Category Archives: Wardrobe

Business casual, Business Dress, Casual dress, Colour, Men, Wardrobe, Women

Heavy or Slim…Not as Simple as Black or White!

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We have all heard the rumour black makes us look slimmer and white makes us look heavier. But there are other ways to create similar effects without limiting your wardrobe to black or white.

Any dark colour will have a slimming affect. So why limit yourself to black? Clothing in lighter colours has the opposite affect. Light colours reflect light which causes an area to appear larger.

Clothing in muted colours has a similar effect to black. Because they absorb light they will have a slimming affect. Bright colours like white reflect light and will make an area appear larger. This will have a similar effect in clothing.

Clothing from the cool side of the colour wheel also has a receding or slimming effect. If cool colours suit your colouring you have an advantage if you want to look slimmer. Warm coloured clothing will make the area appear bigger.

Business Dress, Casual dress, Men, Wardrobe, Women

Horizontal Contrast Makes Your Neck Look Shorter

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It isn’t often that I have clients (women or men) complaining that their neck is too long. However, if this is a concern for you, there are ways to make your neck appear shorter:

Any time you have a horizontal line of contrast, the area near the line will appear wider. As soon as an area appears wider, it will automatically appear shorter. Horizontal lines of contrast can be created with necklines, collars and accessories. To make your neck appear shorter wear blouses, shirts and tops with crew necklines, turtlenecks or a closed collar. Accessories like chokers, and scarves tied around the neck will also create that horizontal line and create the illusion of a shorter looking neck.

Business casual, Business Dress, Casual dress, Wardrobe, Women

How to Make Your Neck Look Longer and Slimmer

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Most women I have talked with love the idea of having a long graceful looking neck. Unfortunately many women feel their neck is too short or too heavy. If you want your neck to look longer, and I might add… slimmer looking, try the following tricks:

The lower your neckline, the longer your neck will appear. The longer it appears the slimmer your neck will automatically appear as well. Incorporating long vertical or diagonal lines near your face, neck and décolletage in the form of a neckline, collar or accessories will visually make your neck look longer.

Here are a few suggestions: Try collars and necklines such as V-necks, sweetheart necklines and U-necks will give the illusion of a longer, slimmer neck.

Accessories can also visually lengthen the neck and make it appear more slender. Try necklaces that fall below the collarbone, long pendants or medium sized earrings that hang vertically.

Business casual, Business Dress, Casual dress, Colour, Men, Wardrobe, Women

Give Unwanted Clothing and Accessories a New Home

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One of the most difficult things about critiquing your closet is giving up clothing and accessories that are in a great style and in great shape. The problem is that if you don’t wear the garment or accessory because it doesn’t fit; doesn’t look good; doesn’t fit your lifestyle; or doesn’t fit your personality, it also doesn’t have a place in your closet or wardrobe either. It will just take up space that could be used for another garment that you will love and wear often. 

When you find those lonely unwanted pieces in your wardrobe, consider a wardrobe swapping party. Get your friends together and find the perfect match for your unwanted clothing and accessories. If you are unsure about it, it’s a great way to find a new home for your unwanted pieces and incorporate new items into your wardrobe and save money!

Business casual, Business Dress, Casual dress, Colour, Men, Wardrobe, Women

Accessories May Hold Future Value

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Clothing should be evaluated and removed from your wardrobe if it isn’t worn within a reasonable period of time. However, even though you may not currently wear your accessories due to fashion trends, they can still have future value in your wardrobe.  

Yes… accessory fashions evolve in cycles and what is now passé may again become the latest look. Before you discard your accessories consider your scale, personality style and most flattering colours. If these are attributes that your unworn accessories possess, you may want to store them separately from your current accessory wardrobe. Go through this accessory collection from time-to-time, to see if it will once again fit into your wardrobe. You never know…if you once loved it you may love it again.

