Posts Tagged ‘style consulting’

How to Work With Colors that Don’t Work With You

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

I’m always warning clients against buying something simply because it’s a great price, especially if the color isn’t flattering. I know, I know. Some bargains just can’t be passed up and I’ll admit, occasionally, I’ve gone  against my own advice.  Take the other day for example. I visited Regeneration, one of my favorite resale shops in Metro Detroit and scored big.  Among my purchases were a new pair of Victor Alfaro shoes ($14) and a gorgeous silk brocade Nine West skirt ($12).

Issues

Shoes, a half size too small.

Skirt, black based  (a color I generally avoid at all cost).

I considered passing both items up, but, to leave such exquisiteness behind at these prices would have been ludicrous, right?  So, 30 minutes later, out the door I walked with bags in tow that included the black-based skirt and the too small shoes.

Black is beautiful but not on everyone

I used to wear black very well, in fact that was all I wore. But as I’ve gotten older, black does absolutely nothing for me.  I’ve found that I can get away with a more muted black. Even then, there’s no “wow” factor as you can see in the next picture. I’m wearing a Tibi cardigan with an Ann Klein black and white tweed skirt, (both from Regeneration; both under $10), black knee high socks and the Victor Alfaro shoes. Sorry about the poor quality of the picture.

 

Me in Black. Cute outfit; Not so cute color.

 

Solutions

Shoes: Thanks to a tip shared on The Midwestern Front YouTube Channel, I had the shoes stretched by my trusty cobbler. Easy fix.

Skirt:  The skirt, however, because of its colors, proved to be a bit more taxing.  The biggest challenge?  Identifying the best flattering colors to wear with the skirt.

Black and light blue paired beautifully with the colors in the skirt.  Unfortunately, neither color fared well with me.

Color choice: I decided to wear a periwinkle button down underneath a black long sleeve layering tee.  The combination looked quite awesome together, but, as expected, pretty awful next to my skin and hair color.  So, I added a burgundy cashmere cardigan, a color very much in sync with my personal color palette.

The periwinkle blouse and black picks up the colors in the skirt

Results:

By wearing the favorable color cardigan next to my face, I was able to achieve a harmonious color scheme that harmonized with my own personal color palette. Voilà

Adding the burgundy brings out the color in my hair and skin. And yes the shoes fit!

 

 

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Posted in Body Analysis, color, Color / Colour Analysis, Colour/Color, Corporate, corporate image, Personal, Petite, Uncategorized | No Comments »


(Video) Style Ingredient – Color Matters

Monday, February 21st, 2011

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of speaking to the women of Way of Life Christian Church on my favorite topic; color. Here’s a snippet.

Recipe of Style – Color Matters from The Colour Gurl on Vimeo.

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Posted in Body Analysis, Color / Colour Analysis, Colour/Color, Corporate, Personal, Petite | 2 Comments »


(Pics) Not Mad At Men’s Fall 2011 Fashion – Loving It!

Thursday, January 27th, 2011


Hermès Fall 2011

Although the airing date for the fifth season of the television series “Man Men” is questionable, what’s certain is the show’s continued veritable sartorial influence on fashion. Since its 2007 premier, menswear has moved from uber-casual and overly relaxed to a more gentlemanly approach to dressing. For Fall 2010 we witnessed the minimalism trend highlighting classic shapes; timeless neutral colors; and exquisite fabrics, mixed together with a chic, modern edge. Paris runways indicated this powerful approach to dressing for men will continue through Fall 2011. Designers revealed status-raising styles, which proselytized the theory of less being more. While the sartorial trademarks of the men from the Sterling Cooper advertising agency may not soon be visible from our living rooms, one thing is certain. Stylish men have the option to continue bringing that touch of madness into their closets.

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Posted in Body Analysis, Color / Colour Analysis, Corporate, Personal | 1 Comment »


(Video) Lawyers Need to Get Back to Dressing Like Lawyers

Monday, January 24th, 2011

Photo Credit ZZegnaOfficial

I’ve worked in the legal industry for more than 15 years and have seen a number of changes. The most obvious change surrounds business attire. Lawyers, particularly those new to the field, seem to have forgotten that their profession is one of the highest paying and most prestigious careers on Earth. Why else would those working in an industry where “smart” dressing is the uniform of a powerful and successful lawyer dumb down to a more slovenly approach to dressing?  I remember a time when aspiring professionals could learn a lot about dressing professionally from attorneys. Today, it’s hard to differentiate who’s the attorney and who’s staff. Clearly, dress codes for today’s lawyers are much different than they were 15 years ago.  Still, looking crisp, polished, authoritative and professional, even when wearing business casual attire, rules.  Whether choosing to sport a power suit or a relaxed look, lawyers should always dress to impress.

  • Take Pride in Your Look and Your Profession
    Take pride in your image as an attorney.  You’ve worked hard to earn that J.D.  Look the part.
  • Buy the Highest Quality Clothing You Can Afford
    Invest in a high-quality suits.  Avoid less expensive, trendier outfits. Classics will stand the test of time. You can always spice things up with accessories.
  • Ladies, Make Sure You’re Wearing the Right Foundations
    Consider the quintessential items that should go underneath; Undergarments. That includes everything from Bras and Camisoles to Control Tops and Body Shapers.  These often forgotten pieces can truly make or break your look.
  • Wear Colors that Flatter You
    Based on your hair color, eye color and skin tone, some colors will naturally look better on you than others. Take the time to find out which colors flatter you most and build your wardrobe accordingly.
  • Find a Really Great Tailor
    Fit is paramount.  Ill-fitted clothes look cheap no matter how much they cost. Get referrals from the well-dressed people at your firm.
  • Find a Good Dry Cleaners, Too
    Ask your fashionable friends who they use and try different ones before making a decision.
  • Wear Jewelry Judiciously
    Tasteful accessories and jewelry can add interest to any outfit. A classic, but understated watch is a most. 
  • Stay Light on Perfume and Cologne
    Like jewelry, too much of a good thing is not a good thing at all. Think about how you reacted the last time you were trapped in an elevator with someone wearing way too much cheap perfume. Don’t let that be you!
  • It’s Better to Overdress than Underdress
    Nobody will fault you if you dress too nicely. And you can always “dress down” if you feel overdressed in a particular situation.

Check out these videos to help you put together a powerful look.

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Posted in Body Analysis, Color / Colour Analysis, Corporate, Personal | 3 Comments »


Slip on a Pair of Cordovan Shoes

Friday, January 21st, 2011

No shoe collection is complete without at least one pair of cordovan colored shoes.  This dark cherry red serves in place of black or brown and looks great paired with practically any color.  Cordovan provides more than versatility.  A relative to the red family, cordovan offers an understated sexy appeal certain to spice up any look.  But don’t take it from me.  Now is the perfect time to Slip your feet into a pair and be prepared to be wowed.

Now is the perfect time to shop for Corodovan or any color you desire. Sale: Save up to 45% off Women, Men, Kids, Accessories, and more at endless.com! Plus get FREE Shipping! Hurry ends soon.

www.endless.com

Timberland Women's Earthkeepers Bethel Knee-High Boot

www.endless.com

Eastland Men's Brooklyn Boot

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Full Time Plain Toe Boot

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Mezlan Knowles Slip On

www.endless.com

Charles David Cursive Boot

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Casadei Women's 5558 Platform Shoe

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Lovely People Women's Ingrid Pump

Butter Women's Savor Pump

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Posted in color, Color / Colour Analysis, Personal, Petite | No Comments »


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