Dressing for Comfort, Confidence & Style

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

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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.

Does The Color Black Really Flatter You? If Not, How Can You Wear All Those Black Clothes

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When you look in your closet how much black clothing do you see?

Is black really that flattering for your unique body colors?

Keep reading to find out what to do about all that black clothing you own.

Here’s my black clothing story.

My mother wore a lot of black and she told me it was slenderizing, so for many years I  wore mostly black clothes.

In my sophomore year of college, my roommate Leslie , who was a good friend, told me if I bought one more piece of black clothing, she was going to strangle me.

She was sick of looking at me in black.   At that time I didn’t know what colors looked good on me and black clothes were so easy to find and  mix & match.

I bought  a few items with color, so Leslie wouldn’t be upset but I continued to wear lots of black.

In 1990, when I had my “color chart done,” by a ” Color 1 Associate” and got a wallet containing 40-50 of my best shades, magic happened for me and  I was able to begin adding lots more color into my wardrobe.

I have said in previous blogs that by repeating body colors you can create visual harmony because our  eyes automatically search for colors that are repeated.   My hair is very dark brown but gives the illusion of looking almost black.    Because the color black repeats my hair color it creates visual balance.    Now I combine black with my best shades of other colors.

Is black one of your body colors ?

If not, then black is not a dark neutral for you.   You may still be able to wear black in small amounts  but in large amounts it may drain the color from your face,  and it can emphasize your lines and shadows.

What to do with all those black clothes, if black is not your best dark neutral

For my image clients  that  don’t look their best in black,  but aren’t ready to part with their black clothing , I tell them to shows some  skin  when they wear black.   This means v neck lines or scoop neck lines.   Or wear a scarf near your face that is a flattering color.

Wondering what your best dark or light neutrals are?

I recommend getting JoAnna Nicholson’s books, “Dressing Smart for Women,” and “Dressing Smart for Men.”   These paperback books explain  the Color 1 approach to color, which I believe is the most accurate system of color analysis around.

If you are interested in having your colors done and you are located in Baltimore or surrounding areas including Washington, D.C.,  I am available to work with you in-person.  I can do a color analysis on-line if you live in other parts of the country or the world.

 I offer a free 30 minute telephone consultation to help you determine if my services are right for you. Contact me at Nancy@wardrobewiz.com

Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,” is a Color 1, professionally trained personal image consultant.

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.”