Outfit on Radio Rhema Tuesday 26th, 9:40am

Tune in to Rhema on 1251 AM or listen online at 9:40 tomorrow morning to get some great tips on accessories for winter.

Mens Style Tips on Life FM - Listen Now!

Listen to what's hot for guys style this winter, and check out how I critiqued Frank & Di's outfits...

This was on Life FM (99.8 FM) last week...

Click Here to Listen

Guys Satchel on Queen St

This is Al Gough, a hairdressing tutor at Servilles Academy. What a great satchel he has!!

I especially love the carabiner used as a clasp. It makes it even more of a masculine look.

What Not To Wear - on Life FM

A big thanks to all of you who listened in to Girls Talk on Life FM this morning. We had a great time talking about 'What Not To Wear', fashion mistakes, dressing for your body shape and shopping tips. I got to answer quite a few caller questions, which I hope was helpful.

If you have a Style Question that you would like an answer to, just email me on tanya@outfitme.co.nz and I'll post your question, and the answer here on the Style Tips section.

There is also a slot on Men's Style which is coming up on Life FM (99.8 FM) at 5:00pm today, with Frank & Di, so listen in guys! I'll try to get the recording of this so you can all hear it.

I will be critiquing Frank & Di's outfits...

So keep posted to see what they've done right, and what needs a bit of a brush up!!

http://www.outfitme.co.nz/

Boot Accessories

Check out these great accessories on the boots. It's like a fur cuff that has been tied around like a boot bracelet! I'm not sure if they were originally meant for boots or whether they are a fur cuff that she has used instead, but what a fun look.

Outfit Radio Interview

Here is another Radio Interview that I did a while back. Read on for some great tips on Winter Style...

Well it truly feels like winter has settled in – time to face a whole new wardrobe. Do you suggest doing a full wardrobe change-over from summer to winter?

I don’t think that’s completely necessary. I’m all about using the least number of clothes in the most number of ways. The best way to re-use the summer favorites is to layer either over or underneath them. Dresses – layer a merino knit underneath, and opaque tights or leggings underneath too. Team boots and tights with skirts to update them into winter.

How long do you think we should hang on to THOSE clothes that we love but maybe don’t wear so often?

Ohh, that’s a hard one… It depends on why you don’t wear it. If it’s unflattering for your figure shape or it’s a bad colour on you … get rid of it. If it just needs repairing or re-working, take it to a seamstress and see if she can make it work for you, but that’s unlikely, say your goodbyes. I’d say, if you haven’t worn it in the last 2 years… out it goes.

How do we deal with the fact that a lot of buildings are air-conditioned so we are so much colder outside?

Layering is the key to this Laurel. Use knitwear, cardigans, wraps & jackets that can be taken off inside. Make sure though that your jacket does still go with your outfit. I’ve seen so many outfits ruined by a big chunky casual jacket over top that just doesn’t go. Use scarves coats outside.

Also at the moment the temperature changes quite radically from morning to evening? How do we adapt our wardrobe?

Layering again, I often pop some tights in my bag, and an extra layer to go over top of my outfit.

What do you think of scarves and hats?

I love scarves! I think they are one of the most under-utilized winter accessories. They can brighten up an otherwise dull outfit, easy to take on or off depending on warmth, and they add a great deal of interest. For me they are about style, not just warmth.

Hats – I don’t like beanies very much personally, but there are some cut beret’s and knit style hats around this season, though they don’t suit all faces shapes, so be careful with them. Watch out for hat hair too!

Can guys wear them as well?

I love guys in scarves, and no they are not just for the metrosexuals. It’s a huge style factor that can add interest to an otherwise plain outfit. Wear them folded in half, looped around the neck, then put the ends through the loop, or just wind around the neck, on end in front, one end on your back, or just draped around the neck, both ends in front.

What are the popular colours this winter?

Grey is very popular, but only wear it next to your face if you suit cool colours. Red & Purple are quite big this season, as is black of course. But be careful with black next to your face, as it is often too harsh for a lot of people, and can make you look more drained and older.

What styles are in?

Dresses are very in, and will continue to be right into next summer too, so invest in one or two. Layering is a big look, as is footless back tights underneath skirts and dresses. Volume is a key look too, but make sure you only wear it on one half and keep the other half sleek. For Guys layering is big too - go for a nice dark slim jean, a merino knit, a blazer, a scarf, and some great shoes.

