Yearly Archives: 2010

Business Dress, Colour, Men, Wardrobe, Women

How to Choose Your Stocking or Sock Colour

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Many of my clients ask me how to choose socks and stockings and the answer is that as the trends change the answer may be different. However, if your goal is for a coordinated look, a classic look or you want your legs to look longer there are some rules:

For a classic men’s wear look socks should be toned to the hemline of the pants. For an even more coordinated look ideally the socks will have a subtle pattern that will coordinate the pant colour and the shoe colour.

To make your legs look longer, tone socks or stockings to the colour of your pant or skirt hemline. This will make the legs look like a column of colour and elongate them.

Stockings can also be toned to the colour of your shoes. This will coordinate the stockings with the shoes. This works best when you are wearing an accessory such as a scarf or another garment in your stocking colour to draw attention towards your face and create more harmony.

Men, Wardrobe, Women

Dressing Your Lifestyle

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Our lifestyle represents the way we live and because of this we need to make sure our clothing helps us to function well in our living environments. It also needs to function well in the lifestyle environments that represent our goals. As our lifestyle changes so will our clothing needs. The key is to constantly evaluate our clothing needs and don’t get stuck in a clothing rut that may be holding you back.

Men, Networking, Women

Why Network?

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It’s interesting because many people are confused about what the purpose of networking is. This can create stress for some and leave others feeling like it was a bad experience. However networking is something that we do every day in both business and social settings. Networking is really just meeting new people and getting to know them. This will help you establish rapport and you never know where that will lead.

Make up, Women

How to Apply Mascara on the Lashes – Not the Skin

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Applying mascara can be a challenge unless you have a very steady hand and you are not afraid to hit yourself in the eye with the mascara wand. However, as a make-up artist I have found that the following tips help keep the mascara application off the skin and on the eye lashes:

Top Eye Lashes

  1. Look into the mirror not directly at the mascara wand.
  2. Know the length of your lashes. Then determine how much you need to look down while applying the mascara on the top lashes to avoid brushing mascara onto the lid or orbital bone.
  3. When applying, keep your eyes steady while applying a bit of pressure on the wand for stability of the application
  4. Don’t blink! Give your lashes a minute to dry first.

 Bottom Eye Lashes

  1. Lightly brush the mascara wand back and forth over the bottom eye lashes like window wipers on a car.
  2. Don’t Blink! Give your lashes a minute to dry first.
Make up, Women

Quick Tip for Long Lasting Mascara

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Mascara is a great way to emphasize your eyes and make them look bigger. However the application is also important. As a make-up artist I find that the best mascara application for long lasting results follows these steps:

  1. Looking down apply a coat of mascara on the top of the upper lashes.
  2. Continue to look down slightly focusing on the mirror as you apply a coat on the bottom of the upper lashes.

These two steps will help to seal the mascara and make it last longer. Your eye-lashes will also look more finished and your mascara will appear more natural.

Look Younger, Make up, Women

One Way to Make Your Eyes Look Bigger

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The other day a client asked me how to make her eyes look bigger without wearing a lot of make-up. I told her that a simple way to make her eyes look bigger is to curl her eye lashes. An Eye lash curler is an inexpensive tool that is sold at many cosmetic retailers.
eye lash curler

These are the steps that I take to get the best results:

  1. Open the curler
  2. Open your eyes wide and look into a mirror rather than at the curler while going through the following steps.
  3. Place the top bar of the curler on top of your upper lashes (look through the curler while doing this)
  4. Slowly squeeze the bottom bar up.
  5. Hold for about 20 seconds while holding your eyes open
  6. Open the curler and release the lashes

Once you have curled your lashes you can add even more impact with mascara

Business Dress, Colour, Men, Wardrobe

Four Reasons to Wear a Neck Tie

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Many men hate the thought of putting on a neck tie and for many reasons. Some men hate the thought of wearing a tie because they feel they are uncomfortable; some men say they feel too dressed up when wearing a tie; and some men don’t know how to tie a tie-knot. If this is your only reason please see my YouTube videos below on how to tie various tie knots.

How to Tie the 4-in-Hand
How to Tie the Half Windsor
How to tie the Full Windsor
How to Tie the Pratt or Shelby Knot

Here are four reasons why you should wear a tie:

  1. Neck ties complete an outfit and make it look more finished.
  2. You will appear taller and slimmer when wearing a tie.
  3. When worn in a colour that suits you, ties make you look more healthy and attractive.
  4. You appear more credible and authoritative when wearing a tie then when you don’t.
Business Dress, Men, Wardrobe, Women

How to Draw Attention to Your Face

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When mingling socially or for business the initial purpose is to meet people and carry on a conversation. However, sometimes meeting people can be difficult. A great way to attract attention is with great accessories. For men this could include a tie, braces or cufflinks. For women this could be a belt, bracelet, earrings, scarf, necklace or a broach. However, because the accessory also creates a focal point, the placement should be strategic. To focus attention on the conversation and keeping it there requires focal points close to your face. Use accessories such as a great tie or braces for men and scarves, necklaces and earrings for women to add interest and keep the focus on your face and the conversation.

Business Dress, Etiquette, Men, Wardrobe, Women

How to Get the Most Benefit from Your Name Tag

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I recently attended a networking function and I was surprised at how many people don’t know how to use a name tag effectively.

A name tag is a great way to help others remember who you are and what you do. However, the size and placement are important.

The name tag should be legible from a distance. When writing your name, use large, thick capital letters. This will make it easier to read.

The eye will be drawn to the name tag so the placement is important. Wear a jacket with a lapel. Many nametags have clips that are meant to be attached to a lapel in order to hang properly.  When attached to a shirt or blouse they ruin the line of the garment and look sloppy.

The name tag is always placed on the right. The reason for this is because when shaking hands the eye will automatically be drawn up the arm to the name tag and then to the face. In a business gathering this should be the target for the focus of attention.