Dressing for Comfort, Confidence & Style

Beauty & Wardrobe by Nancy Goldblatt, Color 1, Personal Image Consultant

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Flattering Clothing for YOUR Body Shape:How to Choose

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When I was in my twenties  I bought a dress that I called “my princess dress.” One of my favorite childhood stories was “The Princess & The Pea.”     I secretly believed I must be a princess because I was so sensitive.   If you think about how Fiona from the movie Shreck looked  before she turned into an ogre, this was my image of a princess.   My princess dress looked like the dress Fiona wore.   It was dark blue velvet with a deep v neckline and princess darts.  It narrowed at the waist and had a soft flowing  A line skirt and it was long.   This was many years ago before Shreck had been made and my idea of what a princess wore came from my viewing Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.

I put that dress on many times, but was never able to wear it out of the house because instead of looking like a princess, I looked like a stuffed sausage.   The dress was my size but even when I exercised and toned up and lost a few pounds, I never looked good in it.   It hung in my closet for several years unworn.  Finally, I gave it to a friend of mine who had similar coloring to me and was the same height, and weight as me.   The minute she pulled it over her head she look like a princess.

Why did she look so wonderful in the dress and why did I look so awful in the dress? The answer is  body shape.  I have a  wide waist and narrow hips and she had a  narrow waist and wider hips.  The dress narrowed where I widened and widened where I narrowed.    My narrow parts were hidden and my wider parts were emphasized by the style of the dress.  My friend look fantastic because the dress shape dress was an extension of her  body shape.

Body shapes have both curved and straight lines but there will be a predominance of more curves or more straight lines. If your body shape is  more curved, clothing with waist definition will be more flattering.  If your body is straighter, like mine, clothing without waist definition will be more flattering..  Choosing clothing that widens where your body widens and narrows where your body narrows will  help you to feel comfortable and look your bestl everyday.

What do you have in your closet that you haven’t been able to wear?  Do you know why you haven’t worn it?

Nancy Goldblatt, “Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,” is a professionally trained personal image consultant.  She works with individuals and groups in Baltimore and surrounding areas.  Contact her at nrgoldblatt@gmail.com or 410-235-5325. www.WardrobeWiz.com/

Secrets of Smart Clothes Shopping

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How do you make a decision about what clothing items to buy? Besides the clothing fitting you and flattering your shape and body colors, what else should you consider?

Here are 9 secrets of smart clothes shopping  from personal image consultant, Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore.”

1. Look at care tags, if it says “DRY CLEAN ONLY,” the item will be more costly to maintain.  If item says dry clean without the word ONLY you can probably hand wash it or even machine wash on gentle cycle.

2. Squeeze fabric in your hand for 10 seconds to see how likely it is to wrinkle. If it bounces back with few or no wrinkles you probably will not have to spend time ironing it.

3.  Can you wear it with 2 or 3 items you already own or can you wear it 2 or 3 different ways?

4.  Try it on and sit down in it, raise your arms above you head, raise your arms to your chest with your fists together and elbows out. Then bend over and touch your toes. Does the clothing  item move with you or restrict your movement?

5.  Don’t expect items to fit perfectly.  They will probably need to be altered.  So bring some straight pins with you.    The pins will enable you to see how the item will look after alterations.

6.  If you have had “your colors done,” keep your color chart in your purse so you won’t be wasting your time trying on unflattering colors.

7. If you have had a face and body shape analysis and have line drawings of your best styles bring your line drawings with you.

8. If there is a two or three piece matching outfit get all of the pieces, if they are flattering.

9. If you are on a tight budget, get items that are solids and do not have decorative designs or embellishments.  These will be easier to mix and match with your existing wardrobe.

Before I became an image consultant in 1990, I did not know what colors or styles looked good on me and I would spend many hours shopping and trying on things that looked awful on me.  The more things I tried on that looked bad, the worse I felt about myself.

