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07.02.08

Sunglasses for the Heart Shaped Face

Posted in Color Tips, Body Type Tips, Style and Image Information, Fashion Tips at 8:25 am

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The Heart Shaped Face

This shape has a very wide forehead and high cheekbones.  Face narrows gradually to the chin.  Frames should add width below the eye line to offset the narrow chin.    Very light colors and rimless styles are very effective.    Try frames that are wider at the bottom.    Other choices include aviator, butterfly, or low triangle styles; frames with rounded tops and squared bottoms will also work.

06.30.08

Sunglasses for the Rectangular Face

Posted in Color Tips, Body Type Tips, Style and Image Information, Fashion Tips at 11:43 am

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The Oblong or Rectangular Face

Because it is longer than it is wide, the oblong face needs a frame that is deeper than it is wide to shorten the face or to create the illusion of a shorter face.  Frames should break the length of the face, making the face appear shorter and wider.    Frames should have top to bottom depth.   To soften the face, try round, deep, or low triangle shapes, or frames with strong vertical lines.   A low bridge will also shorten the nose.

06.26.08

Sunglasses for Square Shaped Faces

Posted in Color Tips, Body Type Tips, Style and Image Information, Fashion Tips at 10:42 am

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Finding a great pair of sunglasses is a must!  Personally, I suggest having at least two different pairs.  But if you can, have a whole sunglass wardrobe based on your mood, outfit, or location.  You’ll need a casual pair, dressy pair, very dark pair for the beach/pool/water, and a lighter pair for those partly cloudy days.  You can then add in a few differently styles depending on how fashionable you want to be.  The large Jackie O variety, retro 80s styles, or classic aviators are still considered fashionable.  Here are a few tips for finding frames that suit a square shaped face.  You can employ these same tips when looking for regular eye glasses as well. 

The Square Face
A strong jawline, a broad forehead, and a wide chin and cheekbones characterize a square face.  Width and length have the same proportions or are equal.  Frames should make the face look longer.   Gently curved narrow styles will minimize squareness and add length.   Frames should be more horizontal than vertical.   Try oval shapes with temples in the center.

06.16.08

Finding that Perfect Bathing Suit - Tips & Tricks

Posted in Color Tips, Quick Fixes, Body Type Tips, Style and Image Information, Fashion Tips, Baby Boomer Fashion at 9:04 am

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This is a pretty large can of worms that I am about to open up here, but I thought I needed to address this annual dreaded occasion.  Most women I know absolutely hate shopping for bathing suits, so here are a few things to think about to hopefuly make this event a little easier.   

Go Up a Size - Always try one size larger than you think you wear.  When a bathing suit is too tight, the edges cut into your body creating bulges where you’d rather no one look.  When a swimsuit fits a little looser, the skin is squeezed less and creates fewer unwanted bulges.   

Dark Colors and Skin Tones - Remember that darker colors recede, making your silhouette appear smaller.  So dark-colored suits work well.  Skin tone suits give the impression of an all-over monotone look, which is also always a winner.  Loud Prints and ColorsSmall or sparse prints are ok, but big prints attract attention and make you look bigger.  If you can’t resist being covered in hibiscus flowers, at least make sure you wear the print where it will draw attention away from problem areas.   

Stripe Cleverly - Cleverly placed vertical or diagonal stripes can help slim your silhouette if they are placed in the right spot.  Where stripes start and end on a swimsuit is the key to whether you are drawing attention to or away from problem areas.   

Buy Separates - If one half of your body is much curvier than the other half, you have probably had difficulty finding a one piece swimsuit that fits well.  The good news is that there are many brands today that sell tops and bottoms separately.   

Busted - Full-busted women need a little extra support.  Try under wire tops or suits designed for long torsos as your bust will take up some of the extra material.   

High Cut - The higher the cut, the longer your legs appear.  The longer your legs appear, the leaner they look!  Go for the highest cut you feel comfortable in.   

Short Cut - Boy shorts may be a good alternative to wearing thong underwear, but stay away from them in bathing suits.  This style makes your legs looks significantly shorter and adds a horizontal line across your thighs.  It can also make your thighs look larger if the leg opening is too small which squeezes any extra flesh. 

06.08.08

Erin Stafford Image Consulting Now Offering Skin Care and Makeup

Posted in Color Tips, Baby Boomer Fashion at 10:52 am

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After numerous requests from my clients, and my constant desire for women to look and feel their absolute BEST, I have added customized skin care and makeup to my services.  Not only will I continue to provide you with personal style and image services, but I will now include customized skin care and make up consultations with all of my color and style consultations.  You will walk away with a completely new image that is updated and true to yourself as well as the knowledge to recreate your new look successfully on your own every day.  You’ll learn tips and techniques for effectively applying your makeup based on your face shape, hair and eye color, lifestyle, and personality, so you can easily look fabulous every day.  I invite you to call today to schedule your complimentary skin care and makeup consultation during the month of June. (714) 351-3849 or erin@erinstafford.com.

