Fabulous & Forty, Do's and Don'ts Style Tips!

I believe we can be beautiful at any age, but sadly society tells us that looking young is equal to looking beautiful. So not true! I think women in their 40’s are looking better than ever; in fact if you have not heard it already, remember that “Forty is the new thirty” When you’re over 40 and your aim is to look current and hip or just age appropriate, there are certainly many things you can do to look great.

Embracing who we are and having fun with fashion is the key to looking fabulous! Here are my “Fabulous and 40” style do’s and don’ts: • Don’t bear all. Revealing too much skin is a sure sign of trying to hold onto your youth. • Do wear a sleeve if you are concerned about your arms. I love watching Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren, who both have the knack for accentuating the great and understating the not so great.

• Do watch your hemlines. Dresses and skirts that come to the knee are more appropriate for the forty plus woman of style, as opposed to mid-calf or mid-thigh. • Don’t wear clothes that are too big. Nothing screams “frumpy” like loose and shapeless clothing. Semi-fitted garments show off your feminine shape and are vastly more flattering. • Do avoid pleated pants as they add bulk to your middle section, and what woman wants that? • Don’t wear double-breasted blazers; they will make you look square. Go for jackets that nip you in at the waist instead. • Do avoid wearing low-rise jeans if you want to avoid muffin tops.

• Don’t wear hair extensions unless you are a celebrity with a great stylist. • Do buy yourself a pencil skirt, every woman at any age looks great in one.

• Don’t wear heavy makeup; wearing dark lips or eyeliner will add years to your complexion, lighten your look by going for softer colours that look more natural. Now remember, these are just guidelines as you still need to consider your shape, size and personality. But do avoid doing the 1666 - looking sixteen from behind but looking sixty six from the front! You may laugh, but I bet you’ve seen someone doing the 1666 at some stage? Dressing your age seems to be even harder to achieve these days as most of the fashions seem focused on or directed at the younger women, but my advice is to work out who you are and dress to impress yourself! If you are stuck in a rut or have lost confidence in yourself please give me a call, I am here to help you get the edge you need! Special offer Do you need help with creating a great wardrobe capsule for autumn? For all of March receive your personal two hour wardrobe work out which includes "Your Personality Formula" for free. Your investment $250 SAVE $125 Book yours today. Call 0438 837 808

What do your clothes say about you?

Have you ever looked backed on some of the outfits or hairstyles you have worn, thinking you were all that? I know I have! It bothers me to see people still wearing that same unflattering clothing and sending a bad image message, especially when it is so easy to update your look. Did you know that a poor image can ruin your reputation in less than five seconds? Studies have shown that our appearance accounts for more than half of people’s first impression of us. The old quote “don’t judge a book by its cover” is a valid sentiment, but it takes far more than five seconds to really learn about someone’s personality and character, when all we really have up front is a tiny glimpse into the persona of others by the messages they are sending through the clothes they wear, and the appearance they cultivate. Like it or not, your clothes speak. So what are your clothes saying about you? WHAT MESSAGE DOES YOUR IMAGE SEND? Since the making of silent movies we have been able read the characters by the clothes they were dressed in. It was easy to tell who the hero was, the villain and the damsel in distress. But even today we still tend to stereotype people and have created a predominantly unconscious image-based belief system. This belief system convinces us that if the person we are evaluating dresses like a used car salesman then they will possess the same character traits as a used car salesman. It’s a mindset that we have all fallen into and is a hard one to break. Let’s look at two personality styles which convey two very different messages. FEMININEversusDRAMATIC The Feminine style is soft, romantic and youthful. The woman wearing this style appears warm, gentle and compassionate. Main elements of the Feminine look:

The overriding features of the Feminine style are softly flowing fabrics, pastel colours, and medium to low colour contrasts. The Feminine woman is perceived as: Calm, Caring, Compassionate Considerate, Demure, Delicate, Empathetic, Feminine, Gentle, Humble, Innocent, Nurturing, Receptive, Sentimental, Soft spoken, Supportive, Sympathetic and Warm.

The Dramatic style is bold, confident and commanding. It’s all about statement pieces! The woman wearing this style is not the shy, retiring type. Her dramatic clothes make her the centre of attention. Main elements of the Dramatic look: The overriding features of the Dramatic style are highly structured clothes and accessories with large design elements and high contrast colours.

The Dramatic woman is perceived as; Aloof, Assertive, Bold, Charismatic, Commanding, Confident, Cosmopolitan, Demanding, Dramatic, In control, Influential, Intense, Powerful, Sophisticated, Striking and Strong.

To find out more about your personality style formula you can purchase my new eBook on “Your Personality Style Formula” for only $23 by clicking on the link below! http://www.styledge.com.au/ebook.html

Jane's Top Ten Summer Must Have's

Summer took a long time to get here but it has finally arrived! Here is a list of summer must have’s to help you keep your cool and look stylish this season. • A dress is the easiest item you can own. From your simple sundress to the glamorous maxi you will definitely keep your cool. • Bright accessories are the rage, have fun with turquoise, yellow or watermelon pieces that will get you sizzling compliments. • Strapless Bra’s come in handy for under singlet tops or of course strapless dresses. • Aztec Print, want to go tribal, then funk it up with one of anything Aztec. • Wedges are so hot right now. Great for comfort and height and come in some fun fashionable colours too. • Something White will always keep you looking fresh all summer round. • Too scared to wear mustard orange or lime, buy a Coloured Bag instead. • A light weight Jacket is the perfect perfect partner to go with your tops especially when the sun goes down and the summer breeze is blowing. • A wide brimmed Hat will keep the nasty rays off your face whilst adding flair and personality to your summer look. • Sequins nothing quite says party like a bit of bling. Still in the festive spirit? Then don’t put the sparkles away just yet.

Keep your cool this summer and always love what you wear and wear what you love! Jane Allen Image Consultant/ Personal Stylist www.styledge.com.au jane@styledge.com.au 0438 837 808