Do you envy the woman who always looks stylish and put together no matter what? You know the woman, the one who looks like she spent hours getting ready with a stylist and tailor at the ready. You will be surprised to find out that many of your style icons (I’m talking real world style icons. Your co-worker, the neighbor, your best friend.) are able to get dressed in minutes with minimal effort, and look fabulous.
A Perfect Fit. Without fit you have no style. A trendy blazer that is too big will look shlumpy and outdated. The same blazer too small makes appears as if you are trying too hard, and will remove the chic sophistication from an outfit. Learn about your body type and dress it appropriately. It is sometimes hard to see our bodies for how they really are. Get advice from a personal stylist or ask a trusted friend to help you examine the fit of your clothing.
Embrace Your Personal Style. Stylish women own their look and exude confidence because of it. Take note of the style and type of clothing that makes you feel like you can conquer the world. This is your personal style. If the trendy item of the month doesn’t fit your personal style, it will just look silly on you. Find a style that makes you feel sexy, confident, and proud. Then embrace it, that’s your style, and what makes you unique.
Flaunt your Assets. The put-together women of the world know what their best and worst body features are. Nobody is perfect, and everyone has at least one hang up about their body. Stop dwelling on the parts you don’t like and flaunt the parts you do. As you study how to play up certain assets you will learn how to downplay you least favorite body parts, and stop worrying about them.
Create a Versatile Wardrobe. French women are a great example of how chic a versatile wardrobe can be. Walk the streets of Paris and you will find women who put together fabulous outfits with fewer pieces than hang on your husband’s side of the closet. Examine your lifestyle and then purchase wardrobe pieces that can be mixed and matched to make different outfits.
Accessorize. Accessories are one of the most important parts of your outfit. The right accessory is the missing link between you and your style icon. Learn to accessorize with unique pieces that compliment an outfit. Add pizzazz to a boring outfit with a colored shoe. Carry a handbag in a pseudo-neutral color like purple, pink, or burgundy. It goes with everything and will save you time from changing back and forth.
Effortless style isn’t just for celebrities. Change how long it takes you to get dressed and feel good every time you walk out the door. For help creating your effortless style contact the Charleston Style Concierge.
(CNN) – The presidential inauguration party tops the list of formal affairs next January, and President-elect Barack Obama is rumored to be preparing for his big event: He’s believed to have ordered a simple and classic black tuxedo by the union-friendly suburban Illinois-designer Hart Schaffner Marx, a stylist to which the president-elect is said to be faithful, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Read the full article
Every day the media paints a bleak picture of the economy. Not everything is bleak. Now is the time to get out there and shop! Many retailers are offering huge discounts to encourage people to shop with them. These sales are an opportunity for you to save money or treat yourself to something you ordinarily couldn’t justify or afford. Not to mention you are putting money back into the economy.
Spend some time examining your current wardrobe and lifestyle. What do you need? What would help make your current wardrobe more versatile? Make some notes about items that would help you make outfits and solve the problem of never having anything to wear. If you need help determining how to get more use out of what you already own hire a personal stylist. The knowledge you learn is an investment and will save you money in the long run.
When you hit the stores only buy things that fit, work for your lifestyle, and compliment your personal style. Even the best deal isn’t a deal if it won’t help you solve your morning crisis of having nothing to wear.
If you shop with your style goals in mind you will walk away with a great deal and an idea of what to wear to work the next day!
For help discovering how to get the best deals on clothing that makes you feel stylish and confident, contact the Charleston Style Concierge. We can help you feel confident about your style while showing you that great style doesn’t take a lot of time or effort.
It’s a new year. Don’t settle, make a change.
This morning I saw this bumper sticker. Give it some thought.
“If we don’t change direction we will end up where we are going.”
Get inspirational and stylish quotes sent to you each week with Charleston Style Concierge‘s Style Solution. Sign up now.
Stop disliking the way you look in pictures and use these tricks the next time you are in front of a camera.
· Mind your feet. Position one foot in front of the other. The heel of the foot in front should align with the ball of your other foot. Swivel your hips, and turn feet slightly away from the camera, narrowing your image.
· Give a great smile. Think of something pleasant and give an authentic smile. If you place the tip of your tongue behind your front teeth as you smile, you will relax your facial muscles and avoid a double chin.
· Don’t press your arms to your body. Instead of resting your arms against your torso, slightly angle them back from your torso.
· Wear dark colors. Dark colors are always the most slimming in pictures, and bring more focus to your face.
· Set down your drink. Point your hands down around the edges of your hips to make your hips look smaller. If you are holding a drink, set it down.
People ask me all the time if the economy is hurting my business. The answer is: it’s not, and in fact, it’s just the opposite. We are busier than ever, and are showing our clients that the economy doesn’t have to impact their wadrobes negatively. Instead, we are presented with an opportunity to be more creative with what we already own.
In any economy the best place to start developing your style is in your own closet. Before heading out to buy something new, shop your closet first. Even if your closet is perfectly organized, shopping in your own closet will remind you of items you may have forgotten or haven’t worn in a while. If you are open minded and creative while looking through your wardrobe, you will discover new ways to wear old favorites.
Shopping your closet will help you create a mental inventory of what you own, and what you actually wear. Keep a notebook near your closet and make notes of the items your wardrobe is missing. Once you know what you need you can take advantage of the deep discounts retailers are offering right now.
