My client Ann, was looking for a simple, fast, yet effective makeup update. As you see from this before and after, we certainly didn’t give her too much makeup, yet she looks younger and more polished in the after picture. The whole makeup routine takes no more than 15 minutes max, and it suits her simple, laid back lifestyle.
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.
Here’s a little taste of my Style Solution class on How to Shop Like a Celebrity Stylist. For the full handout and audio please email me on erin@erinstafford.com.
Get to know the malls and boutiques in your area
Malls are great because everything is there in one spot, but boutiques are the ones that will really work with you. Talk to your friends, ask people who are well dressed, and figure out where they shop.
Have direction
Know what you’re looking for in order to shop with precision. Stylists always know what look they are trying to achieve for a photo shoot, movie premiere, etc. They get a brief from the art director or from the celebrity’s publicist or agent.
Get to know your sales people
They will save you time, money, and make your life easier. They’ll pull sizes in advance for you, tell you when new merchandise is in, as well as let you pre-shop the sales.
Don’t be afraid to try new things
90% of what you try on won’t work on you. This doesn’t mean that there’s something wrong with you. No one will see you in the dressing room. Make a point to take 5 new things you wouldn’t normally try on into the dressing room with you each time you try something on. Stylists take multiple rolling racks full of clothes to celebrity’s houses to fit them for just a few outfits.
Get to know your tailor
Clothing doesn’t come off the rack fitting perfectly, you have to make them fit. Celebrity stylists get everything tailored for their clients. Sometimes they need multiple fittings. This is normal. I look forward to sharing more information with you and helping you look and feel fabulous!
You know the drill. You wear your white shirts, tanks, and tees to death and then one day you realize how yellow the underarms have gotten. Yuk! Before you toss them, try this trick that I found April’s Lucky Magazine.
Put your yellowed tees in the wash and let the water start filling up…it doesn’t matter what temperature you choose, then add your detergent as usual. Drop one aspirin in the basin once it’s full with water, then let the cycle run as usual. Supposedly this really helps whiten them. I haven’t tried it, but I can assure you I will. I will have a full report for you next week.
The Style Solution Tele-Class – Starts March 7th!
Now is your chance to get tangible style solutions to all of your fashion woes. My new tele-class is starting March 7th and I can’t wait for you to be a part of it.
For 50 minutes each week you will have fabulous tips, tricks, information, answers, and style solutions to all your fashion woes. A few of the topics we will cover are:
Finding that Perfect Pair of Jeans – what to look for and what to avoid to look fabulous every day
Finding the Right Bra - to look 10 pounds thinner and younger instantly
Building a Basic Wardrobe - to get dressed with ease every day
How to Accessorize - for every age and shape
Tailoring Tips and Tricks - to make every piece work for you
10 Classic Wardrobe Pieces Every Woman Needs – to look eternally pulled together and updated
And many many more!
Sign up today, as space is limited! Each class will be recorded and available to listen to again and again. So don’t worry if you miss a class.
Regularly $275 a month, I am offering my blog readers a reduced rate of $225 x 3 months. If you sign up today you will also receive my two special reports: 55 Ways to Slim Your Silhouette with Ease and Polishing Your Professional Image absolutely FREE! Call or email me today to take advantage of this special offer. Visa, Master Card, Amex, and Discover accepted.
I look forward to having you on this call.
Erin Stafford, AICI
714 351 3849
erin@erinstafford.com
www.erinstafford.com
blog - www.erinstafford.com/blog
Now is your chance to get tangible style solutions to all of your fashion woes. My new tele-class is starting March 7th and I can’t wait for you to be a part of it. For 50 minutes each week you will have fabulous tips, tricks, information, answers, and style solutions to all your fashion woes. A few of the topics we will cover are:
Finding that Perfect Pair of Jeans – what to look for and what to avoid to look fabulous every day
Finding the Right Bra - to look 10 pounds thinner and younger instantly
Building a Basic Wardrobe - to get dressed with ease every day
How to Accessorize - for every age and shape Tailoring Tips and Tricks - to make every piece work for you
10 Classic Wardrobe Pieces Every Woman Needs – to look eternally pulled together and updated
And many many more! Sign up today, as space is limited! Each class will be recorded and available to listen to again and again. So don’t worry if you miss a class. Regularly $275 a month, I am offering my blog readers a reduced rate of $225 x 3 months. If you sign up today you will also receive my two special reports: 55 Ways to Slim Your Silhouette with Ease and Polishing Your Professional Image absolutely FREE! Call or email me today to take advantage of this special offer. Visa, Master Card, Amex, and Discover accepted.
It’s a new year and it’s time to create a new you. If you’ve been wanting to update your image, but you don’t really know where to start, looking in your closet is a great first step. Once you organize, weed out, and see what you’ve got, figuring out what you’re missing is that much easier.
Getting dressed should not be stressful. But when your closet looks like this, it will be.
Think of how much easier dressing will be when you know where everything is, can see all your clothes, and the ones that are hanging in your closet actually fit.
Here are a few tips to remember when working through your closet:
1) Designate an area in your room for three piles: “keep,” “toss,” and “alterations.”
2) Start with your pants. Sift through your closet and drawers and find every pair of pants you own. Take them out and put them in a pile on your bed. Try each pair on and evaluate how they fit, how they make you feel, if you wear them often, are they over-worn and in need of replacement, are they still working for you, and do they still deserve to take up prime real estate in your closet?
3) Once you’ve answered those questions in your head, add them to either the “keep, ” “toss,” or “alterations” pile.
4) Repeat with your shorts, skirts, dresses, suits, tops, sweaters, jackets, shoes, bags, jewelry, etc.
5) You should now have three big piles in your room. Start by bagging all the “toss” items into large trash bags. Load them into your car right then and there, otherwise they will sit in your garage for months and slowly start working their way back into your closet. Take them to your favorite charity after you’ve finished your closet.
6) Bag your “alteration” items in a different type of bag so that they don’t get mixed in with the toss items. Take these to your tailor the next day so that you don’t delay looking fabulous in your newly discovered clothes that now fit well.
7) Now it’s time to put all your “keep” clothes back into your closet. Start with your sleeveless tops. Arrange them from lightest to darkest. Then move to your short sleeve and long sleeve tops. Again, arranged from lightest to darkest.
Do the same with your sweaters and jackets.
9) Now it’s time to add your skirts, then pants, then dresses, all arranged in descending color order.
10) By this time your closet should be looking much more organized and user friendly. You should now be able to see exactly what you have, where every thing is, and what you are missing. This would be a great time to make a shopping list of items that you would like to add.
Don’t forget, there are image professionals, like myself, that can help you with this whole process. Life is too short to not look and feel your best every day!
Stylists Tool Kit – Buy Yours Today - Only $43.00
Celebrities rely on stylists to keep them current and looking fabulous. The job sounds glamorous, but the reality is that it’s hard work. Although a celebrity may look flawless on the red carpet, their look is often precariously held together with the help of hidden tape, pins, needles, and all sorts of other secrets.
Here are a few key items that you should have with you at home, and anytime you travel, to help you look polished and put together every day.
Buy your kit today for $43.00. Email erin@erinstafford.com, or fax your order and credit card information to 714 992 0588. Your kit will include everything listed below.
Foot Petals – These gems can help make even the most uncomfortable shoes bearable for an evening. They come in various shapes and sizes, but my favorites are the tip toes. They are round pads that cushion the ball of your foot so you can walk comfortably and confidently in your killer heels. (2 sets included)
Shoe Grips – Do you find that you slip and slide in new shoes because the sole isn’t scuffed up yet? Well shoe grips are little sandpaper like circles that stick to the bottom of your shoe to prevent you from slipping. Celebrities can’t risk falling on camera or on the red carpet, so they rely on these to keep them sturdy. Foot petals sell a version, but your local shoe repair store will have them as well. If you’re in a pinch, grab your scissors and score the bottom of the shoes. It works just as well. (2 sets included)
Cuticle Scissors – These little guys will save you every time. Pulling on stray strings will often ruin your garment. Cut away random threads, cut off tags, trim your eyebrows, cut your nails, score the bottom of your shoes, pry open a bottle of wine, whatever. I keep mine in my makeup bag so I always have them with me.
