Confident Style – Your Way Every Day

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Five Steps to Develop Your Style Sense

Five Steps to Develop Your Style Sense

FIVE STEPS TO DEVELOP YOUR STYLE SENSE

This Five Steps to Develop Your Style Sense post has been incubating inside my head for months. Let’s start by identifying what I mean by ‘Style Sense.’ ‘Style Sense’ refers to how our five senses can support and guide us to understand the elements of our individual and unique dressing style or as I am calling it ‘Style Sense.’ It is all about identifying and choosing your personal preferences so that your clothes are supporting who you are as a person, your NOW body and your lifestyle requirements.

Let’s explore how your senses can contribute to your ‘Style Sense.’

STEP 1. SIGHT – What do You See? 

The sense of sight relates to understanding how to dress your body shape, proportions and variations in an enhancing way.

We use our sight to interpret what we see when we look in the mirror, wardrobe, shops, magazines and at others. Quite often this leads to thoughts of comparison which leads to undervaluing yourself.

Many women avoid looking in the mirror and when they do, they focus on what they see as perceived flaws and the lumps and bumps that may be covered by the clothes. When you do this you are missing a great opportunity to change your focus from  your body  to the clothes and observing how the clothes are working with or against you. It is worth noting that other people don’t notice your ‘perceived flaws.’

Sometimes shopping purchases are made on the premise that the clothing fits and looks okay – (a friend or shop assistant said so) and then the purchased item remains in the wardrobe not worn. Beware that clothing can fit the body and look good but still not appeal to the wearer. This is where your sense of taste becomes important.

STEP 2. TASTE – What are Your Personal Tastes?

You are probably thinking that the sense of taste has nothing to do with getting dressed and developing your style. Taste is the sense that traditionally relates to eating and enables us to distinguish between food items we like or don’t like.

I am going to stretch the interpretation of this sense to relate to recognising the elements in clothing that relate to  identifying your Style Personality.

The elements that make up your Style Personality include:-

  • colours,
  • patterns,
  • shapes,
  • fabric,
  • accessories,
  • patterns and prints,
  • hair style,
  • levels of detail,
  • comfort levels,
  • underwear style,
  • scale.

These elements become your unique style fingerprint and tell the story of how you wish to be perceived.

Your visual appearance and ‘Style Sense’ is not just based on your outward appearance but comes from the inside out through your personal preferences.

The chances are you have clothes in your wardrobe that fit you well, look good but you still do not wear. This is because there are aspects in these unworn clothing pieces that are not part of your Style Personality.

Understanding your Style Personality is an important element and influences 80% of your shopping choices. When you know your Style Personality elements you will save time and money when shopping. You will also have less unworn orphaned clothes hanging in your wardrobe.

Take notice of the elements listed above and identify which ones relate to you. Let these items guide and influence your future shopping choices. If you try something on and it fits and looks good but you just don’t feel right in it, it is because something in the clothing / outfit is not relating to your Style Personality elements.

STEP 3. TOUCH –  How does it feel?

The sense of touch also relates closely to your Style Personality. Wearing clothes is definitely a sensory experience. Everybody is different and unique in their preferences for what fabrics & materials they prefer to wear and have different comfort level requirements.

I have a very high comfort level requirement which has resulted in a wardrobe with mostly stretch fabrics and some linen. I cannot tolerate any shapewear / spanx garments as I feel like I have been put in goal. I do not buy online because I have a strong need to touch the fabric before I try it one. My tactile sense is high when it comes to the clothes I wear.

Do you have clothes in your wardrobe that you are not wearing because they do not meet your comfort and tactile needs?

A very important question to ask yourself when shopping or creating outfits from your wardrobe is ‘How do I feel?’ I call this the ‘Goldilock’s Principle.’

Do not purchase any item that doesn’t feel just right. If it is not just right then you are wasting your money and it will take up valuable real estate space in your wardrobe.

STEP 4. HEARING  – What do You Hear?

The sense of hearing relates to the voice inside your head, what others are saying to you as well as your personal noise barometer. What are you saying to yourself? Start to listen to that voice inside your head and take notice to whether your thoughts and comments to yourself are being positive or negative.  This inner critic voice will always want to foster negative thoughts if you let it. 