Please visit my website www.beautipage.com/erinstaffordto order all of your fabulous Beauti Control products today.

05.23.08

The Color of Business

Posted in Corporate Image, Color Tips at 8:53 am

In today’s competitive corporate world, your image is more important than ever.  An increase in your perceived credibility, intelligence, success and confidence can often be the deciding factor in an agreement or sale.   I’ve included a brief breakdown of business color psychology for you below.  Keep this in mind when you get dressed in the morning.  Make sure you are sending the right message in your color choices.  

The Color of Business 

Our eyes see and remember color much quicker and better than anything that we say or do.  It makes sense that color plays an important role in the first impressions of our professional presence.  

Dark colors have the most authority, and when accented with lighter or brighter colors, they can be even more powerful.  Middle shades are best for creating a feeling of approachability.

 

Black

A power color, especially for women.  It gives a sense of authority, control, and leadership.

 

Gray

A timeless color that evokes a feeling of participation rather than leadership.

 

Blues

Navy is less harsh than black, giving a feeling of approachable authority. 

 

Reds

This family exudes confidence.  In a conservative environment it is considered too flashy.  Burgundy, however, is authoritative and a nice alternative.

 

Browns

Chocolate, taupe, tan or camel are the most acceptable browns for conservative, formal business attire.  They are approachable colors, neutral, and can be worn with a variety of colors. 

 

Whites

Great for accents, and adds authority when paired with dark suits. 

 

05.13.08

Metallic Wedges, A Summer MUST!

Posted in Color Tips, Style and Image Information at 9:24 am

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Summer is almost here, so make sure you’re sandal collection is ready to go.  If you don’t already have a pair, make sure you add a great pair of metallic wedges with a natural heel to your summer style.  They look great paired with a casual sun dress, shorts, or with a more fancy summer evening look.  They easily transition from day to night, providing you with endless options.  The fact that they are metallic means that they will match almost anything, as well as reflect the goldeny bronze of your sun kissed skin.  Enjoy this summer staple!

All shoes available at www.nordstrom.com

04.15.08

Slimming Neutral Swimsuits

Posted in Color Tips, Body Type Tips, Style and Image Information, Fashion Tips, Baby Boomer Fashion at 9:29 am

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My clients are constantly asking me what type of bathing suit will work best on them, how they can look slimmer, and feel better in their swim suits.  Well here’s the answer.  Find a suit that is similar to your skin tone.  The lighter your skin, the lighter your suit should be.  All three of these suits by Vix Swimwear, Lauren Moffatt, and Fabucci would be perfect for a light to medium skin toned person.  Notice how they create one long lean line.  Your eye is not drawn to one area in particular.  These styles are perfect for slimming your silhouette.  Look for something similar when you are out shopping.

Find all of these suits on www.shopbop.com.

04.09.08

Dallin Chase and Lisli Summer Dresses

Posted in Color Tips, Style and Image Information, Fashion Tips at 3:53 pm

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I love the look of white or cream colored dresses on bronzed bodies in the summer time.  This white dress by Lisli is perfect for a summer day.  It’s feminine and relaxed.  Great for a day at the beach or lunching with your friends. 

The Dallin Chase dress on the right is great for a summer night out.  The light color, soft pleats, and tiny spaghetti straps give it a girly feel, while the slight shimmer in the fabric will complement your glowing skin.  If you live in a warm climate, you will get a lot of use out of these dresses this summer.  Pair them both with metallic sandals or heels and a bright bag for a great summer look.

Get yours here:

http://www.shopbop.com/shimmer-sophia-dress-iisli/vp/v=1/845524441817096.htm?folderID=2534374302029428&fm=whatsnew-viewall

http://www.shopbop.com/hal-dress-dallin-chase/vp/v=1/845524441817035.htm?folderID=2534374302029428&fm=whatsnew-viewall

04.07.08

Ralph Lauren Linen Sundresses

Posted in Color Tips, Style and Image Information, Fashion Tips, Baby Boomer Fashion at 6:08 pm

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I don’t know about you, but I’ve always steered clear of linen sundresses because I feel like they have a real tree hugger, granola type feel.  Well finally a designer has gotten it right.  These are just two of the sundresses that Ralph Lauren has created for spring/summer 2008.  I love them.  They are feminine, soft, cool, and don’t have a hint of patchouli about them.  Let’s hope more designers create non-hippie linen sundresses so we can enjoy this great summer fabric without feeling like we should be in Berkeley in the 60’s.