There a so many different retail outlets where you can buy a coat and with a huge selection of shapes, sizes, and styles.    And then you need to consider colour, length, collar size, style…. . it’s not always easy to choose a coat that is both practical and flattering and even then you need to find a coat that is a statement of your style personality.   When it’s cold and you are out and about, your coat is the only bit of clothing people will see……it really does matter!   Let’s start with colour.   Depending on your personality, most people want a coat that will blend with anything so choose a colour that is fairly neutral, black, brown or navy.   Remember depending on your colouring it’s important to get the neutral right.   A colour analysis will show you your best neutrals.   If this seems a bit boring you can always brighten up your neutrals with colourful scarves and accessories in colours that suit you.   Alternatively if you have a dramatic personality a neutral coat won’t be you’re cup of tea at all, you will want something bright and showy.   Go for a red or purple coat, many shops are stocking turquoise this autumn too.     The second point is Style.   Which style of coat, suits what body shape?  Here are some suggestions.   Belted Coats: Good for tall women, with defined waists.   “Neat hour-glasses” look great in these.  If you have little waist definition, avoid these they will make you look wider!   Swing Coats:  These look good on “Rounds”.   The coat hides the upper body whilst showing off those lovely shapely legs.   Single-Breasted, no pockets:  This style suits just about everybody.   Double-Breasted.   Good for “Triangles”, “Lean Columns” and “Rectangles” provided the bust isn’t too large.   Military:  These look good on “Lean Columns”.   Cardigan Style:  Great for “Full Hourglasses” and “Rounds”.   The type of fabric and pattern (if there is any) also play an important part in getting the best look.   Collar size can be important too.   This season many coats have large lapels which is great for “Triangles” but not so good for “Inverted Triangles”. Remember you height and scale.   A full length coat could be overwhelming on somebody under 5′3″.   The third point is Personality…. . your personality!  Are you dramatic and want everybody to notice you or do you like to look chic and elegant?  Perhaps you like the natural look, a fleece or duffle coat or do you want something different from everybody else?  It is important to work out your style personality too.   There is little point in buying a coat that fits your body shape like a glove and is in one of your most flattering shades if you would never wear it because it is either “too boring” or “too outlandish”.   This might make you think it is even more difficult than you orginally thought.   Do not despair, there is help out there.   A style consultation with a Colour Me Beautiful consultant is all you need.  

Christmas is approaching and time is getting short.   There are so many things to think about, presents to buy, food to prepare, parties to attend but have you looked in your wardrobe and found that you have nothing to wear?  There are a lot of party dresses out there in every colour and shape and length you can imagine and with only a week to go, how are you going to find time to try them all on? Here are a few tips to steer you in the right direction.   By following a few simple rules you can narrow down the style, colour and length of the dress you are looking for, by eliminating the ones that won’t suit you, thus saving a great deal of time. Firstly consider your height and the shape of your legs.   Never have a hemline that finishes at the widest part of you leg, it will only make your calves look bigger.   If you are small in height a very full dress will overpower you and nobody will notice YOU.    Secondly consider your colouring.   Black really only suits “deep” , “clear” or “cool” women so if you are “light”, “warm” or “soft” you would be much better in other colours.   A pale blue or pink will suit a “light”, gold or warm red will suit a “warm” and a soft burgundy or teal will suit a “soft”. Thirdly consider your body shape.   If you have a lovely curvy hourglass figure choose a soft fabric such as silk or chiffon for your dress.   If you have a straight or athletic body, choose a fabric which is a stiffer, such as taffeta or linen mix.   If you are a classic triangle, you may find buying a dress a challenge.   You may be better with a skirt and jacket in the same fabric so they have the appearance of a dress but you can buy a different size for the top and bottom half of your body.   If you have a round body, so you carry your weight around your body, you too may be better in separates.   A fitted skirt to show of your neat hips and bottom, teamed with a soft flowing top or jacket. You should now be fully equiped for a straight forward and stress free shopping expedition.   If you stick to the rules you will find that perfect dress in no time at all and when you wear it you will feel like the Belle of the Ball.