Now that I know my best colors and styles, when I go shopping, I can quickly skim over the aisles.   I usually  only have to try on items to see if they fit.  This saves me lots of time and my self esteem remains intact.

Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard,” of Baltimore is a professionally trained, personal image consultant.   She specializes in working with women who have lots of clothes and “nothing to wear.”  (After you get a wallet of your best colors, and line drawings of your best styles, “The Wardrobe Wizard,” will teach you how to  shop your own closet.)   Nancy is available to work with groups as well as individuals.  Contact her at www.WardrobeWiz.com

Paula Begoun, “Cosmetics Cop,” comes to Baltimore

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When Paula Begoun aka ‘The Cosmetics Cop,” came to Baltimore Thursday, Dec 4th and spoke at Barnes & Noble in Pikesville, Md., she stated, “For centuries women have wanted to look pretty, and wasting money is not pretty.”

Paula came to promote  version eight of her book  “Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me.”   I have been a fan of hers since she wrote “Blue Eyeshadow Should Be Made Illegal.” in 1986.   I currently subscribe to her  on-line  “Beautypedia.”  It costs  $24.95 a  year to subscribe  and new products are reviewed every two weeks.

I find it saves me money because it prevents me from impulsively buying new products.  Paula said her goal has always been to help women save money. She has saved me a lot of money over the years.

Before  I buy a new product I go  online to “Beautypedia,” to check  “the Cosmetic Cops” review.  Cosmetic & skin care reviews include both drugsstore, department store and other retail brands. I am still unsure about the product and  it’s a drugstore cosmetic, I buy it at CVS or Rite Aid because even if it has been opened  or used it can be returned or exchanged.  Paula emphasizes in her reviews that expensive products are not necessarily better than less expensive products.

Paula now wears two hats. She is still “The Cosmetics Cop.”  She and her staff evaluate thousands of brands of makeup, and skin care products.  She gives a smiley face with a check mark for outstanding products and a frowning face for products that aren’t well formulated and do not do what they promise.   She also has her own line of makeup and skin care products called “Paula’s Choice.”

I especially like her exfoliating AHA  and her BHA  products. I have  very dry skin  but in the summer time I get oily around the T zone.  I break out with pimples under the skin and even have had a few blackheads.  Nothing helped me until I used her 2% BHA product.  It cleared up my pimples without overly drying my skin out.   “Yeah, Paula’s Choice.”

If you like Internet research and want to get reviews of new products coming out, its worthwhile subscribing to Beautypedia’s online reviews or  if you prefer buying a book, get her latest version of  “Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me,” available in paperback from Amazon for $19.77.

How White Should Your Teeth Be?

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Have you whitened your teeth or are you thinking about whitening your teeth?

Do you wonder how white your teeth should be?

As we get older our teeth darken or yellow  from the foods we eat and the things we drink and smoke.

Whiter teeth can help us to look more youthful.  However, if you overdo the teeth bleaching, your teeth may end up looking like they are false.

teeth are too white for her skin, they practically are jumping out of her mouth

An easy way to determine how white your teeth should be is to look at the whites of your eyes.

If you bleach your teeth a whiter color than the whites of your eyes, this color will cause your teeth to become your focal point (the place people eyes go to first and keep being drawn back to).   If the color of your teeth is a brighter white than the whites of your eye this  will not only cause your teeth to look fake, but it may make your skin look dull or washed out next to the very bright white of your teeth.  By repeating the same or similar shade of the whites of your eyes in your teeth you can create visual harmony.

teeth are a good shade of white for her skin color and eye color

Our eyes find visual harmony relaxing and pleasing.   When you look visually harmonious you will look your most attractive and you will communicate instant confidence and intelligence.

Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,” is a Color 1, Personal Image Consultant.

 She has been helping men and women look great everyday for over 20 years.  

She is available to work with you no matter where you live because she is now able to do “online consultations.” using digital photos. 

 She can be reached at 410-235-5325.  her website is www.WardrobeWiz.com/

   Unsure if her services are for you?  E-mail her at Nancy @wardrobewiz.com to set up a 20 minutes telephone consult to find out what she can help you with.