It is time to start to reframe your thinking when looking at your body and outfits. The other day I tried on a jumpsuit that I didn’t buy because it was just a little firm around the hips. When I came out of the change room and the sales lady asked , ‘How did it go?‘ I replied ‘This jumpsuit wasn’t made for my hip area.’ My words were not focused on my body not being right but on this article of clothing not being the best choice for the look I wanted and needed. It is possible to change the focus of your inner critic from being negative to being supportive.

What do you do when someone pays you a compliment? Many of us usually argue against what was said. Take notice of compliments and be accepting of them with a thank you and a smile.

Some accessories and fabrics can be distracting for the wearer and others because they can be noisy. Do you have some accessories or clothing that you are not wearing because it makes a noise. I had a pair of shoes that I loved wearing but they were so distracting because they made a squeaky sound.

STEP 5. SMELL – What are your preferences?

This sense is not quite as significant as the others. If your sense of smell is strong then you may find that some fabrics may not appeal to you. The other area that this sense can impact on is our personal hygiene and perfume preferences. It is important to remember to not over or under do the amount of perfumed products you wear.

Take a look in your wardrobe and notice the clothing that you are not wearing. Create outfits with the unworn clothing and try to identify what is not working for you.

‘Style Sense’ needs to start with recognising the elements in the clothing  you wear that you love, bring you joy and confidence. When you recognise these elements then use this knowledge to inform the outfits you create and the clothing you buy. Become more aware of YOU.

A professional style consultation explores how you can combine these elements to create a harmonious, coordinated and balanced outfit that enhances who you are, your NOW body shape and supports your work and social lifestyle.

FURTHER READING

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How Can Vertical Lines Impact on Your Look?

How Can vertical Lines Impact on Your Look?

 

HOW CAN VERTICAL LINES IMPACT ON YOUR LOOK?

Vertical lines can have a positive effect on your look and style as they have the power to create an optical illusion that can create a lengthening and slimming effect.  Our eyes travel more quickly up and down vertical lines and this means that the eye is drawn upward thus elongating your look. When you understand how to dress for your body shape and proportions you can use vertical detailing and lines to create an enhancing outfit.

1. Vertical Details in Construction

Next time you choose an item of clothing take notice to the vertical detailing that it has. There are many different ways vertical detailing can be expressed in clothing such as:-

  • seams
  • pleats
  • zips
  • single breasted buttoned fronts
  • vertical stripes (width and colour combination of the stripes can influence your look in different ways)
  • folds created by the way the fabric drapes and hangs
  • pintucks
  • trouser seams and creases
  • vertical panelling

2. Vertical Details in Your Outfit

Vertical details can be created by the way you put your outfit together.

  • Wearing a monochromatic colour scheme. A monochromatic colour scheme is one that consists of tones of the same colour. When you wear a monochromatic colour scheme you are creating a continuous line of colour with no colour breaks to interupt the eye . This creates a lengthening and slimming effect.

How can Vertical Lines Impact on Your Look - Monochromatic Colour Schemes

 

  • Accessories such as scarves, earrings  and necklaces also can create a vertical line.

How can Vertical Lines Impact on Your Look - necklaces, earrings, scarves

 

  • A handbag shoulder strap also can create the illusion of lengthening in the top half of the body. Be aware of where the bulk of your bag stops in terms of your body. You don’t want to add any bulk to an area of your body that you don’t want to draw attention to such as bust, tummy, hips or even thighs.

How Can Vertical Lines Impact on Your Look - Shoulder Strap

 

  • An open cardigan, jacket  or vest will break your body up into thirds and create two vertical lines. This will be more flattering if the opening is not too wide. I have tried on many cardigans that fall on the outside of my breasts and this tends to make me look and feel wider. A more flattering effect is when the body appears to be more evenly divided.

How can vertical Lines Impact on your Look - Open Cardiga

 

  • Toning your shoe colour with the colour of your pants or skintone (if wearing skirts or dresses) will also create a continuous line and draw the eye upward. (I do not own a pair of nude / skin colour shoes because I haven’t found any that matched my preferred shoe style).How can Vertical lines impact on Your Look - Tone Shoe Colour to outfit

3. Vertical Stripes – What to be Aware Of 

Not all vertical stripes are created equal. The colour combination and width of the stripes can impact differently.

