The Power of Perspective: "I am Only Halfway Done" vs. "I am Already Halfway Done"
In our journey through life, we are faced with various challenges that put our mental and physical strength to the test. The way we...
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confess to liking the glitz and the
glamour of fashion but I understand that it's a business industry. The ‘design’ element of the industry is probably the smallest part. The rest is about selling product and working out how to get people to ‘care’ about fashion. However I really do love fashion. I also love creating my own style. Having my own personal style is my unique self-expression. I believe if you have a strong sense of style, you can also be fashionable; without taking anything away from your personal style. It's not that difficult to have a good sense of what looks good on you. Knowing which shapes and colours flatter your body type and skin tone is all part of having a sense of style. Look in the mirror and appraise your appearance in a variety of clothing, honestly and intuitively.
I
"The best colour in the whole world is the one that looks good on you.” — Coco Chanel
Being genuinely stylish means that you have a good sense of what looks good on you, and you can mix timeless classics, one-of-a-kind pieces, and fashionable items to maintain your own personal style.
And of course a personal style isn’t complete without a signature scent.
Some style inspiration anyone?
Signature scent, your unique fragrance is what completes your overall look. Popular fashion designer and founder of Versace—Gianni Versace said, “Perfume puts the finishing touch to elegance—a detail that subtly underscores the look, an invisible extra that completes a man and woman’s personality.” Your unique fragrance, your scent is one of the best ways to create a lasting first impression. People are naturally drawn to beautiful smells and a unique, beautiful fragrance will certainly get people more attracted to you. Your signature fragrance is your presence. As part of my daily work life working with creating signature scents for spaces, I understand the power of scent.
I'm forever a denim girl. -O.
It seems that I have a passion for fashion and style and I also have a passion for writing. Writing about things I'm passionate about gives me so much joy that whenever I'm writing,
I never know what time it is.
Feeling inspired, happy and excited matters to me. And what also matters to me is how my life feels not how it looks to others.
What really fascinates me is how what we wear, relates to our mental process, that our clothes change the way we think. As a businesswoman who has a Science degree, I'm forever researching stuff. And I'm very interested in how what we wear relates to our mental process and the way we think, feel, and function, in areas like attention, confidence, or abstract thinking.
We hear sayings like “dress for the job you want; not the job you have” and “look good, feel good” all the time. Science says that the clothes we wear affect our behavior, attitudes, personality, mood, confidence, and even the way we interact with others. This is called enclothed cognition and is simply the scientific term for the idea that clothing impacts how we think. The theory says the clothing we wear (or that others are wearing) actually changes our thought patterns. And this is nothing new.
So, how can we use the enclothed cognition findings to our benefit? What does each item of clothing in your closet symbolise for you? Here’s something you can do in the morning.
Take a moment to check-in with yourself. “What do I want to feel like today?” Is it confident, composed, friendly or loving for example.
Next, ask yourself, “What article(s) of clothing make me feel confident, composed, loving?
What colour(s) make me feel that way?”
Although I wanted the next section (below) to be an insight to my own personal style, and how I mix timeless classics with some of the more fashionable pieces; I've enjoyed including a slight enclothed cognition element to it.
I hope you do too.
My Wardrobe Essentials and
How They Make Me Feel
The Black Power Suit
"I've put on my power" is how I feel when I wear a black power suit. A power suit is a suit that makes you feel like an elevated version of yourself. The colour black has an unapologetic starkness that sends a message of unwavering self-confidence. I feel bold, a little intimidating but always trustworthy when I wear black. This is one of my most essential pieces for some Corporate Coolness.
Classic Designer Hand Bag
My biggest splurges tend to be my handbags and shoes. When it comes to luxury bags we all have our favourite brands. I love the Chanel Classic Flap Bag. There’s no questioning the place of these timeless investment handbags sitting in my wardrobe, in their dustbags and all. It’s the perfect handbag to add class to any look. It's trend-free with so much elegance; practical and versatile enough to be carried day to night. I love its history, its quality, longevity, its beauty and of course how much joy they bring me. They make me feel like a girl who can be who and what she wants. Thank you Coco Chanel.
Designer Shoes
My favourite shoes are Christian Louboutin. I do love my heels in general and always wear high heels to work, particularly to important meetings. Why do I find a flash of red under a shoe so exciting? I just do. While the red sole makes a statement, the real value of investing in designer heels is, they last for years. They're timeless.