Avoiding Looking At Your Body In The Mirror?

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When was the last time you looked at yourself in a full length mirror? I am asking this because the more “over fat,”  you are or “out of shape,”you are the harder it is to look good in your clothes.

I must confess, that for some time now I have been looking at myself in the mirror only from the chin up. Yes, I use my full length mirror before I leave the house but  recently I only quickly glance at my self from head to toe.   The other day I had to get a pictures taken of my silhouette in fitted non-camouflaging clothing  for a sewing project I am doing. I am still in shock.

I have always had an apple shaped body with narrow hips, flat bottom and muscular legs. When I gain weight its usually in my stomach and waist area.  My previously flat derriere is no longer flat.   Because I know how to dress for my body shape I had even fooled myself, until I saw those pictures of me without camouflaging clothes.    I know I must take action for my health and of course I am concerned about how I look and finding clothes that fit me.  The areas I need to work on are my eating habits, exercise and sleep.

My eating habits are better than most of the other people I know, but they aren’t perfect.  I consider myself a flexitarian.  I eat mostly steamed vegetables plus small amounts of chicken and fish and dairy such as non-fat yogurt, low fat cottage cheese, almonds and walnuts.  My weakness is rice tortillas and gluten free cookies.   Also, because I am a night owl and stay up late at night, I tend to eat a snack before I go to bed.   I have read that this is not good because those calories are not burned off and eating right before bedtime disrupts sleep because the body is busy digesting food and can not completely relax.

I have been watching the Dr. Oz show lately.   Dr. Oz says  to be healthy a woman should not have a waist over 32.5 inches. If your waist is larger than this, it means your belly fat is beginning to crush your other organs, especially your kidney function.  One way to determine a good waist size is to take your height in inches and divide it in half.  According to Dr. Oz your waist size should be half your height or less than half your height.

What is your waist size in relation to your height? How do you make time for exercise?  What do you eat that isn’t good for you?  When was the last time you looked at yourself in a full length mirror with only your under ware on?

Because I needed a “jump start,” to start exercising again, I applied to be in a research study at Johns Hopkins Hospital Bayview in Baltimore, Md.  Its called “Shape Up.” There are two components to this study a nutrition component and an exercise component.  I am hoping to be assigned to both the nutrition and exercise parts.  The exercise would be at the Hopkins facility. As I write this, I am realizing that besides getting more sleep,and not eating before bedtime what I really need is, help with “building in” exercise to my daily life for a long term change in my habits.

How have you built exercise into your busy daily life?

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How to Choose Earrings That Flatter Your Face © 2009

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Flattering earrings can give you a polished, finished appearance.

clip on earrings with dimension and hanging ethnic earrings
clip on earrings with dimension and hanging ethnic earrings

Think of earrings as a finishing touch or a frame for your face and hair.

No matter how much weight you gain or lose, your earrings will always fit.  Earrings are an inexpensive way to freshen your look.  They bring the viewers eye up to your face.  Depending on the earring you choose, you can look professional in a work setting or creative and carefree when you visit friends or go on a vacation.

It’s  especially important to wear earrings, if you are a woman with very short hair, because earrings will give your face a more feminine appearance.

Also, when you have very short hair, earrings that have some  dimension (are not flat) will look best on you.

Here are some  guidelines for choosing earrings in flattering sizes, shapes and colors.

Earrings to wear in the workplace

Consider choosing an earring that is the size of your eye when it is open.  This is considered “classic size.”

Look at either the height or the width of your eye.   The earring does not have to be the same shape as your eye.

If your  earring is smaller or larger than your open eye, it’s no longer a classic size.

If you work in a very casual environment, you may be able to wear earrings that are  larger or smaller than classic size depending on your face and body size and “color type.”

