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25 Jul 2013

Shade Attack | Tame Those Shades

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www.sierrachantal.com

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I never thought I would complain about a lack of rain, but man it's hot!! I'm hooked up to a permanent drip of ice cold ginger beer, the backs of my legs are sweating so much that I keep getting suctioned to my chair. My mantle piece is littered with sunglasses of various shades and prints rather than my usual nick nac's which have now been tossed into the nearest draw, they look like shiny over sized exotic beetles some on their backs with their legs splayed out helplessly in all directions, not neatly put away in leather cases like they should be, cleverly resisting scratches and smudges.

Oh well, I do have some thoughts on how to generate that mysterious, expensive aloof style that happens when you bring together the right sunglasses with the right look even if I am pretty careless with my own. Believe it or not, I think even expensive shades/sunglasses can look cheap and usually this happens when you choose a pair that totally over powers your look a bit like a bling ring. Even if you couldn't give flying frog about co-ordination think back to classic looks they become classic for a reason, they work with you. I've fallen happily in love with the classics over at shadestation.co.uk .
By now you probably know which shades work for your face shape, I wrote a guide here if not, the most important thing to remember when choosing and wearing sunglasses is the context needs to be right too, take the first image I chose, the models high blonde hair and bleached out features are the perfect back drop for these winged encrusted beauties she's wearing, because if she was minus these shades we all know that she would be wearing huge faux eyelashes to amp up her eyes.

Reconnecting With Your Sense Of Style

As someone women have called when they were in need of having their wardrobe resuscitated and their style tweaked, I now have a bit of an idea of what type of issues go some way to contributing to a wardrobe crisis and identity melt down. I thought it might be useful to share a little of my insight on these issues. Our identity and our sense of style are closely linked, so it’s probably no surprise to discover that we often feel uneasy when what we see in the mirror doesn’t fit with where we are currently in our lives.

Some reasons why we might find ourselves doubting our sense of style are a change of job or roles, a change of relationship status or a changes in body shape, can you see a common theme; any change can shake things up and leave you feeling out of step with your wardrobe and your personal sense of style. Sometimes much smaller lifestyle issues such as having too narrow or wide a focus on fashion or having a very one dimensional busy lifestyle can have a negative effect too, stifling or overwhelming the creative process of enjoying fashion and style and leaving us feeling lost in a fashion wilderness.

Getting your Style mojo back is not about having tons of money to spend, although it helps to have some, it’s about understanding who and where you are in your life and reconnecting with the creativity of fashion and your own personal sense of style in a more relaxed way.

Our sense of style can feel so fragile it becomes a whisper or a tiny flickering flame that needs fanning so it can burn brightly again and help us feel really alive and attractive again.

My Misguided Route To Wearing A T-Shirt

Carey Mulligan

T-shirts the simplest garment we generally process in our wardrobes a staple top to turn to, worn with jeans when all else fails and more recently an item that has reached iconic status after being reinvented by countless designers and celebs in the name of charity and this season you can even get your hands on a leather one.

This is where the fairy tale ends annoyingly, at least for me anyway; I discovered some time back, that the average T-shirt does very little for my body shape, so while everyone else aspires to be an hourglass, I aspire to be a totem pole in the realm of T-shirt wearing, not just because we are nearing the festival season, but because, inverted triangular shapes (most men and models) and totem gals, those that are straight up and down make a T-shirt actually look like something.

Sadly as soon as you introduce breasts and hips into the equation this element of style vanishes and me and my hour glass femme fatales, Kelly Osbourne, Carey Muligan and Kate Winslet among our number fill out the boxy shape a little too well and we look blunt, not edgy, just shapeless, with the added bonus that the short round scoop neck helps make our neck look stumpy too.

So do we owe the humble T-shirt a debt of gratitude? No I think not, but if you still want to wear a t-shirt in some form here are my guidelines.-

How To Choose A Handbag

Hi Gals's I thought it would be fun today, to demonstrate how different handbags help define our signature look and then explore a few style tips around choosing the right handbag for you! I heard you gasp, how can there be a right or wrong bag, just falling in love with the one should be reason enough.Choosing you handbag using a mix of Style Psychology and accessory advice will ensure your look is balanced and adds the desired impact to your image and help avoid looking mismatched and out of step with the ocassion.

OK bag number 1, style personalty number 1, swirls of strawberry soft leather, convey sensuality and a romantic nature a great bag to use if you work in the beauty, lingerie or wedding sector.