Business casual, Business Dress, Casual dress, Men, Wardrobe, Women

De-clutter Keepsakes from Your Closet

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Many of you have probably heard that you should get rid of any clothing items that haven’t been worn for a year. And as a rule, I agree that cluttering your closet with clothing you will never wear, is a waste of space. However, what about the prom dress hanging in your closet; or the classic black dress pants that are just a little bit snug? I can see merit in keeping things under these circumstances:

If you have had a slight weight fluctuation and you KNOW you will wear the garment during the next appropriate season because it is a flattering style & colour and it fits into your lifestyle. Keep it!

If the garment holds sentimental value for you and you can’t bare to part with it. Keep it!

These clothing pieces deserve special attention. Remove them from your closet and store them separately. This will help to de-clutter your closet and finding something to wear in the morning much easier.

Business casual, Business Dress, Wardrobe, Women

How to Make Your Bust Look Bigger!

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Unlike the woman I met on the plane to Raleigh (who by the way, I am still jealous of), some of us would give… almost anything for a bigger bust. Fortunately there are some painless things you can choose to wear that will visually increase your bust size instantly: 

  • Fabrics with texture for your tops, sweaters and blouses
  • Loose flowing fabrics or fabrics that don’t cling
  • Extra bodice details such as Breast pockets, ruffles, tucks, pleats, scallops and yokes
  • Double breasted jackets
  • Collars that draw attention away from the bust area
  • Prints and patterns
  • A padded bra
Business casual, Business Dress, Casual dress, Men, Wardrobe, Women

Wardrobe Planning to Suit Your Lifestyle

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As an image consultant my clients often come to me to learn what clothing styles and colours suit them. This is something we determine through analysis of the client. And yes it is very important. However, since the true purpose of clothing is to protect and cover our bodies, what we do in our clothing also needs to be considered when helping my clients select the most suitable clothing. For those of you who stare into your closet and think, “I wish I had something to wear”, get a pen and paper and jot down the activities that you do most often; the purpose of these activities and the message or impression you would like to convey during this time. Think of descriptive words like: serious, credible, fun, active, stylish, sensual or any other words that come into your mind that will help set the tone for your clothing and accessory needs. Clothing and accessory styles that are functional for the activity and create the right message should make up at least 75% your wardrobe. Use this list to when shopping for clothing and accessories to help you make the most of your closet.

Colour, Men, Wardrobe, Women

Look Gorgeous in Red on Valentines Day

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As an image consultant clients ask me… what is a sure-fire way to look gorgeous? The challenge is that there are so many answers to this question. And there are so many little things that make a big difference. However, if I had to narrow it down to one thing, I would say “Wear colours that flatter you!”

This Valentines day, if you are in the mood for red, wear your best red. The easiest way to determine if crimson, ruby, scarlet, wine, russet or rose is your best red is to take the pinch test. Pinch your finger tip or earlobe to see what your natural blush colour or blood-tone is like. Then choose your red in the same colour family and if possible the same intensity. Choosing the right red will make your skin glow, your eyes sparkle and when you blush… you will look gorgeous!

Business casual, Business Dress, Casual dress, Wardrobe, Women

How to Make Your Bust Look Smaller!

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Yes, we women come in all shapes and sizes. I was recently on a plane to Raleigh, North Carolina and there was a woman sitting beside me. She was close to my age, petite like me and she even had short hair like I do. However, there was one really obvious difference… unlike me, she had a slim hourglass figure with a well proportioned bust (or so I thought). I have to admit, at that moment… I was really jealous. We started chatting for a while about our businesses and then she got up to go to the bathroom. As she got up, she looked down at her chest and said, “I wish I could cut these off.” Wow! Was I surprised! Then I thought about it more and realized, that even a fuller bust can have its problems. If you want your bust to look smaller, stay away from small round necklines, fitted turtlenecks and choose the following instead: 

  • Lightweight fabrics that don’t cling
  • V necks and open collars
  • Clean simple bodices without pockets, ruffles or detailing near the bust area
  • Darker coloured tops, sweaters and blouses
  • Single breasted jackets
  • Collars that draw attention away from the bust area
  • A supporting bra