Sizzling summer shorts

During a usual Wardrobe Flair wardrobe session, every time I say to someone 'so where are your shorts for this summer?" they look at me like I just said "hey, are you going dance naked in the rain later?". The nose screws up, and the face is pulled. Nearly as often as when I say 'ok, so lets talk about your body shape", but not QUITE.

For those of you with children who will run around with them these holidays at beaches and parks, you need shorts! But I don't mean daisy dukes, trust me. I also don't generally mean anything that is above the knee (unless you are under 5.2 OR a spring chicken in age).

Many NZ women wear the dreaded 3/4 trousers and feel they are practical (yet frumpy and cut you off at the wrong spot). So all I'm saying is, shorten those so called 3/4 trousers to be just under your knee and you are good to go. Seriously, it will make the world of difference to your outfit, and your leg length!

This season you have two shape options. Fitted (like Capri type shorts/trousers) or wider leg. If you are going for the safe look the wider leg shorts will balance out any hips or larger chests, will be flattering and practical. I think a denim pair is an essential part of most people's wardrobe (men and women).


If you are wanting to be a little more 'on trend' then think about a more fitted pair. These are great teamed with a slightly longer top or tunic dress. If you do have a bigger bust and hips, then beware that tapered look, and make sure you balance yourself out with the top or tunic dress.

Other than denim I think a white pair is a great option for the cool tones (remember tonal flow people!!) and if you have no idea what I am talking about then you need to book a session with www.wardrobeflair.com STAT! For the warmies, a nice stony or lighter brown would be fab.

Make sure your T-shirt is the right neckline, fit and a fabulous colour and you will be kitted out at your very best this summer. Enjoy yourself and have a great summer.

Stay colourful!

Trudi
www.wardrobeflair.com
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Dear Santa

Dear Santa

We at www.wardrobeflair.com have had a really fantastic year. Other than lots of exciting media opportunities - 8 stints on Good Morning for TVNZ and the same amount of panel sessions on Sean Plunket's Friday Face Off on Newstalk ZB - our favourite bits have been meeting the wonderful men and women of NZ and helping them with their confidence.

For Christmas this year we hope that all those people who we have helped enjoy a new and exciting outlook on life looking, therefore feeling, terrific. We hope they continue to share our love of complimentary tones and brings smiles to themselves and others because of this burst of colour happiness.

We wish them joy, happiness, laughter, love and a safe, prosperous and exciting 2012. We hope that all those who have doubts about their bodies are able to see that while one size does not fit all, all are beautiful and blessed with health.

As one wise young lady recently said to Trudi "when I feel down about the size of my thighs, I remind myself that at least my legs work!". Perspective is a wonderful thing.

Santa, we are a happy little company and when we see people accept what they have and dress to suit their colouring and shape right now - not in 5 or 10 kg's time - then we feel our work is done.

For Xmas please send our thanks and regards to our clients, they are the reason we do what we do and why we love it. They support us, they refer us, they let us into their homes, their lives, their wardrobes, their insecurities. They are a brave bunch.

Merry Xmas to all. Stay safe and colourful and we look forward to meeting many more of your friends, family and loved ones in 2012.

Trudi & Sarah xx
www.wardrobeflair.com
www.facebook.com/WardrobeFlair

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New Season Shopping time

Do you have time to shop each season? Not many people say 'yes'. Those that love to shop are fine, but for the people that Wardrobe Flair see each day, shopping is described as 'a nightmare' a 'hated chore' and 'lots of stress'.

We understand. So many people panic buy. Then never really wear the piece. Then feel guilt having spent the money and not wearing it, so leave it to languish in their wardrobe for months if not years.

Wouldn't it be nice to pick a up few 'bits and pieces' each season that you feel good in and make you feel like you are enjoying fashion and taking advantage of the styles and colours that suit you? I think the answer to this is 'yes!".

At www.wardrobeflair.com we now provide a service that allows this. If you know your colour palette (whether done via us or others) then you can sign up from our website. We let you know the colours that suit you that are coming for that season and more importantly WHERE to find both classic and funky items in the actual shops.

