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08.06.08

The Secret to Successful Shopping - Have Direction!

Posted in Shopping Tips, Style and Image Information, Baby Boomer Fashion at 2:30 pm

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The key to a successful shopping trip is having direction.  Know what you’re looking for in order to shop with precision.  When working as a stylist, I always know what look I am trying to achieve for a photo shoot, movie premiere, or commercial.  I get a brief from the art director or from a client’s publicist and that sets me in the right direction.  The brief will help me figure out if the look should be sweet, edgy, funny, etc.  Obviously different designers would be used for each look.  For example, you’d never use out Dolce & Gabbana for a sweet look…only the most sexy.

The same can work for you when you’re out shopping on your own.  What look are you trying to achieve?  How do you want people to think of you?  Remember you?  Seek out those stores and designers that will help convey that image.  If you ever need any guidance or specific stores/designers for a look, you can always call me, your personal stylist, and I will give you a list to work with.  Happy shopping!

07.18.08

2 Day Stylist, Image Consultant and Personal Shopper Training

Posted in Style Training at 4:11 pm

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Are you looking to get started in a career as a stylist, image consultant, or personal shopper? Well here’s your chance.

Erin Stafford, former celebrity stylist and Orange County’s top image consultant and personal shopper is offering a comprehensive two day training program for aspiring fashionistas.

You will learn:

The key components of styling:
How to build your portfolio, where to shop, how to shop strategically, building your contact base, how to work a photo shoot (how to set up, what to do, where to begin, and how to do it quickly), pulling clothes, returns, fittings, basic tailoring, and building your kit.

The key components of image consulting:
Basic color and style analysis, body type analysis, wardrobe planning, personal shopping, working with a variety of clients, creating product for increased sales, and developing strategic alliances.

General business components:
How to start your business from the ground up, learn how to market yourself and find a niche, learn about the different revenue streams available to stylists and image consultants.

Walk away with the tools and confidence to start your own successful personal styling business.

Upcoming Class Schedule:
August 15th and 16th – Costa Mesa
September 13th and 14th – Costa Mesa
More classes will be added soon!

Fee:
$1000 per two day training
Includes instruction and materials

Spots are filling up. Call today to sign up for this invaluable, small group training and get your career jumpstarted today. Email for full course description and more information.

I look forward to helping you discover this fabulous, rewarding, and profitable career.

Erin Stafford
erin@erinstafford.com
www.erinstafford.com

07.15.08

Style Anxiety Attack - It Happens to Everyone

Posted in Quick Fixes, Style and Image Information, Fashion Tips at 10:40 pm

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Do you ever have one of those moments where you’re already running late for an event, you’re standing in your underwear in  your closet, you’ve already tried on five outfits, your heart is racing, and you’re starting to sweat.  You feel like you’re never going to find something to wear, your makeup is running, and all you want to do is lay on your bed and cry?  Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.

I recently had an anxiety attack of a different sort, but wow, they are intense.  I now know what my clients feel like when they tell me shopping or putting outfits together gives them anxiety.  Isn’t it great that there are people out there, like myself and other AICI image consultants, that can relieve you from all the anxiety you face with your style, wardrobe, and clothing choices. 

Getting dressed shouldn’t be an anxiety ridden event every day.  If it is for you, do yourself a favor and hire an image consultant to help you put 5 foolproof outfits together.  It will be worth every penny.  That way, the next time you’re in a bind, you can just look at your cheat sheet of pictures and throw on one of your perfectly put together outfits!

Here’s to no more style anxiety!  There are so many other things to worry about.

07.14.08

Looking for Cute, Comfortable, Versatile Shoes? Mohop!

Posted in Quick Fixes, Style and Image Information, Fashion Tips at 4:10 pm

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Remember those plastic soled shoes from the 80s that you laced up with any variety of fluorescent shoe laces?  Well you could say that these sandals are the modern, eco-friendly, comfortable, and fashionable alternative.  Another image consultant clued me into them as a perfect pair of shoes for someone that is having trouble matching shoes to an outfit.  With the sheer variety of ribbon on the market, and the endless ways that you could lace up these sandals, the possibilities are endless. 

Visit www.mohop.comfor more information.  Here’s what they have to say: “Mohop sandals are environmentally friendly, comfortable, and best of all, allow nearly infinite design options with just one pair of wooden soles. Simply lace any ribbon through our patent-pending elastic loops to create your own one-of-a-kind, custom-fit pair! Mohop shoes are individually hand made by Annie Mohaupt and JoAnna Fleming in our studio in Chicago.”

Who would have thought that your image consultant and personal shopper would actually be encouraging you to revisit that crazy 80s trend. 

07.12.08

Sunglasses for the Round Face

Posted in Body Type Tips, Style and Image Information, Fashion Tips at 1:18 pm

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The Round Face

A round face is just that – full, with few angles.  Width and length in the same proportions or equal.  Slightly angular, narrow frames will lengthen the round face.  Avoid excessively rounded styles, which will exaggerate curves.  The frames should be wider than they are deep.

07.08.08

Sunglasses for the Oval Face

Posted in Body Type Tips, Style and Image Information, Fashion Tips at 1:22 pm

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The Oval Face

Because of its mostly balanced proportions, the oval face is considered to be the ideal face shape.  The chin is slightly narrower than the forehead, and the cheekbones are high.  Frames should maintain the oval’s natural balance.  Select frames that are as wide or wider than the broadest part of the face.  Keep frames the same proportions as the face.  Follow your brow line; don’t let eyewear create a new expression.

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.

06.18.08

Simple But Effective Makeup

Posted in Quick Fixes, Baby Boomer Fashion at 4:09 pm

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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.