JoAnna Nicholson

Why Do You Have So Many Unworn Clothes? part 2

January 6, 2012 by Nancy Goldblatt 1 Comment

57A30B542C5EDA6CAFAA6BC283410890.tomcat1 — Nancy, Wardrobe Wizard

Here are 7 reasons why you have so many unworn pieces of clothing cluttering your closet and some possible solutions from “The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore.”

1. It doesn’t fit right. It may be the wrong size or it may be an unflattering style for your body shape. Even if its the right size and fits you in some places, in others places it pulls and is too tight or it bags because its too big. (Possible Solution- take it to a dressmaker who can do alterations.)

2. The color isn’t flattering. It drains all the color out of your face, makes you look sick or makes you look like you are having a perpetual hot flash. (Possible Solution- (You need a “color break.”) Get this by showing some skin or wearing a flattering scarf color near your face.

You have nothing to wear with it. I call these pieces “orphans.” (Possible solution: take your orphans shopping to find matching pieces.)

4. It doesn’t feel right on. Maybe the fabric is itchy or it does not breathe or maybe you feel too uncovered or too covered up. (Possible Solution-layer it over something else)

5. It requires too much upkeep, ironing and expensive dry cleaning. (If you are anything like me, you are very busy and don’t have time to iron and do not like the idea of wearing clothing that is cleaned in Perc, a Cancer causing chemical.) Possible Solution: You may be able to wash it even if it says dry clean. Do not wash it if it says “dry clean only.”

6 It was a gift that you never liked or someone talked you into buying it. (Possible Solution- Re-gift it or donate or consign it.)

7. Maybe it was marked down to such a bargain price that the “thrifty part of you” couldn’t resist it. Possible Solution- Donate it or consign it to make room for pieces that really flatter you.

Your closets and drawers are being fattened by these non–working pieces of clothing. A recent client of mine had so many orphans with the tags still on, crowding her closets and drawers that she had lost track of what she owned. She no longer remembered what she owned that she could actually wear.

I was just like some of you before I got trained 20 years ago. I had closets overstuffed with clothes I could not wear. If image consultants were around when I was younger, I would not only have saved a lot of time and money, but I would not have turned down lots of fun activities, because I had nothing to wear.

What’s the solution to those overstuffed closets and drawers? Get educated about your body and face shape and get a color analysis so you will have a wallet of your best colors to shop with. Where can you get accurate information.? There are lots of books out there, some with good information and some with not so good information

Two books I recommend with lots of accurate information are “Dressing Smart for Women,” and “Dressing Smart for Men.” These books were written by Joanna Nicholson, my mentor and teacher. You can purchase them from Leslie Stott, Color 1 CEO. Contact Leslie at : http://Leslie@thecolorlady.com/

You may also be able to find them on Amazon or at your local library.

If you do not get help from someone who has training in image, style and color you will probably continue making many of those seven mistakes.

I am now able to do color and face and body shape analysis on-line no matter where you are located, using digital photos.

—————————————————————————————–

Nancy Goldblatt, Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore, is a Color 1 Associate. For over twenty years, she has been helping women whose size and shape has changed, to shop their closets.

She specializes in color analysis , and face and body shape analysis. After a client works with “The Wardrobe Wizard”, she will have a pared down closet with “mix and match pieces,” and the ability to put her own best looks together.

Nancy works with clients in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area as well as long distance customers. She can now do online consults. To find out more: Contact the Wardrobe Wizard at nancy@wardrobewiz.com/ or call 410-513-9496 for a complimentary, no obligation 20 minute telephone consultation to discover your fashion personality and find out what “The Wardrobe Wizard,” can do for you.

Wardrobe Clutter: Why Do You Have So Many Unworn Clothes?

May 8, 2011 by Nancy Goldblatt 1 Comment

Nancy2-Original 4 — Nancy Goldblatt, "The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,"

Why do you have so many unworn pieces of clothing? ( Part 1 of 2 parts)

When I was a little girl, I secretly believed I was a princess. I was very “sensitive,” and when the school librarian read, ‘The Princess and the Pea,’ to us, I knew I must be a princess in disguise.