Valentine’s Day Eve is full of anticipation and excitement for lovers old and new.   Whether you are in a long term relationship, a new one or are just hopeful, the day brings a promise of romance, often forgotten is the day and age.    Some loving men (or women or that matter, in this day of equality) choose this, the most romantic day of the year to propose marriage.    What could be more exciting than receiving a red rose, and an engagement ring from the man you love?!  Assuming you have said “yes” to your hopeful Romeo, this is only the start of a long journey to the altar (or Caribbean beach if prefer a secular setting).   Finding a suitable date, venue, photographer, caterer. . . . . . and so on, will be time consuming and challenging.    Even when you have done all of this there is still the question of “THE WEDDING DRESS”!   This will be your special day, when you are the centre of attention.   All eyes will be on you and getting the perfect outfit will be high on your list of priorities.    In fact it won’t just be the dress, you need to think about; there is hair, make-up, shoes and jewellery to consider as well.   An image consultant can help you with all aspects of this.   A bridal consultation will help you decide the best shade of white (yes there is more than one) or alternative colour if prefer not to be traditional, which shape and style will most flatter your body shape including hem length, sleeves, neckline and embellishments.    You will also be able to discuss hair styles, head dresses and veils that will best suit your face shape and hair length and style.    Make-up on the day is crucial.   Many brides want to look their best but still look natural.   It is a long day and precautions need to be taken against being a “blushing bride”, especially if a glass or two of champagne is on the cards!  There is so much choice and so many wedding boutiques to visit, a little help from a professional will clear your mind and save you time and emotion!   

Looking younger does not need to be expensive or time consuming.   Just sticking to a few rules can make all the difference to how you look and feel. There are not many women or indeed men who want to look older than they are.   In fact most of us want to look younger than we are in this era of ageism.   It probably goes back to basic instinct from our Stone Age ancestors who needed a young fit and healthy mate to ensure the continuation of the species.   We may think we are a civilised society now. . . . . but we still want to appear younger.   The good news is that a healthy lifestyle, modern medicine and a more comfortable environment, keeps us looking younger than our ancestors but in spite of this, nothing can stop time and with luck we can grow old gracefully.   This is not to say that we don’t want to take a few years off our looks.    Statistics show that more and more women are resorting to surgical procedures or botox  and quite apart from the risk of something going wrong, there is the financial implications too.   Looking younger can be as simple as wearing colours that suit you and styles that flatter your figure.   As we get older, our hair colour and skin tone changes and sometimes even eye colour.   As a general rule as women pass from their 40’s to their 50’s, 60’s and beyond, they find that strong colours are too overpowering.   For example, black is often a staple of many wardrobes, but it might be kinder on the face to wear charcoal or grey.   A woman, who wore bright red in her youth, may find a softer, less vibrant red more flattering as she ages.   Many women find their bodies change in their 40’s.   Of course it is important to eat a healthy diet and take exercise but wearing styles that suit your body shape can really make a difference.   Whilst you don’t want to be “mutton dressed as lamb” and micro minis may be a challenge, it is important to keep up to date and not become “frumpy”.   An image consultant can help with any or all of the above issues.   Remember that you are still the same person and that getting older is inevitable, make the most of what you have and feel confident with your new look.