  • Narrower stripes lengthen.
  • Larger stripes widen.
  • Low contrast colours – These are colours that sit close to each other in terms of their lightness or darkness and can be more slimming.
  • High Contrast colours – These are colours that are light and dark (eg:- black and white) will be more noticeable and attract more attention.

How can Vertical Lines Impact on your Look - vertical stripes

 

4. Vertical Details – Creating Body Balance

Dressing your body in a way that enhances your look is about balancing your body shape and body proportions. Using vertical details can support the creation of balance in the following way.

Most of us have an area of the body that tends to be the place where we experience more weight gain. The area/s of our body where we tend to experience weight gain is generally a proportionally shorter area on the body.

Your body proportions could be:-

  1. longer body, shorter legs
  2. shorter body, longer legs
  3. balanced top and bottom but proportionally shorter from the bust to knees (this is me)
  4. balanced top and bottom.
  • Vertical detailing placed on your shorter area/s  will create the illusion of lengthening and balance.
  • Using vertical detailing throughout your outfit is a way of appearing taller.
  • Low contrast, narrow stripes can be great for someone who wishes to appear slimmer.
  • High contrast, wider stripes  can give the illusion of more width and work well for petites or those that want a look that creates curves.

Vertical detailing in your clothing can be your best friend. Take notice of the vertical detailing in your clothing and notice what is doing for your look.

A professional consultation is a great way to understand how to dress your body shape and proportions to discover

CONFIDENT STYLE – YOUR WAY EVERY DAY

 

 

 

 

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B is for Bra Support

B is for Bra Support

 

B IS FOR BRA SUPPORT

Most women overlok a very important element when creating an outfit. This element isn’t even visible but it can impact on how flattering and enhancing your outfit appears as well as how comfrotable you feel. You can change the look of an outfit by wearing a good fitting bra.

BENEFITS OF WEARING A WELL FITTING BRA

  • Breasts will be supported and uplifted so that the fullest part of your breasts sits halfway between your shoulders and elbow thus lengthening the mid section of your body and creating the illusion of a waist even if you don’t have one.
  • Stay uplifted and suppported by adjusting the straps of you bra as they stretch over time. Ideally you want to be able to fit no more than two fingers between the strap and your body.
  • Your overall silhouette will be enhanced.
  • Comfort is improved greatly. You avoid boob spillage, straps digging into your shoulders or falling off and the band riding up all the time.
  • Can have a reduced impact on back, neck and shoulder pain especially if your breasts are larger.
  • Save time, money and frustration by shopping where there is a professional fitter. I had my first bra fitting five years ago and it  is the best thing I ever did. Size is determined by circumference measurement of your breast (cup size) and circumference of the area just below the breasts (band size). If you need a bigger cup size you need to godown a band size.

 

FIND THE RIGHT BRA SUPPPORT

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A WELL FITTTED BRA 

SUPPORT YOURSELF EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY BY HAVING A PROFESSIONAL BRA FITTING

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What is Your Shoe Style?

What is your shoe style?

 

WHAT IS YOUR SHOE STYLE?

Shoes are an important element when putting together an outfit, look what they did for Cinderella and Dorothy. There are shoes for for all ocassions,  varied styles and in many colours.

Everyone has unique style preferences when it comes to choosing the shoes that are ‘just right’ for them. These style preferences relate to your Personality Style. The elements that relate to your shoe Personality Style include:-

  • colour,
  • shapes and styles,
  • comfort level,
  • level of detail,
  • heel shape and height,
  • fabric choice

Last week I visited Tascha at Mainstreet Shoes in Queanbeyan and talked all things shoe related.  Let’s look at What’s Your Shoe Style. Remember when you look at these photos that your shoe preferences can be a combination of a few of these Personality Styles.

 

CLASSIC SHOE STYLE

Classic shoes have a timeless, understated classy look. They are mainly in neutral colours with a low vamp and do not have much detail. The classic style includes court shoes with low to medium heel height.

