The former French model, Ines de la Fressange, is now 56 and she looks fantastic! Her style is very City Chic, she mostly wears a palette of neutral colours that suit her colouring - black, navy and white - and always wears styles which flatter her bodyshape.
Her best accessory is of course her infectious smile ...
If you love her look, I recommend shopping at places like Gap (for white shirts), Zara & Reiss (for blazers), LK Bennett (for bags), and Wallis, The White Company or Karen Millen (for trousers).
If you have a double chin, you need to know how to contour & highlight your face with make-up, as using a darker shade of powder on your chin will make it recede and your face look slimmer.
It's a delicate balance though to make your double chin disappear without looking like you forgot to wash your neck that morning!
Kim Kardashian contours & highlights perfectly, notice how your attention is immediately drawn to her highlighted areas:
If you're
not a confident make-up user, make an appointment with a make-up artist
to show you how to do it properly. You'll be pleased you did when you next see a
photograph of yourself!
Depending on the position we sleep in, we sometimes wake up to a crease on our face which takes a lot longer than it used to to disappear! If you want to avoid this happening, treat yourself to a silk pillowcase. By maintaining the skin's moisture levels during the night it'll prevent your skin from creasing.
The other great benefit of sleeping on a silk pillowcase is that it reduces that bedhead look! Silkskin pillowcases have been endorsed by Aveda, Charles Worthington and Pantene, to name a few.
Check out some of the reviews on the John Lewis site for their standard silk pillow.
Wherever you purchase your silk pillowcase, ensure it's machine washable and never wear your make-up to bed, as trying to get waterproof mascara off a silk pillowcase is not easy!
You'll always see a little bit of polka dot in the shops, but this year it's a key trend for Autumn / Winter 2013. The photo below is part of Miu Miu's marketing campaign for Winter 2013 - but don't attempt this look of striped tights with polka dots unless you're very tall & slim!
If you wear the wrong size of polka dot it can make you look larger than you are. To look slim with this trend you need to choose a polka dot that is in proportion to your build. For instance, if you are petite (under 5'4") and a size 10, small dots work best for you:
But, if you are a size 14 or above, you will need to choose a larger dot to reflect your build. Choose a pattern with more space between the dots too, as minimising the number of dots it takes to cover your body will make it look smaller.
We all know black as a slimming colour and tend to go through our lives with many Little Black Dresses, even if we've had to go a little heavy handed with our blusher to not look totally washed out!
However, once we hit around 35, our slimming black dress is not the best colour for us to wear as it actually emphasises our fine lines and wrinkles.
Navy is a much better option, it will still fit within your comfort zone for the need of a dark slimming colour, but it is much more flattering on older skin tones. So, next time you reach for a black dress to try on, take one into the changing room in navy too so you can see how much younger you can look! Once you're convinced, check out The Pretty Dress Company for some very flattering cuts in navy. The very stylish Helen Mirren, below, looks much more stunning in navy than black.
If you still can't stay
away from black, wear it as she does, low cut and away from your face,
so a shadow isn't cast onto your face to exaggerate your 'experience lines'.
I've been using Eve Lom cleanser now for almost 20 years. I've tried other brands now and again, but never for long as my skin never looks as good as it does with Eve Lom's cleanser. It's expensive but a pot lasts a VERY long time, so in the end it costs me the same as a cheaper brand per use, especially as I purchase it from Ebay to get an even better deal. The really great thing about the Eve Lom cleanser is their 7 step facial massage while cleansing your skin. I totally recommend it, try the steps below, even with your own cleanser at night time and wake up looking younger!
The EVE LOM facial
technique
You can achieve a beautiful, radiant complexion, simply by following our
unique 7 step facial technique twice a week. Used as part of your
nightly routine, the technique encourages improved blood circulation,
muscle tone and lymphatic drainage, while helping eliminate toxins – so
dull, blotchy, congested skin is transformed.
If your skin’s tired, sallow or you suffer from blocked pores or
puffiness, follow steps 1 to 7 twice a week. If your complexion is
clear, you only need to apply the cleanser and follow movement 7 of the
routine every night.
step 1
Smooth EVE LOM Cleanser over the entire face and neck on top of makeup.
Beginning behind the ears, apply deep pressure with the pads of your
fingertips and circle down to the collarbone. Repeat 3 times. If tender
or painful, this step should be repeated each night until tenderness
disappears and a smooth flow is re-established.
step 2
Place the fingers in the centre of the forehead, from brow-bone to
hairline. Press firmly, hold for a count of 5, and release. Move fingers
slightly, press, hold and release again. Repeat across the forehead
finishing at the temples.
step 3
Place 3 fingers under the eyes either side of the nose (leave the little
finger out) and with the hands almost flat, apply pressure, hold for a
count of 5 and release. Continue in small steps working down to the
jaw-line.
step 4
Place fingers above the upper lip, press firmly, and hold for a count of
5 and release. Continue around to the corners of the mouth. Repeat 3
times.
step 5
Place fingers, spread like a fan, under the cheekbones and press, hold
for a count of 5 and release. Continue in small steps working down to
the jaw-line.
step 6
Place thumbs under the chin and fingers on top. Press, hold for a count
of 5 and release. Continue along the jaw-line finishing under the ears.
step 7
To complete the facial hold the muslin cloth soaked in hot water over
the entire face, take a deep breath through the nose and hold the muslin
in place for a count of 7 to 10 seconds. Repeat 3 times. Rinse out the
cloth and remove all traces of makeup and Cleanser by using circular
exfoliating movements. Rinse the cloth in cold water and apply to the
face.
When is the last time you were fitted for a bra? The famous lingerie stylists Rigby & Peller advise getting measured every 6 months. It's the quickest way to lose a dress size!
In the right bra you shouldn't have any overhang or bulges, the right size will instantly lift your silhouette, and make you look slimmer.
Check out this video from Bravissimo on getting the perfect fit:
If you're still in doubt if you're wearing the right bra size, Rigby & Peller give the following advice:
If you find that your bra is loose around the edges. Try a smaller cup size
If you find that your breasts are spilling out of the front of the bra and your silhouette is bumpy. Try a bra with a smaller back and a larger cup size.
If you find that your bra band is riding up your back. Try a smaller back size.
If you find your straps are leaving indent marks. Try a smaller back size so that the band of the bra is supporting you.
If you find that the under wire is digging under your armpit. Try a bra with a bigger cup size.
If you find that your breasts are falling out the bottom of the underwire. Try a bra which is smaller in the back and larger in the cup.
The perfect bra should mould your body perfectly, whether you're an A cup or an L cup!
