasion.

So, how do you achieve natural beauty, make good fashion choices, and juggle a busy life? 

the answer lies in knowing yourself

Knowing yourself and expressing who you really are in the way you dress and accessorize, confidently communicating and nurturing relationships, and caring for the health of your body is a way to achieve natural beauty on the outside and inside. 

Loving yourself and appreciating your natural assets (including your flaws!) creates a beautiful glow.  One way to stop being so self-critical about your body is to

picture your body as a work of art

Think of your body as a sculpture that an artist drapes with flowing fabric. An artist sees your body as lines, shapes, shadows, and would create a pleasing silhouette by nipping the fabric here and there to call attention to an area, and flowing the fabric away from an area he/she wishes to hide. The result is a beautiful image!

Being a busy woman is no excuse for ignoring your personal style and natural beauty. In the next several articles I'll explore tips and step-by-step ways to transform into the most remarkable YOU. Some of the topics I'll explore:
  • Create a Beautiful, Easy Wardrobe that Builds Confidence
  • Accessorize to Always Look Put-Together
  • Nourish Your Body Naturally Inside and Outside
  • Know Your Strengths and Develop a High 'AQ'