Tag Archives: non verbal communication

10 basic style tips to clear and organise your wardrobe

A New Year wardrobe – a fantastic time to be motivated and have a big clear out, resulting in a beautiful, organised, minimalistic capsule wardrobe.

The question is where to begin!  I can hear you screaming and panicking, not knowing what to keep, what to get rid of, what works for my body and style and finally, not knowing how to put it all together.  Well, if it makes you feel better, we all feel this way.  It is so overwhelming building the perfect capsule wardrobe; it takes time and knowledge, to get it right.

So many of us, hate shopping.  Not knowing what to choose, what suits us and what colours work together.  Nothing tends to fit us properly, so we either go home with nothing or buy some random piece which doesn’t work with anything else or sits in the wardrobe with the label on; sound familiar? Hardly any of us are happy with our bodies; our confidence being affected massively.

Well, I am here to help!  Below, are some fab tips on what you need to do, before creating a perfect capsule wardrobe.  I have provided some basics to help you shift your mind set into positive thoughts.

So, are you ready to begin again?!  Let’s go!

  1. Organisation

The first thing to do, is to put all your clothes into piles on the bed.  Knitwear, trousers, skirts, t-shirts, dresses etc.

Bring all your shoes out, and put them into neat sections with flats, heels and trainers.

2. Condition

To have a good look, you need to have clothes that are in good condition.  Wearing tatty, beaten up clothes is not the answer.  Look at your garments carefully.  If they have holes or are worn, faded, stained in anyway, then put into a pile to throw or charity.

This includes going through your shoes.  If they have turned up toes, totally soleless, scratched or full of mud, get rid of them!

The garments that are right, use good quality wooden hangers and shoe trees in shoes and boots, to keep the shape and take out the moisture, keeping them fresh and good condition.

3. Comfort and Fit

One of the most important things on a day to day, is to feel comfortable. If you don’t feel this way, you won’t enjoy wearing your outfit, and it will seriously, affect your day.

You will know the garments that feel uncomfortable to wear as soon as you put them on. This could be the fabric being too stiff or itchy.  It could be the fit is too tight? It could be the other way, and the garment is too baggy, which bothers you. Go through and clear them.

If you have gained weight for whatever reason, what you need to ask yourself is, am I going to lose that stone?

If the answer is yes, then great.  When you have reached your target, then go out and purchase clothes.

Be honest with yourself!  If you are not going to lose the weight, that is fine.  Be happy with your new size and ensure that you have pieces in your wardrobe that fit you well and flatter your shape.

Don’t forget your shoes.  They are the hardest item to get right in your wardrobe.  If they feel uncomfortable, whether they are too high or they rub or cut in the wrong places, or just generally uncomfortable to wear, then give to friends, sell to a dress agency or give to charity.

You will never want to wear shoes, if they are uncomfortable.

4. Colour  

Colour is key.  Wearing the right colours, especially around your face will make you look younger, fresher and radiant!  Remove all the colours from the piles of clothes that do not work for you.  By doing this, you will notice that your outfits will work together more successfully.

Also, having colour in your wardrobe and wearing colour will make you feel so much better within yourself.  Be brave, and start introducing some colours that you haven’t worn before.

If you are thinking, what colours suit me, then a colour analysis would be the answer!

5. Up to date

One of the problems I see in people’s wardrobe, is there is always clothes, shoes and accessories, that have been in there since the 1980s.  My clients give me a great tale of when they wore it and get a little excited.

If you would like an up to date modern wardrobe, you have to move on!

  • You are not at uni anymore.
  • You are not in a corporate role anymore, so why have all those clothes in the closet?
  • The dallas look with the wide padded shoulder pads is no more!
  • Shapeless trousers with the large, low waistband is not going to look good on anyone.
  • Are you saying to yourself I have had that necklace since school?

Having modern, classic pieces in your wardrobe is going to make you look fresh, young and modern.  I am sure, we all want that!!

6. Fear

If you have been good and achieved numbers 1-5 WELL DONE!!

This is great, you have done so well.  Give yourself a pat on the back.

You might have experienced many emotions whilst clearing your clothes. Some of my clients feel a failure that they did not get it right or have spent so much money on clothes that were not right.  When I first started doing this exercise, I felt the same.

I need to say that this is very normal to feel this way.  You need to remember, that you did not know!  If you haven’t had the education of what to do, then you cannot achieve the perfect capsule wardrobe.

You can now turn this round to a positive and clear out the old and start with the new you!  It feels fabulous when you get it right.

