The 70s fashion was alive with fun loving colours -especially orange with all its hues. This season the colour “mandarin-red ” is going to be one of the favourite bag colours- it is not too bright but still an eye-catching accent to your outfit. A colour that makes you simply smile- exactly what is needed when we feel a little bit low. So, make a statement and a add a pop of colour- clash it with an array of rainbow hues or to monochrome palettes.
Michaela
Cold weather and the festive season coming closer we turn to our coats for making a fashion statement either in colour or style. Every coat has its own characteristics and needs to be matched to the right body shape in order to guarantee the right match and look visually balanced. So, when choosing your coat make sure that the colour, style and shape works for you and not against you. A coat is a coverup and it should fit and complement your silhouette like a glove. So, before you follow fashion trends know your body shape first and then go shop hunting. Don’t get sidetracked by falling in love with a coat style and look that doesn’t match your body shape or because your friends and colleagues love and wear them. Stay true to yourself ” dare to be different”.
Fashion comes and goes but Style is eternal! Yves Saint Laurent
1. Inverted Triangle Body Shape
Coats that are “simple in style ” on top and get more dramatic from the waist line downwards. Hip details and and asymmetric hemlines or colour blocks are are ideal.
2. Lean Column Body shape
Clutter and details on top and lower part are best here. Oversized,double breasted and down coats are good for giving you a shaped waist and curves.
3. Rectangle Body shape
Create the illusion of a waist and roundness. Single breasted and asymmetric styles are great choices.
4. Apple Body Shape
Choose coats that have shoulder details and hang loosely fitted from the shoulders downwards.
5. Pear Body Shape
Choose styles that keep details and attention to the top and go quieter downwards. Hooded styles, wide lapels and colours are ideal.
6. Neat Hourglass Body Shape
Choose what you like best since you can wear any style.
7. Full Hourglass Body shape
Opt for fitted styles that follow your body shape . Avoid any clutter – you don’t need it.
More wardrobe ideas for a working wardrobe for a working princess:
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Michaela
These days it is not easy to be Kate Middleton. Everyone knows better and has a point of view how she should dress- including me. I do understand she doesn’t want to make a mistake or put a wfoot wrong- especially not before the wedding. But I think she would enjoy fashion more if she starts to dress more her age and her personality rather trying to please everyone. She has every right to experiment and workout what works for her, occasion and her new role. Apparently she has a great sense of humour- hopefully we will start to see soon the real her!
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Michaela
Scarves are the perfect accessory to spring up your outfit. .Scarves will pull the whole outfit together with style, design and colour. Plus they are very versatile since they can be turned into any number of shapes and designs to accompany your clothes for any occasion.
Important here is who can wear which style, type and length of a scarf. Scarves attract focus and attention to you, so you want to make sure it is complementing your body shape.
Best practice who can wear which type of scarf
Experiment with scarf lengths to find the right size appropriate for your body shape. Scarf lengths can be determined by the amount of folds there are, knots made, how many times it goes into self-made loops, and so on. For example, you can make one side shorter than the other, or have crisscross patterns for special lengths.
Michaela
Kate Middleton has a lean column body shape, so she needs to create curves and volume. Here are more outfit suggestions for upcoming royal engagements:
Michaela
Kate’s confirmed her style personality at her first outing with Prince William at a charity event in December when wearing a black white Temperley London dress.
She loves to add a modern touch to retro outfits. So, here is Kate’s new wardrobe for various occasions:
Michaela
Every year it seems that the same Top Ten New Year resolutions crop up. Why? Because they are just so hard to keep! So, this year let’s try to make them count! Year after year we start the year with good intentions, resolutions- our commandments. Unfortunately some of them get lost as the year goes on.
But this year will be different, because the key is to avoid making the mistakes that cause failure like setting the long term goal so far away that we will give up before reaching it. So, instead of making New Year’s resolutions or commandments let’s go with decisions in 2011. Decisions are final and is easier to act on what will help us to succeed.
Some women look always great no matter the size they are, they are ( almost always) happy, rarely get sick and are always fizzing with energy, they don’t gain weight or lose memory .
So what’s their secret?
1. Like yourself: “The sooner you become your own best friend, the better live will be“- Diane von Fuerstenberg
There is no point of dwelling I wish I would be taller, younger etc and losing all the energy on the wrong factors. Accept who you are! If you don’t like your weight- this is in most cases- something you can change- then do ” walk the talk rather talk the walk”. Otherwise make the best out of your size since there are so many retailers out there who provide fashion options no matter what size you are.