If you wear earring smaller than the iris of your eye they hardly show.  (The  iris is the part of your eye that has color )

If you are a male who wears an earring, it may be better to wear a small earring.  Too large an earring or the wrong shape can take away from your credibility or look too feminine.

Choosing the scale or size of a hanging earring

Measure  the distance from the bottom of your nose to the top of your upper lip to find a flattering length for a hanging earring.

  • You can also measure from the bottom of your lip  to your  chin.
  • For a longer earring, you can measure the length of your nose.  Yes, that’s  right, I said, “the nose.”  Don’t laugh.  When we repeat shapes and proportion of our body and face this creates visual balance.
  •  If  you do not like the length of your nose or if you have a short neck avoid this longer hanging earring because  it can emphasize your nose  and or your neck.

Choosing a shape to flatter your face

Another way to create visual balanced is to choose an earring that is similar to your face shape.

I realize that most books say the opposite.   In other posts I have talked about creating visual harmony by repeating shapes and proportions.

  • If you have a predominantly angular face (more straightness than curves) a more geometric shape earring will be pleasing on you.
  • If you have a more curved face, a more oval earring will be flattering.

How do you decide if your face is more angular or more curved?

Your face may be a combination of curves and angles. 

  1. Look not only at the outside shape of your face, but the shape of your lips, eyebrows, nose and chin.
  2. Look at yourself smiling and unsmiling.
  3. Have a friend look at your profile.  Count how many curved elements and how many straight elements or lines you see.

You are more likely to have an angular face.

I say this because after analyzing hundreds of  faces, I have found most (but not all) women have angular faces.

  As you shop for earrings you may find that many earrings, especially the  hanging ones with beads, are predominantly rounded.  This will make it more of a challenge to find earrings that have predominantly angular or geometric shapes.

  I began making earrings for my clients when I realized this and I am always on the lookout for softened geometric shaped earrings for my clients who have more angular faces.

Choosing flattering colors

If you choose earrings that repeat your  natural body colors, particularly your eye color or a naturally occurring highlight in your hair you will be able to wear them with everything you own.

 (See JoAnna Nicholson’s book, ‘ Dressing Smart for Women,’ to find out more about color types.)

For example  I have very dark brown, almost black hair and very light olive skin.   I have hazel green eyes and I look my best in very clear bright colors and shiny metals.

Nancy wearing a classic sized, silver earring
Nancy wearing a classic sized, silver earring

As I have gotten older, my hair is less dark as silver has started to appear.   I have found that I can wear shiny silver earrings with everything I own, because it repeats a highlighted color of my hair.

If you still are unsure what earring shape, size, color and metals will look best on you I am available to work with you online at a very reasonable price.

Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,” was trained by Color 1, as a “personal image consultant,” in 1990.   She is available to work with you no matter where you live because she can work on-line as well as in person. 

   She is also available for talks, workshops and fundraisers in Baltimore, Maryland and surroundings areas.  Contact her at 410-235-5325 or Nancy@Wardrobewiz.com

This article is copyrighted, it  may be copied or printed elsewhere only if credits and contact information is included or a link is provided to the original post.

Why Is It Important To Know Which Shade of White Is Right for You?

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Nancy Goldblatt, "The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,"

 

 

Because only 50% of people look good in “pure bright white.”    For the other 50%  of you, “bright white,” will look harsh and or wash you out.  Everyone can wear “winter white,” which is a less intense white. When wearing “winter white,” be careful not to pick a white that has yellow in it.

Can you guess which shade of white is most flattering to Michelle Obama? Take a look at recent pictures of her in a pure white top.  Do you look at her or the top first?    Can you guess what shade of white Oprah looks the best in?  What about Jessica Simpson and Hillary Clinton?

Find the answers at the end of this post.

How can you determine which white is your best white?

Use the “blink test.” Stand 5 feet from a mirror in good light , put on or drape a pure white item over your top half and close your eyes and then quickly open them.  Where does your eye go first?  If it goes to the white before your face, the white is too bright for you.  If you look at your face and the white at the same time and your eyes sparkle and your skin looks fresh and radiant you may be able to wear bright white.

