Frazzled Fridays!

It's in the Bag!

Hi frazzled friends!  To those who may or will be affected by Irene, please know our prayers are ongoing.  

We have been talking about Fall accessories these last couple of blogs.  Today we'll talk about the latest and greatest handbags!  Let's be honest girls, handbags can make or break an outfit.  It's the way we carry all our "essentials" - and why not carry them in style?!  And, if you are looking for one great accessory to update your wardrobe for the Fall, a handbag is a great one!

Top handle handbags and clutches are a carry-over from Spring and Summer.  You will find these in beautiful, rich jewel tone colors, fabrics, textures, lots of fur and even polka dots.  The "rule" for handbags is the color should closely match your hair color OR should fall within your DCC.  (click here for info on your Dominant Color Characteristic).  If you have blonde or gray/white hair, your handbag color should be more neutral.  

Also remember that when accessorizing you still need to consider balance and proportion.  Those who are 5'4" or under or wear smaller clothing sizes should beware of big bags.  You don't want people to see the bag before they see you!  And likewise, if you are tall or where clothing sizes over 14 you should beware of small bags which will make you appear bigger.  

Next time I will concentrate on clothing styles and colors for this Fall!  If you only get one new accessory for Fall, what will you get?  Love to hear from you!

Blessings!

Dawn

Frazzled Fridays!

Well Suited

Part One

Hello Friday Friends!  I have chosen to blog about swimsuits/bathing suits before jeans because if you are like me it could take several trips to several different stores (or on-line ordering) to find the "right" suit.  However, if you are like me shopping for jeans is just about as stressful!  But that's because I am a 'd' body type and "normal" jeans don't work well for me.   But I digress...

For some, Spring Break is still a few weeks away, for others there may be big plans to get away to some place tropical around Memorial Day.  Either way, it's time...  And, please, please understand that I am right there with ya!  But I will be brave if you will.   Also, please understand that I am "preaching" to myself too.  

We have to give ourselves a break.  Regardless of what we see in airbrushed magazines and digitally enhanced movies, etc. no body is perfect.  Everyone has certain body parts they are not happy with; hence, the great success of plastic surgeons.  Uh um.  Just sayin'.  We need to be realistic.  Bathing suits are designed for swimming and/or sun-bathing.  Therefore, those areas that are not yet toned as we would like may very well be seen.  But you CAN look GOOD in a bathing suit!  Really you can!

Our goal for bathing suits is the same as dressing in general: balance and proportion.  Taking attention away from our challenge areas.  So you need to know your body type, challenge areas, and the parts of your body to accentuate.  Click here to review body types. 

Ok, here's what 'we' need to do first:  Try on last year's suit and get in front of a FULL length mirror.  This really is important!  I hear you now....ugh, no, argh... but seriously, if you are wanting to look your absolute best in a new suit this year it is imperative that you see how you look in last year's suit.   I hope I've convinced you this is a necessity. This activity is not meant for you to berate yourself and only look for flaws!  Look to see if last year's suit makes you look as cute as you are!!  Now, face the mirror first.  Does the suit conceal your fluffiest part(s)?   If you have a larger bust does your suit hold your girls in or is there spillage?  Do they droop, or sit nicely between your elbows and shoulders?  Then stand sideways.  Does it hold your tummy in?  Now face away from the mirror and look at the back of your suit.  Does it cover your bottom completely?  If you are a 'd' body type (hips and thighs) where does the leg opening stop on your thigh (cut high or not)?  Does it have a skirt?    Do you like the way the skirt falls or covers?  

Is last year's suit a color that flatters you?  For info on your best colors click here.  The right color is slimming!  It's that important!  If you are a soft, for goodness sakes please get rid of your black swimsuits! 

After your last year's suit assessment I would suggest having a plan by choosing one or two stores with a good selection of bathing suits and shopping there the first day.  Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to shop.  This is too important to rush.  If you can go without children that would be best.  Wear really small underwear *smile*.  Don't wear socks when trying swim suits on!  You may want to get a nice pedicure before you go.  Make sure to take last year's suit with you to compare.  And finally, with the way bathing suits are designed you may very well wear at least one size larger than your regular clothes.  This is NORMAL!  So if you usually wear a size 12, then your bathing suit should be a 14.  And please don't stress about the tag size - like I've always said, if it bothers you, cut it out.  The most important thing is to be comfortable and look your best in your bathing suit, not what size it is!

