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Should They Stay or Should They Go?

November 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Tiger ShoesO.k., so here’s the deal.  I have been searching for shoes this season that are not 6″ stilletos and still have some style.  So, last week I was feeling “stylish” in my flared jeans and went to the shoe store to find some new pumps.

Not much there, but then I found these cool “tiger” pumps.  There’s some serious style going on with jeans.  So, I bought them planning on wearing them with my dark brown suede skirt today.  For some reason they just didn’t work on me with that skirt.

I think it is the rounded toe and the higher vamp on the shoe that really “hurts” the look with a skirt.  I’ll take another picture and show the outfit, but what do you think?

Should they stay or should they go?  Or should I just have them for my pants???

Filed Under: Accessories, Shoes Tagged With: , , , , ,

Day #21 in the PINK-Large Handbags-Should You Own One?

October 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

DSCN1980Last night I had the good fortune to speak to a wonderful group of women who have been together since their children were babies!  How fun it wast to speak to them.

We talked about whether or not my blouse was PINK…Yes, it is Salmon Pink!  We also talked about how you can create a little  ‘style’ in your life!  Here’s a picture of a few of us.

A question came up about handbags.  HUGE handbags are all the rage  Should you carry one?   There are all kinds of answers that would “fit” here, but I want to get technical about scale and proportion.

Technically speaking, large accessories are balanced and more proportionate for larger scaled people.  Here are some checkpoints to ensure a handbag is right for you:

  1. Repeat  the shape of your body (is your face angular or soft)
  2. Repeat the scale of your bone structure (are your bones small, medium or large)
  3. Check length and make sure it does not end at your widest point on your body
  4. Check the scale of the “bling” is proportionate to your bone structure/body scale
  5. Color – make sure the color is one that you love.

Make color decisions easy and start with the hue of your hair/ skintone (warm = camel and warm brown; cool = black and cool brown)  Think of your handbag as an extension of your personality.  It should be functional but also can be a statement piece.  If you choose to have it be a statement piece, then let it be.  Don’t overdo it by having multiple statements in your wardrobe-you’ll confuse peope with what you are tyring to present.

It’s rather like eating dessert, it’s o.k. to have some but just don’t have too much!  Repeat after me:  “Scale, balance and proportion”

Read the WHY?

“Look Good, Feel Great and Have FUN Doing It!”

Want to copy this article?  You must copy the entire article including the following information.  Karen C. Hughes, AICI CIP Image Assets, email:  Karen@ImageAssets.net, on the web: www.ImageAssets.net
Posted by: Karen Hughes, Founder of Image Assets, an Image Consulting Firm serving the Alpharetta and Metro Atlanta areas. As a seasoned certified image consultant, Karen follows a simple philosophy: educate, empower, and enrich the lives of her clients. Her philosophy is enmeshed throughout her practice and can be observed in her workshops, clinics, and one-on-one consultations. Her energetic and interactive style makes her a sought-after training resource for organizations and individuals alike. Even the most difficult topics seem effortless for Karen as she tackles such challenges as professional etiquette, business dress personal image and body shape.
Filed Under: Accessories, Breast Cancer Awareness Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

How to Choose a Handbag

January 6, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Handbags can flatter your shape as much as the right jacket or pants. Think of these tips the next time you shop for a handbag and you’ll get great shape and style with each outfit.

You’ve heard me say it before and I say it again. It’s all about proportion. Think Shape and Scale.

1.  Shapes

Choose a shape that is the opposite of your body type.

Tall and thin: Choose one that is slouchy or rounded to compliment your figure.
Short and voluptuous: Select on that is tall or rectangular or long and sleek (think clutch)

Generally, the rounder your figure, the more structure you should have in your bag . . .

Bag Definitions:

  • Tote – An open-top bag with straps or handles.
  • Hobo bag – A crescent-shaped shoulder bag.
  • Duffel – Tall shoulder bag, often with a wider opening on top.
  • Field bag – A flap-top shoulder bag with utility-type closure (buckles, snaps, etc).
  • Clutch – Small, handheld bag or a larger, geometric shape that is tucked under the arm.
  • Satchel - A large, handheld bag.
  • Baguette – Long and rounded shoulder bag resembling the namesake bread.
  • Messenger – A large, soft shoulder bag with long straps (often worn across the body).
  • Cigar Box – A small, boxy, hard bag.
  • Pouch – A soft, small bag.
  • Kelly bag – A classic Hermes style named after Grace Kelly; a large, structured handbag with distinctive hardware closures.

2.  Scale

Size should be in proportion to your figure. So if you are small is size and scale select a bag that is in scale with your body. DO not choose a bag that overpowers your body.

A shoulder bag’s length (where the bottom of the bag hits your body) will accentuate whatever part of the body it comes near. So if you are ‘blessed’ with “saddle bags” do not have your shoulder bag end at the largest part of your hips. The eye will be drawn to this point and accentuate your hips.

*Most women look great with a bag that hits mid-torso because it flatters the waist.

3.  Tips

Select your handbag wisely. Take your time and look at yourself in the mirror.  Just because it is a trendy shape, it may not work for you. Does it match your lifestyle?

Filed Under: Accessories, Handbags, How To Tagged With: , , ,
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