3 Worst Fashion Blunders

1. Trapped in the Past: If you are holding on to clothes or hairdos from the past that you can’t let go, now is the time to give them up. Worst yet, if you have a closet full of clothes that you haven’t worn in years that you keep telling yourself you will fit into again you are deluding yourself. Your wardrobe will never be functional until you purge yourself of all outdated and ill-fitting items.

2. Devaluing & Judging: Stylish, well-dressed women come in different heights, shapes and sizes. Unlike her counterpart who frets over not fitting into the ‘perfect’ dress size, a well-dressed, confident woman takes care of the body she was born into and buys clothing styles that complement it. Comparing your body to how it looked twenty years ago or to the latest ‘hot’ model or actor is not only a fashion disaster; it is also a recipe for depression. Beauty is an inside job and women who are not on a quest for perfection automatically become more attractive.

Right now, stop waiting to lose those extra pounds or rid yourself of those new facial lines before you can buy that wow outfit; embrace who you are and the body you have. Treat your body with respect, dress it with appreciation, live in the present and stop worshiping unrealistic expectations.

3. Denial: There are quite a few women who a have deluded themselves into believing that appearance is not important. For some reason they have equated looking great with selfishness. Dressing your body is an act of self care and it shows that you appreciate yourself and your body enough to make it look as good as it can. Clothes are a necessity– we can’t go out without them. It makes sense then, to take care and put effort into choosing the best styles, colors and fabrics that make us feel wonderful.

3 Tricks to Look Slimmer - The Art of Creating Illusions

What comes to mind when you think of ‘creating illusions?’ If you’re like most people you probably think of magicians and tricks. Illusions are created with art, photographs and with clothing. Don’t underestimate how much better you can look simply by wearing the right combination of lines. No matter what your size, choosing clothing with flattering lines will make your body look better instantly.

If you’ve gained a few pounds over the holidays that you’d like to hide while you are in the process of getting rid of them, I have a few ideas you can use to trick the eye and make you appear slimmer.

1. Lines: The eye naturally follows lines and all clothing has lines. The lines in clothing are necklines, pockets, sleeves, hems, etc. For example, a sweater that has v-neckline will draw the eye downward creating a long line, the look of a longer neck, longer face and slimmer upper body. By contrast a turtleneck creates a short, horizontal line that stops eye and makes the face appear fuller, the upper body bigger and the neck shorter. Using this concept alone you can create a slimmer upper body by sticking to tops with vertical lines that create the look of length; and by stashing the turtlenecks until you feel a little slimmer.

2. Color: A basic rule of color is that black recedes and white advances. In clothing this is important because it means that darker colors will make the wearer appear smaller and lighter clothing will make the wearer look larger. Wearing black to look slimmer is a trick that has sometimes been over used. Black does have a slimming effect but too much black can be dreary and create a washed out look if the proper makeup is not worn.

Sometimes women who want to look smaller try squeezing into a smaller size which defeats the purpose. Tight clothing will always make you look larger. It is much more flattering to wear clothing that fits well and glides over the body rather that sticking to it. Wear dark colors on the places you want to appear smaller but be sure not to wear them tight. For example, if you are a triangle shape with a larger lower body than upper body and you want your lower body to appear smaller, wear a light color top with dark pants or skirt. For an overall taller and slimmer look, dress in the same color (or shades of the same color) from head to toe.

3. Proportion and Scale: A simple explanation of proportion and scale is that an object seen next to other objects appears either larger or smaller depending on the size of the objects that appear next to them. The size of a handbag in relation to the woman carrying it is a good example of this. A large woman carrying a small handbag will appear larger. To avoid looking larger when wearing prints, keep them in proportion to your size.

Would you like to learn more about how to use the lines
in clothing to your advantage? Sign up for my ecourse -
Style and Fashion - The Art of Creating Illusions.

Style and Fashion E-course

Beauty from the Inside Out

Are you tired of trying diet after diet and either not being able to lose or losing weight and gaining it back?

Since we all know that diets don’t work wouldn’t you like to learn how reach a weight where you feel comfortable, healthy and in love (or at least ‘like’) with your body without having to give up or drastically cut down your eating?

