Yearly Archives: 2009

Men, Wardrobe, Women

How to Pack to Look Great While Travelling

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For many men and women, vacation packing consists of throwing shorts, t-shirts and a couple of bathing suits into a suitcase. However, this can get you into trouble when something unexpected comes up that requires a bit more finesse. Before you travel for work or pleasure, ask yourself a few simple questions. The answers will guide you towards packing right for every occasion.

Where are you going?
I know this may seem redundant (of course you know where you are going). But the reality is, often we don’t really think this through prior to travel. Even if we are spending all of our time at a resort and your objective is to relax, often there are dress codes for restaurants, golf courses and local attractions. Research the local customs and resort expectations ahead of time to learn about the do’s and taboos.

What is the climate like?
Different climates require different fabrics for comfort. Does the temperature change or remain fairly constant? If the temperature changes during the day or at night, layers can add warmth and allow you to add and remove as needed. If the climate is humid natural fibres and looser silhouettes will help keep you cool. Keep synthetics such as fleece for dryer and moderate climates unless they are guaranteed to breath.

Who are you traveling with?
Children, friends and family may have different ideas about the ideal travelling wardrobe. Dressing out of sync with your travel party can leave you and others feeling unprepared and uncomfortable. Know who you are likely to spend time with while travelling and how they intend to dress before you leave home.

How are you getting there?
Is it a boat, a plane, or a car? Different modes of travel require different clothing, different packing requirements and volume restrictions. This can weigh heavily on how much and what you pack. Consider carefully the comfort, convenience and speed of travel. Keep toiletries and a change of clothes handy for easy access… just in case.

How long will you be there?
Short trips have their advantages because you can usually pack enough without being concerned about laundry and dry-cleaning. However, for longer trips you need to determine ahead of time how this will be handled. Although some hotels and resorts provide laundry facilities or service, many do not. Decide in advance how you will keep your clothing fresh and clean.

Once you know the answers to these questions, pack accordingly. This will help to keep your vacation or business travel stress-free and more enjoyable.

View our next post for tips on how to pack light and still look stylish!

Look Younger, Make up, Uncategorized

How to Apply Make-up to Look Younger – Part 2

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Although good skincare and foundation and concealer applied properly will make you look younger, it does more than that. It will create the perfect canvas for your masterpiece. Try the following for a younger looking you…

Keep eyebrows groomed. Nicely shaped eyebrows will open the eyes and automatically give a more youthful look. For a more defined look use an eyebrow pencil. Match the colour as closely as possible to your hair colour or use a slightly lighter colour. If the hair is grey use a soft grey pencil.

As we age, our skin tone, hair colour and eye colour tend to soften. This can cause dark and bright colours and combinations with a strong dark/ light contrast to appear harsh on our skin, making us look older. If this is the case, try colours that are slightly softer and more muted instead for a more youthful look. Avoid using dark colours on areas that appear overly sunken.

Neutral eye shadow colours tend to be easier to wear. Be careful with extremely dark colours. Avoid frosted eye shadows on crêpe areas.

Give your eyes a more open look by curling your eyelashes.

Applying mascara can be a nightmare when you can’t see. Use a magnifying mirror at eye level or higher. When applying mascara on your upper lashes lift your head slightly. This will cause your lashes to lower slightly making it easier to apply your mascara on your upper lashes. Focus on the mirror rather than trying to look at the brush. With practice you will find it much easier to apply mascara.

If you have a double chin or want a stronger looking jaw line, sweep a matte brown shading powder under the jaw line.

Use blush without sheen on the cheekbones. Products with shine and or a frosted finish will enhance lines and wrinkles. For more prominent looking cheekbones, use a matte brown shading powder under the cheekbones.

If lips are aging try using a lipstick base. This will help to stop the colour from seeping into the lines it will also help stop feathering.

If lips are lined or wrinkled, avoid using a dark matte lipstick or a very frosted lipstick or shiny lip gloss all over the lips. Line lips with a lip pencil a more defined look.

For more make-up tips and application instruction see ‘Masterful Make-up in Minutes’

Look Younger, Make up

How to Apply Make-up to Look Younger – Part 1

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I love make-up. Whether you apply a little or a lot it can totally change a women’s appearance. It can make you appear younger, older, more glamorous or sexy. It can also hide imperfections or enhance any feature. The sad thing is that as we age, a make-up application that once looked natural and brought out our features can now appear harsh and bring out the lines and wrinkles instead. Because of this it is important to adjust our make-up application as we age.

Focus on making your skin look healthy and evenly toned instead of adding more colour. A good skin-care regiment can work wonders. Always use a moisturizer on the skin before applying foundation. This will help the foundation blend easier onto the skin. I also recommend using an eye cream as well, especially if the eye area is dry.

For a more youthful look, choose a foundation formula that is light-reflecting but does not have a sheen. I would also advise staying away from a matte finish foundation. Both can draw attention to lines. There are also great formulas that help to diminish lines on the skin.

Choose a foundation that is as close as possible to the colour of your skin at the jaw line. Test a few colours at a time and choose the one that blends the best with your skin tone. When using a concealer choose one in the same undertone as your foundation and blends with the colour of the skin or foundation next to where it is applied.

By choosing the right products you can create the perfect canvas for a younger looking masterpiece.

View our next Post to learn tips for looking younger with make-up…

For more make-up tips and application instruction see ‘Masterful Make-up in Minutes’

Look Younger, Wardrobe, Women

How to Look 10 Years Younger Without Going Under a Knife

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All my life I have been told that I look young for my age. Although I really appreciate it now, when I was young I spent a lot of time and energy trying to make myself appear older or at least my age. Now that I am in my mid 40’s maintaining a youthful look has become a primary concern. I know… it’s impossible to make me happy.