You need to take something else into consideration when you are choosing the right shade of white. What color are your teeth?  Even if the pure white works with your skin, if it makes your teeth look yellow or grey you may be better off wearing “winter white,” at least near your face.  Speaking of teeth, if pure white does not flatter your skin, if you ” over whiten.” your teeth this can make your teeth look like they are false teeth.    I am not against whitening teeth, I am just cautioning against over-whitening them.

(Answer to questions)  Michelle Obama looks better in “winter white.”  Bright white is too bright on her  because she has “muted.” coloring.   Oprah also looks her best in “winter white.”   Jessica Simpson and Hillary Clinton both look great in ” bright white.”

*For more information on choosing colors get Joanna Nicholson’s books, “Dressing Smart for Women,” and “Dressing Smart for Men.”

Nancy Goldblatt is a professionally trained, personal image consultant.  She was trained by Color 1 Associates.  She specializes in working with women in Baltimore and surrounding  areas whose weight or shape has changed and or who have lots of clothes and “nothing to wear.”  Reach her at Nancy@wardrobewiz.com or 410-235-5325.  She offers a complimentary initial telephone consult to help you determine if her services are right for you.  She also works with men, and groups in the Baltimore-Washington corridor.

Tips for avoiding osteoporosis and reversing osteopenia

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I learned very important information recently at a talk on Preventing Osteoporosis.  I want to share this information  with you.

The speaker was an NIH researcher, Dr. Steven Acocella.  He works with Dr. Joel Fuhrman.  I already knew that Fosomax and Boniva had many side effects, but I did not know that they only unevenly help the old outer bone, not the younger inner bone.  Based on Dr. Acocella’s research these medications actually increase fractures in women with osteopenia by 84%.

About 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and 80 percent of these are women and 20 percent are men.  Men who have low testosterone and or who have been treated with certain drugs for prostate cancer are more likely to develop osteoporosis.

If you haven’t gotten a bone density scan and you are close to menopause it a good idea to get a scan.  You will get a t score.  This is based on the bone density of a healthy 30 yr old which is a zero.  As the score goes down this indicates thinning of the bones.  When your score is at a -2.5 it means you have osteoporosis.   My score recently was -1.4.  in my spine.  This means I have osteopenia in my spine.  The good news is that this is reversible!

Dr. Acocella talked about using a weighted vest and or resistance training.  Walking and water aerobics are good exercise but they will not reverse osteopenia.   However, walking with a weighted vest will help reverse it.  He also talked about eliminating or limiting protein such as meat and dairy which cause calcium to be excreted from the bones.  I believe taking vitamin d supplements is also important.   Here are some good web sites for more information.    WWW.EatRightAmerica/ WWW.DiseaseProof.com/ WWW.Dr.Fuhrman.com/

Dr. Fuhrman sells a very nice weighted vest that is very light weight .  You put the weights in little pockets so you can slowly add weight to the vest.  Dr. Acocella suggested wearing a vest that is 10% of your body weight.

I had previously looked at weighted vests at Wal-Mart and the vest were big and ugly and had to be pulled over the head.  So I did not buy one.  I will probably order the vest from Dr. Fuhrman.

What does preventing osteoporosis have to do with Wardrobe?  When a person gets osteoporosis their spine begins to shorten due to compression fractures.  They can lose height, their shoulders curve, and their waistline and stomach may protrude.   It can be very difficult to find clothing that fits.

In another post I will include fashion tips for those who have osteoporosis.

How To Instantly Lose Credibility

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Nancy Goldblatt, "The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,"

Earlier this  year I went to a women’s networking event.  I joined a conversation of two other women and ended up talking to a “20 something woman,”who was a graphic artist. The only thing I can remember about this young graphic artist besides her profession was the blouse she was wearing.    She apparently had gained some weight and her blouse was too tight.  Horizontal creases had formed where her blouse was especially tight over her bust area and the buttons down the front of her blouse were so strained they looked like they were about to pop open.