So much of the clothes that are in the shops are made out of t-shirt material - but this does not hang well, what material should we look out for?

Yes, definitely stay away from t-shirt fabric dresses or skirts if your hips & thighs are a problem area. It will cling in all the wrong places. I would look for a thicker knit, or otherwise a slightly heavier fabric that will glide over figure challenges rather that cling to them.

www.outfitme.co.nz

Street Style

This is Rick, a Business Analyst from Auckland. I was sitting across from him on the bus today.

Check out his scarf and jacket combo. Such a great winter look for guys.

Tanya, live on radio this Tuesday - Listen in!!

Tanya will be a guest on the Girls Talk segment on Life FM (99.8FM)!!

This coming Tuesday 19th June, from 11am-12pm.

Listen in to hear great discussions on what not to wear, style tips, how to dress for your body shape, and more!

Winter Style: Scarves

One of my favourite accessories for Winter are scarves. Not only on women, mind you, but guys as well!

Most men tend to shy away from wearing scarves, as they think it will make them look less manly. I beg to differ. Here are some photos of guys wearing scarves and it looks really great.

So get into it guys! Grab a scarf and step into style.

Shopping Tips

Below is a list of my Shopping Tips... As I'm out shopping with clients quite often, I notice what works & what doesn't during shopping trips. So I thought I'd post these tips here for you all. Hopefully they will make shopping easier and more enjoyable for you!

BEFORE YOU GO SHOPPING...

1. Make a list before you go shopping.

Take stock of your wardrobe and see what things you need to invest in to work with what you already have, and fill in the gaps in your wardrobe. Keep in mind upcoming events that you will be attending, and what you will need to wear to those. (What do you have that you can use for the events? You may not need to buy a whole new outfit, rather just accessories or a new top).

2. Have a budget in mind.

Try to stick to your budget as much as possible. I know that sales can be enticing, and "Oh my goodness, what a bargain! It would be a sin not to get it!" can flash through your mind many times over, but keep the list in mind, and keep the budget in mind too. This will save you from your guilty morning-after feelings.

3. Dress well.

You will always be treated better by shop assistants if you are dressed well while shopping. Call it shallow, but it's a fact of life - people respond differently to you depending on how you present yourself. You are much more likely to get the help and attention you need if you are dressed well.

4. Wear clothes that are easy to take on & off.

One of the excuses I hear from ladies who don't enjoy shopping is that they hate feeling all flustered and hot from getting undressed & dressed again so many times. Make it easier on yourself. Avoid wearing stockings if you are going shopping for a pair of shorts. Wear clothing that isn't hard to take on or off, you'll thank yourself for it.

5. Wear shoes that are easy to take on & off.

Same as the above rule - avoid lace up shoes or boots if possible. Wear slip on shoes if you can (weather depending). It will make your dressing room time a lot shorter.

6. Wear neutral coloured underwear.

Have you ever gone shopping for a pair of lighter coloured trousers, shorts or skirt and checked out your rear view only to see a black knicker line staring back at you? I have! The same goes for dark bras while you are trying to buy a lighter coloured top. It's just so distracting! This is something that many people don't think about. However it is a huge help, as it means no matter what you are trying on, your underwear won't interfere with your decision. Ladies, make sure that you are wearing a good fitting bra. No tops look good with droopies. Hoist 'em up!

7. If you are trying to match something, take it with you.

This may sound completely obvious, but I think it's worth stating anyway. If you are wanting to buy a pair of jeans to wear with heels or high boots, taken your heels with you so that you know the jeans will be long enough. Or if you are wanting to find a top to match a skirt (which you shouldn't have got, because you had nothing to wear it with!), take the skirt with you to match colours against. Don't just rely on your memory.

WHILE YOU ARE SHOPPING...

8. Beware of sale racks.

To many of you this may sound like blasphemy! I'm not saying never buy anything on sale, I'm just saying beware. Often things are put on sale by retailers either because they don't fit very well, haven't sold well, or were just a big mistake to begin with. Don't just buy it because it's a "bargain". Think it over properly.

9. Ask yourself the 6 key questions.

Will this item go with at least 3 other things I already have at home? Does it suit my body shape? Does the colour suit me? Does it suit my style personality? How long will this item be 'in'? Is it within my price budget?