When I was twenty years old, many years before I became an Image Consultant, that little girl part of me that still believed I was a princess in disguise finally found “the dress.” I was living in Chicago and I spotted the dress in Marshall Fields. I bought it thinking I would lose a few pounds and be transformed by the dress. I put it on many times, but when I looked in the mirror, I had to take it off. I was never able to wear it out of the house.

Maybe some of you can relate to this. I called it my princess dress because it reminded me of the dress Disney’s princess in the Sleeping Beauty movie wore. It was a dark blue velvet dress, with princess darts and a deep v neckline. “Princess Fiona,” from the movie Shrek wore a similar dress.

I loved that dress but it did not love me. In my “princess dress,” I looked more like the version of Princess Fiona after she kissed Shrek and turned into an Ogre.

The dress was my size, but even after I toned up with exercise, I never looked good in it. It hung in my closet for several years unworn. Finally, I gave it to a friend who was the same height and weight as me. The minute she pulled it over her head she looked fabulous in it. She looked like a ” true princess,” in the dress.

Why did it look so wonderful on her and so terrible on me?

Let me help you answer this. The answer is shape. The dress was shaped like my friend who had a small waist and wide hips. I have narrow hips and a wide rib cage. Even at my thinnest, because of the structure of my bones, my waist was never small. The dress hid my narrow parts and emphasized my wide parts. The dress complimented my friends shape because it was shaped like her.

Here is a simple but important rule to remember. Buy clothing that widens where you widen and narrows where you narrow. (This rule can also be applied to buying shoes.)

Most women wear only 20 % of what they own. So how many items do you own that you do not wear? Do you find yourself putting something on and taking it off ?

Why can’t you wear it? There are 7 reasons why you can’t wear it. to find out see part 2 “Why Do You Have So Many Unworn Clothes?” and discover some possible solutions.

————————————————————————————

Nancy Goldblatt, Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore, is a Color 1 Associate. For over twenty years, she has been helping women whose size and shape has changed, to shop their closets.

Do You Have Gremlins, That Prevent You From Following Your Dreams? I Did

February 25, 2011 by Nancy Goldblatt 4 Comments

Do you have dreams of things you want to do but your automatic negative thoughts have prevented you from following through?

I call these automatic negative thoughts, gremlins. For over 10 years I thought about becoming an Image Consultant and my “gremlins,” almost prevented me from following my dream.

Here is the story of how I overcame (my gremlins) those negative beliefs we all have, that prevent us from following our dreams.

Perhaps my story will encourage you to become aware of, and tame the gremlins that are preventing you from following your dreams.

My passion has always been to help people make the most of their strengths and overcome their challenges.

My challenge, since I was a little girl, was feeling self-conscious about my appearance.

I believe this was related to my mother being very critical of herself and me, her oldest daughter. Maybe some of you can relate to this.

The way I dealt with my challenge, was to seek information in self-help books.

I devoured psychology books on self esteem and books on improving how I looked.

In the early 1980’s I thought I found a “pot of gold,” when I learned wearing the right colors could make me appear more attractive and make it easier to shop. I read about various color analysis systems, but they all seemed too difficult for me to understand and the trainings were expensive and too far away.

The more I read about appearance and its effects on self esteem, the more I thought about becoming an image consultant.

But a little voice inside kept repeating,” You can’t be an image consultant, because you are not tall, or thin and you don’t look like a model.”

The first time I read Joanna Nicholson’s book “Color Wonderful,” I did not fully understand the Color 1 system of color analysis.

When I took this book out of the library a second time, I read it more thoroughly and the “Color 1 ” approach began making sense to me.

I found a 1-800 number at the end of the book and discovered “Color 1” was located only one hour away from me and a training was scheduled in a few weeks.

This was in 1990. I had been working with psychiatric patients at a half-way house for over 9 years.