In contrast bag number 2 this grey patent envelope clutch says you mean business, perfect for business lunch's, smart reporter's carrying just the essential notepad and lipstick. Minimalist clean lines say you're not shy about being direct.

My 3rd handbag selection and style personalty is someone who wants to wear a bag that says they are artistic and slightly edgy. I really like the giant safety pin detailing. Great worn by designer type's who are confident about quirk.

Next up for those who want to look approachable but still look well put together, this 4th handbag, will help achieve that delicate balance for you. Perhaps you work informally with people, you maybe a life coach or a counsellor or maybe you work with families.

Handbag number 5 the doctor bag shape, subdued colour and high definition stitching work, add up to a professional that carries a career that has a high level of management skill's and creativity, the perfect bag for an architect, that wants to convey their creativity, whilst not being over the top with their accessory styling.

Last but not least this brief case in sheep skin and leather, is for those women who want to whisper softly, luxe and quality. Perhaps you negotiate with high flying client's or just want to reflect the status of you're luxury store.

Now You Have An Idea's Of The Type Of Bag That Fits Best With Your Image, Here Are A Few Top Style Tips On How To Wear Your Bag successfully.

1. Petite gals don't go for bags that you wear across the body, it will cut you in half!

2. Tall gals, you can wear most styles, avoid anything too small, or you will look unbalanced.

3. Big busted gals don't wear a bag on your shoulder or across the body, it emphasises the bust line.

4. If you have a pear shaped body wear larger hand held style's over the shoulder to balance your hip line and bust.

10 Jun 2011

Jessie J Hits A High Note At The Womens 2011 Glamour Awards

Hi Gals, I have been reveling in one of the most glamorous events of the year 2011, The Womens Glamour Awards! The atmosphere was almost crackeling with the vast quantities of hairspray used backstage to help create those faultless celebrity updos? Did you take style notes? Whose style stood out for you?

Glamour awards or evening dress success, boils down to getting the following things right with your look for the evening, colour, cut and shape and the finale most important piece of the style puzzle? Reflecting your style personalty whilst doing it in a fresh way every time if your a celebrity, so your fan's and you don't get bored! Take note of the two talented and beautiful ladies above, Ellie Goulding is wearing Jonathan Saunders,the dress is simple, striking and monochrome and so should work for this Glamour event on every level, however unfortunately it fails to, the reason? If you compare Ellie Gouldings dress to Tulisa Constostavlos's neon pink dress above which looks stunning on her, the dress is not wearing her, she looks like it fits her better somehow, it is not the fit that Ellie got wrong in my opinion (her dress fits perfectly) but the style of this very chic modern take on Hollywood glamour, which is too far removed from Ellies tom boyish sweet style, we all know and admire, see her tux moment which I love below.

It's why celebrity women employ a stylist to ensure they have a constantly evolving signature look that runs right through their wardrobe/closet each season. Here is my round up of those celebrity women, who got their signature style perfect on the night and so look effortlessly stylish.

Daisy Lowe- Maverick Rock Chic - Oozing sophistication

Jesse J vampy and dark high glamour

Paloma Faith- Hollywood quirk

Rosie Huntington- Whiteley, etheral beauty, the cut of her dress, echos her bodylines to perfection

Sharon x x

3 Jun 2011

Apprentice Uk Females In Need Of A Work Wear Makeover?

The Long And The Short Of It ??!

I was disappointed to discover the latest style trend in the boardroom of this seasons apprentice 2011, for 80's style huge draped scarve's, which in my opinion eclipse a womens best assest her shirt of course!! A well tailored shirt is the work horse of a womens wardrobe/closet and justly so, a well cut womens shirt showcases great tailoring, helps correct poor posture and illustrates you mean buisness, scarve's should be used to draw attention to the face through colour not drown your figure in swathes of fabric! Posture is all in boardroom land! Past female apprentices have won hands down in the fashion stakes against there male opponent's, discuss!

Sharon x

23 May 2011

Which Shoes Go With Which Maxi Dress??

Hi Gals, after talking to a super stylish friend of mine that was looking to give her maxi dress wardrobe a fresh twist in time for her long awaited holiday to Mexico but at a complete loss as to which which shoes to choose to wear with which type of maxi dress, I decided to post a few potential pairings to help her out! Lady Luck should be reserved for raffles only!

sneakers are a great low key shoe alternative worn with vibrant striped maxis and olive green looks sophisticated when worn with peach and navy.