10. If you are unsure, put the item on hold.

If in doubt about whether to buy the item or not, give yourself some time to think it over. Put it on hold, go and have a coffee or carry on with other shopping. If you can't stop thinking about it an hour or even a day later, then it's probably a good thing to buy. If however, you are still unsure, then just leave it. There's nothing worse that wasting money on something that you won't wear because "There's something just not right about it." (I call these Closet Orphans).

11. If you find something you absolutely love, buy 2!

I have often heard friends and clients say that they wished they had another of their favourite clothing item. If you find something that is the perfect fit, good price, and it's a great key clothing item, then often it can be a good idea to get another one in a different colour, or even in the same colour if you think you'll wear it often (like the perfect fitting pair of black trousers). Obviously I don't recommend this for everything, but for the absolute favourites, it's a great idea.

I hope these Outfit Shopping Tips are a help to you. Feel free to post a comment if you have any great shopping tips of your own, or if you have any questions.

www.outfitme.co.nz

Outfit on the Radio!

Happy Friday! I thought I'd post the written version of a radio interview that I had recently, on Rhema 1251 AM. I hope you get some good tips from it...

Is it important for us to take care with our appearance?

I definitely think so. Whether we like it or not, the fact is that people make assumptions about us based on our appearance. Studies have shown that in just the first 15 seconds, a new person meeting you forms more than a dozen surprising impressions about you and your life, based almost entirely on your appearance. But more importantly, I have also found that women who have a makeover, or have been shown how to look their best, always have improved self confidence. So it's not only because of others, but it's about what it does for us. How good do you feel when you get a compliment about your outfit, or how good you look? I love that feeling!

Do we always know how to make ourselves look good?

Unfortunately we aren't all born with style know-how, it needs to be taught and caught. I would say that the majority of women & men are not 100% sure what suits them, they get frustrated shopping, and "have nothing to wear" even with a wardrobe full of clothing. Thankfully it's easy enough to learn how to look your best with a little help & guidance from a personal style consultant.

How do we find our personal style?

It's a combination of things: knowing what colours suit you, knowing what styles of clothing suit your body shape (how to enhance the features you love, and how to camouflage the ones you don't), discovering your style personality (how to make your clothing reflect the real you), and having a wardrobe that works with your lifestyle. Your personal style is what your outfit/style says about you.

Do we need to have a huge wardrobe filled with clothes to look good?

Not at all. I'm a huge fan of what we call a capsule wardrobe, which is having a certain number of key pieces in your wardrobe that can all mix & match, no closet orphans. That means that when you go shopping, you don't buy just because it's a bargain, you only get it if it will work with 3 pieces that you already have at home. The key for me is definitely accessories. With a good range of accessories, you can change the look of outfits in no time.

What part does colour play in making ourselves look good?

It plays a huge part! Have you ever had anyone say "Wow, you look so good today" or "Are you feeling ok?", when you are no different than usual? Often this can be because of the colour you are wearing close your face. Knowing what colours suit your complexion, whether they are cool based or warm based, means you can get that healthy glow every time, no mistakes. It's the cheapest face lift ever!

How can we enhance our best features?

Knowing your body shape helps you to know what colour to wear on what part of your body. Here’s my rule of thumb: Wear darker, plainer colours on your areas of figure challenge, your larger half. Wear lighter, brighter colours and patterns or texture on your smaller half. The eye will be drawn to the lighter, brighter shades, and skip over the darker shades. It’s also important to know what cuts & styles of clothing enhance your good features, and what to avoid on your areas of figure challenge. That makes a huge difference.

I also wanted to touch on another subject - we were looking at an article in the challenge newspaper and there was a piece about how mothers should be responsible for passing on sensible dress sense to their daughters. Too many young girls nowadays are copying the fashion sense of various celebrities which is not always advisable. Then they end up dressing too provocatively and that invites all kinds of trouble??!!!

I think that she has a good point there. Society and culture promotes fashion that is often far less than modest. I would say that while it is important to dissuade young girls away from provocative dressing, it’s also important to let them express themselves with fashion too. It needs a good balance, encourage the safer trends that look great on them, let them have fun with it, it doesn’t have to be expensive, but do draw the line where you feel is appropriate. Be a good role model. If you look stylish as their mother, they are much more likely to understand that being stylish doesn’t have to mean being a fashion slave.

Feel free to check out my website www.outfitme.co.nz if you are wanting some one-on-one help with your style & image.