7. Memories

There will be clothes that you have in your wardrobe that mean something.  Maybe, from a loved one, funeral or wedding.  This is not going to be part of your day to day wardrobe.  A suggestion is to put these clothes in a memory box or in another wardrobe with a suit cover so they will be protected.

8. Other

You will have other clothes that again do not take part in your main capsule wardrobe. This could be gym wear, walking gear, gardening or cleaning.  These clothes can be put somewhere nice and tidy away in a drawer or another part of the house.

9. Visible

The amount of wardrobes I have gone into that have 4 garments on one hanger or hidden shoes and scarves or areas that you cannot get to.

If you cannot see the items, you will not know that they are there so you won’t be wearing them.

When you put the pieces that are right, back into your wardrobe, ensure that they can be seen.

This will also make it easier when mixing and matching your garments.

10. Style

Probably, in your wardrobe you will have a collection of clothes that are different styles.  The reason why we find it hard to put an outfit together because of the mismatch of styles that do not work together.

This is one of the most important things to get right and will make a massive difference to your clothing choices in the future.

The basics I am going to help you with, is to ask yourself some questions:

  1. Do I like to look classic, tidy and smart?
  2. Do I like to feel comfortable, casual and unstructured?
  3. Do I like to look girlie, frilly and feminine?
  4. Do I like to choose things that are a little different?
  5. Do I like to look sporty?

Whatever the answers are to the above (you can have 2 choices), this needs to relate to your clothing choices that are going to be correct in your wardrobe.

  1. = Classic  2. = Natural  3. = Romantic  4. = Dramatic  e) = Sporty

Classic, Dramatic Style Preference

For example: I am Classic, Dramatic

I like to look tailored, smart but have a little drama in my outfit and my overall look. The clues are with the cashmere classic jumper, leather trousers and my hair style.

I now know that my choice of garments need to be smart and classic, as well as having a little drama in them.  This could be in my jewellery, shoes, styles, colour and prints.

The main thing to understand is YOU HAVE TO BE YOU!  Don’t copy anyone else’s look, (unless they are the same as you) which could be a celebrity.  I love the look of Olivia Palermo.  She has the same body shape as me and style, which then works.

Go through each item and put back in your wardrobe the garments that are your correct style.  You will then notice that there is a theme going on, that you will naturally feel pleased about and feel comfortable with.  Every item that is in there, you should look at it and love it!

The aim is to STICK TO IT!

I do hope you have enjoyed my tips on how to clear a wardrobe.

Here is an example, where I did all the above for a client.  She came to me to and had an in-depth training on colour and style, that was personal to her.

At a later date, I then blitzed her wardrobe a couple of times, took her shopping and completed a perfect capsule wardrobe that was right for her.

Here we have all the correct colours, a classic, natural style preference.  All the garments work for her in the day and evening and match perfectly.

This is what Clare had to say.…. “I used to despair when choosing clothes . . . Nothing really fitted me, so many were colours that were wrong and the styles were a bit of a mish mash.

Now, it is a pleasure to open the wardrobe and see beautiful clothes hanging on the rail. Now, I have colours that suit me, styles that make the very best of my figure and there are so many combinations from just a few well chosen clothes.

I have a confidence that I haven’t had in years.” 

If you would like to understand your body, colouring, and to find out where you are going right and wrong, then do look at my packages to see how I can help.

The above applies to men and women.

I work in #Cornwall, #Somerset #Devon #Plymouth #Bristol

How to be confident in 2019

My ‘passion in life’ is to teach people how to look good, feel confident and be more successful.

The reason I feel so strongly about helping people is, when I was a young child, I had no confidence, my looks were described as ‘ugly’, and my success was nil.

A shy, thin, naïve girl that had few friends, suffered from alopecia, was bullied by many, and did not have the confidence to have a voice and say no.

As a result, growing up was a challenge, having little knowledge with the outside world.  I did everything I could to better myself, to become a successful person who was talented, liked, confident and attractive.  Along the way, due to my lack of confidence and knowledge, I attracted the wrong people.

Thankfully, it all turned around in my forties.  My newfound confidence shifted my world, my career, my health and my relationships.  After years of education, discussion and practice, I would like to share with you my 8 top tips on how to be confident.

1. Be your unique self

This is one of the most important things to get right.  Finding out who you are, is crucial to your look.  We want to show off your personality, your quirks and your style.

We tend to copy others to look amazing, and realise it doesn’t work on us.  Why copy others, when we have amazing traits ourselves?

Write a list of your authentic strengths, qualities and values.

What is unique about you?

