Find your party style this festive season.

So you love to party but are not quite sure what to wear? You are not alone; so many women face that challenge daily but what about when it comes to choos-ing that special dress for the annual office party or social function?
I have five styles to help you choose the right party outfit for every occasion.
 The LBD. You cannot go past The Little Black Dress; you may tire of it but Audrey never got it wrong. Black is slimming and sheik and is often our first choice because its been tried and tested. Black is especially great for night . Try to avoid it for day and opt for something lighter instead.
 The Maxi dress. Love or hate it, it’s here to stay. It hides a multitude of sins. It can be worn with heels or flats depending on where your function is. From Jacqui E to Charlie Brown you can rest assure you can look very glam in your maxi without feeling too casual.
 The Cocktail Dress. This is the perfect party dress for all fes-tive occasions. It sits on the knee which is the most flattering length for every woman. Also, I have found the raised waist cut is great for apples, rectangles and even pear shapes.
 The Jumpsuit. “Hmmm... how unusual” I hear you say, but an off-the-shoulder or strapless jumpsuit will get you noticed without a doubt. Sassy and sexy, I dare you to give it a try this season.
 The Mini dress. I think a mini dress is a great choice for the young or the young at heart, especially if your legs are lean and in good shape. Be age-appropriate when it comes to your hemlines, the older we get, the longer our lengths should be. (we don’t need to dress like nuns though).
Styledge Image Consulting would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful, stylish New Year!

Remembering Princess Dianna

I still get sad when I reflect upon the horrible news of Dianna's death. She like countless others was taken before her time.I personally felt like I had lost a friend and found it hard to comprehend that our princess had died.
Today would have been Princess Diana's 50th birthday. Regarded as the people's princess, she was a role model, activist, and a style icon. From her wedding gown to her little black dresses, her style continues to inspire fashionistas today.

Jane Allen
Image Consultant
www.styledge.com.au
jane@styledge.com.au

Focal Points

Hi Girls,
Would you like to accentuate the great and mitigate the not so great. Well you can with focal points.
A focal point will attract the eye to a specific place of the body. Pacing your focal point needs to be strategic. Think of eyes up to focus attention high on the body. Hats, earrings, necklaces, interesting necklines, makeup are perfect for ways to play it up as much as possible.
A focal points are anything on your body that draws attention to itself.
A design element– a motif, pockets, collar or a ruffle
A Colour– a bright shirt, a high contrast or a bright lipstick
An Accessory– a bag, hat, lipstick earrings, necklace or scarf
Focal points are embellishments that are added to an outfit (or body) to add interest and attract attention. They literally draw attention to themselves and the area to which they are applied. It is the placement of focal points where many women make their greatest dressing errors– pulling attention to rather than away from a figure challenge. Your aim should be to attract attention to your “best” areas
To be seen as well put together, your outfit should have no less than one and no more than four focal points. Too few and you may be seen as boring, too many and you may seem to be “too over the top”
Business and professional occasions two or three focal points are optimal.
Styledge Image Consulting
Why look good when you can look Great!

Poor Body Image

Do you hate your body??? So many women suffer from poor body image, no wonder, with all the “beautiful” images we face each day. Often you stand in front of the mirror and pick on every flaw you have. Maybe you avoid mirrors because you really don’t want to confront your reality. Girls, this is not a healthy way to live.
It is so important to love the skin you’re in and embrace your shape.
Take my client Debbie (not her real name) for example. She suffered from low self esteem and wore the same clothes over and over because she did not like her triangular shape. Her clothes swam on her and she was denying herself and the world a view of her voluptuous figure because she did not know how to dress for her shape. Hiding under her clothes may have given her a quick fix but it certainly did not give her any confidence.
Debbie had such issues with her body image she would refuse to attend business functions with her husband because she felt so ashamed of her look.
BUT!!!!! Underneath the baggy jumper and the frumpy skirt was a gorgeous woman who took on board all the rules of line and design and used her colour swatch to accentuate the great and camouflage the not so great. Debbie was shown how to select the right garments in her best colours to more effectively reflect her personality.
We were able to show off her flat tummy and balance out her hips with the help of some tailored jackets and tops with cut out sleeves. Her self assurance soared and her new wardrobe became a source of inspiration rather than a place of frustration.
Debbie’s dilemma was overcome by building substantial, confidence building pieces which fitted and flattered her shape.
TRIANGLES should:
Wear lighter, brighter colours, shiny fabrics and patterns up top

Wear darker / quiet clothing below (no shine)

Use shoulder pads

Wear horizontal stripes above the waist

Avoid jackets that sit at your widest part of your hip/ thigh
Styledge Image Consulting
Why look good when you can look great!
www.styledge.com.au
Below is Kristen Davis,definitely a triangle shape. Using triangle design lines on her upper body she is creating the balance between her upper and lower body.

Image Impacts

There is no such thing as a neutral image. The way we dress plays a vital role in the way we are received. Our image impacts our world dramatically, it effects the way we are perceived and received. Society today assumes that if you look a particular way you are going to act a particular way. It is what it is!
Imagine visiting a dentist and he is dressed like a Rastafarian, with dread locks, happy pants and is poorly groomed. Would you feel confident in letting him work on your teeth? I think not! His image does not convey the right message and we would therefore not put our trust in his abilities simply because of what he looks like.
Let’s look at four ways our clothes make an impact on our image...
Your Image
Sends a MESSAGE: They say a picture paints a thousand words and how true that is. We can’t help but form opinions of others based on how they look. It is a fact that 55% of our first impression is based on our appearance. Our clothes convey a message; what do your clothes say about you and do they represent who you are today?
Should be APPROPRIATE: Consider the climate, the occasion, the audience, our physical appearance and job at hand. The question most women ask their friends before attending an event is ‘what are you wearing’? No one likes to be the odd one out. Being in sync with others makes us feel comfortable and confident.
Should be ENHANCING: Our clothes should embody and enhance who we are as a person, both our physique and our character.
Also be GOAL EFFECTIVE: what do we want to achieve from the meeting or occasion we attend.