Recently I was shopping with one of my lovely clients (we’ll call her Sue). She, like so many other women, was resistant to wearing color. “I don’t want to stand out. I don’t want to draw attention to myself.” You know what I said to her? RUBBISH!!! (I sound English, don’t I?) Sue is an Autumn. She was wearing muted colors and blending in with the wallpaper. I was able to convince her to try some vibrant scarves and you should have seen her face light up when she looked at herself in the mirror. She was glowing. When I did a color consultation for her, she realized she was wearing all the wrong colors.

Why does that matter? It’s all very scientific. I am certified through a company called Color Me Beautiful. CMB was founded in the early 1980‘s by a stylist and a scientist. They took into consideration a person’s dominant color characteristic~ their hair, and their secondary color characteristic~ their eyes. They paired the hair color/eye color into four different combinations and came up with a color palette for each one~ naming them after the seasons~ Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. Spring and Autumn have a warm tone palette and Summer and Winter have a cool tone palette. In short, the colors they chose for each palette compliment a woman’s coloring from a natural harmonious standpoint.

Why is this important? Wearing the wrong colors can make you look sick, tired and accentuate any facial imperfections. Wearing the right colors makes you look more vibrant and healthy, your eye color pops, your teeth look whiter and you look YOUNGER!! When the colors you don are in harmony with your own coloring, you are more attractive and more approachable. Good for business? YES! Good for relationships? YES!! Good for your confidence? DOUBLE YES!!

Back to Sue! As women age, they begin to lose color. In their hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, lips- well… you get the picture. She felt safest in black. Sound familiar? As I worked with Sue, it became clear that she was a bit insecure about showing up in color. Once she stepped out of the box and began wearing color~ little by little~ she received compliment after compliment and became MORE confident. See how it all works?

Are you ready to embrace YOUR best colors?? We’re so excited to highlight our NEW FEATURE  at Wardrobe Rx.  You can self-determine your OWN color palette and purchase a Wardrobe Color Wallet with colors that will make you SHINE!!

Have a colorful DAY!!

As Michael Kane, Director of Marketing, of Karen Kane was giving me a sneak peak at the looks for summer, fall and holiday of 2012, there was one component that stood out!  BLAZERS.

Blazers polish your look and take it to the next level.  Think of your blazers as the finishing touch.  Keep your Color Season, Style Essence and Body Silhouette in mind when choosing yours.  The practical side of me says, choose one or two of your foundation colors, but the free spirit in me insists you grab one in one of the bold colors of 2012!

When shopping for a coat, make sure to purchase at least one matching piece.  If you want to create suiting, choose pants or a skirt.  At a minimum, add a matching underpinning or blouse.  Take a look at the ensemble I just purchased (above).  If you have not already entered the KK Sweepstakes (before 4/15/12), make sure to do it and let them know I sent you!

Step into Empowered Style and pick up a blazer next time you’re shopping!  You’ll be the best dressed woman in the room!

I so vividly remember those times when I would head out to the retail stores with shopping on my mind.  I might need a dress to wear to a cousin’s wedding, or a new pair of jeans, but there were times I would leave the store empty handed and deeply frustrated.

Then I began my profession as a Personal Touch Consultant with Nordstrom.  I began to make mental notes about the women who seemed to shop successfully.  NOOOOO, they were not all size 2 with an unlimited budget!  They were the women who came prepared and with a positive attitude.  I though I’d pass on some of  those tips to you!! (more…)