To help you do this, ask your close friends, colleagues or family to give you three words to describe your personality.  You probably, will be surprised with what they come back with.  It boosts your confidence with what they come back and say; you will be surprised and feel good.

Another example, would be to be in a room of people – go out of the room for 10 mins – what would you like them to say about you?

Once you have the words that relate to who you are, you then match them on the outside with your image.  By doing this, you will feel comfortable with what you are wearing and feel confident to be YOU!

2. Realise you are not alone

I have helped hundreds of people with their image.  When I speak to them for the first time, this is what they tend to say…

  • I never knew how to look good when I was younger, or how to do my hair and never wore make-up because I didn’t know how to
  • I bumble along, not knowing what to wear or how to look, so I play safe and wear my jeans and a top. It doesn’t matter, as no-one sees me
  • I feel stuck in a rut, I need help; I am hopeless
  • I don’t know what to choose in the shops, or know what suits me – I feel frustrated, and go home with nothing
  • I feel plain and boring – I want to change
  • I want to find out who I am, but I don’t know how
  • I would like to know what suits my body and colouring
  • I hate my body and am not the most attractive
  • I get up in the morning and say to myself “I don’t what to wear”

The majority of people, lack in confidence.  This is due to the lack of knowledge and know how.

What I say to people is… “I hear this all the time”.

We were not educated when we were younger on how to apply make-up, how to wash our hair, how to come across, what suits our colouring and how to make the best of our body.

Don’t feel upset and lose confidence over this.  We didn’t have the knowledge and education to understand what to do.  We all feel the same.  We all hate something about ourselves, it is normal.

3. Show off your assets

We all have good areas in our bodies.  Have a good look at yourself and make a list of what they are.  To begin with, you will find this difficult, but as your confidence grows, the list will get longer.

For example –

  • If you have good teeth or a smile, let people see and smile more.
  • If you have amazing legs, show them off wearing a lighter colour, make them longer by wearing the same colour shoes as trousers.
  • If you have great hair, make that your asset.
  • If you have a good figure, wear fitted clothing to show it off.
  • If you have gorgeous eyes, let people see them.

Whatever your assets are, don’t be afraid to show them off.  When people notice, this will affect your confidence.

4. Don’t hide

Due to not being confident, the first thing we want to do is hide.  Our confidence will not grow, until we go out of our comfort zone and show ourselves to the world.

This could be wearing baggy clothes, hiding behind our hair and wearing dark clothing.  By doing this, we are not showing off our lovely personalities, faces and bodies.

 

Let’s think of the basics – wear clothes that fit you well.  Ensure you have cleaned your face and body with a good cleanser and moisturiser.  Wear simple make-up ladies.  Your hair should be clean, cut well, excellent condition and coloured by an expert.

5. Understand your body

We all have unique bodies that are different shapes, sizes and lengths.  To make the best of yourself and to feel confident, you need to understand your own body.

This would be:

 

  • To know if you have shortness or length and to know how to balance out your bodies to look the best when choosing an outfit.
  • To know your body shape to understand what cuts, fabrics and finishes to go for to make the best of your body.
  • To know where you are going right and wrong with your clothing choices and how to move forward correctly.
  • To know what garments work for your personality to show yourself off, again boosting your confidence.

Having this information has made a massive difference to my confidence.  When you are not confident you are indecisive, which is so frustrating inside.  When you have been educated, and go by your own personal rules, things are much easier and clearer to make decisions.

6. Wear colours that make you look young, fresh and radiant

Colour has a huge effect on our appearance and confidence.  When you wear the wrong colour, it can make you look sad, grumpy and unsure about yourself.  People can run a mile if you are looking aggressive or untrustworthy.

Understanding your dominant colour characteristics, makes a massive difference to your confidence, look and the way you are perceived.

Example –

  • If you have light hair eyes and skin, wear light colours
  • If you have dark hair, eyes and skin, wear darker colours
  • If you have some brightness to your hair and skin – wear bright colours
  • If you look muted and soft within your skin – wear softer colours
  • If you have yellowy coloured skin, wear gold accessories
  • If you have cool, pinky coloured skin, wear silver accessories

I am giving you the basics of colour analysis.  The best thing would be to have your colours analysed for you to look approachable and attractive to others, as well as feeling great yourself.

7. Body language

When you are not confident, you hold your head low and find it difficult to look at people.

Go out of your comfort zone and try these things:

  • Smile – people like being smiled at, it makes you feel good
  • Eye contact – try and look at people in the eye. Maintaining eye contact shows confidence
  • Posture – stand with your head held high and straight
  • Handshake – we don’t want a wet fish! A firm, simple, strong handshake is required
  • Walk with confidence

This is all to do with nonverbal communication.  Your choice of colour, clothing and hairstyle are also to do with your body language.