2. Accept what you can’t change: “The key is being yourself. Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way to live”- Gianni Versace
Once you have accepted who are you will start to find things and features you love about yourself. You will start to dress for yourself, you will find your signature look and style personality- the result is that you will feel happy in yourself and with yourself- you will be true to yourself. All this will keep you motivated, positive – and fashion forward, because you know what works on you.
3. Be true too yourself: “‘How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone“- Coco Chanel.
Also, buy only clothes that fit you in the moment- never get trapped of buying clothes in a smaller size because you have plans to shed pounds or because you are dieting. That concept never works because firstly you tend too loose always weight in a different way and places, secondly don’t reward yourself before you have achieved your end goal. The risk of slipping is too great and last not least once you bought the item in question most women lose their will power to lose the weight to fit into that dress. So, better reward yourself for small achievements and buy always items that fits your current build, body shape and weight. Be someone rather trying to be someone you are not!!!
4. Stop to shop until you drop: “I am against fashion that doesn’t last. I cannot accept that you throw your clothes away just because it is spring”- Coco Chanel
Buy clothes that only work for you, your life style and budget. Meaning stop buying clothes you never wear because they are the wrong size, you don’t have an occasion for them to wear or because they are too expensive for the salary you make. Fashion is only fun when you start to build a workable wardrobe that consists of having clothes that work for your body shape, colouring, proportion, the life style you are leading and that you can afford! Make good investment buys rather than bad fashion buys.
5. Don’t get yourself in too much debt!:” Style is very different from fashion. Once you find something that works, keep it.”- Tom Ford
Fashion is just not worth it! They are just things, which are not as long lasting as it takes to pay back your credit card. We all know this feeling ” I am dying to have that dress”, ” I just needed to have this bag” or ” Every penny spent on those shoes are worth it”…unfortunately all not true. It is not that once you satisfied yourself with that purchase you stop shopping for more. No, there will be another item that you need because it will look great with what you bought before….and that is how it goes one. Break out of the devil circle by building a workable wardrobe where you only buy what you need to update or replace. You will see you have much more of your clothes because you start to work them by wearing them rather building up clutter of clothes that don’t work with each other or won’t work for most occasions.
6. Declutter your wardrobe! “When putting a wardrobe together, if your budget is limited, the most important thing is having the discipline to invest in one or two beautiful key pieces and mixing these with classic pieces. Plan your long-term wardrobe. Only buy pieces that you can’t live without; don’t be tempted by disposable”. Roland Mouret
Everyone is different in their needs, but keep in mind that changes in your lifestyle will affect your working wardrobe. So, before you start of thinking of planning your wardrobe, assess your lifestyle and what you need to wear. Start with a wardrobe audit and go through your clothes piece by piece, assessing whether they are the right colour and if they are right for your body shape, proportion and scale.Clothes that you don’t wear and which only have sentimental value should be put away out of your workable wardrobe. So, make room for clothes that complement you and the way you live. It is so therapeutic as well to get rid of “the old you” and make way for the ” new you”.
7. Be Fashion Forward- Say hello to Eco fashion and No to animal cruelty in the name of fashion!:” Now is the most exciting time in fashion. Women are controlling their destiny now, the consumer is more knowledgeable, and I have to be better every single day.”- Oscar de la Renta
It is time to be fashion savvy, knowing a little bit more about the label you buy- making a difference to our lives and how we live. Say Hello to Ethical fashion that it ethically sourced.Ethical fashion and ethical products should promote the use of environmentally-friendly materials & production processes, as well as providing good working conditions and a fair wage. As well say NO to real fur and buy faux fur instead. It is a big revival in fashion and it has never looked more chic or real than this time around by none other than Kate Moss. Other animal advocates are Stella McCartney and Bridget Bardot. It is without doubt the only way to go for fashion!D
8. Moderation is key for a balanced you! “Fashion is all about happiness. It’s fun. It’s important. But it’s not medicine.” Donatella Versace
Unfortunately most of us lead their lives in extremes at work or in our private lives or in the way we eat and drink. Either we work or party full on or we indulge ourselves without measures in food or/and drinks or we diet in excess. Therefore it shouldn’t come to us a surprise that such a life style doesn’t leave us damaged. Our body needs time to recover from work or play. So, build in some time to give your body and mind some time to recover and to re energise. You will feel better and look better rather worse to wear – no label in the world can and will change that.
