How to the be the Belle of the Christmas Party: Part One

The Christmas party season is fast approaching and whether it’s the office party or an annual gathering of friends you are probably beginning to wonder what to wear.  

Follow these simple tips with dresses by Alberta Ferretti and you’ll be sure to turn heads for the right reasons.

Of course if you want more ideas, visit an image consultant!

Black is not the only colour
When Coco Chanel invented the little black dress she created a fabulous evening wardrobe staple.  But whilst the ‘LBD’ will always be a party favourite, do take care as black doesn’t suit everyone’s colouring.  If it’s not in your palette but you’ve got your heart set on wearing your LBD you will need to make sure you wear it with the right accessories.  Fortunately, there is a range of colours out there to choose from, so take advantage of them to get you through the party season…

Black looks great on ‘deep’ colourings like Eva Longoria etc. but it can still look striking on other colourings too, just make sure you don’t wear it too close to your face.  If you are light brown, blonde or a red-head then add a lighter colour necklace, such as masses of pearls or silver or gold (whatever suits your colouring) to reflect the lighter colours onto your face.  The style and fabric of the dress, and teaming it up with a variety of accessories, will send different messages, so depending on your mood you can glam it up with sequins and killer heels or keep it low-key with simple jewellery and a lower heel.

Emerald Green, This year’s Pantone Colour of the Year looks gorgeous in eveningwear. There are varying shades of green to suit different colourings but the most striking is emerald. Emerald green is best suited to ‘clear’ colourings – those of you with bright eyes and dark hair – and redheads.  Choose a dress in satin as it will enhance the colour and really give you the ‘wow’ effect. Other popular greens include pine green which suits darker colourings and some darker redheads too. This shade looks equally fabulous in a satin shade or a mix of satin and chiffon. Those of you with fair or light brown hair should look for a softer teal shade.

Purple is a great alternative to black because it has the same slimming effect and there is a shade to suit every complexion (think like-for-like, deeper tones for the darker colourings and lighter shades for fair).  Purple shows that you are creative and in control.  It projects confidence and individuality, so if you’re not afraid of colour and want to express yourself, wear a purple dress and you will be seen as the creative and outgoing one at the party!  If you want to show-off your creative side even more then wear bold accessories in a different shade such as green (if your colouring can take it) or metallics.  Silk is seductive and velvet dramatic, chiffon will keep it feminine.

Red, In terms of eveningwear we tend to think of red as the epitome of ‘sexy’, but it can look elegant and dramatic too.  Red is not for wallflowers, you won’t be able to shy away in red!  Some sparkle in the detail will add extra glamour, floor skimming satin will make it ultra dramatic and close fitting velvet will give you the ultimate vamp effect.  It is also a great energising colour, so if you weren’t in a party mood before, you will be once you’ve got your dress on! Again, there are shades of red for every colouring; darker colourings can go scarlet, geranium red is good on blondes, redheads can wear tomato red with a hint of yellow in it.

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Leather Looks for Autumn!

Leather hasn’t always been price-friendly or easy to pull off, but since its comeback in recent years, we are enjoying it as an integral wardrobe piece. So, for the autumn/winter 2014 leather trend, look beyond the biker jacket and consider leather skirts, trousers and dresses too.

Forget about ‘faux’ leather or ‘pleather’ and go for the real thing; it will look, feel and fit better and last a lifetime. The softer the leather the better; butter-soft leather feels sumptuous on and works much better against our natural curves. If you’re concerned about the price, don’t be, you can find the real thing in all price brackets.

If you haven’t invested in anything leather other than a jacket before, then we recommend you try on a few pieces and consider what you feel is mostly ‘you’ and what flatters your shape best.  Here are a few tips on what to look for in your leather pieces:


Skirts
The A-line skirt and the pencil skirt are good staples and you can dress them up or down.  You will need to work out which style works best with your body shape. If you invest in a really good one, it will last you forever. For the pencil skirt, go for the softest leather you can find so it will feel less restrictive. As with all skirts and dresses, make sure they are lined and you get the right length – an inch or two below the knee is the safest buy.  A full skirt can look fabulous, but you really need to be medium to tall in height to carry it off. The weight and volume of a leather circle skirt will add volume to your shape so take care.

Dresses
The skirt shape applies to dress shapes too. For dresses, the shift is the most practical. There are straight shifts for straight figures or cuts that nip in at the waist for curvier figures.  You can layer underneath with lightweight jerseys so they will see you from late summer right through winter.  If you don’t feel confident enough to wear too much leather, you might find the wool and leather combinations easier to pull off.  Again, if you invest in a good piece, it will last forever.

