Time for style?

With all the things we have to do, how much time do we spend considering what we are wearing?  As far as I'm concerned I want to go to my wardrobe grab something and go, however having a grab and go wardrobe doesn't have to mean a boring wardrobe.

It's all too easy to fall into a style rut, throwing on the same things in the morning because it's easy and we've got to get the kids to school or an early morning meeting or lecture.  But just because we have busy lives it doesn't have to mean we lose all sense of our own style.  
Being stylish also doesn't necessarily mean we have to spend hours selecting our outfits, or for that matter we don't have to throw away all our jeans. We just have to ensure everything we buy is right for us and our lifestyle and works hard for us.

• Shop efficiently and I don't mean combining clothes shopping with doing the family shop in your local supermarket.  I mean plan your purchases and ensure everything you buy can be worn a variety of ways. THIS IS KEY TO BEING ABLE TO 'THROW' SOMETHING ON.
•  It's important to feel good about yourself and often the way we look has a direct impact on the way we feel.  Just because your life is busy you must take time-out once in a while for a little pampering.
• Get organised, ensure you wardrobe is in some sort of order that works for you, make sure everything is within easy reach and that includes accessories.   Think about what you're going to wear the night before.
• Accessorise!  Yes, that's an order.  Black trousers and a white shirt = dull (or waitress) black trousers, colourful or patterned belt, chunky necklace or brightly coloured scarf and now we're talking an interesting stylish outfit.
• Tinted moisturiser, a sweep of bronzer, a lashing of mascara and a daub of lip gloss all can be applied in less than 10 minutes, but will make such a difference in the way you look and feel.

Do you have any time saving tips? What is your favourite throw on outfit?

Bring out your burlesque beauty

You may be aware I have been working with Blush Dance to put on a fabulous weekend to help women to discover their inner diva. Click here for details.

Blush Dance, owned by Becky Campey, is a fabulous company that shares so many of the principles of my business.  They are real champions for women and femininity, showing you how you can be fierce AND feminine.  They really are more than a dance class and the moves and attitudes they teach you can be incorporated into your everyday life.

As style and image are more than just the clothes you wear I asked Becky to share her tips on bringing out your burlesque beauty.

So enough from me, I'll hand you over to Becky...

*****

Our mission at Blush Dance is to make everyone see how fabulous they are, inside and out.  We help women concentrate on their best bits instead of worrying about their worst and burlesque is the perfect way to do this.  The most famous burlesque stars are fabulous women who know how to work what they've got.  Think of Dita Von Teese, Bettie Page and Millie Dollar, all these women have fabulous curves and dangerous smiles and know how to use them!  Use these five fabulous tips to help inspire your inner goddess to come out and shine.

1. The street is your cat walk.

Walk tall, with your shoulders back and head held high and as if your best tune is playing as you walk. Walking with purpose creates an air of calm confidence, practice it wherever you go - work, the gym, the shops, everywhere.  The more you practice the easier and more natural it will feel. We often feel we have to dash around to fit things in and get to places, but instead take your time, find your hip wiggle and you will always enter a room with purpose and a general air of confidence.

2.  Eye Contact

Locking eyes with a person is a natural connection and the brain registers it before any other response. It subliminally says I am present, un-intimidated and at ease with you. When performing it creates a compelling connection with your audience and this has the same affect in everyday life. It is a powerful tool, so use it when talking to your boss, your friends, a new business associate, a colleague or the love of your life.  It registers to others you are confident, equal and unapologetic you.

3.  Add your Sparkle

Have a bowl of fabulous accessories to hand; bracelets, hats, brooches, earrings. Adding a touch of glamour to your everyday can start as simply as accessorising. The more sparkles, the better to add the glam. It will make you feel a million dollars and reinforce the purposeful walk and eye contact perfectly.

4.  Less is More

Being confident isn't always about strutting everything you have straight away, often less can be more. When on stage, holding back the last bit of your costume, act or reveal will create curiosity and leave them wanting more. In work, play or your love life drop a little of your wisdom slowly, hold back slightly to create an subtle impact and leave others curious and wanting to know more about your ideas, opinions and you!