 

NATURAL / RELAXED SHOE STYLE

 Natural / Relaxed shoe styles are generally practical, comfortable and functional with a no fuss look. A low heel is the preferred option with comfort being the number one factor in selecting shoes. The patterned floral print shoe at the front is a combination of  relaxed / natural style with a feminine floral print in creative colours.

 

FEMININE SHOE STYLE

Feminine shoe styles include court shoes, ballet flats and slip ons. Heels can be low or high and usually in colours to match outfits. These shoes will not be shiny or chunky but will have soft feminine features such as bows, ribbons, lace, flowers and sparkles.

 

CREATIVE SHOE STYLE

Creative shoe styles include shoes with quirky and interesting detail such as unusual construction, styles, shapes, any patterns and combination of colours. These shoe styles will make a statement and create a focal point in your outfit.

 

DRAMATIC SHOE STYLE

Dramatic shoe styles are usually bold, and make a modern, contemporary statement. High heels, stilettos and pointed toes are usually preferred to flats. Geometric, graphic and animal prints are favoured. The animal print flat shoe would be a combination of relaxed and dramtic because of the animal print.

 

ELEGANT CHIC SHOE STYLE

Elegant Chic shoe styles have a modern, sophisticated look. They are usually court shoes or ballet flat styles with metal decorations such as discs, buckles and flat squares. Preferred colours are usually light to medium neutrals – grey, camel, browns, burgundies and blues but nothing too dark or bright.

 

REBELLIOUS / SEXY SHOE STYLE

Rebellious / Sexy shoe styles are those that are somewhat unconventional or really sexy. The favoured colour is black and more black. Shoe styles in this group include doc martins, motorcyle boots, metal detailing such as chains, spikes and buckles and very high sexy styles.

Take a look at the shoes you love to wear and take note of the elements that you like to wear. These elements become your Shoe Personality.

 

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What are Your Clothes Saying?

What are Your Clothes Saying?

 

WHAT ARE YOUR CLOTHES SAYING?

Our clothes serve a greater purpose than just covering our nakedness. What you put on can have a positive or negative impact on how you feel, look and act. Studies have shown that what you wear can greatly influence your confidence, feelings, moods, productivity and  self concept. Professor

Karen Pine wrote a very interesting article Mind What You Wear: It Can Change Your Life.

How does your clothing make you feel?
When I started working from home I realised that what I wore or didn’t wear greatly effected my productivity. I found that I needed to get out of my pj’s or tracksuit if I wanted to have a positive working day. When I lifted the level of refinement of my outfit from tracksuit to jeans, top & jacket and added a splash of lipstick and earrings I felt in a frame of mind for work and achieved more. It is worth taking notice to how you feel in different outfits both physically and emotionally.

Does the clothing you wear tell your story?
The clothes you wear and how you wear them lets the world know who you are. Our clothing and grooming needs to reflect who we are from the inside out. When you dress to your Personality Style you will look and feel comfortable and confident. Your Personality Style influences your clothing choices in may ways and is an important factor in whether you feel ‘just right’ in your outfit. 

What you wear and how you wear your clothing will change depending on the activity you are dressing for. You need to consider how you want others to perceive you. This will vary depending on whether you  are dressing for a backyard barbeque, going out for dinner, job interview or a professional meeting.

The clothing you wear needs to be a great FIT in many ways – your clothing needs to fit your:-

  • Personality Style
  • Lifestyle
  • Now body shape and proportions

You might like to read Getting Dressed Using the 5 F Principles.

 

 

 

 

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How to Upstyle an Outfit from Day to Night

How to update an outfit from day to night

HOW TO UPSTYLE AN OUTFIT FROM DAY TO NIGHT

The clothes we wear need to complement our lifestyle and be appropriate for various activities and occasions. Levels of Refinement refers to the different classification of clothing and accessories for different occasions from very informal and relaxed to formal.

The level of refinement is determined by:-

  • type of activity or occasion,
  • differences in fabric or material, shape and drape of material, textures and patterns.

Read more about levels of refinement here.

It is possible that you can take a casual outfit and upstyle it to create an outfit that can take you from a very relaxed day at home to lunch and then a dinner date. Let’s look at how I upstyled an outfit to take me from day to night.

