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Read More Fashion Secrets Here
Twenty Years of Fashion Secrets
For the past 20 years (2007 is my 20th anniversary) I have had the pleasure of working with many amazing women. Thankfully, I have had the joy of seeing many of you blossom as you have discovered what makes you feel good about how you look. This is rarely (well, actually never) an overnight process.
As women, it seems we must always consider, and in some cases make friends with, our past:
- remember that dreadful (fill in the blank) thing your mother made you wear when you were 12?,
- lifestyle (being a mother of 3 children under 5 yrs old has different wardrobe considerations than a single woman in NYC),
- body image issues (need I say more?),
- where we live (Florida vs. New Hampshire, vs. LA…),
- designers sane and insane moments (what were they thinking this season?)
Need I go on? Our style is always evolving for the reasons listed above and more. As we enter into a new year with endless possibility, I would like to share 20 insights—one for every year I’ve been in business:
- Money doesn’t matter. I have been in the fanciest closets with the most expensive clothing you can imagine and in closets with a meager wardrobe where every penny is accounted for. You can look great at any price!
- What’s underneath is important. How your clothing fits is dependant upon a good foundation (proper undergarments).
- Color matters. Do you really want a color in your closet that doesn’t make you sparkle?
- What’s the #1 Image Issue? Hair! If you are having a bad hair day nothing else will look or feel good! (If you do not have bad hair days count your blessings!)
- Every woman needs a great tailor. S/he will make your life so much easier and expand your possibilities of what to wear. Ready to wear is rarely that ready to wear.
- Be yourself. Not your mother, your sister, your best friend…
- Be daring…one little step at a time. Everyone gets stuck in a rut from time to time. Try something new once in a while.
- Keep an open mind. Some things look better on than they do on the hanger (and sometimes the opposite is true, too!).
- Be kind to yourself. Say nice things about yourself, and surround yourself with others who do the same (people who say nice things about you and about themselves).
- Dress consciously and with intention. When you look in the mirror, what do you see? It is sad that so many women have given up on feeling good about how they look. This doesn’t have to be. Ignore the celebrities, media, fashion magazines…take a good look at yourself and choose to honor your body by dressing in a way that makes you feel good.
- Surround yourself with beauty. Everyone feels better when they are surrounded by things they enjoy looking at—this includes your wardrobe.
- Wear your clothes now. If I had a nickel for every time someone has said they are keeping something because they know it will come back… Forget it. Nine times out of ten it looks slightly different (or you do!) when it makes a comeback. Wear it now!
- You can’t get something for nothing. Taking good care of your body, your skin and your mental health takes intention and time (and usually less money that it does to fix something later), and the payoff is great.
- Hurtful comments & unwanted advice have long term damaging effects. Be careful what you say to others and what you allow others to say to you.
- Trendiness is highly overrated. 15 years ago I was told I was out of style because my clothing “matched.” Matchy-matchy was out. Well, too bad. I liked it and felt good, and it was really only the “experts” who were saying this not anyone in the real world. Do not let media hype or celebrity stylists dictate what is right for you—their job is to get ratings and make a splash. Your job is to feel good about how you look.
- Others are not always right. Others’ opinions are just that (and they should only offer advice when asked). You cannot please everyone so please yourself first.
- Be 5 years old again. Take delight in dressing up and wearing what you want to wear! Your joy is part of your beauty.
- Holes in your clothes are a good thing. Most women have too many clothes for too many reasons to innumerate here. The goal is to buy what you love and wear it often so you ultimately wear it out.
- Your “style” will change. Finding your style is like watching the weather in New England: wait 5 minutes and it will change. While there will always be some consistencies, things change (fashion, our bodies, our lifestyles) and so does our style. Be flexible and have fun with it.
- Buy and wear something only if you love it! No exceptions. Let me repeat that…buy and wear something only if you love it! No exceptions. Make this your new shopping mantra.
Here’s to lots and lots of beauty and joy in 2007.
Copyright 1998-2007, Total Image Consultants - All rights reserved.
To purchase Ginger's book "Fashion Secrets Mother Never Taught You", please click here.
Fashion Secret 2004 is written and produced by Total Image Consultants. Please direct all questions and comments to ginger@totalimageconsultants.com.
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