Understanding how colours impact our appearance is the first step to looking younger and fabulous. Understanding how the line and design of garments and accessories work for or against us is the first step to looking slimmer, taller and fabulous.
Know Your Colours
When we wear colours that share the same qualities as our own colouring our skin glows, lines and blemishes are less noticeable and our eyes shine. The qualities of colour are:
Every one of us has colouring that can be described in these terms. Know your colouring and you will know the colours to wear that make you shine.
Line and Design
When we wear clothes and accessories that use the elongating power of vertical influence to minimise the impact of broadening horizontal lines and enlarging circular influence, we appear taller and slimmer.
Take a Look at Julie.
In one guise she is wearing burnt orange which is medium in depth, has a warm undertone and has soft intensity. This conflicts with Julie’s deep, cool and bright colouring. As a result her skin has taken on an unhealthy sallowness and her beautiful eyes have lost their sparkle. In addition, the orange outfit is making her look heavier than she is.
In the 2nd outfit, the red and black colours are in complete harmony with Julie’s colouring. Look how clear her skin is now and how brightly her eyes shine. In addition, the 2nd outfit employs strong vertical lines and a lower neckline to help Julie appear taller and slimmer.
Looking great is not hard and does not take any more time. All that is required is a little information and we think that’s absolutely fabulous!
Alpha Snaps Photography
If "a picture says a thousand words" then we only need to say a few. Wearing colours that harmonise with our own colouring makes our eyes look brighter and our skin look lovelier; in other words helps us look absolutely fabulous. Two photos of Julie, taken 5 minutes apart, same lighting, same camera, different colour clothes, different colour make-up. Julie has a cool undertone to her skin, hair and eyes, she has natural high contrast between her skin colour and that of her hair, and her dark hair colour gives her overall colouring depth even though her skin is fair. So, when she wears lipstick and clothing that have the same colour qualities i.e coolness, brightness and depth as herself, Julie looks wonderful. However, when she wears a colour like this orange which conflicts rather than harmonises, Julie looks nowhere near as lovely.
keeps life interesting. This image combines elements from both the Natural and the Dramatic styles. It will appeal to a girl who has a little touch of the Drama Queen and quite a bit of the relaxed Natural in her style make-up. The jeans, unstructured leather handbag and casual Tee are the Natural elements here but the red scarf and the very structured military jacket add the drama. The fabulous black boots make a strong statement too, but notice the heels are flat so comfort is not compromised. Does this collection appeal to you, or perhaps you know someone who would definitely do this look.
Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt dissatisfied with what you see, yet you’re not too sure what isn’t right? In these instances it is very likely the issue is one of balance, or more precisely, the lack thereof. Balance is defined as the harmonious relation of parts to each other or to the whole. Visual balance exists everywhere in nature, so it should not be surprising that the human eye finds balance aesthetically pleasing; balance is comforting and attractive. Visual imbalance can actually make us feel unsettled, disconcerted or disturbed. Who doesn’t feel compelled to straighten a crooked picture on the wall or rearrange the cushions on a sofa to get the balance right?
Creating visual balance when we dress is an important part of looking fabulous. So, how do we achieve visual balance? Well, the answer comes in two parts.
This means balancing our shoulder line with our hips and our length of leg with our length of torso. To do this we may need to minimise or maximise our bust/waist/ hips/neck. When one element of our body’s shape is disproportionately larger or smaller than the rest of us, balance is lost.
“Have enough difference for interest, but not so much that it creates imbalance”. (Mathis and Connor, 1994). In design, even halves is usually perceived as dull while uneven sections or parts is visually more interesting. This is true in fashion as well.
In dressing, even halves can appear staid, matronly or even frumpy. Uneven divisions between our top and bottom halves, gives us more chance of looking youthful, trendy or edgy.
Here are a couple of (imperfect) examples but hopefully they illustrate the point.
1:2 vs 1:1 ratio 1:2 vs 1:1 ratio
Well, it’s that time of year when one season is slipping away and another is looming on the horizon. That means it’s time to reorganise our wardrobes. Rather than a swag of handy hints, what we offer this time is some food for thought in the hope that it will free up your thinking to clean out your closets and make life a little simpler. The biggest challenge most of us face, is admitting that a garment has had its day. AbFab is very good at helping others dispose of clothing but even we struggle at times to let go of once treasured items. Below are a few questions we ask ourselves because they help us detach from things taking up valuable space in our wardrobe. We hope they can help you too.
“But I bought that beautiful peasant skirt in Mexico 20 years ago when I was foot loose and fancy free.”
“But I was wearing that dress when my husband proposed”.
Girls, get a grip. Haven’t you got some photos you could keep instead? They take up a lot less space.
2. Are you feeling guilty?
“But, that shirt cost me so much money and I was months paying off my credit card.”
“But, it seems so wrong to give away something that was so expensive.”
If those clothes are hanging up in your wardrobe and not being worn by you, that is wasteful. Release them into the universe and let someone who needs them, can fit into them or whatever, get some use out of them
3. Are you being realistic?
“But if I start doing weight training, I know I will be able to wear those sleeveless numbers.”
“But when I lose the extra weight I have been carrying since the twins were born, yes I know they’re 21, but still if I lose the weight…..”
