How to Wear Colour NEW!
Effortless and Practical Style NEW!
Do I Need Training to become a Personal Stylist and Shopper? NEW!
Learn to Love Your Body in 2010
Look Hot When it's Cold!
Career as an Image Consultant
Plus Size Style
Dressing for Petite Style
What to Wear for Tall Women
Autumn Winter '09 Style Guide
The Impact of Colour on Image
Fashion and your Health NEW!
How to Dress a Pear Shape Figure
How to Dress Apple Shape Figures
Commandments of Style
Personal Branding
Advice for Shopping on a Budget
Beach Style & Body Shape
Choosing Bridesmaids Dresses
Dress for Confidence
EcoFashion | Green is the New Black
Guide to Trying on Bras
Maternity Style
Mother of the Bride Outfits
Packing Advice for Summer Hols
Spring Summer 09 Style Guide
Star Quality Image
Staying Stylish on a Budget
Get Your Perfect Figure
The Wardrobe Detox
Top Style Tips for First Dates
Top Underwear Brands
Underwear Figure Fixers
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"I'll address my image once I reach my goal weight."
Well, I only have one question for you. Was it your goal LAST year to reach and stick to your target weight, yet it seems to have reappeared this year too?
If you've answered "yes" like many other women, then it would be realistic for me to assume that another year may go by with you not feeling very confident or happy when you look in the mirror. Why leave it that long? Why not start looking great today? It can be that instant!
When you understand how clothes need to work with your body to make you look slimmer, taller, older, younger, whatever you want, and then your self-esteem will start to rise. My advice is always Fake It until You Make It. Let people think you're a size smaller by clever visual trickery until you actually are a size smaller!
When your self-esteem gets a boost, for example when you get a compliment on your outfit, you feel energised, proud and positive. It is important to reach a weight that is healthy and that you are confident with, but whilst you are on the journey towards that weight, it is no excuse to not make an effort with your appearance.
Plus, I have observed over the years that not many people give us compliments on our weight as it is a very sensitive issue, and in addition it is usually only ourselves who notice when the pounds have piled on or dropped off, so we are often disappointed when we lose a stone and our partner doesn't so much as raise an eyebrow.
However people are often much more generous with their compliments and observations when it comes to clothing and you will find that when you dress armed with more knowledge about how fabrics, styles, shapes, collections could work for your body and what you want to communicate through your image you will start to receive compliments by the bucket load. This in itself makes you feel better about yourself which in turn then spurs you on to do more i.e. eat healthily, go to the gym and spend more time on personal grooming.
The Quest for The Perfect Figure
I have helped many of my clients on their quest towards their perfect figure by helping to see the beauty in themselves even when they are not at their target weight. After all, I have yet to meet a woman who has actually found the female Holy Grail - the perfect body!
It is in our nature after all to want what we don't have. The grass always appears to be greener, so why not just set our picnic basket down on this patch of green and start enjoying what we've got!
You will be surprised at how just a little extra effort with your image overall can go a long way not just in your appearance but in your attitude towards life.
Don't put your life on hold like so many women do, because you are trying to lose weight for example never going out to socialise where there is food or drink involved or by living your life by the mantra "when I lose weight I will...".
I hear this so often and these are the women who never manage to keep the weight off BUT just as bad, they never seem to get round to enjoying life either because they are always "on a diet".
To reiterate, a healthy weight should be a goal for everyone, but the emphasis should be on healthy, not thin, because beauty, sex-appeal and confidence comes in all shapes, ages and sizes. Think Helen Mirren, Estelle, Dita Von Teese, Oprah Winfrey, Beth Ditto, Julianne Moore, Uma Thurman, Jennifer Hudson to name a few famous and fabulous unconventional beauties.
Top Tips for Dressing for Weight Loss.
Breathe In!
Don't buy clothes a size too small in the hope that you will one day fit in to them. This is just sending sub-conscious messages to your brain saying "You are NOT your perfect size". Live in the present when it comes to your image!
Breathe Out!
Just as importantly don't buy clothes a size to big in an effort to hide lumps and bumps. Sub-consciously this is also telling your brain that you have "room to spare" under than baggy jumper so it's ok to have another doughnut. Plus, big, baggy clothes make you look even bigger!
Think Enhance Not Disguise!
Dress to enhance, not to disguise. Pick at least one physical attribute about yourself that you like. It can be anything from your hair, to your eyes, to your legs, boobs or nails! Anything at all.
Then everyday for a week find a way to accentuate that part of the body.
For example if you like your hands, wear a nice cocktail ring, do your nails, use hand cream each time you wash them, wear a bracelet. Keep doing this weekly and add a new physical attribute each week. By the end of the month you will be more focused on the good attributes rather than what you consider to be the bad and the ugly!
The Foolish Man Built His House Upon The Sand...
Try building a strong house on bad foundations! The house is never going to be its' best! The same applies to your foundations! Good foundations (underwear) are essential for any woman, especially if you want to look a size smaller.
Make sure you are wearing the right size bra (approximately 90% of women aren't!) by getting measured and use control underwear to suck in the less toned bits. Most people save their magic knickers for nights out with the girls, but if they make you feel like you have curves that would make even Beyonce jealous, wear them to work too! Nobody will know!
Once you have the right foundations, you will be amazed at how your clothes drape nicely of your figure rather than cling to all the wobbly bits. For advice on checking you have the right bra size visit http://www.bravissimo.com/perfectfit/
Good luck on your mission for the perfect image in 2009! For further advice on where and what to shop for if you have a larger figure email me at info@mystylecompanion.com
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