Let us do the hard work for you. We go into all shops, from high end to medium to lower end so that it suits any budget. We cover the coming trends, what to look for, what to be wary of and HOW to wear these trends.

For $27 (via www.wardrobeflair.com) you can sit back and wait till our email hits your inbox with all the suggestions we have. You can then print this off and use it to shop for what you need that season. This small payment gets you 3 newsletters. Spring, Summer and Autumn/Winter.

The summer edition is due out in December. Sign up now and get this newsletter, then you will also receive Autumn/Winter 2012 and Spring 2012. We don't want you to struggle any longer. Do something great for yourself today.

Stay colourful

Trudi
www.wardrobeflair.com
www.facebook.com/WardrobeFlair

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New Year Resolutions

So it is nearly the end of the year. And what an interesting one it has been. So many people have experienced quite an extreme year of highs and lows. The last 6 weeks before Xmas, certainly for those of us who have children are a frantic race between children's events, Xmas shopping, planning, working and attending parties and functions.

So needless to say when you get to catch your breath (probably January at this stage) it is a good time to reflect on the past year and make some decisions about the new year. As a rule, new years resolutions are usually based on food/drink/bad habits. How often do we stick to these? Not often.

I suggest a much better approach and that is to think of one physical goal that is achievable (small amount of exercise?) trying something new (indoor netball, yoga) a professional goal - how you are going to do something a little better/faster easier this year and finally a personal goal.

For the personal goal it can be about being more patient, being more open to trying new things or getting down to solving some problem you have struggled with. I meet many men and women who have struggled with clothes, their shape, their colours and feeling frumpy and 'lost' when it comes to their personal appearance.

One of the best parts of this job is seeing the relief people's faces when they know a) MANY people struggle with this b) it CAN be solved and made easier c) they come away from a shop with clothes that mix and match and go together to last them for the next few seasons and beyond.

We can't promise you that you will magically love shopping. What we can promise is that it WILL be easier, it will take you less time and you will get up in the morning and have a wardrobe that all goes together and that you feel REALLY GOOD in. Whether it's a great pair of jeans or a structured work outfit.

All those things that bamboozle you such as accessories, which colours go with what, what SHOES do you wear with those skirts are answered. You can attend that function, evening out with a great party dress or smart blazer and jeans.

By solving those problems you will free you up to put your energy into all those other things you want to achieve in 2012. You can look and feel great NO MATTER what size or shape you are. Make the decision to do something for YOURSELF in 2012. Life is short and precious. We are a great Xmas gift to YOU. www.wardrobeflair.com

Stay colourful!

Trudi
www.wardrobeflair.com
www.facebook.com/WardrobeFlair
Twitter/wardrobeflair

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Blazing through Spring and Summer

I'm a big fan of blazers. What is with this obsession you ask? A well cut blazer is a little gem in the wardrobe. For both men and women.

Being the practical sort of gal that I am, I do like a piece that can be used in various different ways. Work, casual, with a dress, with trousers, or jeans (this has a green eggs and ham ring to it!)

Floaty dresses teamed with a blazer are very trendy right now. Wearing one for work with a skirt or trousers is great for this time of the year. Many blazers this season have long or three-quarter sleeves and therefore can be used during summer.

A blazer worn with a fabulous pair of jeans and a great top (floaty, sequinned, or a plain singlet with a great accessory). Any look you want to achieve can be achieved using a blazer.

Best of all, the blazer's structure suits the curvy girl perfectly. Always single breasted, they cut through the chest area minimizing it, whilst nipping in the waist and promoting that ultimate shape, the hourglass.

Rules for wearing blazers are as follows: 1. They must have a button or clasp of some sort to be able to be nipped in or you may in fact lose that previous waist outline. 2. Length, be careful, too long and it will wear you!! This is one piece that does need to have a classic cut.