Lace is huge this spring/summer 20011, and these flesh coloured pom pom flats will create a textured but pretty story when working a lace maxi dress. Alternatvely rev up the style stakes for those that are more daring and want to dally with drama, wear some bright slipper style pumps, like these below that give a Morrocan flavour to your look, break out the turkish delight and apple tea!

Ok so we have covered two of the three most popular maxi dress looks this season, lace and stripes, so for the third and final pairing, it had to be a floral print, here are a few alternatives to ground this whymsical seventies inspired alternative.

Cut out pointy flats in electric suede lend themselves to a more casual look that still keys into the opulent fashions of this period, texture was key and clashing textures and colours in brights, create a more contemporary feel. I love these rope and raffia wedges in coral and grey with a white stripe running through below, they would elevate my finale maxi pick, to a high glamour look for an evening by the pool, big hair is a must!

Hope you had fun, sharing some options for what shoes to wear with which summer maxi dress styles. I know I did!

credits go to Bells & Whistles and Fashion Era

Sharon x

19 May 2011

Touche Eclat Launches Beauty Bible Top Rated Favourites Today!

Hi Gals,

With all the new makeup trends around, a gal can have one to many options, but one thing is for sure dark shadows don't team well with any makeup or outfit choices, as we age the skin under our eye gets thinner which can mean, we have a annoying grey, or bluish tinge under our eyes. My eye essential, when working with clients to create a perfectly groomed look, has to be a good quality under eye concealer and if you have not yet tried the diva of them all Touch Elclat, now is the time, as YSL launched today, not one, not two, but seven shades of their shadow banishing elxir, (available at selfridges UK, nation wide from the 4th of August) as voted number one under eye concealer in the Beauty Bible. Generally brighter shades of eye shadow are harder to wear, unless you have a flawless canvas to start with, but most women can get away with using a bright eyeliner or masacara. If you still want to achieve impact with a more natural makeup, try this hot tip to really make your eyes colour stand out, line the upper eye with one colour and the lower eye with a contrasting colour, this opens the eye up whilst making your whites sparkle. Can I let you into a little secret, I even wear this concealer alone on my brow bone to get the same effect as Bobbie Browns - bone shadow. Have you had success using this product, any tips on where to use it on the face?

Sharon x x

27 Dec 2010

Satin Beaded Dresses Tied Up With Pearls These Are Few Of My..........

Brooche by vancleef.com

Hi Gals, hope you have had a lovely Christmas day. I have a very glamorous riddle for you to try to answer, what look was worn by a famous parisian dancer with the intials JB and often includes elements of fringing, bead work, asymmetric design, feathers, drop waists and heavily embelished head- dresses?

Still not sure? Well the answer is- if your looking for a iconic look that clearly says high glamour and makes you feel every inch the starlet at this years, New Years Eve party bash, then era of the flapper girl is perfect! The name of the famous Parisian dancer that was a fashion icon in the 20s and mother of 12 adopted children? Josephine Baker

http://www.thisnext.com/

Two of the key trend's from the period both the drop waist and the classic column dress work well to flatter most key bodyshapes that I work with. If your an hour glass shape (think Kate Winslet in the Titanic) or a slender twiggy type, opt for a sumptious slippery satin column dress or sheath, with a draped back and accessorize with a velvet or fur stole. You can wear hair long in waves, slicked back or short for a more contempory feel. If your an apple, pear or twiggy shape, the fuller skirt of the flapper girl style dress, fringing and deep waistband of this drop waist style, balances heavy hips, disguise tummy wobble and shows of the best part of your legs.

Hair should be worn bobbed or in a loose bun and accessorised with a dazzling hair band.

For your personal delight this is my round up of my favourite 20s high glamour pieces if you want to shine at this years New Years party!

http://www.purpledoorknob.com/

Topshop.com

Not keen on wearing a dress? This tunic, worn with silver leggings and cuffs stills gives you a slice of the Great Gatsby.

Adore this high theatre take, with black and white geometric pattern!

blogTo.com

For a modern twist wear bright's rather than sparkle

Have fun customizing a deep satin head band with a diamante brooche, for the ultimate head dress statement, make it a panther tiger, serpant or a organic shape from the natural world for a truly authentic feel.