Trousers
Leather trousers are not for the faint-hearted – you need to have the figure and the personality for these – be realistic! As with skirts and dresses, you want to make sure they are lined.   If you are in any doubt, just picture the scene from Friends with Ross sweltering in his leather trousers. He finally rushes to peel them off in the bathroom only to find it impossible to get them back on!

Biker jacket
Without a doubt, this season everyone wants a leather biker jacket.   They are great for late summer and autumn and even nights out in winter when you don’t want to wear a big coat.  They can look funky or smart and are a great way to give an edge to your outfit.  You can go true biker with lots of zips and detail, or keep it plain and classic.  You need to think about detail, cut, neckline and length. If you are bigger in the bust then avoid lapels and too many zips and pockets.  The straight, box shapes are best suited to straighter figures. Curvier figures need a soft leather that nips in a bit at the waist.  Some styles will sit on the hips, others will fit lower on the hips, so work out which is the most flattering length for you – you don’t want it to sit on the widest part of your middle.  Whether it’s to the side or in the middle, decide if you are better with a statement zip or a hidden one. Ideally, curvy ladies should choose a hidden zip.

Final tips

Whilst you will find most leather this season is black, don’t be afraid to try other shades.  There is navy, which suits all colourings, and tan which will flatter both Light and Soft colourings.  Burgundy works for Cools and Deeps. Warm colourings can make the most of the brown shades.  Clears can wear Navy and Black and add contrast if necessary. If black isn’t the most flattering shade for you, just make sure you team it with a strong colour in your palette to create a real WOW outfit like Blake Lively.

Not sure what colours and styles to wear? Check out our website for more info, www.colourmebeautiful.hk and we'll show you!

Frills and Thrills!

Frills, ruffles, call them what you will, are back. 

On the catwalk, designer frills looked reminiscent of the trademark hems on a flamenco skirt or a ladylike trim from the 1940’s. The frill for spring 2013 is definitely a more feminine and stylish look that says “I’m on trend AND I’m elegant.”

Can you pull it off?  Here are three things to consider for chic, not cheap, frills:

1     Does it suit your style? This is the perfect trend for feminine Romantics. City Chics can enjoy a single simple, elegant ruffle. Naturals might be able to find a soft, simple T-shirt with a slight ruffle design. Classics can opt for a smart top with a subtle frill design. Dramatics will enjoy a statement frill item of clothing. Creatives can mix and match a variety of frill enhanced items of clothing.  

2     How do I wear it? Softer fabrics will fall softly against curves and stiffer fabrics won’t, so think about what works for your figure

3    How many ruffles and what size? Small figures should choose small to medium frills whilst larger frames can carry larger frills. No frills on your largest areas of your body!

      Need some help shopping and putting together outfits this Spring? Simply email us at info@colourmebeautiful.hk and we'll set you up with a Style Consultation in no time. Check out our list of services here!

Consultant of the Month

Take a look at what our talented consultants have been up to these days!

Well done to Malini Hemlani for her hard work in building her Colour Me Beautiful image consulting business!

She recently gave a fashion presentation at the Shenzhen Indian Women’s Association across the border in Shenzhen. 

She presented Colour Me Beautiful’s Spring 2013 Style Update, which shows the top trends in colour and style this season, teaching women how to dress appropriately according to their own unique colourings and lifestyles. 

Malini tailored it to suit the needs of her audience, focusing on Indian beauty and colouring. The turnout was great! 

Along with different makeup artists, Malini has plans to sponsor the upcoming Mother’s Day luncheon for the Australian International School, hosted by the Parents Association. She will be offering free smokey eye lessons along with gift bags and vouchers for her consultations. The event will be held at the Holiday Inn on the 10th of May from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.  

For more information on the event, contact Malini at malini@colourmebeautiful.hk. Reach all of our Colour Me Beautiful consultants at our Find a Consultant page on our website.

Would you like to experience developing your own image consulting business?

Do you love fashion & beauty, while helping women feel better about themselves? 

Well, why not sign up for a fun, interactive and educational experience with Colour Me Beautiful today? 

Take a look how our classes are like on our Facebook page here.

We offer comprehensive, up to date classes conducted by international fashion designer Eve Roth Lindsay. Bespoke tailor made courses are also available, contact us to let us know your needs.

Interested in learning more about what it takes to own and run your very own image consultancy? Take a look at our website for more details. Or simply give us a call at 2522 2592.