Category Archives: Women

Wardrobe, Women

What is a Balanced Women’s Figure?

Leave a comment

In the real world we see the female figure in many shapes and sizes. Yet, unfortunately our perception of perfection is usually based on what female celebrities look like or what we see in fashion magazines like Vogue, InStyle and Harpers Bazaar. This can cause confusion and lead women to feel that they are too tall, too short, too thin or too heavy.

Often my clients ask me what the ideal balanced figure would look like. This is what I tell them…

A women’s figure is considered balanced when the shoulders and hips are approximately equal width and the waist is proportionately smaller. The legs are approximately the same length as the rest of the body above the top of the leg. And your weight is average in proportion to the height. Believe it or not, the average height for a woman is between 5’5” to 5’7”.

Since most of women don’t have all of these attributes, we need to learn to make the most of what we have. As certified professional image consultants we show our clients how to use camouflage and illusion to bring out their personal best.

Uncategorized, Wardrobe, Women

Hosiery Tips for Longer Slimmer Legs

Leave a comment

This season we are seeing every kind of hosiery. Have long slim legs? If this is you, anything goes. Take advantage of any type of hosiery that suits your personality and lifestyle.

However, if your legs are not your best asset, avoid texture, designs and bright colour. These will emphasize your legs and make them look heavier. To make your legs look slimmer and longer, opt for darker colours that are toned to your shoes and/ or your hemline. For natural looking legs, taupe is more slimming than tan. However, for a modern look your first choice should always be the tone closest to the natural skin-tone of your legs.

Uncategorized, Wardrobe, Women

How to Choose Jewellery Shapes

Leave a comment

Jewellery such as a necklace or earrings can accentuate your positive features or your not so positive features. If you love the shape of your face and want to emphasize it, the easiest way is to wear jewellery in the same shape.

However, if you aren’t so happy with your face shape or a feature this strategy will only draw attention to it. For example: if you have a long face or neck (and are not happy with it) you may want to stay away from long dangly earrings; round earrings will emphasize a round face. To harmonize your jewellery with your features, repeat the personality of your features without repeating the shape exactly. Curves look great with curved shapes and soft lines; Angles look fabulous with angular shapes and sharp lines. They harmonize without emphasizing.

Colour, Look Younger, Make up, Women

Your Best Foundation Colour

Leave a comment

Choose your foundation as close as possible to your skin colour. The best place to test this is at the jaw line. The reason we test the colour here instead of the wrist, cheek or forehead is because the skin colour will be different on every area. The colour of your neck will be different than the colour of the skin on various parts of your face.

Your best colour will blend into your skin tone at the jaw line and look natural next to the skin tone of your neck. Happy testing…

Colour, Etiquette, Look Younger, Make up, Women

Choosing Your Foundation

Leave a comment

The right foundation will last on the skin, be comfortable to wear and give you the right amount of coverage that suits your personality and needs. Choose foundation based on four things:

  1. Your skin type – knowing your skin type before you buy will save you a lot of head aches. It will make your foundation last longer and be more comfortable. For example a dry skin would likely want a foundation that adds nourishment and moisture to the skin. An oily skin would likely want something oil free.
  2. These days there are so many choices for foundation formulas. Although liquid is still the most popular, consider cream, wet-dry or mineral powder. Each foundation has different qualities.
  3. Coverage is something you should consider before buying your foundation. Do you want a natural look, a flawless complexion or something in between?
  4. After you have determined your preferences based on skin type, formula and coverage it is time to decide on finish. Finish is like the finishing touch. This is also where fashion and personal preference come into play. Do you want a matte finish, satin finish, velvety finish? There are lots of options. Choose the one you like the best or go for fashion.

Once you have narrowed this down then it is time to choose the colour. I will tell you all about it in my next blog post.

Colour, Look Younger, Make up, Women

Make Your Make-up Last

Leave a comment

Clients always ask me how I get my foundation to last all day. The secret – finish your foundation with a light dusting of translucent powder. With a powder brush, press the powder into the skin. Then dust off the excess in a downward outward motion.

Colour, Look Younger, Make up, Women

Conceal Blemishes and Dark Circles

Leave a comment

Using a q-tip or a fine concealer brush, apply concealer to any area that needs extra covering. The best concealer colour is one that matches your foundation or the colour of the skin next to the concealed area (if you are going Au naturale). With your ring finger pat and press it into place. Concealer can be applied alone, on top or below foundation.

Colour, Look Younger, Make up, Women

Prepare Your Face for Make-up

Leave a comment

A flawless make-up application requires a bit of prep. Start with a clean face using products designed for your skin type.  If your skin is flakey, exfoliate as part of the skincare process. Finish with a moisturizer designed for your skin type. Let the moisturizer absorb for about 15 minutes prior to your foundation application. Moisturizer will create the perfect canvas for your make-up masterpiece.

Business Dress, Wardrobe, Women

How Much Cleavage is Too Much Cleavage?

Leave a comment

As an image consultant, companies often hire me to speak to their employees about professional dress. One of the top areas of concern for companies is cleavage.cleavage

How much cleavage is too much cleavage?

Because we are all built differently it’s difficult to give exact measurements. However, the general rule for a professional look is that your neckline should be no lower than 2 finger widths above where your cleavage starts.

In a social setting with friends, choose the depth of your neckline based on your level of confidence, the impression you are trying to make and where you want attention focused.

Business Dress, Look Younger, Wardrobe, Women

The Wrong Underwear

Leave a comment

You know, we have all seen it… the sagging or bumpy breasts, jiggling rear ends and the underwear straps that show. These are all examples of the wrong underwear. Although, the wrong undergarments will sabotage your image in any situation, it is even more of an issue at work. Why? If the desired focus is your product or service and you want to appear credible in your presentation of that product or service, then the focus should be on that product or service. The wrong underwear is not only distracting, it can make others uncomfortable. In other words, when at work, do you want people to be thinking about your underwear or what a great job you and your company can do for them? The right underwear will keep everything in place and help keep attention focused on what’s important at the time. Your silhouette will appear smoother and you will look slimmer.