How should we handle conflict between personality/ career role and body shape recommendation? As my body is very curvy , the body shape recommendation is all kinds of feminine stuff: skirt over pants, and not just skirt , but A -line flared skirt over straight ones, wrap and fit and flare dresses , waist shaping,…
So what do you wear on a date? It can be a particularly vexing question for many women, particularly if it’s with someone new or newish. We don’t want to get it wrong – either seem too forward or too uninterested. Given that it’s Valentines day in a few days, I thought I’d give you…
Recently a reader asked me if “Is it perceived as more friendly and open to blend in with others and be more toned down or to go ahead and be more unique and not from here?” This is an interesting question as there is no one right answer and really does come down to you…
Today I am answering a question about how to incorporate feminine elements to a classy outfit. When we think about classic style, we’re talking about conservative and traditional items of clothing. Classic style comes from traditional men’s businesswear. It’s all about the Yang – smooth, crisp, straight and structured elements. A straight vertical line, opaque fabrics…
I’ve been making some Facebook Live videos over on my Inside Out Style page (join me there if you want to watch them live) and wanted to share them with you here too – and I’m also linking here to some useful blog posts that help answer these questions! Here I’ve compiled a few videos…
In This Video 0.11 I struggle with prints in general – what to choose. I’m a bit scared that they won’t work so I tend to avoid them. Any tips? 6.22 How do I dress practically and attractively, being comfortable but still in an interesting but not crazy way, so vibrant but not aggressive? 9.44…
The other night I lost it while I was cooking dinner. My version of losing it isn’t particularly scary, I just banged some pots and pans around in the kitchen and did some noisy washing up, but lost it for me, and I couldn’t at the time really figure out why. I knew I was…
In my online forums and programs, participants can ask each other for style advice and feedback. It can be tricky when what one person thinks of as a compliment or an offhand comment, can be felt by the recipient to be cruel and hurtful especially when the women span a variety of interests, backgrounds, cultures…
Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I were asked to comment on the question of “how much skin is appropriate to show in the workplace”. Now we are aware this can be quite a contentious as there will be some wildly differing views on this topic depending on your culture, your work environment, job,…
I’m an H shape, this means that straight (pencil) style skirts suit my figure much more than flared ones (this is also true for 8 Shapes). Pencil skirts are traditionally classic garments. They originated in the suit and are synonymous with the business world and the corporate office. I don’t work in one of those…
Finding your authentic style can be tricky – so much mass media and social media telling you what the latest fashion is and what to wear. What you must buy this season – but is it you? Is it authentic to your style DNA? Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I discuss in this…
Your clothes are talking but what are they saying? If you go back to the concept of Yin and Yang – which relates to the line and design of your clothing, you can easily understand what your clothes are saying (without you opening your mouth or making a sound). When choosing what to wear, consider…
Reader question – I like comfortable clothes so tend to put on jeans or jeggings and a plain V-neck sweater but really I want to feel more feminine. Sometimes you just want to be warm and comfortable so you throw on jeans and a sweater. After a while, this can make you feel bland and…
What’s a Personal Brand Anyway? According to Amazon Founder, Jeff Bezos, “A personal brand is what others say about you when you’re not in the room”. It’s the impression others have of you, your personality, your competency, your credibility. Your personal brand is unique to you and is a combination of your skills and experience…
Do you have a wardrobe full of clothes that you wear but don’t love? Do you have a closet full of crappy clothes? Do you love some of your clothes, but many others are just “meh”? Do your clothes make you feel gorgeous, confident and express who you are? Would you like to create the…
Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I discuss different processes of getting dressed and why it can feel so hard to get dressed stylishly. As much as we may have been getting dressed our entire lives, it is something that is often harder than we expect, which can make smart women feel a bit…
There is no one route to style. You cannot become instantly stylish just from understanding your body shape (sorry Trinny and Susannah, it’s just not that simple). There is, what I call, the Style Puzzle, a group of elements when they all go together define your personal style. These puzzle pieces are just the start…
How do you pick a print that is flattering for you? There are just so many prints to choose from – florals, stripes, animal, abstract, geometric, checks, paisley, ikat… the list goes on and on. So how do you make the right choices when prints and patterns come in a myriad of colours, scale, contrast…
From stocking stuffers and Kris Kringle/Secret Santa/White Elephant gifts to useful and desirable things for your family and friends (or even something to hint at for others to give you. I’ve been looking around to find fun and fabulous gifts to give. Where To Buy Gifts Under $10 Unicorn pencil case Egg separator Leopard scarf…
Why Are We So Worried about Dressing Up? Are you worried that if you change your style or dress more stylishly you will get ‘the look’ or comments from friends family and co-workers? Even if these comments are complimentary? Many people fear change. And sometimes those around us are surprised and don’t quite know how…
Video conferencing has become more and more popular as the technology has improved and with more and more people working from home, it’s important to know what styles of clothes do and don’t work on a video conference call. With Zoom, Skype and Facetime, Go To Meeting and all the other video conferencing technology now…