5.  Posture Perfect

Whether standing, sitting, driving or walking, having an awareness of how you hold your posture creates grace and poise. Sit on the edge of your chair, boost your car seat to sit upright, let your shoulders fall down your back and hold your inner corset with 30% effort. With your body in a calmly aligned state it will create a confident and graceful poise in your mind and the people around you.

For more of these fabulous tips and instruction on how to bring out your burlesque star book onto our Burlesque Performance Course.  We will teach you how to develop your burlesque character by giving her a name, an outfit and even a favourite drink!  This course is perfect to help build self confidence and make you feel beautiful inside and out.  

If you'd like to try out one of our burlesque classes, we have classes on Monday nights in Cheadle and Wednesday nights in Fallowfield at 7.30pm.  Classes are just £5.50, come down and give it a go!

View our timetable of fab fit feminine classes online.

Stay Fit, Feminine and Fabulous!

Becky X

Dressing with confidence

Many people battle with confidence (I have been known to have the odd wobble myself) and the prospect of warmer weather the threat of having to expose body parts fills most people with dread.

The way you feel about your image has a huge impact on your confidence, according to a recent survey I ran 87% of you said the way you look has a direct impact on how confident you are feeling. Think of a time when you were not feeling your best, I bet you were not looking your best too.

So how do you dress with confidence? Now there are a few factors in dressing with confidence, or being confident that what you're wearing is right for you and largely it is down to understanding:

• Body shape - clothes can enhance and disguise
• Style - your clothes should represent who you are
• Underwear - Get the foundations right and your clothes will look better
• Accessories - Creates interest and another tool to enhance and disguise
• Posture and body language - Play the part, feel the part

I say it all the time, but if you get your basics right everything else will fall into place. This months selection are items that if you get right - and by that I mean suit your body shape, style and lifestyle you will feel good in what you are wearing.

Confidence with the way you look is simply knowing that the clothes you are wearing are right for you, regardless of your shape or your personal style. you should feel good about what you're wearing and all the items you own should make you feel this way.

How does your image make you feel?

I'm currently running research into how people feel about their image.

If you would like to be involved in this survey please click on the link. All answers are completely anonymous and it will only take you a couple of minutes to answer the questions.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2W8SLNX

Thank you very much! Liz

Positive Mental Attitude?

I have had a break recently due to family illness (and a much needed trip to Spain).  We as a family have dedicated our time to helping my father in law recover and i'm glad to report he's on the mend now.

Serious illness or similar circumstances forces you to evaluate your life and certainly since we've been faced with cancer in the family we believe that being and thinking positively goes a long way to helping with your recovery and making you feel better.  Life is too short to dwell on the negatives you really have to embrace what you have and be grateful.

You don't want to look back and think well actually I had great legs in my 30's wish I had shown them off more etc.  Take stock of yourself be completely honest and identify the things that you are happy about, these are the bits you are going to focus on from now on.

This is what I do with my clients, empower them to think positively about their image, show them how to enhance the positives and disguise the 'not so positives'.  I give them confidence about the way they look.

I am far from the most confident person you will meet.  However my front is my image.  I'm not saying I'm 100% happy with my body (who is?) but I know what suits it and what doesn't, I'm not keen on anything below my boobs and about 4 inches above my knees so that's the bit I disguise.

I had a conversation with a client recently, she wanted to wear more accessories and move away from her usual jeans, trainers and fleeces.  She hid in her dark clothes as she felt wearing anything else would draw attention to herself.  What she came to realise was she attracting the same attention it was just for the wrong reasons.  Once she felt more positive and confident this was the image that she started to portray.  I'll talk about 'personal branding' in more detail in a future post but I just wanted to share what she said at the end of the session.  "I wish I had done this years ago then I wouldn't have wasted all this time hiding in hoodies".

So the moral of this post?

Be positive and this will be the image you portray (and the way you feel).  Hold your head high, smile and only wear things that make you feel good.  After all who wants to look back and say "I wish..."