The Power of Self Acceptance
And what it can do for you.
Fashion and all that it encompasses, is about selling a dream. One of desirability, fantasy and exclusivity. Whether it is a beauty product, weight loss pill, clothing, hair or makeup products. The feeling that if you don’t try one or some of these products, you might miss out, or get left behind in the race.
Companies spend vast budgets on advertising agencies to keep up with fierce competition. They tap into the demographics, psyche and emotions of strong and identifiable topics to capture their audience. There is still nothing more identifiable or more talked about that Women’s body image and size.
‘Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months’ Oscar Wilde
Defining Your Style.
The choice Women have when it comes to style is huge. We can wear feminine, masculine, floral, stripes, colour blocking, plain and monochrome. Choice is great, but if your body shape has changed from menopause, illness or stress, it can throw everything up in the air and can cancel out what used to work for you. It is like starting all over again. This can be a real crossroads for some, and It is at this point, we either do something about it, or give up entirely.
Wearing Colour.
Colour is an incredible gateway into refreshing and renewing your love of style, and starting over with something that resonates and works for you. Wearing your best colours can give you a smoother complexion, brighten the eyes, and give you more energy. Knowing how to optimise your personal palette of colours in clothing, makeup and accessories is empowering and helps to navigate and control your personal image at work and in your social life with ease and confidence.
Using Accessories.
Accessories are the single most effective tool to elevate and personalise your style. Whether you use scarves, sunglasses, hats, costume jewellery bags, or belts. Taking an accessory and adding it to an outfit, can change it from being plain to unique, or individual to all out glamorous.
Book in for a New hair style.
The right hair cut can be an Instant facelift!
Many of us get stuck in a rut, when it comes to the way we look. Same hair, same clothes, same makeup.
A fresh new hair style can be transformative when it comes to updating your style and your confidence.
Visit your local salon and have a chat about what could work for you, your face shape and natural colouring.
Opt for softer hair styles to frame your face, and think about whether you want to continue using colour, or are ready to return to your natural roots.
Confidence Is Sexy!
Self-acceptance is not about blaming your body for why things don’t work or feel good anymore, but using clothes as power tools to help you find updated ways to getting back that feel good factor, and confidence you once had.
Dressing with the flow of your body shape, rather than against it, will help you be more accepting and understanding of your body and any changes you have experienced. When you start dressing for the size you are, rather that what you were, this approach will allow you to feel the difference, as your clothes no longer fight against your shape, but work in harmony with it. This creates an easier, softer silhouette, that helps you move positively into the future. There is no need to stop wearing the styles you love, but going up a dress size or looking for a new style that can replace the old one, is sometimes all it takes, to shift your confidence and find a new perspective. Taking ownership of your bodyshape, character, personality, skills, and the things you have already contributed in life, cannot be underestimated. You may not be aware of it, but you are very likely already someone’s inspiration, so think about who you could be helping, when you get dressed each day.
And my top 7 tips for feeling confident are:
Moodboard-Create a moodboard to sew seeds and develop your style. Set a pile of magazines on the table, and pull out pages of colour, style, objects, interiors and anything that grabs your attention. Use this as a foundation to develop a style you can build on.
Use Colour to help develop your style. Colour is an amazing tool in uncovering your personal style. Colour has the power to change the way you are perceived and received at work and in your social life, without saying a word. Use colour for greatest impact in your clothes, makeup and accessories.
Use accessories to give your style a personal touch. Use scarves, costume jewellery, glasses, hats, bags and belts to elevate an outift, and turn it from ordinary, into extraordinary!
Dress Size- There is nothing worse than squeezing yourself into things that don't fit or feel good. Take back control and dress for the size you are. (It can be your secret!) By wearing your correct size, you will notice the shift in confidence, as everything feels and looks better on.
Makeup can make a big difference to your appearance and confidence and you don’t have to spend money to do it. A new lipstick, or nail colour is sometimes all you need to feel like you have upgraded your look.
Hair Style - Head to your local hair salon for an impartial chat about how a new hair style, cut and colour can change the way you look, and boost your confidence!
Posture is huge when it comes to confidence. Pull yourself up, walk tall, and treat the pavements like a catwalk!
