I'm a HUGE Nora Ephron fan ("When Harry Met Sally")
so when her book, "I Feel Bad About My Neck" came out, of course I belly-laughed my way through it. I highly recommend this book if you missed it. However, for many of my clients, necks are no laughing matter. Almost every client over fifty says to me, "I hate my neck" during our style consultation. I've heard women describe their necks as "chicken neck," "blotchy neck," wrinkled neck," and "turkey neck." YIKES! My response is always the same. I say to her, "Oh, you have a lovely neck. Here, wrap this scarf around your neck. Look how beautiful that looks..."
If you think you have an imperfect neck (who doesn't?) you can use one of these 5 style techniques to help you get over feeling badly about your neck. I call these techniques "The Art of Distraction," which is using clothing and accessories to draw attention away from your flaws and towards your assets:
Style Tip #1
The most obvious solution to disguise your neck is to wrap a SCARF around your neck. Pictured below is a simply polished woman from Advanced Style. To the right, Judi Kadden looking lovely in a green scarf!
Style Tip #2
Wear a collared blouse and pull the collar up, ala Diane Sawyer. Add a multi-strand necklace and you're all set! Here is Diane Sawyer looking lovely in her classic, crisp white blouse, and Susan Peters (Stylist Over 50 from Pinterest).
Style Tip #3
Layer, layer, layer! Layering a blouse under a sweater, or a light turtleneck under a sweater, adds interesting texture and "distraction" effect. Pictured below is a confident woman in black layers from AdvancedStyle and a more conservative, casual layered look.
Style Tip #4
Another obvious style choice is a turtleneck sweater or a coat, which covers every inch of your neck and keeps you warm. Make sure the color is flattering against your skin tone, as that's a lot of fabric right up against your face. Also, if you have a large bodice, stay away from thick, cable knit fabric.
Style Tip #5
A cowl neckline doesn't actually cover your neck, but it takes attention away from your neck with the soft folds. Add a beautiful necklace and you're looking golden!
If you have an issue with your neck, ya gotta get over it and learn to love every part of your beautiful body. But, ya gotta love the cold weather for some of these Art of Distraction techniques! Do you have another style technique that works for you? Please share in the Comments below. I'd love to hear from you!
Once upon a time, I could wear 3-inch strappy heels and stand all night at a holiday party. Those days are long gone! Doesn't mean we can't still be wildly attractive and get noticed for all the right reasons. Here's a festive, chic outfit you can stand in all night long.
Are you prepared for the cold weather?
If you live anywhere the weather changes significantly, it's time to move your summer rags out and move your winter rags into center position. If you're like me, you use two ends of your closet. I have a wear-it-this-season end and put-it-away-until-next-season end. Everything that can be worn all year stays in the middle.
Winter is about layering, faux fur and accessories.
Here are some Style Tips to think about as you’re building your winter wardrobe:
Style Tips for Winter
Desire. Know what you love. Know your colors and styles. Tear out magazine pages, surf the web, collect images of what looks best on you so that you can go hunting for it. If you know exactly what you’re looking for, you won’t buy mistakes, and you’ll make a beeline for it when you see it!
Quality. Choose quality (good advice in all areas of your life). It is better to buy one quality sweater that will last for years, than three cheap sweaters that get stretched out or worn out by spring. Look for fabrics like wool, cashmere, and quality knits. They’ll keep you a lot warmer and look nicer!
Patience. Perfection takes time. Don't buy anything that doesn't make you feel AMAZING. Seriously. Compromised style rarely feels good and looks worse!
Budget. Set a budget for what you'd be willing to pay for the PERFECT sweater, coat, or pair of boots. And check out Clothing Resale Shops in your neighborhood for winter treasures – wool scarves, cardigans, or leather boots.
Color. Winter is a time to wear darker, more intense colors. You can still pop your outfits with metallics, icy gray, icy blue, as well as white. For those "Winter" color types, wearing deep jewel tones, such as royal blue and regal purple is a fabulous change of pace from black.
Awareness. Most importantly of all, KNOW YOURSELF. Authenticity is energizing and magnetic, turning you into an attraction machine!
Treat Yourself. Paint your nails a deep rich color. Invest in a few pairs of cashmere socks. Buy new winter pajamas that you will enjoy wearing while you curl up with a good book and a cup of hot tea.
One of my clients told me the other day that she wants to wear her skinny pants but she's concerned that they make her look "hippy." She has an hourglass figure so she has gorgeous hips! I suggested she wear tunic tops over her skinny pants. She loves her new stylish look!
