July 2009 Archives

Back by popular demand and better than ever, we are offering a new lineup of workshops for the fall.  Please read below to select the workshop that is perfect for you.  You may even want to attend them all!

August 13th, Travel Workshop

August 25th, Wardrobe Workshop

September 15th, Fall Fashion & Makeup Trends Workshop

September 17th, Wardrobe Workshop

September 24th, Fall Fashion & Makeup Trends Workshop

*Please join us for wine and cheese from 5:30 to 6:00pm on the evening of your workshop (and don't forget to invite your friends)!  Presentations will begin promptly at 6:00pm.  All workshops are $35.  Please call the studio to register.  A full payment is required to reserve your spot.

Travel Workshop

Requested specifically by several of our wonderful clients, we are offering another Travel Workshop for the fall.  Learn how to pack like a pro with tips for organizing your suitcase and carry-on bag and how to coordinate your outfits to save space and look flawlessly fabulous for all of your upcoming trips.

Wardrobing Workshop

Do you have a panic attack each time you walk into your closet?  Are you always complaining about having nothing to wear?  At our Wardrobe Workshop, learn how to create coordinated outfits with the pieces already hanging in your closet.  We will even teach you to make an organized and efficient shopping list so that you can make precise and perfected purchases on a budget.  Put an end to your panic attacks and purchase regrets.

Fall Fashion & Makeup Trends Workshop

Do you have trouble deciding which fall trends are best for you?  Are you too busy to fuss with figuring out which styles to focus on this season?  At our Fall Fashion & Makeup Trends Workshop, we will help you navigate all of the latest and greatest trends to determine which ones will bump up your beauty rating this fall. 

Having trouble applying your eye shadow? Maybe you need a new brush. For a limited time, our Contour Shadow Brush is on product special. Originally $12, they are now only $9 each.  Stop by the studio for some one on one time with a makeup artist and to learn how to perfect your eye shadow application. 

Offer expires August 14th. (You must drop by or call the studio to receive this offer.)

By Lauren

As an image consultant, I am always looking for new places to shop at a variety of price ranges.  After all, I work with clients from all walks of life and with shopping preferences ranging from Neiman Marcus to TJ Maxx.  So a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that there is a new Belk department store off of I-35 North of Fort Worth, heading to Denton.  I decided to check it out this past weekend because you never know when you might find a little diamond in the rough when it comes to shopping.

Now I don't have a lot of experience with Belk, but I think that it is fair to say that its reputation hasn't been favorable.  Most well known as a lower end department store located in small towns, Belk doesn't even hit the outskirts of most shoppers' radars.  But, I tried to put my assumptions aside on my shopping adventure, and I was pleasantly surprised.

The new Belk store is exceptionally clean, organized, and shopper friendly.  Belk also carries some really well known brands like BCBG Girls and Ralph Lauren, as well as private label lines.  All in all, my experience was enjoyable.  I ended up purchasing a casual clutch (that I had been hunting for a solid month) and a polo and a pair of shorts (flat-front, of course) for my hubby.  Can you believe that I only spent $73?  And, the rest of the good news is that a brand new Sam Moon just opened up next to Belk.  You can just run across the street to accessorize all your purchases.

Bottom line: worth checking out.

By Lauren

My husband and I are always in a constant squabble over pleated pants for men.  He loves them and thinks they are the most comfortable option, and I think they are not appropriate for his age and that they kill his fashionability rating.  And, as an image consultant, my husband's fashionability rating is definitely something that is constantly on my mind. 

Here is my take on pleated pants: They definitely have their place in the world of fashion, but men need to be more selective about their pleated pants and follow some guidelines. 

Guideline #1: Pleated pants are acceptable for men's suiting.  Men's suits look dressier when they are paired with pleated pants rather than flat front pants.  If the goal is to look professional, select pleated pants, no matter what your age.  If the goal is to look fashionable and ultra-current, select a suit with flat front pants. 

Guideline #2: Young men should avoid casual pleated pants and shorts, as they make them look too old and not current.  However, they are still acceptable for more mature men. 