Some people say that I was blessed with good genes. And although I know this is true, it also takes work. The following suggestions are inexpensive fixes that will instantly make you look younger.

Hair that is too long or outdated – Shorter styles above the shoulder will draw the eye up and make you appear younger. Hair with a side part, slightly layered around the face and with a little volume is usually more flattering and youthful than straight hair in one length.

Hair that is too grey or the wrong colour – Gray hair is automatically perceived as older. However, when hair is coloured too dark, the wrong colour or when it appears all one colour it can make us appear older as well. Choose a colour that will compliment your softened features or use a combination of colour and highlights to add natural looking highlights to the hair.

Yellowed teeth – Over time our teeth become more yellow and stained. For whiter more youthful looking teeth, use an over the counter whitener like Crest Whitestrips to lighten your teeth or have them professionally whitened.

Sagging bust- As we age our torso gradually shrinks. This along with gravity taking it’s toll will make us appear older. A good fitting bra will instantly give you a lift and make you appear younger. Many independent lingerie stores and department stores like Sears and the Bay have certified bra fitters.

Slouching – Good posture makes all the difference. Your clothes will fit better. You will appear slimmer and more youthful.

Outdated or over the top clothing and accessories – Choose good quality, up-to-date clothing styles with simple details. Keep your look up-to-date with updated accessories that suit the size of your bone structure and personality. Use one main accessory to create a focal point drawing attention to itself or an area or you choice.

Wearing the wrong colours – The wrong colours will cause the skin to appear sallow, pale or grey. They will also make lines and age spots stand out. Choose colours that flatter you. They will make you appear more youthful and vibrant.

Business Dress, Men, Wardrobe, Women

What Does Your Clothing Imply About You?

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In my last blog post I talked about how grooming, certain clothing styles, combinations or the condition of your clothing will have a strong impact on the perceptions others have about you and how they can damage your credibility for business. However everything we wear and the way we groom ourselves not only have an impact in a business setting, they also have an impact on anyone who sees us no matter what the setting. If the garment fits the activity or setting, the garment will harmonize and we will look like we belong. If it doesn’t fit the activity or setting, it and us will be distracting and out of place.
What settings do you think the following items harmonize in?

  • Wrinkled or stained clothing
  • Yoga pants
  • Uncoordinated clothing and accessories
  • Clothing that needs repair
  • Basketball shoes
  • Novelty t-shirt that says, “Life is Hell.”
  • Delicate clothing with ruffles and tiers
  • Ski suit
  • Wool suit

Many of us would think the answers are obvious. A ski suit would be worn for skiing. A wool suit would be worn for business or at a conservative event. But what if the ski suit was worn to the beach on a hot August day? Although after thinking about it for a minute, most of us would question the person’s sanity, initially, most of us would consider the oddity of a ski suit at the beach among others in bathing suits and shorts. Now I know this is an extreme case and quite unlikely… I hope. But there are other situations similar to this that we see all the time. Basket ball shoes and yoga pants in fancy restaurants; Wrinkled and stained clothing while out on a date; or thread worn clothing or clothing with a fallen hem at a job interview.
As I mentioned before there is a time and place for everything. However, clothing that isn’t in-sync with its environment draws attention to itself and you and creates questions about your personality and lifestyle.  For Example: Dirty, stained or wrinkled clothing worn out on a date or at work, may imply that that you are lazy or don’t care about yourself.  However, when worn while working in the garden they might imply that you have been working hard or that you don’t want to ruin your good clothes. Or it may imply that you are lazy and don’t care about yourself. Remember, perception is always in the eye of the beholder.

Business Dress, Men, Wardrobe, Women

Looking the Part Isn’t Just for the Office

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When times are tough economically, the impulse to let go of the little things becomes greater. We may get up in the morning and throw on the first thing that looks comfortable, without giving it much consideration. Or we disregard our concerns thinking, “Oh well nobody will notice.” Or, “I am just running to the grocery store, nobody will see me anyway.” And then it happens. You run into that most important client or what might have been a potential employer. Unfortunately you never know where you will bump into someone important to your career. And although I truly believe that we all deserve time to let our hair down and to demonstrate our personal style, be aware that the impression we make, even during our personal time, can add or take away from our business success. I am not saying that you need to spend your weekends in business clothing. Every outfit has it’s time and place and casual clothing is expected in casual environments. However, certain items can be distracting, diminish your credibility and create a strong impression about you. During tough economic times, looking well groomed, coordinated and appropriate for the setting can be your strongest business asset. For a great business impression leave the following at home:

  • Wrinkled or stained clothing
  • Mismatched clothing and accessories (colours or styles)
  • Clothing and shoes that are worn out or in poor condition
  • Clothing that needs repair: missing buttons, fallen hems, spots, etc.
  • Garments that are too tight or too big
  • Body Baring Garments – Cleavage showing, midriff showing (unless at the beach or pool)
  • Mini Skirts (more than 3 inches above the knee)
  • See-through garments
  • Undergarments that show (but please wear some)
  • Brightly coloured hair or extreme styles
  • Extreme prints and patterns
  • Extreme Fads
  • Cutesy clothing and accessories
  • Shoes that are too high or throw you off your balance
  • Athletic shoes or clothing (unless in an athletic environment)
  • Digital watches (unless in a very casual or athletic environment)
  • Visible tattoos
  • Logos, slogans or novelty prints on clothing & accessories (except your companies apparel)

In other words… Anything that might be Distracting!