Safari is back with avengence this spring and summer, so why not update last year’s look with a few carefully choosen editions.   It is important to choose the right shades and shapes to get the best look.   Shop around until you find the right styles for you.   The earthy, natural colours are perfect for “Softs”, which can blend different shades of the same colour to get the perfect look. Look out for sand, taupe, beige, cream, stone, coffee brown and chocolate.   If you want to go wild, how about adding a bit of muted animal print?   Safari isn’t exclusively for “Softs”; other groups can manipulate the safari look by adding different colours.  “Lights” can wear the lighter safari colours, such as sand or cream and team them with pastels.   Pink or pale apricot and sand or taupe can be stunning on a blonde.   These colours will not over power your light colouring. “Warms” will look very up to date matching orange or warm red with khaki or taupe.   The yellow undertones of the orange will give warmth to the neutral colours and enhance your natural colouring.  “Cools” need to keep to neutral colours, mixed with colours that have a blue undertone.   Pink and taupe, as I mentioned earlier look great but for “cools” the colours need to be stronger.   “Deeps” will look fabulous in dark chocolate brown put together with pewter and a dark sand or a deep rich red.   As long as the colours are dark and not pastel, they will look stunning. “Clears” look their best in contrasting colours, so make sure the neutrals you choose are on opposite ends of the spectrum.   For example dark chocolate brown, with pale sand or black/brown with cream.   Zebra print could be an amazing look.   Now you have the colours sorted, what about the designs?  Which styles will suit your body shape?  The safari theme is perfect for “Lean Columns” with all the pocket detail around the hips and bust.   “Hourglasses” can show their lovely waists off, by belting in jackets, but beware of too many pockets if you have a “full hourglass” figure, they can add inches to your silhouette.    “Triangles” can maximise their narrow shoulders with plenty of detail on the top half, but remember to avoid pockets around the hips on the trousers or skirt.   “Rectangles” will look great in safari inspired trousers and skirts with pockets but need to avoid belted jackets.    “Inverted Triangles” can have detail on their narrow hips but need to minimise bulk around their shoulders. Check your wardrobe to see what you already have, then using the advice above, buy one or two new items to mix and match with items currently in your wardrobe.    This will mean you can update your wardrobe without a huge outlay but know you are still up to date and looking good.

Safari is back with avengence this spring and summer, so why not update last year’s look with a few carefully choosen editions.   It is important to choose the right shades and shapes to get the best look.   Shop around until you find the right styles for you.   The earthy, natural colours are perfect for “Softs”, which can blend different shades of the same colour to get the perfect look. Look out for sand, taupe, beige, cream, stone, coffee brown and chocolate.   If you want to go wild, how about adding a bit of muted animal print?   Safari isn’t exclusively for “Softs”; other groups can manipulate the safari look by adding different colours.  “Lights” can wear the lighter safari colours, such as sand or cream and team them with pastels.   Pink or pale apricot and sand or taupe can be stunning on a blonde.   These colours will not over power your light colouring. “Warms” will look very up to date matching orange or warm red with khaki or taupe.   The yellow undertones of the orange will give warmth to the neutral colours and enhance your natural colouring.  “Cools” need to keep to neutral colours, mixed with colours that have a blue undertone.   Pink and taupe, as I mentioned earlier look great but for “cools” the colours need to be stronger.   “Deeps” will look fabulous in dark chocolate brown put together with pewter and a dark sand or a deep rich red.   As long as the colours are dark and not pastel, they will look stunning. “Clears” look their best in contrasting colours, so make sure the neutrals you choose are on opposite ends of the spectrum.   For example dark chocolate brown, with pale sand or black/brown with cream.   Zebra print could be an amazing look.   Now you have the colours sorted, what about the designs?  Which styles will suit your body shape?  The safari theme is perfect for “Lean Columns” with all the pocket detail around the hips and bust.   “Hourglasses” can show their lovely waists off, by belting in jackets, but beware of too many pockets if you have a “full hourglass” figure, they can add inches to your silhouette.    “Triangles” can maximise their narrow shoulders with plenty of detail on the top half, but remember to avoid pockets around the hips on the trousers or skirt.   “Rectangles” will look great in safari inspired trousers and skirts with pockets but need to avoid belted jackets.    “Inverted Triangles” can have detail on their narrow hips but need to minimise bulk around their shoulders. Check your wardrobe to see what you already have, then using the advice above, buy one or two new items to mix and match with items currently in your wardrobe.    This will mean you can update your wardrobe without a huge outlay but know you are still up to date and looking good.