I am offering a wonderful program that will help you learn more about how to get your body healthy and in the condition you want and help you overcome any obstacles that are associated with getting you there.

The goal of the group is to provide a safe place to meet, learn, set goals and get motivation in attaining a healthy body weight and learn how to feel good about the body you have.

The group coaching class will consist of six interactive sessions that will occur over the telephone with a small group of ten people. Sheila will create a supportive learning environment that will provide participants with the opportunity to explore together issues of reaching and maintaining a healthy body weight, being in good physical condition and having a healthy body image.

You, as a participant, will be guided through a participatory process of exploring where you are presently, clarifying desired outcomes, identifying the obstacles to success and establishing an effective action plan to move ahead.

How it works:
You will meet other participants via a group forum ahead a few days before the conference begins.

You will be emailed a teleconference phone number to call at a specified time, once a week for six weeks, where you will be greeted by me and the group. Each week I will bring information regarding a specific topic to the group and you, along with all participants will have the opportunity ask questions and express your relationship to the topic.

The teleconference offers the benefit of coming to the group as casual as you want in the comfort of your own home or office.

*Important The group is limited to ten participants; therefore, in order to maintain an effective group coaching experience I am accepting participants who are:

Positive
Punctual
Open-minded
Dedicated ( who will attend all sessions, participate and set goals)
Confidential


*Topics: Exercise and How it Works, Getting and Staying Motivated, Reducing Stress, Eliminating Extra Calories Easily, How to fall in Love with Your Body, Beauty from the Inside Out

Fee: $97 for 6 weeks, one one-hour session per wk (introductory fee).
Regular price is $300

Meeting Dates: January 10, 17 &24 February 7, 14 &21 - 2009

Will Meet: Saturdays, 12 noon, EST

Sign Me Up

This group is closed. If you'd like to put your name on a waiting
list for the next one please email me at sheila@sheilasfashionsense.com

Handbag Rules

Accessories should be chosen with care and handbags are no exception. The right handbag can add instant pizzazz to your look. Smart women choose their handbags carefully and consciously match them with their outfit. Every woman should have at least one good quality classic handbag in a neutral color. This handbag shouldn’t stand out as being in the latest style but shouldn’t be outdated either. Here are other tips:

1. Your bag should match your outfit. This means that printed or embellished bags should be worn with plain colors. For example, if you are wearing a plain brown jacket and plaid brown pants the handbag you carry should be in a plain color. Any sort of decoration on a bag will clash and look gaudy.

2. Your bag should also match your outfit in weight. Heavy bags should be worn with heavy clothing and lighter bags with lighter clothing. Your bag should also match your outfit in style as well. For example, a casual bag goes with casual clothes.

3. Your bag should be in proportion with your size. Large women look better carrying large bags and small women look better with smaller bags. A small woman will be over powered with a large bag as large women will appear larger carrying a tiny bag. To make sure your bag is proportion to your size look in the mirror.

More Fashion

Could You Be Damaging Your Skin?

I will be bold enough to say that, “all women want clear, smooth skin”. The fact of the matter is that most women can have great skin if they dedicate themselves to self-care.

Clear skin is not necessarily young skin, it is skin that looks and feels healthy. It is the result of great self-care. A woman who has great skin is someone who knows that what she puts into her body has a direct influence on how her skin looks and feels. She takes care of her body by exercising regularly and avoids excess sweets and fats.

Although using good skin care will certainly improve the look and feel of your skin, it will not pay up for lack of proper self-care. Great skin comes from dedication to self-care. Self-care also means avoiding a chaotic lifestyle which involves getting little sleep, smoking, excessive drinking and sun exposure.

Sometimes women who take great care of themselves still make some skincare boo boos. Here are just a few:

1. Leaving Makeup On when going to bed is something that many women do without thinking. Missing this final step in a skincare routine can lead to blemishes.

2. Tugging on the Eye Area can damage the delicate area under the eye and cause premature wrinkling. Eye cream should be patted on around the eye area very gently.

