As a child, I learned to sew. I was lucky, my grandmother taught me to knit, and my step-mother taught me to sew (as she sewed), and I always loved making things (we did a lot of toilet roll craft in our house and for many years had napkin rings covered with wool made from…
There are some colours and neutrals we label as “universal”, in that they can be worn by all. That said, the version of each of these colours varies depending on the colour properties of the colour direction. For example, the colour may be brighter or more muted and smoky. It may be a lighter or…
Today is Australia Day, and it’s a day that is traditionally celebrated with barbecues. It’s a day at the end of the summer school holidays that is usually hot and a reminder that the working year is gearing up again (Australia really does go on holiday most of January). We love a bbq so I…
From London in the UK comes Rebecca Ffrancon, a graduate of the Academy Professional Image and Image and Colour Consultant who shares her tips on building a more stylish and colourful wardrobe on her blog and Instagram. 1. What is the secret to great style? I think it’s all about understanding the huge role your…
One of the big life changes many women go through is having kids. And adjusting to life with young children is difficult. Even more so if you have come from a professional workplace and you have a preference for the Classic personality dressing style, one that loves a crisp button-up shirt and a smart blazer…
Colour surrounds us, and we a coloured experience is much more impactful on us than a black/white/grey experience. We make buying decisions based on colour. Here are just a few interesting infographics and informational pieces on colour. Picture Source Men and Women label colours differently. Men tend to go for simpler names, and group more…
Tips on What to Keep and What to Let Go I love shopping my closet and tend to keep things a long time as a result. My problem is knowing when to get rid of things. I don’t believe in throwing clothes out just because they’re X years old, but I worry that I don’t…
I am a sewer and some ideas about how to choose fabric to sew would be great. It can be challenging to locate good fabric and then imagine how it will look best sewn, and then find a suitable pattern. Fabric Drape How fluid or stiff is the fabric. The drape is not about how…
At the moment it’s Christmas Party season. Some are more formal, some more casual. Some are for work functions. Some are completely social. So what to wear to a party? Here are some ideas for your next event. What to Wear to a Formal Cocktail Function If the dress code is cocktail or after 5…
My daughter and her friends were chatting with they were saying low rise jeans were coming back into fashion. They were adamant that they were never going to wear lower rise jeans. When I was their age, back in the 80s, high-rise jeans were the trend. I could never imagine wearing low-rise jeans. To my…
Have you thought about setting yourself a wardrobe capsule challenge? What’s this? Well, it’s where you decide to limit what you wear in your wardrobe to just a few items for a week or longer. Project 333 is the well-known known version of this (where you take 33 items and wear them, and only them…
There comes a moment when the reflection looking back at you feels unfamiliar. The colours, the shapes, even the expression – they all belong to a version of you that doesn’t quite fit anymore. That’s style amnesia. It creeps in quietly during life’s big shifts, such as a career change, menopause, having kids or an…
I’m really excited to be able to introduce you to New York City based blogger Lyn who is The Accidental Icon. Do you have a signature piece or style? My signature style and color is black and white. I have been experimenting lately with a very small dot of blue. A monochrome look is reflected…
So the conference is over for another year, we all had a great time. I got to meet other lovely image consultants from all over Australia and New Zealand, chat and talk shop (cos it’s not like my husband is interested in talking about what facial features you really need to go for a pixie…
I think capsule wardrobes are a brilliant concept and I use them all the time in my work with clients, and with myself when travelling. But, and this is a big but, they are right for some but not for everyone. Did you red my post about whether you are an Options or Procedures person?…
And how that can help you discover your personal style, let go of clothes that don’t suit and build a better wardrobe This morning I was having a conversation with one of my lovely image consultant (personal stylist) graduates and she mentioned that she has great difficulty throwing out clothes and makeup that don’t work,…
When I lived in the UK (start of 1999 – end of 2001) I found that I could never believe it was Christmas time as it hadn’t gotten hot yet. Even though we are fed a diet of snow, ice and winter scenes for Christmas, in Australia it comes in summer so it just didn’t…
Happy New Year to All You Lovely People! Each year for the past few years I’ve been picking a “word of the year”, a theme, for me to follow. It works as a guiding principle for me and helps to keep me on track. The words I’ve chosen over the past years are words that…
In This Video 0.05 How do I figure out what I really want to project with my appearance? 2.50 How do I choose a 2nd neutrals if my colour contrast is 1-2 neutrals plus a colour? Do the neutrals need to relate to the colour? 6.15 How to flatter my figure in clothes that aren’t…
Fashion is never just about fabric. At the highest levels of design, it’s a form of storytelling – often told through colour psychology in runway fashion. From Valentino’s saturated signature reds to the neon statements at Versace, designers use colour to shape emotion, perception, and meaning. The runway becomes a visual language. And colour is…
The appeal of minimalist dressing, especially for intelligent, high-achieving women, lies in its promise: fewer choices, less overwhelm, and more trust in your own taste. A streamlined wardrobe isn’t about owning less for the sake of austerity. It’s about owning the right garments for you. The right colours, the right shapes, the right textures –…
