What Colour Season are you?

On returning from a colour analysis everyone asks you "What are you? - ooo I thought you might be an Autumn!" Let me tell you a little about what these seasons actually mean. The seasonal names were just a term to describe the colours that suit you - Autumn being a description of warm golden tones, winter being perhaps frosty lilacs and blues but does it really matter what "Season" you are.
When I do a colour analysis I do give my clients a swatch, but I'd really rather not - what I want them to do is understand the "mood" of the colours they are supposed to wear, rather than anything else - take my second client today - She was what we would call a Deep - this means that her colours need to be Rich, Vibrant and strong. I asked her to imagine red wine, claret, port, winter berries, Christmas trees, holly, ivy and traditional Christmas decorations - thinking of these colours should be enough of an inspiration to find what suits when shopping.
Its all very well being the "mad matching woman" trying to find clothes that exactly match your swatch but you need to think about three things
a) how did those colours get there in the first place - it is just someones opinion - who was she to decide you look great in hot pink but not fushia?
b) if you stick to them too much you end up buying things that are the right colour, but do you actually like them. Is the style right for you, does it make you feel great?
c) Fabric is very important, a colour might look tacky in a satin but lucious in soft wool

I think anyone can wear any colour - its how you mix and match, and more importantly your hair and make-up that can make the difference. Sure its much easier to look amazing when you do wear the right colours - so if you want an easy life, come see me for a colour analysis.
www.maximisegroup.com/colour.htm
Have you had a colour analysis - best thing you ever did or waste of money?

Trinny and Susanna Littlewoods Range tried and tested

Many love them, many hate them, but I'm actually quite a fan of Trinny and Susanna - OK my methods are not quite so harsh - but at the end of the day they are trying to make good TV and they do bring an increased awareness in that a) different bodies should dress differently and b) a little effort goes a long way.

So I was interested to see that they had a clothing range for Littlewoods. I've ordered a number of pieces and my views are...

Firstly a number of the pieces are obviously copies of their own clothes - I recognise them from previous books - so thats a good thing - these ladies do know a great piece when they see one and know what works for their own bodies very well.

Unfortunately on ordering them the quality is not that great - it's not really that bad either and I guess for the price point it is quite good value - but as I normally shop in Coast, Linea, Hobbs where clothes are almost twice as expensive - it would be expected.

What I ordred...

Shrug was to big - I looked like an american footballer

Jumper was good but just a bit baggy - I needed a smaller size

I loved the trench coat, but I already had something quite similar

First trousers were great - I kept those

Second pair were a bit too big and just a bit too wide for me

Remember to check out my gift vouchers on www.maximisegroup.com/giftvouchers.htm

Tried and Tested this Week -

I can't say that I venture in to Dorothy Perkins very often, but with an hour to kill in Cirencester, where there aren't actually a huge range of shops I popped in to see what was on offer.

Clothes were well arranged, nicely spaced and displayed, staff were helpful - Dorothy Perkins has just been featured in a suppliment in Vogue so I wanted to know if their clothes were worthy of the vogue pages.

Very excited to see that this top was only £22. Flattering scoop neck, slightly flared sleeves and very "on-trend" navy satin. Shame that on closer inspection the stitching round the neck was very messy - wouldn't have whipped my credit card out for this one, which is a shame as I bought a great similar one last week in Whistles for £75.00 and have already worn it loads.

Its easier to look good in cropped trousers in the winter, wear smart tailored, wide waistband trousers with knee high boots and you'll give the illusion of longer legs. Although the fabric was quite thin on these ones I would actually have bought them - I did find the sizing pretty good too - unlike most trousers I try on these did not gape at the waistband

I bought this skinny sequined scarf for £8.00 and it has been a real hit with all the clients visiting my studio this week - get one! I also bought a few necklaces and earrings that have gone down well in the studio - great silver beads marked down to £1.00

How to Look Good Naked

Obviously I watch all the TV make-over programs - sometimes agreeing with their advice, sometimes cringing at what they do (NHJ take note!) but my favorite is Gok and how to look good naked - the thing about Gok is that I really think that he wants to help the women on the show and its not about him, it's all about them. Anyway I decided to investigate where you would want to go to find out if you look good naked and get that sultry photoshoot experience.