Just as I was starting to feel “burnt out,” I got laid off. While I was trying to determine how I could use my skills in a new career, I joined a “Master-Mind Group.”

I had been telling the Master-Mind group about my “ideal career.” I told them,” I don’t want to just sell makeup, or just be a personal shopper, I want to do it all.”

I wanted to use all my skills, from my 3 previous careers as a teacher, photographer and social worker to become a “holistic image consultant” and help my clients to learn to love how they looked.

But those little gremlins in my head kept saying to me,”Who do you think you are. You are short, plump and too old to become an image consultant.”

(I was in my forties by this time) “How can you help others to love the way they look, when you don’t even love the way you look.”

I felt defeated by my inner gremlins. I decided I would give up my dream of becoming an image consultant. I would not be signing up for the “Color 1” training.

Fortunately, my “Master-Mind” group had been listening to me and they were ready to tame my gremlins.

They reminded me of what I had been telling them. “The Color 1 training sounds exactly like what you have been telling us you want to do, and you have the time and money to do it now. If you don’t do it now, when will you do it.“

That last sentence still echos in my head now, when I put off doing something I really want.“If you don’t do it now, when will you do it.” My gremlins were outnumbered and the rest is history.

154149_184121214935656_100000133373032_708038_5965564_n — Wardrobe Wizard doing a makeover at On Purpose Networking, Dec 2010

It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. An amazing transformation took place both inside and outside of me, when I took the “Color 1,” training and learned that I didn’t have to be tall, young or thin to look good.

Looking good is about looking visually balanced. This is done by understanding how to combine your best color clarities, choosing flattering styles of clothing for your shape and using accessories in a way that makes your head and body look balanced.

As I learned to make the most of my own appearance, and learned to like how I looked, my self consciousness slowly began to disappear.

I have been able to say goodbye to the panic of those “nothing to wear moments,” and I have helped hundreds of women over the last 20 years to do the same.

How do I work with clients now? The first thing I do is try to understand a clients fashion personality and their figure or size challenges. I also take into consideration budget, lifestyle and age. So I can reach out to more women, I have been writing a blog. Now I am able to do image consulting over the internet.

Want more information about the Color 1 approach?

Purchase Joanna Nicholson’s most recent books, “Dressing Smart for Women,” and “Dressing Smart for Men,” from Leslie Stott, the color lady at Leslie@thecolorlady.com

___________________________________________________

Think you might be ready for a virtual makeover? It doesn’t matter where you live. Nancy is now able to do makeovers virtually. Contact her at 410-513-9496 or write to her at Nancy@wardrobewiz.com for more information.

Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,”and Color 1 Associate, specializes in working with mid-life women whose size or shape has changed and who have lots of clothes and nothing to wear. She also works with younger women, as well as men. Contact her at Nancy@wardrobewiz.com or 410-513-9496, her website is WWW.WardrobeWiz.com

Looking Good In Cold Weather

December 17, 2010 by Nancy Goldblatt 3 Comments

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)

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

July 26, 2009 by Nancy Goldblatt 1 Comment

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 Choose Flattering Glasses & Sunglasses:

June 26, 2009 by Nancy Goldblatt 10 Comments

For those of you who need new glasses or plan to buy sunglasses here are a few tips for choosing flattering frames.

If you have a strong eyeglasses prescription it may be very difficult or impossible for you to actually see how the frames you are trying on look.

One day I went shopping for glasses with one of my image clients who is very near sighted.

She could not tell how she looked when she took her own glasses off.

Out of desperation she put the frames she was interested in on top of her own glasses. This was a creative solution but it did not work.

A Better Solution

When you go shopping for new glasses, bring a digital camera or use your camera phone. Ask the sales person to take pictures of you with the frames you are interested in.

Even if you are not extremely near sighted this is a good idea. By looking at a picture rather than a mirror, its much easier to see what really looks good.

