What Do You Want Most?

As a style and self image expert it is my job to find solutions to your problems when it comes to getting dressed. While I hear a lot of similar problems over and over from my clients, I sometimes like to ask a different question to provoke differet responses. This helps me to have a fresh approach and offer new solutions to problems you've been struggling with for years.

So in that vain, I'd like to ask you to take a few minutes to complete my survey. Whether you're a client of mine, or have never worked with me, your answers are important. Plus, I'm giving away a $50 gift certificate to Sephora to one lucky winner, just for sharing your information! Once you complete the survey, your name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win. One entry per person, please! Click here to take survey. Then come back and leave a comment letting me know you did so we can get you registered!

Feel free to share this link and spread the word. And if there's anything else you'd like to add, feel free to leave a comment here. Thank you in advance! The deadline to complete this is Friday, April 1, 2011. Click here to take survey

The Glamour of Pale Neutrals

One of the hottest trends this spring also happens to be one of the most wearable, which is great news for women of all ages. Pale Neutrals offer a soft, muted palette that includes white, putty, khaki, mocha and pale peach. Wearing pale neutrals creates the look of easy elegance and helps make getting dressed a breeze. These colors are often associated with a romantic, vintage-inspired look but this season they can just easily conjure up a classic style that is crisp and sharp. The key is the fabric, the fit and the details. Here are a few guidelines to help you wear pale neutrals to best flatter you:

1/ The Key is in the Color - Wearing pale neutrals can create a very sleek look, but I want you to be careful about the colors you choose. Wearing colors that are flattering to your personal skintone, including your skin enhancer, will ensure that this look helps your skin to look luminous without washing you out. If your personal coloring is dark, you may look better combining lights with darks (think mocha rather than black) or a variety of medium tones. Find the shades that work best on you.

2/ Start with Structure - To best flatter your shape, start with a core item that has some structure to it; a pair of pants, a skirt or a dress that fit you well will get the look off to a great start.

3/ Add Interest - To avoid creating a look that is blah and boring, add in elements of interest such as a top or jacket with some embellishment, pleating, embroidery, stand-out buttons, etc. The neutral backdrop will allow these elements to shine. Layering various shades of cream, or combining a pale pink or mint green with white, khaki, silver or ivory is a wonderful way to give your look a fresh, contemporary spin.

4/ It's a Shoe-In - When choosing shoes to complement your pale neutral look, don't ruin it by just wearing black shoes. Opt for shoes in a pale neutral or a brown tone to keep it monochromatic. Bonus: Shoes in your skintone will elongate your legs when worn with skirts or dresses. When wearing pants, wear shoes in the same color to get a similar effect.

5/ Adorn Yourself Accordingly - A simple and elegant look calls for the right jewlery to set it off. Choose bold elements that balance the delicate colors yet create a hamonious look. Try a statement bracelet dotted with Swarovski crystals, chandelier earrings or a pile of necklaces made from ribbons, crystals and pearls a romantic look. Chunky silver or gold earrings, a bracelet or necklace can provide a more understated counterpoint that finishes off a more classic approach.

Have fun with this look and don't be afraid to experiment! It's a great way to put a fresh twist on items that are probably already in your closet such as your khakis, your white button down or tee and white jeans. Put your own personal twist on this look to give it your Signature Style!

Does Your Closet Include Courage?

When you look at your closet what do you see? A few suits, some pretty dresses, a couple of tops...but what about courage? You may not realize it but your clothing holds the power to give you that which you think you lack.

When we get dressed what we put on is really just an expression of how we're feeling on the inside. That could be confident, excited or proud. It could also be shy, self-conscious or bored. By dressing for our emotions and playing it safe we perpetuate what we're feeling and aren't encouraged to step out of our shells to be the woman we've always wanted to be.

In case you may have forgotten this, you possess everything inside you to be all you want to be. Yes, that's right. We often get so caught up in our own personal drama, or that of those around us, that we forget what our hopes and dreams are for ourselves. We forget that we wanted to be bold and courageous, taking risks and moving mountains. We forget that we wanted to be gorgeous and have everyone turn and look when we enter the room. We forget that we wanted to pursue our dreams and make a difference in the world. As the years pass, we forget that we even wanted that in the first place, and if we just so happen to remember, we tell ourselves it's too late.

Well let me tell you right now - it's NEVER too late! You can at any point in your life choose something better. When you do, that will have a ripple effect and those around you will benefit from your choices. Your clothing can play a huge role in this. When stepping into new territory and stepping out to be the person we always knew we were we can't just wear the same old clothes. They'll simply remind us of where we've been stuck for the past week/year/decade. You'll need to dress for who you want to be. You've probably all heard that when you want something you need to visualize yourself having/doing/being what you desire. But what I've come to realize is that many of us are not visual people. We need to SEE it. When we can dress as the person we want to be then we can see how powerful/beautiful/successful we truly are. We're filled with the courage to step into that new role because it's consistent with how we look. If we don't change our clothes it will be hard to convince our mind (which can be very stubborn) that we are any different than we were yesterday.

So take a good hard look at what you want to create in your life and start with your wardrobe. If you've always wanted to be an artist, you can't just wear tailored suits and boring colors. Add some spice to your closet! If you've always wanted to run a multi-million dollar company yet you meet with clients looking frumpy and out of style, you'll need to uplevel your image to match your goals. Change your wardrobe and you can truly change your life!

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