Bag Servant - a search engine with a difference

I was recently approached by the lovely Lenka from Bag Servant to choose my nomination for Bag of the Month. Every month they bring together a selection of fashion industry insiders to nominate a bag for selection. You can vote for your favourite here and enter the competition to win £300 worth of Jane Goodchild bags.

Bag Servant is THE place for any handbag junkies out there.  Featuring bags from top designers to high street brands via retailers you trust.  Bag Servant are the only search engine devoted to handbags, with a free concierge service, lots of fashion advise and inspiration to help you find your perfect piece of arm candy.

They make bag shopping really easy with options to search by type, shape, brand, colour, occasion and the fun personality option.

There are 12 personalities to choose from, from Miss Practical (the Sunday Girl mooching through life) to the Glamourpuss (the femme fatale who loves to make an entrance). My chosen bag was selected for the Chic Yummy Mummy (being mum has never been sexier).

If then after looking through the 9,844 bag options you still haven't found what you're looking for you can utilise the free handbag concierge service. They will assist you with finding a bag that matches something you have seen, they will get in touch with retailers or manufacturers on your behalf or even just give you personalised help and advise when looking for your next bag purchase.

So what bag personality are you? Do you regularly change your bag, or do you stick to an old faithful?

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

All Wrapped Up

I was really pleased to be recently asked to write a piece for Cheshire Mum, a local blogger, social media guru and all round good lass.

Claire's blog is a haven for us mums, not only to find out about what's new and happening in the mumisphere but also to chat and connect with other parents.  Pop over and say hello or catch her twitter.

So without further ado, here's my contribution...

*****

A coat is probably one of the most expensive purchases you make so it has to be right for you and a real investment, but not only that this is the one item that everyone sees regardless of what you’re wearing underneath.  So you want it to be stylish and maybe most importantly, dare I say it… functional.

The starting block for any new purchase has to be fit, not the size on the label but actually how our clothes fit us.  We all want our clothes to flatter us and we should not ignore our body shape when shopping for a new winter warmer.

If you carry your weight on your hips and bum, then you should be looking for a coat that balances out your lower half.  Look for coats with detailing on the top such as fur collars or wide lapels.

Topshop Dark Khaki Faux Fur Hood Waxed Parka £98

If you are wider on top with narrower hips then you will suit fuller skirted coats, this body shape looks better with items that have less detailing on the top half.  Look for coats with no collars and avoid double breasted as this will only make you look wider.

French Connection Flared Coat £190

For those with a sporty or boyish figure you need your coat to create curves as this will give you a more feminine silhouette.   Volume and detail at both the top and bottom of the coat will have this effect.  A double-breasted coat will also give the illusion of a bigger bust.

Warehouse Multi Stitch Coat £100

If you carry your weight around your middle, the last thing you want to do is add any bulk to this area.  Your coat should nip you in at the waist and smooth out any lumps or bumps.  A belted V-neck is great for giving the illusion of an hourglass figure.

Hobbs Reversible £499

The most fortunate of the body shapes is the hourglass as you can wear most styles, make the most of your even proportioned cures and show off your waist.

Faux Leather Trim Belted Drape Wrap Coat £95

If you’re on the shorter side avoid coats that falls below your knees and watch your arm lengths, don’t forget though if it fits you perfectly you can always get sleeves professionally shortened.

As well as fitting you properly a coat should be right for your lifestyle, if you spend most of your time pushing a buggy then make sure the coat feels comfortable with your arms outstretched and the sleeves are long enough to keep your wrists warm and dry.  Try your coat on with your handbag not only does this ensure it goes with it but you’ll get an idea of how it feels, some detailing on shoulder areas can make handbags slip of your shoulders or make the straps feel uncomfortable.  Run a few tests too, if it has a hood put it up, does it give you enough cover or even too much?  Are the pockets deep enough?  Will it keep you warm?  Think about what you’re going to be wearing underneath, some coats will not look right with certain length skirts so consider this too.

Whatever coat you go for choose a classic style, you’ll get years of wear out of it so now is not the time to skimp but buy quality.

Do not underestimate the impact a good coat after all regardless of what you’re wearing underneath a good fitting stylish coat will ensure you’re always looking fabulous.