Next week we'll talk more about which styles of suit look best on your individual body type.  I hope you all have a fantastic weekend and a blessed week ahead.  

Blessings!

Dawn

Frazzled Fridays!

Spring Fling!

Heavens!  If you live in the South you have enjoyed some beautiful spring-like weather this week.  Thank you Lord for the break from the cold!  The birds are singing LOUD today!

With the onset of Spring I want to tell you about some of the fashion trends coming up.  I walked/shopped around one of our local malls last night and found that not all stores are completely ready with this season's newest trends.  That surprised me.  They have their winter cruise-wear available, but just a few Spring options out.  I will try to stop by some of the smaller/stand-alone stores to see if they have more to offer here at the end of February.  It may be that stores are still clearing out from the winter to make room for spring things.. regardless, this week's focus is tops and jackets.

This Spring (and Summer) the decade(s) making a return visit are the late 60's, early 70's.  There are a lot of soft ruffles still to be found.  I really like ruffles personally.  I think they are very feminine and girlie.  

Jackets and some shirts are cut slim this season to show off your waistline.  

This is great for those with a D or X body type.  This is also good for B body types as well, just be careful not to have your shirt too tight around your tummy.  If that means you need to get the next size up, that's ok!!  Jackets will be important for B's just be certain that the length falls just below the fullest part of your body. 

Also, tunics will look nice on B and X body types. 

A word of caution to D's with ruffles... keep them closer to your face.  I have a cute shirt with a ruffle all the way down the front (bought it without trying it on first - my first mistake, in another state no-less!), and after getting home and putting it together with a great pair of pants found that the long ruffles hid my waistline and made me look much fuller through my hips.  

If you are an O body type, the newest graphic prints are a must for you!  You may even consider a bold, print scarf.

This season you will find bold colors both in solids and graphic prints.  Popular bold colors are fushia, hot pink, coral and citrus colors.  

This is great for those with a Deep, Clear and Cool dominant color characteristics.  Some bolds can be worn by those with a Warm DCC, but please, please stay away from pink!  DCC for additional information.  

However, if you are a Soft or Light, have no fear.  There is also an abundance of refreshing pastels and softer colors; some in lace and feminine menswear. 

Other popular "flavors" for the Spring include chambray (light denim), 

leather with decorative zippers and stripes with a nautical feel.  

When you choose something with stripes remember to make them proportionate to your size.  For example, those who have a smaller frame, maybe a size 6 or less and/or are 5' 4" or under should not wear very wide stripes as it may "swallow them" looking too big for their body.  You want people to see your face before they see stripes coming their way!  On the other hand, those who have a larger body frame, maybe a size 14 or above and/or are tall should not wear smaller stripes as those may make you appear larger. 

Next week I will have information on the Spring trends for pants and skirts.  There's another style coming back that many of you may have forgotten.  Can you guess what it is?  AND, I will have another awesome give-a-way, so be sure to check back again next week!

 Blessings!

Dawn

Frazzled Fridays!

True Colors

Welcome frazzled friends!  This week I have a real treat for you!  I have an awesome give-a-way just for you... read on...

Do you remember the days of Color Me Beautiful or the seasonal color analysis?  Shari Braendel, author of Good Girl's Don't Have to Dress Bad, my trainer, mentor and friend, developed a way to analyze our true colors (Dominant Color Characteristic = DCC).   Shari has worked in the fashion industry for 20+ years and has seen all the different ways to analyze which colors look best on people.  Using the Color Me Beautiful approach, she developed her own placing women in six categories rather than twelve, offering more color choices.  It works!  And it makes SO much more sense.  

So your dominant color characteristic (DCC) is based on the color/intensity of your hair, skin and eyes.  That's it - real simple.  Our natural, God-given coloring is what determines which colors make us look youthful or aged, radiant or washed out.

If asked, what would you say is the most "universal" color?  Most would say black.  Did you?  We've been told that black is slimming and that everyone should own a 'little black dress'.  Lots of stores offer lots of clothing choices in black, therefore it must be the best color, right?  Not necessarily.

There are six different DCCs.  Light, Deep, Soft, Clear, Warm and Cool.  In order to determine which category you are in, you must be completely honest about your natural hair color.  We will get into the whole highlighting/lowlighting thing later.  For now, what is your current God-given natural hair color?  If your hair is 75% or more gray, silver or white, that is your natural hair color.  If you color your hair, then your natural color is the closest to what it was before turning gray, silver or white.  (Not what color hair you had when you were in elementary school).  Please be honest with yourself... it makes a big difference!

Once you have determined which category you fall into, there are 36 shades of colors that have been expertly chosen for you!  These are the colors that will most flatter you.  I will give you a very quick general guideline, but you may want to consider getting your own "Color Swatch Shopping Guide".   I have had my color swatches for over 2 years and keep them in a special pocket in my purse at all times.  You never know when you will need a new red t-shirt (because yours has faded) and you are in Target and they are on sale... so having my color swatches I can pull out that particular swatch and be sure that I am getting the right shade of red.  Store lighting can be very deceiving.

Now to the color analysis (DCC): 

If you have fair skin, light eyes and light hair (blonde) then you are a LIGHT.  You want to stay with light to medium intensity colors – those look great on you!  Beware of black!!  Keep it away from your face. Break up with white/black or pop color.  If you are changing or enhancing your natural hair color, highlights/lowlights are good (no more than 2-3 shades lighter or darker than natural).  Be careful of all over color which might look fake.  Your best pop colors: turquoise, pink, lavender, sapphire blue.

 In contrast, if you have dark hair, dark/medium skin and dark eyes you are a DEEP.  Your best colors will be medium to deeper shades and some brights.  You can wear black!  Stay away from muted colors.  Your dark natural hair color is best, so if you choose to highlight I would suggest no lighter than a caramel or toffee and not too many around your face. Your best pop colors are purple, true red and royal blue.

If you have light/medium hair (sometimes called mousy or dishwater blonde), light/medium skin and medium intensity eye color, you are a SOFT. Wear medium intensity colors. Never, ever, ever, not ever wear BLACK!  Black ages you and drains you of your beautiful color.  Sorry, but it's true!  I suggest charcoal grey, medium brown and camel as your neutral base (instead of black).  Also be careful of wearing very bright colors.  These will overpower your natural coloring.     If you choose to color your hair stay with medium highlights and lowlights (you could do several shades but be careful not to go too copper.)  Your best pop colors are mint green, coral, teal blue and butter yellow.

I don't know her natural hair color, but here she is a soft

If you have dark hair, light/medium skin and bright eye color you are a CLEAR.  This group can wear bright colors or those with high contrast like black and white.  Beware of wearing browns and beiges together.   Your dark natural hair is the absolute best for you!  This group is the only one that I suggest not get highlights.     Best pop colors are bright purple, true red, sunny yellow, hot pink and royal blue.  As a side note, I am a clear.  When I speak I show my driver's license to my audience (sometimes when I doing color analysis depending on the size of the group).  My hair is well, sorta brownish and blonde-ish.  A poor attempt at trying to look younger.  Since going back to my natural hair color I have received more compliments on my hair color than I can count.  I'm telling you from experience friends, stay with your natural color!!

If you have red, golden blonde or brown hair with reddish highlights (maybe some freckles), you are a WARM.  Your should wear colors that you see in the fall when the leaves begin to turn. I would suggest chocolate brown instead of black (or at least keep the black away from your face).    Wearing pink is a big no-no.  What? But you love pink?  Well, it doesn't love you back.  Pink clashes with your natural coloring and ages you.  Go for more coral or peach. Absolutely stay with your natural color!  You can add copper highlights if needed.  Your best pop colors best pop colors are rust, butterscotch, copper, turquoise. 

If you have silver, gray or ash brown hair, light to deep skin (usually pink undertone),  and anywhere from light to deep eye color/intensity, you are a COOL.  You should wear colors that are light to medium in intensity staying with those with a blue or pink undertone.  You can rock some black!   Please, oh please keep your hair it's now natural color!  It's beautiful!  Your best pop colors are ocean blue, royal purple, a blue-red, and soft pink.  I would suggest staying away from brown/beige, yellow and orange.  

Whew, I no this was a long post but I do hope you gained a lot of knowledge and don't hate me for the whole black or pink thing.   And since I am absolutely crazy about my color swatches, this is my give-away this week!  To be entered into the drawing to win your own personal color swatch and guide, just leave me a comment which could include anything from a color/style/fashion question or whether you like the length of the blog posts, pictures ok?, should I continue doing Bible segment or just stick with fashion (or just stick with Bible teaching *smile*)!

Next week I will discuss body types.  Do you know how best to flatter your God-given body shape?   I will also announce the winner of the drawing. 

If you are reading this via Facebook, I would love for you to share my post with others in your area.  

Blessings!

Dawn