I generally go for the classics in black, nude and tan leather.
Interestingly, I just remembered that I also have an olive green suede pair of Louboutins. Did I mention that it's important to know your wardrobe inside out, so that you don't accidentally buy things you don't need. Evidently it's easy to forget what's sitting in our wardrobes. There may be some great pieces hidden away.
Oversized Blazer
Blazers are one of my favorite wardrobe staples that can be worn in so many different ways. I love the oversized blazers that I can style with tailored pants or some casual denim shorts. They are also great for a confidence boost. The photo on the left is my off-duty boss look.
Casual Denim Shorts
Just like a great pair of denim jeans, when you find the right pair of denim shorts they soon become a wardrobe staple. I love wearing mine with an oversized blazer and heels. I feel relaxed, cool, stylish and "I'm sexy and I know it" in them. Just being funny.
LMFAO funny.
PS: Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.
Denim Jacket
I like a medium wash and slightly oversized. It's one of the most versatile pieces in my wardrobe. It makes me feel cool and classic at the same time. I envision myself throwing it over anything,
Mid-range Designer Handbag
We can all be creatures of habit and get attached to certain brands and even shops. I know I can. So this year I made an effort to discover new brands and decided to try something new. I bought a couple of the mid-range designer handbags. New things always excite me but this certainly helps you get more creative and maybe get out of a style rut as well. The photo on the right is one of those stunning miniature statement bags. Let's just let my bag do the talking.
Anchor 3
High Quality Black Moto Leather Jacket
A high-quality leather jacket makes any outfit look effortlessly cool. It can last a long time and improves with age. It's timeless and to me it symbolises control, power and attraction.
The Perfect White Classic T-shirt
I love opening my wardrobe and seeing a freshly laundered white t-shirt even if I'm not going to be wearing it that day. A flattering boxy cut that is not tight or see-through. I feel a mix of simplicity and perfection whenever I wear white.
A High Quality Pair of Jeans
A neutral wash blue denim. Slim or straight-leg not skinny. The most important factor is the fit. I want them to be flattering but also comfortable. Am I asking for too much here? No. I can dress them up or down. Whenever I wear my favourite blue denim jeans (especially if I also have my favourite leather jacket on), I always feel like the coolest girl walking about. What's wrong with being confident?
Crew Neck Knits
One of my favourite autumn pieces is the crewneck knit. I wear it with striped tailored pants for understated chic and unspoken elegance. Channeling my classic, timeless Audrey Hepburn style here and thinking “Paris is always a good idea” - oh and so are pearls.
I'm also a fan of the Peter Pan collar. Very flattering in the neckline. And yes the Peter Pan collar is fashionable again.
Simple Hoop Earrings
Gold or silver, hoops can dress any outfit down and or jazz it up. Hoops are low-key enough for everyday wear but equally appropriate for everything else. The size is key. They make me feel elegant and they never go out of style. What’s not to love about basic hoop earrings?
Sunglasses: Steal His Style
Perfect squares have a special place in my heart. A timeless shape with a contemporary feel. Square sunglasses go with anything and everything. Having said all this I always only buy Aviators. They're a classic and I feel it's the only shape that effortlessly suits my face. Besides I have my husband, Steve's pair. I just steal his style whenever I want to change it up a little. It completes the control, power and attraction feel.
Last but not least ...
I have a soft spot for Baby Pink as it resembles my optimistic and positive outlook on life. I see the good in everyone. I am methodical and organised, although I can sometimes be rather flippant when the immature girly side of “pink” appears. I love the neon pinks when I workout. It gives me energy, joy and makes me feel creative.
In summary my style is about mixing timeless classics, with one-of-a-kind pieces, and fashionable items.
I like my style to look and feel effortless.
I do follow fashion however I focus on how popular an item of clothing is and whether it has stood the test of time for a year or more.
I don't want it to go out of style in a year.
Versatility and longevity, signature pieces over fads, flexible, easy to mix and match is what I prefer in my clothes. And of course they need to fit my body.
I don’t use a lot of colour. Normally, I just focus on natural colours, beige, white, black, grey, soft pink.
These are such beautiful colours.
And I do love denim. I'm forever a denim girl.
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