For help determining how you can use what you already own in new and fresh ways check out our Virtual Style Consultation and Coaching Services. Charleston Style Concierge can help you develop the personal style you desire and teach you how to take advantage of the great discounts offered by retailers to gain a more versatile wardrobe.
There are rules to follow to make sure your new cashmere sweater is an investment that will last you for years to come.
Rule #1: Look for the best fibers.
The best fibers are those that come from the Kashmiri goat (from the chin and belly) and are harvested only once a year. These fibers are the reason cashmere comes with an expensive price tag but with proper care your cashmere garment can last a lifetime. When you decide to invest in cashmere take the time to feel many different kinds and price points. All cashmere will feel soft to the touch but you will know when you touch “good” cashmere. Lower quality cashmere will sometimes feel scratchy.
Rule #2: Good cashmere will have loft.
A great cashmere sweater will have loft. Loft if the spring of the fabric. Gently pull the sides of the sweater away from each other. When you let go, a high quality garment will spring back to its original shape. A loosely knit one will not and will probably stretch out after wearing a few times.
Rule #3: Look for Bright Colors.
Vibrant colors are an indication of top quality cashmere because of the wool and dying process. It is more difficult to dye cashmere in vibrant colors so often times a lower grade is used. If you are buying darker colored cashmere check to see it is the same softness as some of the other lighter colors.
Rule #4: Check the labels.
Check the labels. Only sweaters of pure cashmere can be labeled as such. The way the garment label is sewn on will also indicate the quality of the cashmere. The best cashmere is hand knitted and is usually made in Scotland or Italy.
Rule #5: Consider the price tag.
Cashmere has become much more affordable, but be weary of great deals on cashmere. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Rule #6: Make it a wardrobe staple.
The right cashmere sweater can become a staple in your wardrobe. Cashmere can work for all seasons depending on its ply and gauge. Invest in a garment that stays true to your personal style, is figure flattering, and can integrate into your wardrobe in a versatile and stylish way.
Need help with your personal style? Not sure what to wear to flatter your figure? Let Charleston Style Concierge help you with all of your style needs with our Virtual Style Consultation.
This fabulous telecall on How to Survive the Holidays With Style will help you stress less over what to wear this holiday season. We are very excited to share the recording with you.
Listen to this call and learn:
Click below to listen and Survive the Holidays With Style.
http://marketingonlinebootcamp.com/audio/holidaystylecall12308.mp3
Check it out at:
http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/dressing-the-first-lady-1875632?module=featured_1875632
Doing some research sounds like a no brainer, but it is actually one of the easiest ways to take the stress out of figuring out what to wear this holiday season. During the holidays you already have enough to stress about.
Start with your holiday invitations. Most invitations will specify a dress code. If not, just ask the host what the “dress” for the party is. If you are going to a work party with a mystery dress code, talk to your colleagues. Find out what others are planning to wear, and what they might have worn last year at the party. This should give you a good place to start planning your outfit.
Two of the most common dress codes found on holiday invitations this time of year are cocktail attire and festive attire.
Cocktail Attire is fun because as a woman you have so many options. Typically women wear short elegant dresses or separates and men wear a dark suit. Women can also wear dress pants with an elegant/dressy top. Another great option is your little black dress. That is something many of us have already have in our closets. The little black dress is very appropriate and can have many different looks just by changing your accessories. Remember that accessories can be the key to dressing up or down a look. Also, don’t be afraid to wear color. There are a lot of beautiful vibrantly colored cocktail dresses in the stores for the holiday season.
Many of us already have the beginnings of a cocktail outfit in our closet. The little black dress is a cocktail attire staple, but it doesn’t have to be black. You may have a great dark dress in your closet that you can glam up with accessories. Play up your bag, shoes and jewelry to make over a plain dress.
Most of us have some type of dressy or evening top in our closets. Pair that with dress pants, a skirt, or even a suit for a more conservative office party. Your shoes can play a big role in dressing up your look. Metallic shoes, or shoes with lace, satin, patent leather, and embellishment are a great way to dress up an outfit.
Also don’t forget about your bag. Leave your day bag at home and opt for a clutch or evening bag. Bags are a great way to play with color, and can do wonders to tie your outfit together. Remember that your bag doesn’t have to match your shoes. That is an old outdated rule.
Festive Attire is another common dress code found on invitations this time of year. Festive attire is not as dressy as cocktail attire but more dressy than casual attire. Festive attire is meant to evoke a fun, flirty, party atmosphere. Think metallics, beading, ruffles, bows, velvet, holiday colors, etc. This is a great time to have a little fun with your wardrobe and the party will probably be pretty fun too.
For more help deciphering what to wear to all of your holiday parties contact the Charleston Style Concierge.
More often than not, each piece of your brand image was created when you needed it, but not altogether in a strategic fashion. Your image may look fine, but does fine help you grow?
Eventually as you scale, your image foundation cracks, and the way your business presents itself no longer helps propel growth – costing you time and money to fix.
When you unlock your brand power, you get to pick and choose how people perceive you and your brand.
Our Image Mastery System™ takes the 5 key brand components that you already have and ties them together in a way that amplifies your results and achieves your vision.