3. Using Regular Body Soap on the face can be very drying. Use a cleansing cream that is specially formulated for your skin type.

'Never before has the attainment of a smooth, acne-free, youthful, and gorgeous complexion been as simple, as inexpensive as now'…

Check It out

Sheila's Fashion Sense

5 Ways to Luscious Hair after Summer Heat

Now that summer is drawing to a close have you noticed a change in how your hair feels or looks? Hair texture can change with the seasons, especially summer and winter. Spending time in the hot summer sun feels great but it can be damaging to your hair. Fixing dry frazzled hair or limp hair means making a few changes. Here are some hints that will help:

1. If you spent a lot of time in the sun and/ or in chlorinated water this summer your hair might be looking dry (chlorine is damaging). To get it back to looking its best use a deep conditioner. A deep conditioner helps reverse the damage done to hair. Salon product lines such as Matrix or Redken will have deep conditioners.

If you plan to continue to swim in chlorinated water and you want to prevent damage, start by wearing a bathing cap, apply a leave in conditioner to your hair before you swim and rinse your hair as soon as you leave the pool. If you choose to a use anti-chlorine shampoo only use it once a week because it can strip hair of essential oils.

2. Give your hair a break from blowing drying by letting your hair air dry a couple times a week – weekends for example.

3. Deep condition at least once a week.

4. If your scalp is itchy after spending time in the summer sun skip a few days between shampoos.

5. If you haven’t changed your shampoo and conditioner since last winter and you feel your hair is being weighed down try a lighter formula. Get a new hair style – cut it shorter if possible and start anew.

www.sheilasfashionsense.com

Effortless Dressing

Effortless Dressing means three things:

#1 means knowing how to shop to get the pieces that look great on you, you feel comfortable wearing, and doing it without stress. Many women, who dress well, do it at a cost. Others buy a lot of clothes but never feel they look good. They use excess energy and excess money. They create stress by buying the latest fashions as they are presented in the department store without knowing if the style is suitable for them. Even if the styles look great on them, and they seldom do, what happens with this method of shopping is being left with outfits that will grow old quickly and require that a whole new wardrobe be bought the next season. Lots of money gets spent with little to show for it. If the pieces weren’t the right style or fit, these pieces are hung in the closet never worn.

Many women like to shop for clothes but only when clothes fit properly and they know what will look great on them. Shopping is not a pleasure when nothing fits and you are unsure of suitable styles.

Knowing how to shop (to get what you want and need) will set you up with a closet full of clothes that you will love to wear.


# 2, means deciding in advance your best styles, your fashion personality and your lifestyle needs. When you know the styles that look best on you, your fashion personality and your lifestyle needs you are less likely to make purchases that take up room in your closet.

#3, means knowing where to shop to get your best styles and the best quality. Knowing where to shop saves a lot of time. Unless you have a lot of time to spare you won’t want to be wasting time running from store to store. Quality clothing, although it might cost more, will last longer and will hang better. Clothes that hang well are much more figure flattering.

Deciding what to wear in advance and not throwing things together makes dressing effortless. This however takes a little planning. Most people you meet during the day will not remember the specific outfit you wore but the overall impression your look created. And how you look depends on how much time was taken with your wardrobe. Spend the time up front to lessen early morning stress.

7 Fashion Blunders Guaranteed To Age You

1. Frumpy Handbag

When was the last time you bought a new handbag? If it wasn’t this year or last year, your handbag might need an update. Time and time again, women pay little attention to their handbags. They seldom update them or they update their handbag but don’t update their wardrobe.

If you are a busy woman, the last thing on your mind might be your handbag. However, if you want to look stylish pay particular attention to it. Your handbag(s) should coordinate with your outfit and be in proportion to your body size. You know you’re in trouble if your handbag in any way resembles your grandmother’s.

2. Perms

Tight frizzy perms will age you and outdate you in an instant. Keep your hairstyle current and in a style that suits your face shape.

3. Tiny gold chains

Small gold chains are outdated. You may have paid a lot of money for your chain or it might have sentimental value, but if you don’t want to age yourself, put it away. Choose accessories that are more fashionable.