Certain colours can have an effect on your mood.  All these little judgments have an effect on a first impression.

8. Don’t stop

When you have all the skills, you will feel so much better within yourself and won’t be so frightened to try things.

All these little changes will make a massive difference to your life as so many of my clients that I have helped.  You will have a ‘light bulb’ moment where you will realise that actually….

 

I AM OK!

I AM A TALENTED, UNIQUE, GORGEOUS HUMAN BEING

THAT HAS SO MANY SKILLS

AND I AM READY TO CONQUER THE WORLD

Finally, keep moving forward and going out of your comfort zone.  Don’t forget to practice the steps.

This is what one of my recent clients had to say….

“Thank you for your consultation with me.  You were so sensitive and encouraging.  I think you have a real gift for the work you do, helping each of us re-kindle confidence and enthusiasm in what can be a vulnerable area of our lives, often kept very private.

Thank you for helping to re-awaken a more playful and engaged connection with my appearance !”

If you wish to know more, then I would be excited to help boost your confidence.

Your comments on my blog, would be very much appreciated.

Executive brand before and after

Here we have a wonderful couple, who are very busy with their successful
brand. This means that they need stylish, easy to co-ordinate clothing
that shows off their company during their public and TV appearances.

Will and Charlie on QVC – before photo

 

Charlie Bears is a luxury, collectable teddy bear company with a sense of fun and a classic British background.

We wanted to emulate and match that
reputation with the owners as well as honour their personal characters.

 

 

Will after

 

We succeed in creating a beautiful capsule wardrobe, filled with amazing quality items, that fit well, look appropriate and are easy to wear.

Will looks sensational.

They are now able to arrive at any event or challenging
situation ready for action.

This is what Will had to say….

“I am really enjoying my new look and have to say that I feel so much more confident, and also making my own choices.

When I am at work, I can walk into a room and own it, knowing that I look the part… it has made a huge difference.”

 

personal image and impact

As a business consultant and executive coach predominantly working with UK Board Directors, my appearance is important to me, both in making a good first impression, but also being an integral part of my personal brand.

I was not particularly knowledgeable or aware of what clothes I might look best in.  I came across Maggi and although I felt quite conscious as a man going to meet to her, I’m very glad I did.

It was clear from the start, that Maggi has an eye for what looks good, in a way that I was completely blind to.  She took the time to get an understanding of the type of look that I might be aspiring towards, as well as insightfully questioning to ascertain what preferences I might have and what was important about my attire in relation to the work I did.

I was blown away by the amount of preparation she had done beforehand in terms of what types of ‘cuts’ would best work with my body shape, what fabrics and finishes I should consider in my suits, the types of shirting pattern and colours.

6 months later… people now comment about how much younger I look and how much sharper I’m dressed.  I have a new suit which is both a better fit and a colour that better suits me as well as shirts, new glasses and brogues.

What I really notice about Maggi is her expertise and keen eye to provide insight and clarity over what would best work for me and her ability to see things that I just wasn’t able to see. I’m also really impressed with her ability to go the extra mile in terms of the level of commitment and investigation she was willing to undertake on my behalf, as an example, she found several affordable bespoke suit makers.

I definitely recommend having a consultation with Maggi.

Baz Hartnell, Business consultant and Executive coach        Chard, Devon

why your appearance matters when attending an interview

How long do we have to make a first impression?

It is a very competitive world out there when looking for work. You have to be better than everyone else and have the X factor to succeed. It is not only your qualifications and your intelligence that employers are looking for; they will be looking at your Image.

Have you ever thought about…

  1. How do I brand myself to look fantastic?
  2. What are employers looking for?
  3. How do I take control of my Image?
  4. Am I coming across as confident and trustworthy?
  5. What am I saying without speaking?

Are you one of the many people that are fed up with not being able to get work or not being selected for a promotion?

Maybe, you have just come out of A levels/College/University and need to apply for jobs.  Have you thought about your look and what to wear?  How can I stand out over the other applicants?

before

before

after

after

This is what Paul had to say…

“When attending interviews I had no idea what I was wearing was an issue.  Maggi was brilliant she explained where I was going wrong and why. Armed with a few golden rules and a desperately needed shopping trip, I felt and looked more confident. It seemed to do the trick, I now have a a great job and have been head hunted by others!”

Paul Gorsuch, Operations Manager   Weymouth