My eyes kept being drawn back to those “about to pop buttons.” She had unknowingly created a focal point with the strained buttons and the horizontal creases of her shirt.   I was looking for a graphics artist at the time but this young woman’s appearance kept me from trusting her.  I never told her I was looking for a graphics  person.

My automatic thought was “If she isn’t willing to take the time to put on clothing that fits her, she is not going to take the time to do good art work.”   She had managed to “instantly discredit herself,” by wearing clothing that was was too tight.

Wondering what will give you instant credibility? Here are four suggestions.

  1. Create visual harmony by repeating hair, eye and shades of your skin color in your clothing
  2. Wear three layers.  This means a jacket or vest over a shirt or blouse.  (This will make you look more authoritative and if the jacket or vest follows your body line it can hide figure challenges.)    If you have a defined waistline choose a jacket or vest with vertical darts.  If you do not have a defined waistline choose a jacket without darts that is not fitted.  For a more “relaxed,” jacket look, use a cardigan or an unbuttoned blouse over a shell top.
  3. Before you leave  the house look in a full length mirror and make sure your face and eyes are the focus point.
  4. Wear clothing that fits you, not too tight and not too loose.

Do you have any tips to share on how you create ” visual credibility?”

Nancy Goldblatt, the “Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,”was professionally trained by Color 1 Associates as a “Personal Image Consultant.”  She specializes in teaching people how to shop in their own closets first before they purchase new clothing.  She uses color analysis, as well as face and body shape analysis to teach her clients how to create “their own best looks.”  She can be reached at Nancy@WardrobeWiz.com/ 410-513-9496, Her website is www.WardrobeWiz.com/ She works with both individuals and groups.  She is now offering “Online Makeovers.”

What body lotion is a naturally occuring body moisturizer?

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I have had seriously dry skin since I was a child, especially on my hands, feet and elbows. As a child my hands and feet were so dry they developed tiny painful cracks.   The dermatologist told me I had contact dermatitis.   Not only did my hands and feet hurt from the dryness and cracks, but the little cracks made my hands and feet look dirty.  The more I washed, the worse the cracks got.   During the cold, dry,  Chicago winter’s my mother would put petroleum jelly on my hands and cover my hands with socks when I went to bed at night.    This did not help me much.   As I got older,  I tried every over-the counter remedy for dry skin.  A dermatologist gave me prescription cortisone lotion which only helped  a little.

Finally, about 15 years ago I discovered a lotion that really helped.   This was a prescription lotion called Lach-hydrin 12%.    This lotion is now available over the counter at CVS drugs.    The over the counter name is Amlactin lotion.  It comes in a 7.9 oz bottle and costs about $15 dollars.   It’s probably available on line if you do not have a CVS drugstore near you.   Use it only on your body, especially hands, elbows, and feet, its too strong to use on your face.

This is what the label says  “Amlactin  moisturizing body lotion is a special formulation of 12% lactic acid neutralized with ammonium hydroxide to provide a ph of 4.5-5.5.  Lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid, is a naturally occurring humectant for the skin.  Amlactin moisturizing body lotion moisturizes, exfoliates and softens rough, dry skin.”

It gently exfoliates the outer layer of skin.  It prevents calluses from building up on my feet and  I am no longer embarrassed by the way my hands look in the winter and in the summer I can wear sandals and my feet don’t embarrass me.  It works on elbows too.

I would be interested in hearing what results you have with Amlactin Lotion.

Nancy Goldblatt, is a professionally trained personal image consultant.  She has a holistic approach and looks at the whole person.  She specializes in working with women whose shape or size has changed and or who have lots of clothes and nothing to wear.   She also works with men.    If you are in Baltimore or surrounding areas including Washington, D.C. she can work with you “in person.”    She offers a  30  minute telephone consult to help you determine if her services are right for you.  Contact her at nrgoldblatt at gmail dot com or 410-235-5325.