The Seven Secrets to Style

1. Stand proud and tall

At the risk of sounding like your mother, it really does make a MASSIVE difference when you stand with your head held high, with your shoulders back. Nothing makes a worse first impression than someone who slouches! Walk with confidence, stand as tall as you can be (you will look slimmer too) and let the world see how fabulous you are! A great posture shows inner confidence and that is very attractive in both your business and personal life. Live in your own WOW now!

2. Dress for your body shape

We all have parts of our body that we secretly think are OK (or even great I hope!) and then there are areas that we are not so confident about. The secret is to bring attention to the parts that you love. You can do this through using colour, accessories, line, fabrics and garment details to draw attention to where YOU want it to go! If you have great legs, wear an interesting shoe. If you love your hair, then earrings will draw attention to that part of you. Great hands, then nail polish will make you smile. If you are not sure, look objectively in the mirror if you can, or ask a friend what they think is your best asset. We are all our own harshest critic, and I promise you, if you look, you will find a spot that is gorgeous- now work with that!

3. Use colour to bring out your radiance

Colour is generally the very first thing we notice about what someone is wearing. It is the secret that the stars use all the time to get noticed. Knowing whether you look more radiant and “alive’’ in bright, soft, cool, warm, light or dark colours will make your life infinitely less complicated and it will be far more enjoyable to get dressed as you know you are looking your best. Everyone has a dominant feature in their genetic make-up- some of us are blessed with bright sparkling eyes, while others have a softness that is truly beautiful. Your wardrobe will be much easier to manage as items will flow together on a similar colour pallet. One tip is to wear your eye colour as this ALWAYS looks stunning.

4. Underwear!

I know you have heard this before, but when was the last time you checked out what the department store has to offer? There has been SO much forward movement in underwear technology and it is far more comfortable than ever before. Be sure that you are getting a smooth line, curves in your desired places, and extra oomph if you like! You will feel and look better knowing that everything is where it should be…

5. Accessorise with flair and style

Accessorising is my absolute favourite part of putting an outfit together. You can drastically change the look and feel instantly! Colour, line, texture and details in your accessories are all important in making an outfit look “put together” and giving you that stylish touch. Use accessories to highlight your best assets, and be sure to have fun with them! They will give you your very own individual look. If you are tall and have a large frame, then take advantage of all the creative, chunky pieces that are in style right now. If you are petit, then be careful that they do not over whelm you. Similarly with handbags- be sure to get one that suits your scale (and is on trend!). You can really have some fun with your shoes, earrings, necklaces, bangles, rings, eyeglasses, sunglasses, stockings, nail polish and bags- even if you are wearing simple, stylish clothes, your accessories are what can make you look and feel incredible and totally change what your outfit is saying.

6. Wear what you love

There should be nothing in your wardrobe that you don’t adore. Right down to your underwear. Getting dressed each day can be an experience you enjoy! Chose colours, patterns, fabrics and accessories that make you smile. Really- have a genuine appreciation for each item- how it is made, how it feels, how it accentuates a part of your body that you love. Look in magazines for inspiration and create a vision board or book filled with things that you are attracted to, and I am sure you will see what you are looking for out there in the stores. Think about how you want to come across, and come up with some of your own individual style words- from “friendly” to “sophisticated” and keep these in mind when pulling your look for the day together. Life is too short to not feel great in your clothes- everyday.

7. Make-up and Hair that flatters

We all know how it feels when we have a bad hair day! Our hair style is like our biggest accessory and we want to make sure that it is doing its job- which is to bring out the best in you! How is the colour? Is it perhaps too dark for you and washing out your skin, or perhaps the colour is too warm with reds when you have a cool complexion? Look objectively. How is the condition? Could you do with a style update? When was the last time you tried a new hair stylist? I know it is hard to get out of your comfort zone, but it is always great to see yourself through a fresh pair of eyes. Have a look in some magazines and tear out images of hairstyles that you like and bring this along to your stylist (a picture speaks a thousand words- and in this case, it is very helpful as sometimes it can be difficult to explain). Make-up is also an area that we can get stuck. Look at what celebrities are doing as this is a good indication of what is happening. It doesn’t cost anything to pop by a department store make-up counter and just enquire…but always look at the person who is serving you! If you don’t like their make-up, move onto a different brand and find someone who is similar to you, or you like their style. Look especially at eye make-up and lipsticks. There are so many gorgeous colours to choose from, and they can instantly update your look. Have fun!

For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact Fiona Tuite, Personal Fashion Stylist on 0434 412 458 or by e-mail at info@whole-shebang.com.au