However Classic need not be 'boring'. Just because it has a classic cut, lets go a little more interesting with colour, pattern or texture! I LOVE the navy and white striped blazers I am seeing in Just Jeans and Esprit. I am also loving the fabulously bright coloured blazers in many mainstream shops. Hot pink (in Dotti) for the brave, lots of cobalt blue and emerald greens around too. Lovely brown toned one in Jacqui E at the moment.

So this season. Go for it. You will not regret getting a blazer, they are staples and so very versatile. If you need help choosing one, then give us a call www.wardrobeflair.comand we can take you out to the shops and show you just which one is best for you.

Stay colourful!

Trudi
www.wardrobeflair.com
www.facebook.com/WardrobeFlair
Twitter/wardrobeflair

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BLACK - Ban it or celebrate it?

Let's be honest folks, on the rugby field this truly is the ONLY colour that really wins and looks good! I stand behind the All Blacks all the way and do honestly believe we have the best colour (sexy, fierce and MOSTLY flattering for skin tones) on our boys.

In the street it is another story. The Dom Post put a tweet out @DomPost saying Is Wellington fashion all Black? We all know it's known as "Lambton Quay Black". Here is MY struggle with black - my opinion and after 6 years of converting people FROM black to colour, I think I understand this colour more than many.

A LOT of people don't suit it. It can make you look tired and old. Most older women or those that feel self conscious about their weight find black a 'safety blanket' that keeps them blended into the crowd. It is making most of them look older and blending into the crowd can make confidence levels plummet.

It is only a slimming colour when worn all over. But any other block colour will do the same. So here is the deal, choose black as a block colour and you may look thinner, but you might also be looking older? Why make the sacrifice when you can look thinner wearing another block colour AND look younger with the colour up near your face?

Wearing black to weddings is inappropriate. This is a CELEBRATION, not a funeral.

Black in summer is strange on two levels. Not only does it make you hotter (and I mean sweating, not sexy!!) it looks grim and morbid on a sunny day.

Come on Wellington. I love this city! It is vibrant, cultural, interesting, quirky, bright and very beautiful. Why can we not reflect this on the streets? If this blog strikes a cord in you and this summer you are determined to get OUT OF BLACK (other than when cheering on our team!!) then call or email us www.wardrobeflair.com
We KNOW it's scary and hard to know what to do. We would love to help you.

Stay colourful!

Trudi
www.wardrobeflair.com
www.facebook.com/WardrobeFlair
Twitter/wardrobeflair

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Fashion Fun

How do you make fashion a little more fun if you are a wee bit scared about it? Well I think there are three easy ways.

Number 1 is accessories. Even if you don't change what you are wearing so much, add a chunky necklace or bracelet and it honestly does make a huge difference. You look modernised. You are saying "hey, I don't care this isn't gold or silver, I'm just having a bit of fun". Get those fabulous, easy, inexpensive bits and pieces from www.wardrobeflair.com trust me when I say you will be AMAZED by the compliments you get.

Secondly, be brave with colour. The first step is using a base colour (grey or brown) depending on your palette and adding a 'pop' colour to it. This is the safest scenario. If you feel a bit braver, 'clash' a couple of your colours. For warmies I do plum and chartreuse a lot. Teal and khaki, mustard and burnt orange. For cool colours I like blue and green, think colours of the sea. I love turquoise and lemon. Pink and purple. Be adventurous and again, reap the rewards of confidence from all the compliments you will receive.

Lastly, how about some patterns. Stripes are a no fail way of adding some 'zing' to your wardrobe. Florals are pretty, geometrics are bold and confident. You don't have to do a full body of it (in fact you shouldn't unless it is a dress). But do add SOMETHING. It might even just be a striped scarf. It's up to you how you add it, but patterns are flattering, slimming and funky.

All three of these options and www.wardrobeflair.com might be out of business! Let us show you how to do it.

Stay colourful, especially during Spring!!!

Trudi
www.wardrobeflair.com
www.facebook.com/WardrobeFlair
Twitter/wardrobeflair

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