Guideline #3: Make sure that you purchase your pleated pants in a large enough size so that the pleats do not pull at all.  Pleats for men have gotten a bad name because many men purchase their pants too small, causing their pleats to create an unattractive focal point on their stomach and hips.  (Just be aware that the same problem can occur with flat front pants.  Make certain that your pants are the correct size!)

Now that I have my guidelines outlined, I just need to convince my husband to abide by rules.  What is your take on pleated pants? 

Our newest special of the week is Empty Brush Kits.  Do you store your brushes in a drawer or cup at home, and then when you go to travel you don't know how to cart them with you?  Drop by the studio to purchase an Empty Brush Kit so that your brushes are always in their perfect place when you travel.  Originally $15, each Empty Brush Kit is now just $12.

Offer expires July 31, 2009.  (You must stop by or call the studio to receive this offer.)

By Lauren

I don't know about anyone else, but I am tired of fashion magazines and the media proclaiming that celebrities who look like they just rolled out of bed are fashion forward and fabulous.  When I think of fashion forward, I envision someone who adopts the latest runway trends and puts their own little spin on things.  But, in my perfect world, someone that is fashion forward is also well put together.  You know what I mean...clean hair and clothes that coordinate. 

The antithesis of my definition of fashion forward would be the Olsen twins with their greasy hair, no makeup, and clothing that looks like they stole it from a hobo.  Why are we allowing celebrities that seem to have zero knowledge about combining clothing in a flattering way to dictate what is and isn't fashionable? 

I propose that celebrities like Anne Hathaway , Reese Witherspoon, and Carrie Underwood, who always look pulled together and on top of the latest trends, become our fashion forward icons.  Which celebrity do you think is fashion forward and fabulous? 

By Lauren

Every season we usher in a new group of fashion trends.  Sometimes they are flattering and fabulous, while others need to become a distant memory as soon as they hit the runway.  Lately I have noticed that there is one fashion trend that just won't fade away.  I don't consider it horrible or unflattering, but I am definitely tired of seeing it.  Do you know the one?  Leggings. 

When leggings hit stores several season ago, I bought every pair that I could find: long, short, black, brown, etc.  But now, I have resorted to wearing my last remaining pair while I clean the house.  Think 80's leggings and a cut off sweatshirt.

I recently began scanning the pre-fall trend alerts in preparation for our Fall Newsletter and Trends, and what do you know, leggings are back again and being paired with skirts, dresses, tunics, and blouses.  The actual shapes and materials are a bit varied: extra long with some sheen.  But, none the less, they are leggings, and they definitely aren't going away.  So what will I do?  I'm sure I will pull that last living pair of leggings out of the drawer so that they can make at least a couple of fall appearances.  Anything for the sake of fashion, right?

What trend do you wish would fade?

By Lauren

I just got back in town from Mexico yesterday, which was utterly beautiful!  My big news is that I have a new, can't go to the beach without it, accessory: my sunhat.  My sunhat, and constant beach companion, is laced in horizontal black ribbons and a bow detail on one side. It is slightly oversized with a rim that shields my face from the harsh sun while making me feel like a total beach diva! 

I am sure by now you have figured out how important I think that accessories are, and the beach is no exception.  A great sunhat finishes out your outfit and helps you look like a knock-out even while you are lounging in the sun with the sand in your toes.  Tell me, who doesn't need a little help feeling fabulous in a bathing suit.  Turn to your sunhat for a boost of confidence!  It will take the attention away from that bit of cellulite that none of us want to talk about.  A little accessorizing is all you need!

Need help finding a sunhat?  I found mine at Macy's, but you can also find great ones at Dillard's, Steinmart, Nordstrom, and Target, as well as plenty of other stores.

Packing your brushes for a trip can be a major struggle.  Solve your packing problems with our Empty Brush Case that keeps your brushes neat, tidy, and in one compact little kit.  Originally $15, Empty Brush Cases are now only $12 each. 

Offer expires July 17, 2009. (You must stop by or call the studio to receive this offer.)