Look Slimmer ... wear a statement necklace!

One of the most effective ways to look slimmer is to acquire some statement jewellery.  It's a very effective method to draw attention away from any 'problem' areas.

I bet you didn't look down at her tummy first!

For pear-shapes, a statement necklace is a must to balance out your curves!

I love the style of Mawi necklaces but at almost £600 a piece, I recently looked around for alternative brands, with similar styles, at prices I could afford!  Not as easy as you would think.  One such necklace lost one of the stones while I was out, wearing it for the first time.  It wasn't one of the little insignificant stones, nope it was the main feature.  Lesson learnt, you get what you pay for!  

Yours for just under £600!  I'll have 2 ;-)

But then I discovered Stella & Dot, and no no-one is paying me to say this, but having purchased from them recently I've been delighted with the quality, great selection of colours and the overall customer experience.  Have a look at the range of colours & styles here to find your perfect statement jewellery, Sinead Martin, Stella & Dot Stylist. 

Look Younger ... create a youthful glow!

Our skin tone changes as we get older, in some people that may result in looking much paler than you used to, or for others can result in increased redness around the cheek & nose area.

We all know that a natural blush is something the beauty industry has told us for years we should have to look more youthful...  

However, it's no good looking youthful first thing in the morning, when you've just applied your make-up, but looking ghostly pale and tired after lunch, when it's all worn off.  

The secret to getting your 'youthful glow' to have staying power is to apply a cream blush first.  Follow your cream blush with translucent powder, and then apply a little powder blush on top.  

Remember a little goes a long way with cream blush, the aim here is not to look like Aunt Sally!  

Aunt Sally, just incase you needed a reminder!

If you tend to have a red complexion, then you do not need any extra colour, what you need to use instead is bronzer along your cheekbone, to exaggerate your bone structure & give a subtle glow.

If you needed any convincing of how flattering a little colour on the cheeks looks, whatever your age, Helen Mirren is always a great example:

Inspirations ... the Fab Fashionistas

I loved the programme on Channel 4 recently entitled 'Fabulous Fashionistas', if you missed it it's still available on 4oD

Those 6 women were a great advertisement for how great life can be in your 80's & 90's, but one thing that really stuck with me, is that to keep the ageing process at bay we need to exercise.  So, no more skipping my daily walk if it's too wet / too cold / I'm too tired; I'll ignore the rain and concentrate on how great I'm going to feel when I'm in my 80's!  

In moments of weakness, I'll remember how the 87 year old dancer is more flexible than I am now!!

Look Slimmer ... using your scarf

If you tie your scarf so the majority of it lays vertically on your body, it will make you appear slimmer and taller, as demonstrated by Jennifer Aniston:

Too much bulk however, will create volume, where you may not want it: 

 

If you feel you need a scarf with lots of material to keep you warm, try a fabric like this fleece scarf from John Lewis for £7.  None of the bulk and all of the warmth!

Red fleece scarf, John Lewis, £7

Look Slimmer ... in your winter woollies!

With winter approaching, we start to think about our winter wardrobe; especially what kept us warm last year, and what pieces do we need to purchase to complete our outfits to make them cosier this year?

Well, if you only buy one thing this winter, ensure it's HEATTECH clothing from Uniqlo, the modern alternative to your gran's thermals.  

Their HEATTECH clothing means that you can layer your clothes, so you look slimmer than when you wear those great big chunky knits, but still as cosy.  

As someone who really feels the cold, HEATTECH kept me alive last year while walking my dogs! 

HEATTECH Camisole tops in a variety of colours at uniqlo.com

HEATTECH V-neck & round neck t-shirts in a variety of colours at uniqlo.com

HEATTECH leggings in a variety of colours at uniqlo.com

Cosy toes!  HEATTECH socks in a variety of colours at uniqlo.com

HEATTECH items are also available for men & children, but the dogs will have to survive another winter without it!

(Monty does have a proper thermal dog coat, but I couldn't resist this photo ... )

Look Younger ... wear pink!

This season the shops are full of pink, and luckily it's a colour that makes us all look more youthful - if we wear a shade that complements our colouring!  

Here are some tips on choosing the right pink for you:

If your overall appearance is pale & delicate, with naturally light hair, eyes and skin tone, like Cate Blancett, then you really suit pastel pink.  

This figure-flattering Grecian dress by Jane Norman at House of Fraser will look amazing on you!

Grecian dress by Jane Norman, House of Fraser

If your overall appearance is dominated by your dark eyes and dark hair, like Penelope Cruz, then you will look great in a stronger pink.  

Wear your pink with darker colours such as black / navy for your most flattering look.

Contrast Colour Jumper, Reiss

If your overall appearance is warm & golden, your hair may vary from deep auburn to light strawberry blonde, porcelain or fair skin with freckles, and pale eyelashes & eyebrows, like Jessica Chastain, then you have to avoid most pinks.  

Your pink needs to have a warmer, peachy hue, so salmon pink / coral pink will make you look amazing (not needing a ton of blusher)!  

New Look Roll Sleeve Jersey Blazer

If you have ash tones in your hair, be it dark brown, blonde, white or grey, and your skin has a pink undertone, or if dark-skinned, a slight blue tinge to it, like Agyness Dyn, then pink is a stunning choice for you!  

You will really wow in hot pink, as shown in the dress below from www.my-wardrobe.com:

Vivenne Westwood Anglomania Pink Sihu Dress, my-wardrobe.com

If you have a contrasting look, i.e. dark hair, with clear, bright eyes and porcelain / dark skin, like Courtney Cox, then you need to wear clear, bright pinks to complement your look.  

Wear your pinks with contrast (e.g. with white / light grey), to reflect your contrasting look.  

Joseph Double Breasted Coat, my-wardrobe.com

If you were very blonde as a child, but your hair changed to a darker blonde as you got older, and now you feel drab without your hair highlighted.  If your eyes are a soft, muted colour, and there is little contrast between your hair, eyes and skin, like Claire Danes, then your pink has to be medium depth in colour, not a shocking pink as that would overwhelm your colouring.  

Wear it tone-on-tone rather than with contrasting colours.  If you prefer a slightly brighter pink, a blush pink scarf is a great addition to your wardrobe.

Reiss Textured Crew Neck Jumper

Look Slimmer ... with horizontal stripes!

We all know that vertical stripes make us look slimmer, whereas horizontal stripes are not as flattering if you're carrying a few extra pounds.  It's all down to the 'Helmholtz illusion', i.e. creating a visual illusion!

 Horizontal stripes make the most slender frames look wider:

If you're curvier, you can wear horizontal stripes but the lines need to be broken, either by wearing a coloured jacket on top:

 Or a plain top under an open striped jacket:

Or wear stripes that are broken in their pattern to distract the eye & minimise your frame:

Of course, chevron stripes will always make you look your slimmest, as the eye focuses on the point of the line: