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Wednesdays Wisdom

Continuous Flow – The Art of Elongation

As a vertically challenged 5’2” I spend a fair bit of time creating optical illusions and in order to create a more gazelle like appearance I highly recommend the following techniques not only to my fellow hobbits but also to those who are more cankley challenged:

Continuous Flow: I like to think of my legs as drainpipes. In winter I tend to only wear fitted pants or leggings and keep my shoes the same colour, or I take advantage of camouflaging properties of tights and wear my shortest skirts. During summer when my legs will not cause blindness to the naked eye I switch to nude shoes.

Backgrounds: A trick I have learnt recently is to use a high low with a longer tail than usual, think circus ringmaster, to provide a background to my drainpipes making them appear even thinner and longer.

Flower Stems: If I need to wear flat shoes my go to is a cowboy or biker boot. The wider the opening of the boot the more your ankles and calves look like  delicate flower stems coming out of a vase rather than tree trunks sprouting from the ground. 

Ongoing Bag Lady Crisis

How pleased am I to see the cross body bag making a comeback.

I’m still wrestling with my bag dilemma. Some days no matter how streamlined I am the clutch just won’t hold enough, especially when I am also juggling a drink, a small dog who doesn’t like his feet to touch the ground and the car keys.

I also have to carry my laptop to and from the car, so most mornings I tend to resemble a small pack horse, rather than the sleek race horse I would like to imagine myself as.

If you’re buying a new bag look out for one with a few different strap options if you’re lucky they will also fit your existing bags so you can mix and match and extra clips and rings are available at most sewing or hardware stores.

Best to be a comfortable pack horse rather than a crippled nag!

 

Party Out Back

C’mon summer we need it to be warm enough to take advantage of all the gorgeous back details going on at the moment.

Wednesdays Wisdom

Clear Intentions

So reminiscent of a bag I treasured way back in the 90’s.

I can’t wait to get my hands on a clear clutch.

 Some come with an inbuilt fabric pouch but I think I’d prefer a variety of little zip up bags for those more discreet items.

If you’re the sort of person that can’t handle glass fronted cupboards or you carry used tissues, half a muesli bar and spare mouthguards for the kids sports I’d give this trend a wide berth.

Bigger Than Texas

There’s something about how Southern women are raised that seems to instil an innate sense of style and self.

Something else I admire about them is their ability to make fun of themselves and the heights to which they can get their hair! Bigger is better in Texas and no one is afraid to say it.

So cowgirls if you need a little help on the confidence front throw on your boots and hat and listen to these ladies words of advice: LisaLisaD1 www.lisalisad1.com Tiffanybolton11 www.sanctuaryofstyle.net

Confidence Trickster

Some days I need to trick myself into feeling confident . I call these hormonal confusion days . Here’s what gets me through those days:

Fancy smancy underwear – I’m not a lacy girl but I do feel rebellious when I wear fluorescent and bright colours especially under a dark suit

Smelling like a boudoir – perfume makes me happy so I don’t apologise to those who have to get in a lift with me, suck it up!

Very very high shoes – it’s hard to feel confident when everyone is looking down at you including your 13yo

Going Italian – for me this is a reminder to slow down and take my time. Italians do not rush or get flustered they saunter usually with a coffee in hand and their civilisation has not crumbled.

Chocolate for Breakfast – if you can’t make it to the gym and exercise the endorphins into action eat the chocolate now go the gym later, it’s called balance people.

I realise some of you are probably reeling from the idea of eating chocolate, while teetering into work late smelling like a perfumery but I must say it helps me no end.

I suggest that everyone make a list of the simple things that make them feel happy and confident and keep it handy for when the evil PMT strikes!

Better yet circulate it to the members of your household so when they see the smoke coming out of the top of your head they can fetch them for you instead of screaming she’s gonna blow and hiding under the couch.

This week ....

Wednesday's Wisdom

Crochet what a lady like pastime

I have an unnatural aversion to the beautiful and lady like trend of crochet and lace. This could be due to several reason.

Firstly crochet is the one craft that has always eluded me, leaving my fingers tied in knots.

Secondly I have a stepmother whose fashion muse is Stevie Nicks. You can laugh all you like but it has provided my sister and I with endless fancy dress options come Halloween.

But the most likely reason is that in the early 90’s my mother had the same idea when styling lace dresses as Anna Del Russo. I managed to overcome the mental scarring but it’s a lot to live up to!

Anna Piaggi 1931 - 2012

Translator turned fashion writer and the world’s last great authority on frocks Anna Piaggi died this week aged 81. Having been rumoured to never be seen in public in an outfit twice that comes to a staggering 28,836 eccentric ensembles. Fabulous to the last and an inspiration to all.

This week ....

Wednesday's Wisdom

An early start

They must have turned up the heat setting on the air con in the office because all of a sudden I'm wearing short sleeves under my jackets and gravitating towards all things white. It would appear my winter blues are fading.

I have also started spring cleaning at home. A little premature as it’s only August but if I burn enough white vanilla candles and buy enough bunches of white flowers perhaps I can coax mother nature into an early start too.

The dogs had better hide under the bed because they’re next on my cleaning list.


Triple scented Glasshouse Fragrances available online at www.glasshousefragrances.com or from Peter Alexander

And I love it when the pooches smell like watermelon