What topics do you want to hear on radio?

Post a comment to let me know what topics you are interested in hearing about on Life FM or Rhema every 2nd Thursday. I'll also post the info here for you to read. Any idea is a good idea. Thanks for your help.

What do your shoes say about you?

The way that we present ourselves gives off messages about what kind of person we are, the life we live, our interests, our confidence, our sense of style, often without us even realizing it! Today we are going to look at what your shoes say about you, and some of the common shoe sins that people commit.

So many people think that shoes are the one thing that people don’t really notice in an outfit… I beg to differ! You’d be surprised how shoes can make or break your look.

Isn't it a terrible shame to have a great outfit fall short because of an unattractive pair of clodhoppers? At the office, parties, and in our daily lives we witness this unfortunate phenomenon. All of us have seen others, or worse ourselves, let footwear drag down a great look instead of being the crowning jewel to complete it.

So what are some of those nasty shoe sins that people slip up on?

• Jeans with running shoes (running shoes are for running!) Sneakers are ok, but they need to be more of a street shoe, rather than a running shoe.

• Suits with skate shoes

• Socks with sandals or jandals

• Scuffed or dirty shoes

• Shoes you can’t walk in properly (too high or uncomfortable)

• Black shoes with white socks (especially if your trousers are too short)

• Stockings with open toed shoes (unless extremely sheer toe)

What do our shoes say about us? What messages do they send out?

• Strappy high stilettos - they make for a very sexy look are ok for a night out, but keep them away from the office, and especially job interviews, as they aren’t a respectable corporate style, go for closed toe pumps.

• Ballet flats – current, stylish and yet practical and comfortable, friendly

• Converse sneakers – popular, casual, arty, laid-back cool

• Fashion boots – keeps up with the latest, likes to be noticed, current

• Bold, colourful or patterned shoes – confident, loves to be noticed, creative, stylish

• Crocs – not my favourite shoes at all – they are all about comfort, but not style

• Running shoes while not running – This says "I haven’t taken any thought to what I’m wearing. These are my one and only pair of shoes."

• Men’s slip-on smart, stylish shoes – confident, stylish, good taste, attention to detail

Style Question

Hi Tanya,

I heard you on Life FM and thought I'd ask one of my burning style questions. I'm 20 years old very petite (5"1, 40 kg) so people guess my age as much, much younger (I sometimes even get given crayons in restaurants!) How can I dress to look older? I try to avoid bright colours and casual clothes.


Thanks for your question. I would say that you've got the right idea with things to avoid, bright colours & casual clothes. You could try the look of a nice blazer/jacket with trousers or jeans and some heels (closed toe, maybe pointy). Stronger lines will always look more mature, such as the strong shoulders and v-neck of a blazer, and the same with the shoes. But don't forget your accessories too, a nice necklace maybe.

Make sure your trousers are hemmed to the right length - not too short (it will make you look shorter), and not too long (it will look like you haven't grown into them yet). You will always get taken more seriously if you are dressed smartly and fashionably than casually and scruffily.

Also keep in mind that your hair style is current and that you remember to style your hair and do your makeup, that will help too.

Finally, stand tall, with good posture and confidence and people will start to give you the respect that you deserve.

Hope that helps,

Tanya.

99.8 FM Fortnightly Radio Sessions

Hi all,

Another great break for Outfit... I'm also going to be on Life FM (99.8 FM) every 2nd Thursday as well as Rhema. Double whammy. Very happy about that! So listen in for your fortnightly style sessions on radio.

Have a stylish day,

Tanya

Fat days

We all have those blah days in which we feel frumpy, fat or just generally very unattractive. But do we just have to suffer through them, or is there a way to trick the mind and the eye? Here are some of my tips for avoiding fat days:

• Pre-planning – Have in mind some no-fail outfits in which you know you look good. If you know that something fits well, and the outfit looks good as a whole, you have more confidence than if you just chuck on the first thing you see in your closet.

• Buy clothes that fit you well – don’t buy a size too small hoping that you’ll loose weight. Also, if you’ve put on weight and something doesn’t fit you properly anymore, don’t wear it, you’ll only depress yourself further. Ill fitting clothing actually makes you look bigger.

• Don’t wear anything too big, or too small. Too big and you’ll look frumpy, too small and you’ll look pudgy.

• Some styles of clothing will just not look good on certain figure types. If you don’t know what to avoid for your body-shape you could be causing yourself unnecessary fat days. Getting a Style & Line Analysis will let you know what works for you and what doesn’t. Check out www.outfitme.co.nz for more info.

• Avoid horizontal stripes, or noticeable seams, horizontal lines make you appear wider. Go for vertical lines instead.

• Try wearing just one colour on both top & bottom, or different shades of the same colour. This makes you look more slender, as the eye doesn’t stop at a mid-way colour change, but keeps going.

• Here is the simple 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.

• Wear colours that suit you – this always brightens up your face, and makes you look healthier and happier. It’s like an instant face-lift. If you’re not sure of what colours suit you, come for a Colour Consultation.

• Take an extra 5 minutes to do your hair & makeup. It will make you feel more attractive and ready to face the day.

• Treat yourself to a nice cup of coffee!