Green - great or gross?

I know these seems like a bizarre post. About a colour? But over the many years of looking through people's wardrobes and hearing reactions to certain colours and shapes, what stands out is that SO MANY people have a real dislike/hatred/phobia towards the colour green.

I can almost guarantee you that at some stage this week, I shall drape a green cloth over someone and they will say 'oh yuck green, I never wear green, I just really don't like that colour."

Why is this? If I ever went back to school to study, I would do a thesis on why people dislike the colour green. What most people don't realise about colour is that there is a warm and cool counterpart. If you drape a cool tone in a warm khaki green they stick their tongue out and pull a face. They should! It looks awful. HOWEVER if we drape them in a bright, clear green, it looks amazing.

Here are 2 of my rather silly theories about why people don't wear green.
1. Too many of us had green uniforms for school. It put us off. We had to wear it for so many years we had a lifetimes worth of green.
2. NZ is a very green country. Maybe we don't want to blend into the bushes? (I know this is getting silly... but there has GOT to be a reason!)

If anyone else has any other theories as to why people dislike green, send them to me. I am strangely interested in the weirdness of this! I almost feel like I have to get to the bottom of it. The people who say they don't like green often can't tell me why. But then they see the RIGHT green on and can SEE it look great, but they still struggle with it. Its like its ingrained in them that they can't wear it? Strange but true.

Me, I LOVE green. The reason is that I have hazel/green eyes. When I wear green it makes them look greener. I also LOVE green on people with blue eyes. I believe it even looks better than blue on blue-eyed people. Its the contrast of the blue eyes on green near the face. Looks sensational.

So people of NZ. Wear more green!!! there is the right green for you out there. You won't blend into the forest - unless you are in camouflage gear and NEED to blend in.
www.wardrobeflair.com

Banish those bingo wings

Have you ever been waving friends off from the driveway and while you stop waving, your upper arms continue on? Hmmmm. Many of us have. It was never a surprise to me after nearly five years of talking to people about their body shape, that one of the most disliked part of the body is the upper arms.

So many women would not even look at a sleeveless top. To them, its just not an option. That saddened me as there are so many lovely sleeveless tops and dresses out there. Step forth the humble tie cardigan.

In particular a nice little three-quarter sleeve version, with the right length - please do not pull your tie cardigan tight up under your chest..... it ends up cupping your boobs and becoming too much of a focus. The tie needs to knot at the middle of your tummy, and not have TOO much material. Get it right and the tie actually distracts the eye over any fuller tummies. Get it wrong and it adds the dreaded bulk we talk so much about not added to areas that don't need it.

Around this time of year there are a few options around in the shops. But do be aware of the above rules. Some will fall down in these areas. If you are unable to find a great tie cardigan (everyone needs at LEAST one in their wardrobe) then check out my site www.wardrobeflair.com I searched long and hard to find these tie cardigans.

Firstly they are one size fits all. I have size 6 clients and size 20 clients easily fit them. They have three-quarter sleeves and come down to a good length, without too much material. One of the reasons I love these so much - yes my darling husband I DO need 5 in my wardrobe - is because they are fitted at the waist. They just cling in the right places. Always giving you that all important indentation.

If you were buying one in the shops, go for that easy base colour that will go with all your other colours. Grey or dark blue for cool tones and brown or khaki for the warmies. If you need more than one, then a base colour plus a vibrant colour would be ideal.

My bum looks brilliant in this

Karen Nimmo's psychology for weight loss is very much in synch with what my psychology would be on how people dress themselves - if I was a psychologist! I do not profess to being one, but I do get to see the inner workings of many people's minds in relation to their perception of their body image.

Written in a logical and somewhat light-hearted way, Karen challenges you to look at the big picture, or "the whole package". I completely agree and often find myself telling people the same thing regarding their body shape and colouring.

Part of my business is about giving people the tools to understand their shape and balance out different parts of their body. Ideally people's eyes glide over someone and see a great outfit that fits their body shape and excellent colour making them sparkle with confidence.

The reality is the people you meet are not stopping for a whole 10 minutes to stare at your bum/hips/stomach. They give you a staggering 3-5 seconds during which time they have scanned 'the whole package' and have an impression of you.

Karen's message is clear that if you focus your energy on your full potential of being a happy, fun, interesting person, the weight loss can become an added bonus. We all need to try to be the best we can be, and use tools to look the best we can look. Both will give you confidence that in my experience - as in Karen's - has a wonderful snowball effect on the rest of your life.

Great book Karen!
www.wardrobeflair.com

FIN Clothing moving

Just a little update about FIN Clothing - a great NZ company whose trousers and skirts have excellent cuts.

"Hi Trudi, went into FIN in Lower Hutt on Saturday (on your recommendation) and bought a great skirt - I'm not sure if you knew they are moving to Newtown. Just thought I'd let you know in case you weren't aware."


FIN also have a store on Cuba Mall as well. Its great to support NZ fashion. I have a FIN denim skirt and pair of trousers that I love.

Thanks to my client who sent me the update. I am always wanting to hear about clothing stores or items that you have found or like.

www.wardrobeflair.com

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Isn't it lovely when spring is in the air? Especially when you head into the shops with SO many beautiful colours!

This season is very much about pretty, feminine, floaty, floral and frills. Lots of Fs! Most of these styles can be adapted to suit most bodies, you just need to know what you are looking for and WHY it suits your shape.

Those dreaded three-quarter and five eighths trousers everywhere. Be careful of those lengths!! Those under 5ft 5 or 160cm need to adhere to the rule of keeping those three-quarter pants at just below the knee. If they fit well up around the waist and bum, then just have them shortened. Trust me, it makes all the difference to get that length right!

There are lots of long, hanging cardigans around at the moment. Beware the 'lost waist'. Remember that when that best part is gone, you will look bigger. So if you can (because you are taller) wear the longer cardigan, then make sure it clings nicely to your form showing your waist. Otherwise there are lots of other cardigan options. One I really like is the bolero. This suits pretty much most people and because of its cut (its the cardigan that covers your arms but then cuts away just under the armpit). This allows for all the lovely beading and intricate details of necklines to be shown and not hidden by other types of cardigan. The good old tie cardigan is also a fab option - if you can't find one in the shops, check out www.wardrobeflair.com as all our accessories are now online!

Over dresses and tunics are HUGE this season. Many are very billowy, so make sure you get that nice wide belt and clinch that waist in. Also make sure the line of the tunic does not cut straight across the widest part of your thighs.

Finally, the maxi dress continues on again this season. There are so really pretty ones around and its all about assessing them individually. The straps, the neckline, the pattern. Do they fit your body size?.www.wardrobeflair.com

To whom it may concern

Dear person who decides what colours will be in this season.

On behalf of all the cool-toned people out there, I would like to thank you for this seasons colours. In particular the luscious lemons and apple greens. Added to those are some bright pinks, soft greys and bold blues. It lovely to walk into shops and see the plethora of colours, and even more so to see people wearing them!

However I must have a word with you about us 'warmies'. Yes the cappuccino browns around are very pretty, and the small bursts of burnt orange are always welcome. But what has become of the gold and mustards, the flood of cerise limey green that the fashion pundits have been saying will be coming? Where are they?

As are warmie myself and having had to use words to describe our colours to my fellow warm-tones such as 'dusky, sludgy, muddy and murky' I think it only fair that you deliver some bright, sparkling warm tones to this seasons palette.

Thank you for your kind considering and please feel free to flood the shops with these said colours. I look forward to seeing both warm and cool-tones fully decked out in an awesome array of summer colours.

Yours faithfully
Trudi Bennett.
www.wardrobeflair.com