This week you will when we speak to Image Consultant Justine Wratten from Total Image Solutions and get all the best tips on looking fabulous!
Justine once manage one of Melbourne’s
most upmarket chain stores. After a few years she became very disillusioned
with the retail industry and grew sick and tired of the “get the sale
regardless” attitude, she headed into a different industry.
“Women are not stupid, they know when
they are being lied to and appreciate an honest opinion and constructive
criticism when it comes to what they wear”
After being confronted with the
question “if you could do anything in the world what would you do?” she
immediately answered “I would be an image consultant”. After that she thought
that if she could answer that question without hesitation she owed it to
herself to give it a go. After completing an internationally accredited image
course “Total Image Solutions” was created.
Having suffered low body image since
her teenage years, the course not only fulfilled her dream of becoming an image
consultant, but also taught her some extremely valuable lessons in how to
feeling good about your body no matter what your age or size.
“After having kids I hated my stomach
and thought wearing black and dark grey baggy clothes was the best way to hide
it, after doing my training I now know what colours and styles suit me and now
when I look in the mirror I have learnt to see only see the positives, an
amazing and liberating feeling”
Total Image Solutions main
objective is to get women feeling good about themselves.
It’s time to accept your body the way
it is and focus on the positives rather than the
negatives.
·
Learn what colours make you look younger, healthier, vibrant and energetic
· Learn
to shop with confidence and make the right clothing choices
When everything you buy is the right
style and colour for you, you will never again look in your wardrobe and think
you have "nothing to wear”.
“So stop making excuses such as 'I
will buy some better clothes when I lose some weight' or 'all I have time to do
is throw a tracksuit on', make the most of what you have now and you will
be amazed just how much better you can feel. Call me and have a chat about your
concerns and together we will work on your total image solution.”
Justine's advice:
Think about this, the majority of
women wear 20% of their wardrobes 80% of the time, on average we have 100
significant pieces (shoes, pants, tops, jackets, skirts etc) that cost on
average $50.00, thats on average $5000.00 you have invested in your
wardrobe. If you are only wearing 20% of it, you have $4000.00 sitting there
going to waste. Given we usually turn over our wardrobes every 6 years, thats
$4000.00 you are throwing away every 6 years !!! Thats crazy.
There is a solution, when you learn
once and for all what suits you, you can then turn the statistics around. You
will start looking at you purchases more carefully and stop throwing your money
away.
When it comes to your image,
personality plays a huge role. For most people however their inner and outer
style personalities do not match up. For most people their outer style
personality i.e what we wear and how we are percieved takes on a
functional role and conforms to those around us and the everyday
situations we find ourselves in. Style personality can fall into many
categories, is it classic, feminine, dramatic, natural, elegant, sexy or creative
?
Most women who have kids
find themselves dressing down because they feel uncomfotable doing the school
pickup and "standing out" in something other than a tracksuit or the
staple of jeans and a black top. But when you ask these women about how
they feel about their style, they feel boring and drab.
AGE APPROPRIATE:
You know, when you hear
the term "age appropriate" you usually think of someone older
dressing too young but it does also apply to someone younger dressing too
old. Many people in their thirties and forties who categorise themselves as a
"school mum" have lost sight of their inner style personailty and
that is the reason why the majority of these gorgeous women feel drab, tired,
and somewhat miserable, they have fallen into a rut. When you are not being
true to your inner self there is really no other possible outcome.
Now having said all that your inner
style personality might fall into a category that is really not appropraite for
your everyday situation. You may be a "school mum" whos sexy inner
style personality is screaming to get out but wearing a so called sexy outfit
to pick up the kids might raise a few eyebrows, so as much as I am an advocate
for dressing for yourself and no one else, I am also an advocate of appropraite
dressing. So heres what I recommend, in a situation like that you can add
touches that make you feel sexy while staying "appropriate". Buy
yourself a beautiful perfume to wear everyday, dont just reserve it for special
occassions, paint your toe nails in a gorgeous bright colour that you would be
to scared to buy clothes in. Try and find some underwear that you feel
comfortable in but also makes you feels sexy and wear it everyday not just on
special occassions.
Some people may think the cost of
having a style or colour consultation is out of their reach, but think about
this, you will generally only do it once. When you look in your wardrobe and
are faced with all the mistakes you have made, add up the cost of that. I can
guarantee you it will by far out weigh the cost of hiring an image consultant.
Once you know what styles and colours suit you, you will look and feel
fantastic and will no longer make expensive mistakes. Before you go shopping
for Spring/Summer and you make anymore mistakes come and see me.
I was watching Oprah the other day
and they were doing makeovers on some very deserving women (just like all of
you). At the end, the person in charge of their new look gave out his ten top
list of essential items every woman must have in her wardrobe.
A couple made
perfect sense to me like a great pair of dark denim jeans, but the rest were
just to generalised for my liking. One item in particular that he insisted
every woman should have is a black turtleneck jumper, now I dont know
about you but if I were to wear a black turtleneck, my face would look round
and full and with black not being a good colour on me I would look tired
and dull.
Hence the difference between a stylist and an image
consultant, a stylist is more likely to use items currently in fashion or
easily accessible regardless of body type or colouring whereas an image
consultant will analyse your best styles and colours and then work with current
trends.
So take the time to invest in yourself, find
out whats works best for you.
SHAPE WEAR?
Have just been watching "How to
look good naked", now don't get me wrong I love Gok Wan and what he
ultimately is able to achieve. What I dont understand is why call the show
"How to look good naked" when the first thing he wants to do is get
everyone into firm fitting shape wear! In my opinion shape wear definately has
its place but I couldn't think of anything worse than having to wear it
everyday.
I don't know how you can start to feel good naked without
starting to accept your body the way it is. If you are going to a special event
and have a gorgeous dress to wear shapewear can help smooth out any
imperfections, but on a day to day basis it is too restrictive and
uncomfortable.
When you learn how to dress your body shape and make the best
choices when it comes to colouring you can minimise your percieved flaws and
accentuate you positive attributes. After a while of dressing your best you,
you will notice a mind shift and looking (and feeling) good naked may not be
that as far out of reach as you think.
http://www.totalimagesolutions.com.au
Meet Lea
So a bit about me......I have lived a
life since school and having children of the YO YO diet scenario. I had a
bad pregnancy with my last child and had some injuries caused by the
birth. Needless to say m self confidence had been
shattered, and as a result, I had
little inspiration
to try and look good. My wardrobe had
turned to a mish mash of loose, black, and dark clothes that I was comfortable
in caring for my 2 "now school aged" children . As a result, I
found myself never having anything to wear, which meant I rarely went
out.
I had little time for myself,
let alone to think about my fashion style. Shopping for clothes was just
too hard. Justine encouraged me to recreate my sense of style that I
thought I had lost forever,and my love for colour. I felt alive
again, and energised by the
possibilities I could look forward to. Her advice
and help in achieving a new look
hairstyle, and makeup, also made my spirits
soar. I was back on track.
The best was going shopping with
Justine. In no time, we had a wardrobe filled with colourful, matching
outfits that I felt confident and very stylish in. My girlfriends were all
envious of how I looked.
Now I think I will ask Justine to
shop with me at the start of every season. It saves me time and
money, because everything I buy suits me and I know I will wear it. Thank
you Justine for giving me back my self confidence and trust that I will
always have something to wear, whatever the occasion!
AFTER:
