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
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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

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
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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

Summers 10 Must haves. Do we agree?

Fashion NZ (www.fashionz.co.nz) released its '10 Summer Must-Haves' list and I was curious to see if I agreed.

1. A cute Crochet top - personally, this is something I will leave to the 'youngins'. Its a season piece and will be gone in the shake of a lambs tail! I do like lace as an alternative and feel that has a lot more longevity in the fashion stakes.

2. Coloured skinny jeans. Completely agree. What fun! I already have 3 pairs and thinks this is a great, fun way of wear trousers or using them as leggings under longer tops and tunics.

3. A colourful, light weight printed scarf - again agree. Scarves are great. Check out www.wardrobeflair.com for some fun ones. Also check out our youtube video on how to tie them! www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFuFgADvaAI

4. 4. Bright polishes! - again, its all about having a bit of fun. So go for it.

5. A light, floaty maxi dress or skirt - I'm a fan, but I am also tall. Maxi dresses/skirts are great but I would advise anyone under 5ft 4 or 160 that it may 'drown' their frames a little. This is definitely better on average to taller women.

6. A Printed Mini-Dress - this will depend on three factors. Your AGE, your SHAPE and how you WEAR it (i.e alone or with leggings)

7. A great pair of short-shorts - see youngins again.

8. Something stripy - absolutely. I love stripes and I love the variety of stripes this season. Up, down, all around. All are good. Medium sized are brilliant, go striped blazers, unders, dresses, singlets. So many options, a must have!

9. Animal print - I like a bit of animal print. But it IS a small print so be careful it doesn't make you feel larger if it doesn't FIT your body size. Cools go with grey print, warms, brown. And remember, less is more!

10. Espadrilles - I love espadrilles and wedges. That are so fab. Giving you COMFORTABLE height. Lovely.

So those are my thoughts. Love to hear yours.

Stay colourful

Trudi
www.wardrobeflair.com
www.facebook.com/WardrobeFlair
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Wardrobe Flair and Bikram Yoga - a perfect fit!

Odd you may say that I make such a statement? But it is true! When I look around the Bikram Yoga studio http://www.bikramyoga.co.nz/page/home.aspx, I see the same demographic of people that Sarah and I see each week.

Mostly women, quite a few men and more importantly, every size, shape, age and nationality. It's a truly diverse place where you find the range of people interesting and inspiring. There are no boundaries or barriers to Bikram Yoga, anyone can do it. Likewise there are no boundaries to being Wardrobe Flaired! www.wardrobeflair.com

The beauty of our profession as wardrobe and image consultants is this diversity. The misconception has always been that we see rich, thin people who love to shop and have lots of money. Let me tell you, it is very rare we see people who love to shop. In fact I think Sarah would agree with me we mainly see those who say "I hate shopping". As to all the other factors in the statement, again the majority of who we see do not come under these 'headers' as such.

When I talk to people about doing Bikram Yoga, they always say 'oh I can't do that, I'm not very flexible". My answer is always the same, 'neither am I, and that is WHY I do it!" Other than for the many other amazing benefits.

I spoke with the owner of Bikram Yoga Wellington this week about running a workshop for the students and we are all set to go. Bikram Yoga inspires me with its diversity of people and the different benefits it gives to everyone. I hope that my workshop will inspire the fellow students and other people who come along to realise everyone struggles with colours, shapes, coordinating outfits or shopping.

And like anyone can do Bikram Yoga, anyone can look gorgeous!

Stay colourful, warm and bendy!

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

Pretty patterns

Patterns, so many people are so scared of them! Don't be. They are amazing and suit everyone. This season we have a plethora of pattern. Best of all it comes in every shape, size and style.

This season we have two patterns that I find 'come around' most years. Stripes and animal print. What I like about this season's stripes, is that they are little more of a medium width, and therefore more flattering to the 'medium sized' woman. There is usual navy and white that is rather common when each year we have a burst of 'nautical'. This year there are many colours, not all are vertical OR horizontal -which for the record do NOT make you look fat. Some are swooping up into a point - see the attached photo of the current David Lawrence dress that we here at www.wardrobeflair.com.LOVE.


Other patterns big this season include polka dots - big and small, graphic prints (see Robyn Mathieson dress also attached), brush strokes and the very popular floral print.

The floral prints are riding the current 'ladylike' trend and can be found in larger, medium and smaller versions. Those of you scared of floral or pattern, have lots of choice this year. You can jump on to the patterned highway, or ease in with a dress that maybe has a little bit of pattern at the bottom, leaving most of the top 'safe'.

Anyone who feels they have any type of tummy issues, should embrace pattern. It really does distract the eye and does wonders for 'lumps and bumps. Rule of thumb is to get the pattern that fits your body shape. If small go for small-medium. If Medium stick with medium pattern, larger on larger frames only.

Enjoy, it's a wonderful season. Stay patterned and colourful!!!

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