I went to visity FYEO portraits in High Wycombe to test out their risque, but tasteful photoshoot experience. WOW - I can't tell you how confident it made me feel about my body, they were fantastic, the shots are fantastic - I actually feel like I want to stop people on the street and show them how great I look. If I could plaster the images on the side of a tall building or in a shopping centre then I most certainly would because thank you FYEO - I certainly do look good (semi) naked - so thank you FYEO - I enjoyed the whole pampering experience and you've made me look like an FHM cover shoot

This Weeks Purchases

I'm so bad!! It's been quite a while since my last blog entry, but I'm determined to keep them more up to date. Whilst your reading this, why not go and check out my facebook entry too and join me there as your personal stylist.

My top purchases this week. Been having a bit of a shoe marathon. Love the end of the sales when all the shoes that are left are grouped into your sizes and you can easily see what is left. I purchased two pairs of Kurt Geiger boots - down from £175 to £31. Bought a couple of lovely necklaces and tops from coast. But my BUY of the WEEK Black Sequin Tunic from Next
http://www.next.co.uk/shot.asp?b=X40&p=20&s=5&n=Women's&pid=386-515-X40&extra=sch&exclude=00A00&ref=http%3a%2f%2fsearch%2enext%2eco%2euk%2fsearch%3fp%3dQ%26ts%3dv2%26w%3dblack%20sequin%26srid%3dS5%2d4%26lbc%3dnext%26af%3d%26cnt%3d%26images%3don%26srt%3d% Also spotted a fab silver one at Tesco Florence and Fred, that might just jump in alongside my baked beans next week

Ladies Who Latte - My latest Success story

I want to tell you about my little networking event - and also inspire you with the idea that a small idea - if its a good idea can grow organically.

I love networking - its one of the most effective ways that I grow my business. Problem is the time to follow up all those great contacts that you make at event. "We must do coffee" rolls off the tip of my tongue and I never get round to connecting - Tsk Tsk...so one day I was sitting at my PC and I contacted about 15 people who I really did want to catch up with. I titled the message "Ladies Who Latte" and invited them to meet with me at Starbucks later that month, just for a coffee.

4 of them turned up - we had a great time, none of them had met each other before - but I was a good connector and they were all soon swapping business cards, ideas and motiviation tips. One of my guests said "You know, this is such a great idea, do you mind if copy this in my local Starbucks?" and LadiesWhoLatte was born.Now just 6 months later I have 14 LadiesWhoLatte meetings each month from Winchester up to Milton Keynes and there are over 400 ladies on the mailing list.

Our concept of No Speaker, No Fee, No agenda works brilliantly. Ladies pop in for a coffee at any time during or meeting and the host just makes sure that new ladies are introduced. I have so many success stories and there is always a new message in my inbox from someone who wants to join in.

I'm looking to expand this network even further - want to join - want to start a meeting - contact me at sharon@maximisegroup.com or perhaps come along to one of the meetings advertised at www.ladieswholatte.com. Whilst you are browsing check out my website at www.maximisegroup.com and if anyone you know doesn't look as fabulous as you do, then tell them to come and see me.
Thanks for reading
Sharon Connolly
www.maximisegroup.com

What make me less of a Desparate Housewife?

Just off to stay at my friends retreat for a week, where I'm going to be without food for 5 days - Carrot Juice and vitamins for me - how will I survive. Got me thinking though, about what I just can't live without and what makes my life much easier and less of a desperate housewife (my lovely friends and family are obviously at the top of the list but here's the rest)

• Satellite Navigation: it's route might take longer, but you always get there
• Make-up: 10 years younger in 7 minutes every morning
• My Dog Poppy: 7 month old chocolate Labrador, just love love love her
• Handbags and Jewellery : Fits you even on your fat days
• Marks and Spencer's sexy matching underwear: Feel like a Sex Kitten even wearing your dog walking clothes
• Hush Pyjamas - gorgeously casual and comfy
• Wide Leg Trousers from Coast
• Good Carb Granola - stops me reaching for biscuits at 10am
• Sky Plus - Desperate Housewife's, 24, ER, House, Bones, Rescue Me, Nip Tuck
• Account with a Cab Company: They pick up my kids now in an emergency and I don't have to have cash to pay them
• Babysitters: Recruit many, pay them lots and have a social life
• My cleaning lady Bridgette
• Email
• Liz Earle skincare products
• Shoes Shoes Shoes Shoes, especially my one pair of sacred Jimmy Choos
• Electronic Banking
• Pampered Chef Cooking utensils - Seriously!
• and most recently botox

What can't you live without?