Double Stick Tape – If you are planning on going braless and wearing a low cut top or dress, double stick tape is necessary to keep everything in place. Cut a piece to size, adhere to the garment, then stick to the skin. Many companies sell their own versions of double stick tape, but I find the most effective, affordable, and widest variety can be found at wig/hairpiece stores. (1 packet of 50 strips included)
Shout Wipes – These are great to keep in your purse incase you get a stain on your clothes. They are sealed in individual packets, so they are small and easy to use. They will help treat the stain until you can get back to your house or have the garment dry cleaned. (4 included)
Sewing Kit – Any time you go to a hotel, make sure you keep the little sewing kits that they leave in the bathroom with all the other goodies. These are the perfect size to throw in your purse or overnight bag for those unplanned emergencies. Whether you need to sew a button back on, tack a top closed, or fix a hem with a couple stitches, you’ll be prepared.
Safety Pins – Whoever invented these was a genius. I keep a few safety pins in my change purse (as well as a couple bobby pins) so that I have them with me at all times. You never know when a button will pop off, your hem tears, a waistband is suddenly stretched out, or you rip your pants. A few strategically placed safety pins can often help you out until you get back to your tailor.
Lint Roller – Buy one regular sized to keep at home, and one travel sized to keep in your car or toss in your overnight bag. Nothing ruins a polished look quicker than being covered in lint. These should be mandatory for any dog or cat owner.
Static Solution - Avoid irksome static on tights and skirts with this nifty static solution spritzer. Or, you can do it the old fashioned way and simply spray aerosol hairspray on your skirt or dress to keep static at bay.
The Strapper – Finally, a handy tool that can convert a regular bra into a racer-back. This is great for traveling, as you won’t have to bring along multiple bras.
No More Blisters - This ingenious and invisible Blister Block roll on reduces friction to prevent blisters. Ideal for the first day you wear your new shoes or when you are faced with an unexpected long walk.
Make sure you bring these save the day items along with you on any trip…as you never know what might happen!
I found this great tip for cleaning patent leather in the September issue of Lucky magazine.
You’ll need: A couple of cotton pads and a bottle of standard-issue nail polish remover.
How it’s done: Immediately after wear, just spot-clean surface stains by lightly rubbing with a cotton pad doused in nail polish remover. Air-dry for about five minutes, then store the item in a cool place. NB: Patent easily absorbs colors from other leather pieces, so wrap bags in tissue paper and keep shoes in their own box.
I love it when I find great cleaning tips that are so easy, simple, and inexpensive!
Do you find yourself thumbing through People magazine in the check out line for a quick look at what the celebrities are wearing? Or scanning the latest fashion magazines to see what designers are promoting this season? Or looking at the mannequins in the big department stores all in an effort to figure out what’s “in” this season?
Although you may discover what’s “in,” you won’t necessarily know if it’s a style that will look good on you or how to make it work with the rest of the clothes in your closet. Without the help of myself, or another professional image consultant, it is difficult to make sense of the ever changing trends and how to make them your own.
Luckily, the ever innovative and style savvy veteran image consultant, Brenda Kinsel, has started a new series of ebooks to help you understand the current season’s trends and how to make them work specifically for you. Available on her website (http://www.brendakinsel.com/books_brenda_book_01.html) for $34.95, along with her 5 other full length books, How to Look Great This Season is a must read for every woman who wants to look on trend, but age and body type appropriate.
Keep your eye out next season, and every season thereafter for the updated edition. These are easy to download and can be read as soon as you purchase them. There is no going to the book store and no time wasted waiting for the book to arrive in the mail.
If you haven’t read any of Brenda’s other books, this is a great place to start. I guarantee you’ll be ordering her other books after reading this one. Her fun writing style and over 20 years of experience make it easy, effective, fun, and powerful reading.
Enjoy looking your best today!