How to upstyle an outfit from day to night

When I dressed in these pants and top it was for a very relaxed day at home. There was no jewellery or shoes and the top was hanging loose. As you can see it is not a flattering outfit because of the proportions and the hemline. The horizontal hemline is in line with the widest part of my body and is also cutting me in half.

 

When I received an invitation to lunch with a friend I added the necklace, earrings and sandals.

I also changed the unflattering hemline by using the half tuck method.

Just by adding  jewellery and using the half tuck this outfit became lunch ready.

 

How to upstyle an outfit from day to night

 

I had forgotten that I was also going out for tea so another upstyle of this outfit was required. By adding a different necklace, pair of shoes and long cardigan I became dinner ready.

STEPS TO UPSTYLE AN OUTFIT FROM DAY TO NIGHT

three easy steps to upstyle an outfit:-

  • add accessories – earrings, brooch, necklace, bangle, scarf
  • add a third piece – jacket, cardigan, vest, kimino
  • change shoes to suit the activity

Play with your outfits to see how you can upstyle them for different activities and get more wear, value and versatility from them.

Know what you have in your wardrobe and wear it as much as possible.

 

 

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How to Wear Fluted Sleeves

How to Wear Fluted Sleeves (more…)

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How to Move Your Style Forward

How to Move Your Style Forward

 

HOW TO MOVE YOUR STYLE FORWARD

How to Move Your Style Forward outlines a process for setting actions for change. It is important to take some time to reflect on how you feel about your wardrobe and how it is meeting your needs.

Getting dressed each day starts in your wardrobe. Let’s step into your wardrobe to look at what is and isn’t working for you. What is in your wardrobe determines the choices you have on a daily basis so this makes a great starting point.

What you need in your wardrobe is clothing that:-

  • suits your NOW body not the one you had 10 years ago or when you lose weight
  • you enjoy wearing and makes you feel and look good
  • can be easily located and found
  • is suitable for the different activities in your life
  • easily mixes and matches to create multiple outfits thus giving you a valuable and versatile wardrobe

HOW TO MOVE YOUR STYLE FORWARD – WHAT IS OR ISN’T WORKING?

Reflecting on the last year in your wardrobe can identify actions for change. These questions look at  your frustrations and needs. They can help set your style directions.

  • What did I enjoy wearing?
    Identifying the outfits you enjoyed wearing can give you clues as to the style elements that you feel most comfortable wearing.
    The style elements you enjoy wearing are closely related to your Personality Style. The elements you need to take notice of include:
    – colours (dark, light, neutrals, colours)
    – patterns / prints (stripes, checks, spots, paisley, houndstooth, digital, floral, animal, geometric, stylised, graphic)
    – types of clothing (pants, skirts, tops, dresses)
    – fabrics (woven, stretch, soft, stiff)
    – shapes of clothing (loose, firm, fitted, symmetrical, asymmetrical)
    – accessories
 
  • What haven’t I worn?
    Most people only wear 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time.
    Use the list  compiled from the questions above to look at the clothing you haven’t been wearing.
    Ask yourself how do I feel in this?
    Take some time to see if you can create outfits with the clothing you haven’t been wearing? If you aren’t able to do this then the item probably doesn’t belong in your wardrobe.
    While creating outfits take note of items of clothing that may be missing from your wardrobe. Create a list of items to fill your wardrobe gaps.
 
  • When did I feel frustrated or struggle to put together an outfit?
    Identify when you usually find it difficult or frustrating to put together an outfit that makes you feel and look good.
    Is it when you are:-
    – time poor and in a rush
    – feeling low or unwell
    – unable to find an item in your wardrobe
    – unable to create an outfit because you are missing a crucial piece

 

  • How organised is my wardrobe?
    An overcrowded or disorganised wardrobe will always make it challenging to get dressed without feeling frustrated. Take the time to reorganise, sort and cull your wardrobe can make a difference. 

