The truth about men wearing button down shirts

I'm often asked about my statement. "A tie should not be worn with a button down shirt."
Button down shirt collars were fashioned by Brooks Bros to stop the collars flapping around when men were playing polo. Ralph Lauren, who was worked at Brooks Bros also adopted the idea when he later started his own shirt company. Herein lies the evidence that a button down collar is a casual not formal shirt.

If you should want to wear a tie with a button down collar shirt then it should still be on the casual side, by perhaps substituting the tie for a slim knitted tie? Wearing a fine knit jumper rather than a jacket? Or if a jacket is still required make it a sports jacket rather than a suit.

Questioning my comment about short sleeved shirts with a tie? Don't even think about it! A very stylish Italian associate of mine summed it it when he told me that in Milan only the bus drivers wear short sleeved shirts.

Be Fabulous
Sharon Connolly

The truth about men wearing button down shirts (http://ping.fm/RvzWn)

Super slimming dress http://ping.fm/SbxUG You will look as slim as the middle panel

Bikini Bottoms to make your butt look smaller

Your Dilemma. You want a bikini bottom with a good coverage. Something that comes up far enough over your tum so you don't get a bulge and something that gives you good coverage at the back - Yes? Problem is that if you cover your bottom half with a HUGE pair of pants then your tush does not look tiny.

Answer : Choose a bottom with a coloured band, belt or tie sash at the top. The perception is that your bottom is only as big as the plain fabric under the band. I would also really recommend investing in good swimwear. Quality lycra is much more figure friendly. My favourite is Seafolly. See the range at www.cocobay.co.uk



Be Fabulous
Sharon Connolly

How to look great in photographs

I just sent out the invite to my House of Fraser Fashion Event and see that so many of you are on your hols. Well for those of you have haven't headed off yet I thought I'd just give you some tips for how to look great in your holiday snaps.

If you've been following my advice then you'll have the wardrobe, hair and make-up sorted but there is nothing more demoralizing than seeing yourself look terrible in pictures when you thought you looked nice. The camera can most definitely lie so follow this advice to make it your friend and your fabulousness is justly recorded.

• Try to avoid having your picture taken with your body facing directly at the camera. A 45 degree angle is much more flattering. Move one leg backwards slightly, shift your weight onto that leg and bend your front knee very slightly whilst angling your front shoulder towards the camera slightly.
  
  Create space to show off your waist by bending your elbow.
  
  Jut your chin out slightly, like you are resting it on a wall in front of you. Pictures are 2 dimensional so this won't show and will diminish a double chin.
  
  For a close up, close your eyes for a few seconds before the picture is taken, when you open them your pupils will be larger, which makes you look more attractive and smile only just before the picture is taken, it's more natural.
  
  If you have any say in the matter - ALWAYS try and get someone to take a picture from above - get them to stand up, stand on a chair, just be higher than you. Natural light is normally kinder than a flash, except in the hands of an expert.
  
  Finally top tip. If you feel fat in your pictures then hide a quarter of your body behind a wall, statue, restaurant menu, other person, anything..and you are instantly 25% slimmer (just don't tell your friends about that one as you sneak your back shoulder behind them in every picture)

Limit your colour choices for more outfit combinations

If you've treated yourself to a professional colour analysis then you'll know exactly what colours suit you. You'll have a set of colour swatches that defines what looks good against your complexion and ensures you always look healthy and radiant. Great, Fantastic, you know what you should be buying and shopping becomes easy - Well yes and no...let me expand further.
Your colour analysis should provide you with a swatch of about 30-40 colours that suit you. I recommend that you narrow that down considerably. Consider the following:

• What do I actually like?
  Just because a colour suits your complexion it doesn't necessarily mean you like it. Take a good look a the colours that suit you and decide which ones you really like. Do step outside of what you normally would wear and try something new, but you have to feel comfortable in your clothes to look good so think about which colours make you happy.
  
• What is available this season?
  Your favorite colours will not always be in the shops. Each season different schemes of colours may be "in" and readily available. Check the seasonal offerings against your colour palette and choose what you is suitable for you on a seasonal basis.
  
• What is practical for my lifestyle?
  Consider your job and your lifestyle. Darker colours may be a necessity out of practicality because you have small children or perhaps work in a formal environment.
  
  Now here's how to make your colours really work for you.
  Taking into consideration the above points each season choose no more that 2-3 colours to buy clothes in each season. (colours not neutrals!). By choosing a narrower colour range it will be easier to mix and match. You will be able to coordinate outfits much more easily with accessories. Mix these colours with the neutrals that you should already have as part of your capsule wardrobe and mix them together for a more vibrant fun look. Seek out patterned clothes containing those colours too. Accessories in your chosen colours are vital to bring the look together.

The following season reevaluate. Are you still loving those colours? Are they still available in the shops? Are they still working for you? If so keep buying your colours, otherwise review your colour swatches and choose another scheme.
Happy ShoppingSharon Connolly

Please feel free to pass on or use the information contained within this document as long as the author is given credit.

What Colour Season are you?

On returning from a colour analysis everyone asks you "What are you? - ooo I thought you might be an Autumn!" Let me tell you a little about what these seasons actually mean. The seasonal names were just a term to describe the colours that suit you - Autumn being a description of warm golden tones, winter being perhaps frosty lilacs and blues but does it really matter what "Season" you are.
When I do a colour analysis I do give my clients a swatch, but I'd really rather not - what I want them to do is understand the "mood" of the colours they are supposed to wear, rather than anything else - take my second client today - She was what we would call a Deep - this means that her colours need to be Rich, Vibrant and strong. I asked her to imagine red wine, claret, port, winter berries, Christmas trees, holly, ivy and traditional Christmas decorations - thinking of these colours should be enough of an inspiration to find what suits when shopping.
Its all very well being the "mad matching woman" trying to find clothes that exactly match your swatch but you need to think about three things
a) how did those colours get there in the first place - it is just someones opinion - who was she to decide you look great in hot pink but not fushia?
b) if you stick to them too much you end up buying things that are the right colour, but do you actually like them. Is the style right for you, does it make you feel great?
c) Fabric is very important, a colour might look tacky in a satin but lucious in soft wool

I think anyone can wear any colour - its how you mix and match, and more importantly your hair and make-up that can make the difference. Sure its much easier to look amazing when you do wear the right colours - so if you want an easy life, come see me for a colour analysis.
www.maximisegroup.com/colour.htm
Have you had a colour analysis - best thing you ever did or waste of money?