4. Loafers

Loafers may be comfortable and you have probably become attached to them over the years, but let’s face it – they are aging. They pull you back into another decade.

5. Decorative Sweaters

Fancy embroidered sweaters will not only make you appear larger, they will add a few years on your age. Clean your closet and get rid of any such sweaters and replace them with a more fashionable type.

6. Elastic Waist Pants

When was the last time you saw a fashionable woman wearing pants with an elastic waist? The answer to that is, ‘never.” They may be more comfortable if you have gained a little weight – they will make you appear larger and ten years older.

7. Oversized Tops

Many women try to hide their bodies under clothing that is too large, thinking they will look slimmer. The opposite is true. Large shapeless tops will not only make you look bigger they will also make you look matronly. A top that is form fitting (not clingy) that rides over bumps is much younger looking and more slimming.

Pants That Look Great

Pants That Look Great

 

No matter what your size there are pants that will look great on you and

pants you should avoid. The problem with finding pants that fit well is

that we are all different. It isn't easy to slot yourself into a category of long

legs or short legs. You might have long legs and a thick waist or

long legs and a short waist. Or you could have short legs and thick thighs

or short legs and slim thighs. 

 

To find the best pants for you it's best to look at one aspect at a time. For

example, if you have short legs you will first want to find the styles that are

best for short legs. If that's it, then you're finished. If you have also have

large hips you'll want to find styles that are best for short legs and large

hips.  If you have short legs, large hips and a long waist then you have

more considerations. It's a matter of time and perserverance.

 

 

Lets look at some pant styles and determine which are best for you.

 

 

 

 

The Cropped Pant is best suited to those who have long slim legs

and want to make them look a little shorter. Avoid them if you have

short legs or large hips. The cropped style has a tendency to make

legs look shorter and hips look larger.

 

High Waist Pants: are perfect for those with a long waist. Your legs can be

large or small as long as your waist is slim and long. These pants will conceal

large thighs and make you look slimmer as long as you aren't carrying weight

around the waist. Usually a Triangle shape.

 

 

The Jumpsuit: Is great for those who want to

look slimmer. It will look great on those who are Triangle

shape( larger hips and small bust). If you are really slim,

you'll want to stay away from this style. 

 

 

 

Wide Leg Pants and Vest: This a great style for those who want to look great

and feel comfortable. The head-to-toe color is slimming and is great for the Oval,

Inverted and Hourglass body shapes. It is not flattering for the the Triangle and

Rectangle shapes.

©Copyright2008 Sheila Dicks

Styles from www.anntaylorloft.com and www.spiegel.com.

Is Your Hosiery Tying You Up in Knots?

When temperatures drop we need to dig out our hosiery. Since we are almost into the third month of winter you either have your hosiery under control or you are totally frustrated. If you are the type who never thinks about what you will wear the next day you probably, on occasion, have been irritated because you didn’t have the right color hose, the right type or no hose you could wear.
When you organize your hosiery you will never have this problem again. A large part of being well dressed is being organized, starting with your hosiery. Here are a few tips to get your hosiery under control.

1. Take inventory: Get rid of every pair of hose, tights, and socks you don’t wear, is too worn to wear and toss socks that don’t have a match. Make a list of what you need and restock.

2. Separate and Label: Separate your hose by color and store in zip lock bags. Separate your socks and tights by color and style and store in separate bags.

3. Keep the Wrapping: When you find a style of hose you like keep the packaging so you’ll know what to buy next time.

4. Buy the Same Brand: When you buy the same brand of socks and the washer eats them you will always be able to find a buddy for the lost sock.

5. Have Extras: If by some chance you get too busy and your supply gets low or you forget to do a wash, it helps to have extra pairs of hosiery, tights and socks ready.

When it comes to being well-dressed it is also important that you wear hosiery that coordinates with your outfit. Rethink wearing and hosiery that makes your legs stand out, such as bright colors, white or lace. Even though there are times when such hosiery can work, those times are seldom. In most instances wearing this type of hose is not flattering.