So, unless you are suddenly and absolutely determined to commit to getting up two hours early every day to work out, to never let another piece of chocolate pass your lips and to never indulge in a few glasses of champagne, then it is time to get real! Those clothes that don’t fit, probably never will. Besides even if they did, they will probably look like refugees from another decade. Move on!
These can be difficult questions to ask ourselves but in the interest of sanity and practicality we need to do so.
Good Luck!
What woman doesn’t want to have a pair of great looking pins? But what we want and what we get in life are often two different things. Some of us are born with long, shapely legs and some of us aren’t. However, there are strategies we can employ and things to avoid doing, in order to make the most of what we’ve got. Here are a few do’s and don’ts to help you have the longest, shapeliest legs possible.
Most people find planning a holiday is exciting and fun. Packing for same holiday on the other hand is usually anything but fun. Many a meltdown has occurred when we struggle to decide what to pack, what goes with what, how much or how little to take. However, there are some clever strategies we can use to minimise the time, effort and stress packing for that wonderful get-away.
The first one is always have a toiletry bag packed and ready to go!
This is one of the greatest time savers. It means you don’t need to go raiding the shower caddy and the bathroom vanity before you take your leave nor will you have to come home and return countless items to their proper place. Just put your toiletry bag away ready for next time. Look for travel size products and invest in a set of travel bottles and jars into which you decant product. It may take a little time to set up your bag but believe us it is absolutely worth the time and effort!!.
Here are some suggestions for packing your quick get-away bag:
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And here are some other items you might like to consider packing as well:
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How many of us would intentionally bring home a packet of self raising flour when we already have 2 kg in the pantry and not a skerrick of cornflour? Or bring home a delectable cheese when we have no crackers to eat with it? Or buy some beluga caviar because it was on special but no one in the house likes the stuff? If this all sounds very silly, can we suggest that many of us do this when we shop for clothes. We buy multiples of the same garment when what we really need is something else entirely. We fall in love with something fantastic, bring it home and have absolutely nothing in our wardrobe to wear with it. We see some designer number reduced to a silly price, we don’t like the colour but hey it’s a bargain.
We waste money and we really shouldn’t it. It has to stop. One of AbFab’s business objectives is to help women stop wasting money.
So, one of the best strategies of course is to see us for a Colour and Style analysis, however in the meantime and even if you have already, here are some strategies to employ before you spend another hard earned cent at your local mall.
Set aside a rainy afternoon, grab a couple of garbage bags and a note pad.
Pull things out, scarves, shoes, jewellery included and start mixing and matching items that you have not considered wearing together. You will probably be amazed at how many ‘new’ outfits you can create without spending a cent. Put things away together or take a photo with your phone. Do whatever works for you to remind you of your new combinations.
This means checking that you have at least one or two of the core garments you need. The quantity and quality will vary from person to person of course but generally we all need.
Put aside those garments and/or accessories that go with nothing else in your wardrobe. Now, decide whether they are worth the investment of more money to acquire what is needed. If the answer is yes, write the items down that you need to buy. If the answer is no, put the orphans in a garbage bag labelled “Give Away”.
Examine your garments and jewellery for signs of wear. If your one good jacket, for example is looking like it has seen better days then it may be time to replace it. Put it in the “Give Away” bag and write it in the notebook.
Check for garments that look like they’ refugees from a past decade. Absolute classic styling doesn’t date but garments that were once very much on trend will usually look dated today. However, before you immediately assume purchasing a replacement is the only course of action, stop to consider if some inexpensive modifications could be made. E.g extra large cuffs made smaller, full sleeves narrowed, hemlines raised or lowered. Alterations in many instances will be a much more cost effective option. Put these items in the other garbage bag labelled “Repairs”. But, if that’s not feasible then put them in the “Give Away” bag and add these items to the notebook.
Now, put the notebook in your everyday tote or handbag. Why? Because when you find yourself in a shopping centre you will have your shopping list with you. It will remind you what you need to buy and what you don’t need to waste your money on!! Take the “Give Away” bag to your local charity shop and take the “Repair” bag to an alteration booth.
It’s a great feeling to detox your wardrobe. Yes it takes a little time, but if you consider the cost savings involved, it’s well worth it. And if you really find it hard to let go of things or look at garments with an objective eye, then AbFab can come and help you clear out the clutter and make room for some fabulous new fashion. Don’t hesitate to call us if you think that’s an absolutely fabulous idea!!
Once upon a time a well dressed woman would always have worn matching shoes and handbag. Well, that fashion edict has long been disregarded and that’s a good thing because shoes wear out while a handbag can last forever. So, in the past this meant women ended up with a wardrobe of orphaned bags, their matching shoes long gone to shoe heaven. The idea of matching bags and shoes came from the need to create connection within an outfit. Random items that relate to no other garment or accessory are exactly that…random! An item such as a handbag or a scarf that has no connection to any other element, may look odd and out of place. Colour is one of the easiest ways to create connection but it does not have to be identical. Connection can also come from items being similar in texture, pattern or motif. When the items we are wearing connect to one, preferably two other items then the eye of the onlooker moves easily between each of them. Visual harmony and balance will be created. And note that our make-up, particularly our lipstick can be one of the connecting elements. Check out Princess Mary of Denmark in this image and notice how your eye travels effortlessly from her shoes to her bag to her gloves without settling on any of them. In this case colour is the connecting element.