9. Sleep, keep fit and eat well: “Mens sano in corpore sano”- (a healthy mind in a healthy body) is a famous Latin quotation, often translated as “A sound mind in a sound body.
Sleep will keep you balanced and calm, give you piece of mind, energise you and will help you to stay focus for the day. Plus it does wonder to your skin and digestion. Try to keep fit and to increase your activity by incorporating exercises into your daily routine e.g. using the stairs instead the lift, walking the kids to school, take the bicycle to work instead the car or get off 1 or 2 tube stop before your final destination. Why not keeping the same standard of high quality and labels in clothes as well in food? I never understood how some have high standards in clothes labels but none in food and opt for junk food or settle for bad quality in food. Eating bad food will show! There is no way of hiding no matter how much money you spend to try to hide it. So, do a U- turn and be good to your inner self by eating well, keeping fit and sleeping enough hours to feel energised, healthy and look your best.
10. Wear the right colour: The best colour in the whole world is the one looks good on you.”- Coco Chanel
Dressing in the right colours can improve your self-esteem and confidence. It’s an easy way to look good, feel good and co-ordinate your wardrobe. Not only that but wearing the right colours can help you achieve a younger, healthier and groomed look without having to resort to drastic measures. In business first impressions count and these are often based on your outward appearance.
Colour has a definite psychological and emotional impact on us. Being aware of the emotional impact that the colours you wear will have on others is an important consideration and can affect the people with whom you are meeting
We are all leading a busy life style, where it is difficult to carve out some time for yourself. But it is important to find time to yourself and for yourself! Get some “me time”, which means to every woman something different. It will make you feel calmer, balanced and happier when interacting with family, friends and the outside world.
Food of thought for 2011: :“I don’t understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little – if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that’s the day she has a date with destiny. And it’s best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.” – Coco Chanel
Have a great 2011,
Michaela
Each area of London has its own chic, look and style personality. They live, eat, drink, buy and listen to different music as well they have different style icons they look up to.
Here is a fashion compass of what to wear where from the East to the West, from the North to the South of London:
East London Girl
It it the living ground of creative minds like artists, architects, fashion designers, musos. The aim is to be someone with an individual look and their own unmistakable style personality. This is the group that starts trends. They have an undying love for printed T-shirts, leather or biker jackets.
Style Icons
Fashion buys:
West London Girl
Quite the opposite is here the case. Most important thing is to show and let everyone know that you are part of a selected group-”the it” group. It is the the playing ground of all ” limited editions” in fashion! Therefore you need to apply the key looks to be recognised as such- e.g.the glossy long hair, legs, latest “it” bag and sunglasses. This is the group that adds the polished “it” stamp on a trend.
Style Icons
Fashion buys
North London Girl Their look is dressed down, no fuss or attention seeking. It is about tuning in rather standing out- being part of a tribe. Though not recognisable from the outside the clothes are from expensive labels. It is about conscious living. Mantra: “A healthy mind lives in a healthy body”. This is the group that takes a trend to the “streets of London”- make it wearable in our daily lifes. They are inseparable from their skinny jeans, boots and trainers.
Fashion buys
South London Girl
Think bohemian, avant-garde fashion and vintage clothing. Retro is king and making it to your daily staple wardrobe is queen. Simply it is the breeding ground of the English eccentric. This is the group that mix matches old with new trends. Embellished tops, double breasted jackets or coats, floral print and horizontal stripes can be always found in their wardrobes.
Icons
Fashion buys
Michaela
Michaela has a unique range of experiences from the fashion , media and design industry in London , New York , Milan and Prague . She was the MD of Cosmopolitan in Prague where she deepened her passion for colour and style. In 2005 she founded one of the leading colour and style consultancies Joy of Colour www.joyofcolour.com . Joy of Clothes aims to share her experience with a wider audience.
Michaela believes that everyone is different and they should build on their own unique DNA rather than try to be a bad copy of someone elses. Nowadays there are so many fashion trends co-existing that there is something suitable for everyone. Michaela advises against following every single fashion trend . Dressing with style needs strategy and an understanding of your colouring and body shape . Joy of Clothes aims to make it easy for you to identify the fashion that works for you and your life style.