NEXT STEPS FOR MOVING YOUR STYLE FORWARD

  • Stop shopping for a while and take the time to SHOP IN YOUR WARDROBE.
  • Plan your outfits at the weekend or the night before.
  • Make a list of items that are missing from your wardrobe.
  • Ask yourself these three questions when you put on an outfit:-
    1. Does this fit?
    2. Does outfit flatter?
    3. How does this outfit make me feel?
  • CONTACT INDIVIDUALLY YOU FOR A FREE 30 MINUTE STYLE DISCOVERY CHAT OR CONSULTATION
Investing in a Style and or Wardrobe Consultation will save you time and energy getting dressed every morning and when shopping.
 
DISCOVER HOW TO HAVE CONFIDENT STYLE – YOUR WAY EVERY DAY?

 

 
 

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What Will I Wear Christmas Day?

What Will I Wear Christmas Day?

WHAT WILL YOU BE WEARING CHRISTMAS DAY? 

Here are my style tips for dressing for Christmas Day.
  • Comfort is an important element to consider when planning your outfit. There is no point wearing an outfit that does not allow you to indulge in all the yummy foods on Christmas Day. Let’s face it, most of us spend all day indulging and grazing. Make sure your clothing allows for this.
  • Your outfit choice will need to take into consideration  how casual or formal your day will be.
  • The weather is also an important consideration. Here in Australia it is usually very hot.
  • Let’s face it, the lead up to Christmas Day can be very hectic and tiring. Look your best by wearing a colour near your face that harmonises with your complexion and ensures you look healthy, bright and vibrant even if you  are feeling worn out. If you are dressing in the Christmas Spirit by wearing green and red remember there are many greens and reds on the colour continuum that range from warm to cool.
  • Add some Christmas cheer with accessories.
  • WEAR YOUR CHRISTMAS STYLE WITH A SMILE.

WHAT WILL YOU WEAR CHRISTMAS DAY?

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Style Rescue – How to Find Ways to Rework Clothing You are Not Wearing

Style Rescue how to Find Ways to Rework Clothing You are Not Wearing

STYLE RESCUE  HOW TO FIND WAYS TO REWORK CLOTHING YOU ARE NOT WEARING

This post is about how I found a way to rework clothing (three tops) that I was not wearing.

The clothing in your wardrobe only contributes positively to your life if you wear it. I really liked these three tops. They were the right colour, felt good on but when I always ended up putting them on, taking them off and not wearing them because they didn’t look right.

If I am not wearing an item I can usually cull it but I wasn’t prepared to do get rid of these tops because I wanted to make them work. I just had to determine what was the problem then I could see if I could change the tops in some way.

These troublesome tops were taken out of the wardrobe and put into my STYLE RESCUE basket that lives on the top shelf of my wardrobe.

Recently I found a way to rework this clothing that I was not wearing. Inspiration can come from anywhere. While participating a GREAT Workshop with Anne Whalley The Pattern Whisperer I realised why these tops weren’t working and what I needed to do.

The two reasons these tops were not working for me were related to Proportion & Line.

  • These tops were longer and didn’t seem to look balanced and work in the 1:3 ratio for dressing to create a flattering look.
  • Also they had a straight hemline and I don’t usually wear straight hems. If I wear a top with a straight hemline I like to use a belt or half tuck to create a different shape. These tops didn’t work with a belt or the half tuck method.

The tops didn’t work for me because they conflicted with elements of my Personality Style.

SOLUTION – CHANGE THE HEMLINE FROM STRAIGHT TO ASYMMETRICAL BY CREATING A DIAGONAL HEMLINE.

Now these three tops have been altered and reintroduced into my wardrobe and I am having fun creating and wearing new outfits.

Here are some outfits after the STYLE RESCUE.

Style Rescue How to find ways to rework clothing you are not wearing

These tops can be mixed and matched with the three bottoms creating nine new outfits to my wardrobe just by finding a way to rework clothing I was not wearing.

Follow these steps to find ways to rework clothing you are not wearing:-

  1. STYLE RESCUE: If you love most things about the item and it fits put it into the STYLE RESCUE BASKET so you can come back to it. This means that you don’t just put it back into your wardrobe and forget about it.
  2. FIND A SOLOUTION –  IDENTIFY why it may not be working for you. Think about your Personality Style and consider what you might be able to alter.
  3. TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTION to make these changes and restyle it into your wardrobe.

 

 

 

 

 

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