Dressing for Comfort, Confidence & Style

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

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Nothing to Wear Panic When You Are Getting Ready to Go Out

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What happens when you get invited to a special event?

After you get all “dolled up,” do you look in the mirror and realize you look awful?

  • Does your outfit cling to your body revealing every bulge?

  • Do you look tired, old or washed out?

  • Maybe you don’t know what’s wrong.

But you feel, you look bad.

If you leave your home looking like this, everyone will think, 

              “That poor woman, is over the hill.”

Will they

        Feel sorry for you…

        Talk about you…

                  or

         Avoid you…

You say to yourself…

 “I must find something else to wear.”

  • You go to your closet and begin desperately searching.

  • Before you know it, you have pulled out more than half the clothes in your closet.

  • Clothes are piled everywhere and now you are running late.

  • Still you haven’t found the right outfit to wear.

Your heart starts beating faster and you are perspiring profusely as your panic builds.

  • If you have straight hair it’s hanging limp and wet.

  • If you have curly hair, it has frizzed up into a wild mass, from perspiration.

Your carefully made up face, is now red and blotchy and your makeup has melted away.

You are a wild woman, as you vainly pull more and more pieces of clothing out of your closet and drawers.

The friend waiting for you outside in the car has begun to impatiently honk the horn.

Or the phone is ringing and the hostess is asking,

   “What’s going on, why aren’t you here yet?”

You are in fight or flight mode and can’t talk.

You think to yourself,

   ”I  must find something to wear fast.”

Do you put on that original outfit again and force yourself to leave the house?

Will you hide in a corner, hoping others don’t notice that you are looking fat or frumpy?

Because this has happened before, you know you will be miserable, if you don’t find something to wear that makes you look and feel good.

Do you give up in disgust and call the hostess and say,

  “I’m too sick to attend.”

Now you really do feel sick, as your heart beats faster, panic is racing through your body and you can’t stop perspiring.

Maybe your problem isn’t a special event

Maybe it’s facing your closet everyday.

Do you dread trying to find something to wear to work?

Because

  • You have gained weight.

  • Your shape has changed.

  • Your “old faithfuls,” are threadbare.

  • Or you have a closet stuffed with separates but nothing matches.

Is there something you can do to avoid all of this?

You can call in sick, and hide out while you exercise like crazy, lose a few pounds and then spend lots of money on new clothes.

Even with exercise, weight loss, and new clothes, you will face the same problem, if you don’t learn what colors and styles really flatter you.

You can’t depend on the fashion industry for accurate information on how to choose flattering clothes and accessories.

They are not in the business of teaching you how to understand your unique style.

They want to sell you the latest clothes and accessories.

There is a solution

You can learn to be your own Personal Image Consultant.

Imagine…

  • Having a closet full of mix and match clothes that all look great on you.

Imagine… 

  • Going shopping and knowing what to buy and what to avoid.

This won’t take thousands of dollars or years to do.

You don’t even have to wait till you lose weight to start looking and feeling better.

And you don’t have to buy a whole new wardrobe of clothes.

You can learn to shop your closet and use what you already have. 

Are you ready to learn to be your own “Image Consultant,” and say goodbye to the panic of “Nothing to Wear”?

_______________________________________________________

Contact Personal Image Consultant, Nancy Goldblatt, the “Wardrobe Wizard,” for a 20 minute, no obligation, telephone conversation to see if her reasonably priced services are right for you. 

During this conversation, besides a needs assessment, she will give you a brief guided imagery test to help you determine your “inner fashion personality.”  By learning about your “fashion personality,” you will be able to avoid purchasing styles you don’t feel comfortable in.  

This is the first step in becoming your own Personal Image Consultant. 

No need to live in Baltimore, Md.  Nancy can now do virtual consults online.  Set up an appointment for a complimentary telephone consult to find out how this works.  Of course, Nancy is still available in-person for women in Baltimore and surrounding areas.

Contact: Nancy@WardrobeWiz.com, 410-513-9496, blog.wardrobewiz.com

__________________________________________________________

Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard,” is a “Color 1,” Personal Image Consultant who specializes in working with “women baby-boomers.” whose size and shape has changed and who have too many clothes and “nothing to wear.” After a woman works with “The Wardrobe Wizard,” she will have a wallet of her best colors and styles, and a pared down closet.   She will have learned how to mix and match her best looks so she can get dressed “lickety split,” and look great everyday.

“The Wardrobe Wizard,” also works with younger women and is available to work with men.  She was trained by Joanna Nicholson, founder of Color 1 Associates an International Image & Style Company and has over 20 years of experience as a Personal Image Consultant.

Contact her at Nancy@wardrobewiz.com or 410-513-9496

 

– See more at: http://blog.wardrobewiz.com/nothing-to-wear-panic/#sthash.kr0bVDI3.dpuf

Why Can’t You Let Go of Your Old Clothes?

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Nancy Goldblatt, Wardrobe Wizard
Nancy Goldblatt, Wardrobe Wizard

I have a confession.  I have great difficulty getting rid of my old clothes even when they no longer fit me.

Do you have old or not so old, clothes you never wear, taking up precious space in your closets?

If you knew which items were really treasures that could be altered or matched with other pieces and which clothes were not flattering would it be easier to let go?

Do your old clothes represent all the unfulfilled hopes and dreams  you had when you wore or hoped to wear those clothes?

It’s especially hard for me to let go of my clothes because everything I have purchased in the last 20 years, since I got trained by Joanna Nicholson, as a Color 1 Associate, is the right color and the right style for my body shape.

A few years ago I went to a quilt show at the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, Maryland.  The quilters were from Gee’s Bend, Alabama.  The quilts were very beautiful.

There was a quote from one of the quilters, I will never forget. The quilter wrote,” I used to be poor and I had to use old clothes for my quilts.  Now I have more money and  I can buy new fabric, but I still use fabrics from old clothes because the energy of the people who wore the clothes is still in the fabric.”

Quilted Wallhanging, anonymous quilter
Quilted Wallhanging, anonymous quilter

Maybe by letting go of our old clothes, we fear the energy that represents all of our old hopes and dreams will disappear.

Do you have trouble “letting go,” of your old clothes?  Do you know why it’s hard to let go of them?

When you know what colors and styles are flattering,you can Store those items that no longer work for you and make room for clothes that really suit you.  

 

 

Comments welcome.

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Nancy Goldblatt, Wardrobe Wizard can help you decide what clothes to keep and what to give away.  She is available to work with you on-line if you don’t live in Baltimore and surrounding areas or in-person if you are local.

Nancy is a Color 1 Associate and for over 20 years has helped women whose size and shape has changed to choose their best styles and colors.</strong> <strong>Contact her at: Nancy@wardrobewiz.com, or 410-235-5325

 

Healthy Lips, How to Protect and Flatter those Big or Small Lips You Inherited

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I inherited big lips from my paternal grandmother’s side of the family.  What size lips did you  inherit? 

Nancy, age 13 with her big lips

When I was growing up, thin (sophisticated lips) were in style.  I had many conversations with my younger sister, Suzi, who also inherited those big lips.

Suzi and I came up with a plan.  When we grew up, we would get lip surgery to make our lips thinner.

We did not know lips naturally lose volume as we age.

I am now grateful for my big lips.  They aren’t as full as they once were, but I no longer feel they are too big.

Whatever the size of your lips, the skin on your lips is quite thin and vulnerable to sun, heat, wind and cold damage.   In addition, if don’t drink enough water, drink carbonated drinks, or take medication that is dehydrating, your lips can end up looking dry and wrinkled.

Think of your lips as a barometer of your stomachs health.  When they are dried out it mean your stomach does not have enough hydration.

How can you care for your lips, so they stay beautiful besides drinking lots of water and avoiding caffeine?

Here is a link to “Sun Protection Tips to Help Prevent Skin Cancer,” from Dr. Brandith Irwin, Cosmetic Dermatologist.  These Tips can apply to our lips as well as our skin

http://madisonskin.com/skin-cancer/sun-protection-tips.html

Whether you have big or little lips, the right shade of lipstick or colored lip gloss with a spf sunscreen rating can not only protect your lips but help you to look healthy and vibrant.

Just because a lipstick color is being promoted by the fashion industry,  does not mean it will be flattering to you.

How can you find out which lipstick colors really flatter your unique coloring?

Choose a lipstick a shade or two darker than the inside of your lower lip.

To discover additional flattering lipstick shades get a  Color 1, Smart Chart done.  Besides 40 to 50 of your best clothing and makeup colors, a Color 1, Smart Chart will contain at least 3 of your best lipstick colors and as many as 12 of your best lipstick shades.

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You can get a Color 1, Smart Chart from the Wardrobe Wizard, Nancy Goldblatt.  Nancy is now able to do virtual color analysis on-line.

If you live in Baltimore, Maryland, or surrounding areas she can work with you in person.  If you live other places, she can work with you on-line using digital pictures.

Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard,” is a Color1 Personal Image Consultant.  She specializes in working with mid-life women whose size or shape has changed and who have too many clothes and “not much to wear.”

After a woman works with“The Wardrobe Wizard,” she will have a wallet of her best colors and styles, and a pared down closet.  She will learn how to mix and match her best looks so she can get dressed quickly and look great everyday.

“The Wardrobe Wizard,” also works with younger women and is available to work with men.  She was trained by Joanna Nicholson, founder of Color 1 Associates an International Image & Style Company.

e-mail or call  Nancy if you would like to set up a 20 minute FREE consult to find out if her services are right for you.  Nancy@WardrobeWiz.com, 410-513-9496

 

Online Wardrobe Wizard Makeover, New Service Launch

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

Are you too far away from Baltimore, Maryland to have an in-person consultation with “The Wardrobe Wizard?”

 Or are you so busy you don’t have time during the day to meet for a consultation that takes 3 hours or more. I am launching a new service.

 I call it, “Online Wardrobe Makeover and Image Consultation,” by the Wardrobe Wizard.

In the past I have always done “in-person,” consults that included color analysis, face &  body-shape analysis and closet shopping.  I was limited by geography and was only able to work with people located in the Baltimore-Washington area.

I am now able to do this online using digital photos.

For those of you who are local, I am still available to work with you in-person. 

Here is a snippet from one of my first virtual consultations.

Donna works as an Accounting Assistant and she had just returned to school to get her accounting degree.  She called me after completing entrepreneurial training from WEB, Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore.  Donna took this WEB training because she wants to become  an Image Consultant specializing in accessories.  Her business name is “Accessorized, The Image.”

Here is the first picture she sent me

Donna, red blouse too bright for her, overpowers her delicate color and emphasizes her shadows

When you close your eyes and then open them again, you eyes will go to the blouse first because its too bright for her.  She needs to wear a more toned down red blouse, perhaps in maroon or a brownish red.  

Small Changes Make A Big Difference

In this next picture Donna is wearing a top that is a toned down brown.  This a brown that is perfect for her gentle coloring.  I did put a little lipstick and blush on her and I filled in the end of her eyebrows.

Donna after consult with a little lipstick and blush and a top that is a flattering color.

 

In previous blog posts I have talked about clothes needing to look like they are an extension of you. In the picture above, Donna is wearing a flattering color that does not overpower her delicate coloring.

I also did an online body shape analysis of Donna.   Donna has a defined waistline but because she has gained some weight her waistline is not as defined as it used to be.  Nevertheless, her best styles will be styles that have some waist definition.

When I helped her shop her closet, I discovered Donna had a lot of unworn pieces of clothing that still had the tags on them.

Most of these were clothes she bought for weddings.  Donna’s fashion personality is “timeless classic,” and these piece were too romantic for her and most of them did not have a defined waistline.

She thought, because she was going to a wedding, she should wear something romantic looking.

In the picture below is one top she never wore.  Can you guess why?

Why is this romantic top with the big  bright, print and undefined waistline so unflattering to Donna?

Donna is 5’7″ but because of her “gentle-muted,” coloring she needs to wear small to medium sized prints in colors that are “toned down,” (not bright).

Besides the print size being too large and too bright, the style of this top is unflattering because it does not have a defined waistline.

OK, she doesn’t have any makeup on, but the deal breaker in the picture above is the unflattering top.

Donna after consult with makeup and wearing a flattering color

This is from an e-mail I received from Donna a few weeks after the consult. “The consult I had with “The Wardrobe Wizard,” helped me  understand why I hardly ever wore my brightly colored clothing and why I never wore the romantic clothing I bought to attend weddings.

After the consult, with my color chart and line drawings of my best styles in hand,  I finished going through my closet and removed all of my “too bright clothes,” that had no waist definition. Then with the information I had about combining my colors, I took what was left and made outfits from them.

Now, instead of having a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear, I have fewer clothes and I wear everything.

I contacted several consignment stores but they were only interested in designer label clothing.  So I decided to have a yard sale.

 My beautiful items, although not designer labels, sold like hot cakes. I have also used my color chart to pick out nail polish and my fingers and toes are looking great.

I  just purchased a new pair of glasses based on what I learned  during the face shape consult.   I can’t wait to pick up my new glasses next week.”  Donna W

Think you might be interested in the “Wardrobe Wizard’s,” my new online “Wardrobe Makeover”?

Here’s  more information.  You will need a digital camera with 12 megapixels or better and have access to a computer.  If you don’t have a 12 megapixel digital camera, perhaps you can borrow one.  I need specific pictures for the color analysis and specific pictures for the face and body shape analysis, as well as a few body measurements.  You only need a webcam if you want me to help you shop your closet.

(I will send you more details when you sign up for the makeover.) Are you ready to save lots of money and look great everyday?  To far away to meet in person.  Think you might be interested in an Online Wardrobe Makeover?

Call or e-mail to set up a Complimentary 25 minute telephone consult.  The telephone consult I am currently offering is FREE, with no obligation, but I only have a few of these slots available each week.

The purpose of the telephone consult is to help you determine what your fashion personality is and to help me better understand what your needs  are.    Say goodbye to those, “Nothing to wear moments.”

Contact info : Nancy@WardrobeWiz.com, 410-513-9496, WWW.WardrobeWiz.com __________________________________________________________

 Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard,” is a “Color 1,” Personal Image Consultant who specializes in working with mid-life women whose size and shape has changed and who have too many clothes and “nothing to wear.”

After a woman works with “The Wardrobe Wizard,”she will have a wallet of her best colors and styles, and a pared down closet.   She will know how to mix and match her best looks so she can get dressed “lickety split,” and look great everyday.

 Say goodbye, to those “nothing to wear,” moments. “The Wardrobe Wizard,” also works with younger women and is available to work with men. 

She was trained by Joanna Nicholson, founder of Color 1 Associates an International Image & Style Company.

Lipstick, How To Choose A Flattering Color

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Bright red lipstick from Bobbi Brown

I recently ran into a longtime client of mine.  I noticed she looked tired. She was wearing her best clothing colors and I wondered if she had been sick.  I looked at her more carefully and  realized why she  did not look so good.

It was her lipstick color. She told me she could not get her favorite colored lip pencil  anymore and settled for something that was similar.  She thought it was similar, but it was much too brown and much too dark.

I told her that the brown lip color did not flatter her.  It made her teeth look yellow and her lips looked more wrinkled.

I asked her to try an experiment and put on a  lipstick I had sold her previously. This lipstick was a more of a” toned down red”.  When she put this flattering lip color on, she immediately got her sparkle back.

"toned down red lipstick"
toned down red lipstick

Brown lipstick will not look good on your unless your lips are naturally brown and your teeth are very white. Cindy Crawford, a Victoria’s Secret Model from the 1990’s, is an example of someone who does look good in brown lipstick.

The makeup industry has been promoting fire engine red lipstick and most recently I have seen ads showing nude color lipstick.

If you look good in “fire engine red lipstick,” you will probably not look good in nude or brown lipstick and visa versa.

With so many choices of lipstick colors, how do you choose a flattering color?

Look at the inside color of your bottom lip. How bright or dull a red or pink is it?  You can use this color as a guide when you choose a lipstick.  You can go one or two shades darker than this color.  Do not go lighter than this color, or more brown or brighter or duller than your inner lip color.

When you choose a color that is an extension of your natural lip color, this color will always be flattering. This will make you look “visually balanced.”   When you look “visually balanced,” you appear more attractive.   Research has shown that more attractive people are automatically  assumed to be  intelligent, and  honest.   When we feel attractive its easier to  feel and act confident.

Still unsure which lipstick colors flatter you? With a  color analysis you can get a wallet with 40-50 of your most flattering colors from Nancy Goldblatt, Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore.  This wallet includes several shades of your best lipstick and blush colors.

No matter what your age, size or shape you can create an attractive,” visually pleasing appearance.” by wearing flattering colors and flattering styles of clothing.

Nancy Goldblatt, Personal Image Consultant & The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore, Maryland is a Color 1 Associate with over 20 years of experience. She is available to do your colors if you live in the Baltimore, Washington corridor.  Contact her at 410-235-5325 or nrgoldblatt@gmail.com  (Learn to shop your closet and eliminate what doesn’t work, learn to mix and match in new ways and find out what you need to  fill in your wardrobe gaps).

Looking Good In Cold Weather

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Its the middle of December and its below zero and there is snow on the ground in Baltimore.   I have seen lots of people so bundled up that only their eyes are showing.

If you care about your appearance but still want to stay warm when you venture out on very cold days, here are some guidelines that will enable you to still look visually pleasing.

1. Wear shoes or boots that repeats the color on your head. If you are wearing a hat, repeat your hat color or if you have lots of hair that shows, choose shoes or boots that are hair color.   This will visually help you to look “pulled together.”   Our eyes automatically search for repeated colors.  When you wear a hat and shoes that are the same color the eye travels up and down to the repeated colors and this is relaxing to the eyes.

Here are a few examples: With  a hat or hair that is dark brown wear boots or shoes that are dark brown.  If you have a moss green hat, that you love, try to find moss green boots.  If your hair is black and lots of hair shows even with your hat on, consider black boots or shoes.

2. Choose a coat color that is flattering to your skin. (Note : not everyone looks good in black).  But if you already have a black coat choose a neck scarf that repeats your eye, or skin color.  This will give you a “color break,”and the black coat will not look so harsh against your skin.

3.  Unsure which colors are flattering to you? Get Joanna Nicholson’s books Dressing Smart for Women and Dressing Smart for Men at Amazon.

4.  Consider getting a “Color Analysis,” from a Color 1 Associate.   This is a very accurate “non-seasonal approach,” that allows you to wear every color in the right shade.   To find a Color 1 Associate in your local area contact Joyce Harris at Color Style.  Her e-mail is Joyce5001@aol.com.  She  also can sell you copies of Joanna Nicholson’s books.

Nancy Goldblatt, Personal Image Consultant & The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore is a Color 1 Associate with over 20 years of experience.  She is available to do your colors if you live in the Baltimore, Washington corridor.  Contact her at 410-235-5325 or nrgoldblatt@gmail.com  (She can teach you how to shop your closet and eliminate what doesn’t work, mix and match in new ways and she’ll suggest what you need to fill in the gaps)

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

New Year, New Goals:give 2010 a name

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If you could put your new year resolutions into words what would you call 2010?

I have named this year  “My year for a better Body, and a better Blog .” I got the idea after listening to a free webinar by Brenda Kinsel ,   Image Consultant.  She has an excellent free e-newsletter and she has written a number of books.  40 over 40 was her first book.  www.brendakinsel.com/

It’s been about four weeks since I started my new exercise program. Unfortunately I injured my back last week and missed several sessions but I returned this last Friday and plan to continue.  The research study I am in involves nutrition and exercise.   Its called “The Shape Up,” study.   I am writing down everything I eat and counting calories.  It helps to write down what I eat, but its a chore.   I am exercising 3 days a week, with 45 minutes of cardio and about 15 minutes of weight training.  I believe Johns Hopkins Hospital Bayview, Baltimore, Md., is is still looking for participants for this 6 month study.  You have to be pre-diabetic or diabetic and no older than 65 and in fairly good health.   I got into the study because I am considered pre-diabetic.  If you are in Baltimore or surrounding areas you can call Meredith at 410-550-6997 to find out if you are eligible for the 6 month study.

The Hopkins Nutritionist, Sarah told me  in order to lose weight I can only eat 1,000 calories on non-exercise days and 1,300 on the days I exercise. When I heard this I asked myself,  “How will I be able to do this beyond this 6 month study”?   I felt discouraged at the thought.  Then it occured to me that once I have built more muscle that perhaps I will be able to eat a few more calories, because muscle burns more calories than fat.

I gained about 3 pounds the 2nd week of the program. According to my scale I have now lost 4 pounds based on my starting weight which I am currently not willing to reveal.

Please feel free to comment and share.  What will you call 2010?

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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