I learned about choosing flattering styles of glasses from JoAnna Nicholson, my teacher and co-founder of Color 1 Associates an International Image and Style Company.

Eyeglass Shape

When choosing glasses or sunglasses, choose shapes that repeat your eyebrow shape.

If you have straight eyebrows, choose glasses that have a softened rectangular shape. If you have a more naturally curved eyebrow choose glasses that are more curved on the top of the frame.

(You also need to take into consideration your overall face shape)

Most people have more angular faces and you will find more angular eyeglasses frames available.

As we get older our eyes lose their defined shape. When you put glasses on, it’s like putting on eyeliner or mascara because glasses can give our eyes definition. This is another reason that it’s helpful to choose a shape that compliments your face.

Frame Color

Some people wear glasses to make a statement. One trend that may be dying is the “Buddy Holly,” black eyeglass frame nerd look.

However, if you want people to look at you, instead of your eyeglasses, I suggest choosing glasses that look like they are a part of you.

A very thin frame in a flattering color will show off your eyes and is more likely to look like it is part of you.

In choosing frame color, consider choosing your natural hair color or the natural highlights in your hair or a combination of hair and skin color.

Our eyes automatically search for color repetition. When you repeat your body colors in your apparel and accessories you create visual harmony and a pleasing appearance.

For example, if your hair has copper highlights, a copper frame would probably look good on you. My client, Judith, used to have copper frames when her hair was reddish brown but now that her hair is white, a non- shiny silver frame is more flattering on her.

If you can’t remember what color your hair was, look at old pictures of yourself when you were a child.

If you still have color in your eyebrows, what color are they?

If you have a child or relative who has the same color hair you used to have ask for a lock of their hair. Keep the piece of hair in a ziplock bag in a dark place. Take this lock of hair with you when you shop for glasses and try to choose a frame that is a shade of this color.

Trying On Sunglasses

I have noticed that frequently the mirrors on sunglass displays is up high. This may be done because its a convienient place to put the mirror but it can be deceiving. When looking up at a mirror that is higher than eye level, you will always look better.

This is because some of your face and neck wrinkles disappear when you look up.

On the other hand, if the mirror is lower than eye level, you will always look worse because your wrinkles and any sagging skin will be exaggerated.

I suggest you bring your own mirror and hold it at eye level to get a more accurate impression of how you look in the eyeglasses or sunglasses.

What is your biggest challenge in choosing glasses or sunglasses? Feel free to ask questions on this blog.

Nancy Goldblatt, “Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,” is a professionally trained personal image consultant. She works with both individuals and groups. She is located in Baltimore, Md. She can now work with you online using digital photos and or a webcam. She can be reached at Nancy@wardrobewiz.com

Her website is WWW.WardrobeWiz.com

Beauty or Beast? What Is Real Beauty?

June 5, 2009 by Nancy Goldblatt Leave a Comment

What is real beauty? The media would like us to believe that beauty is being forever young, tall, perfectly proportioned with flawless skin and a great head of hair. If this is true, we are all doomed to accepting we can’t be beautiful.

When we look at “air brushed photos” in magazine of models, who look like they have no flaws it hard not to compare ourselves. We forget that the models have been airbrushed and photo-shopped to look perfect. I don’t look at those magazines anymore, but when I did, I felt flawed and frumpy. Have any of you had that experience? When you feel more like beast than a beauty what do you do?

Do you overeat, exercise or go shopping?

When you feel bad about how you look, you are more likely to buy beauty products, clothes, jewelry and shoes you do not need

The real truth is that “beauty” is what’s pleasing to our eyes. You can check this out by looking at a painting you like. Why do you like looking at it?

The answer is that its visually pleasing to your eyes. It gets your attention with its repetition of color, line and proportion.

What can you do to become visually more pleasing? Think of yourself as an “unfinished masterpiece,” waiting for the right frame.

Do you remember the last time you had to choose a frame for a painting or print? When you went to the framing store there were hundreds of choices of frames and mats. The store clerk quickly and easily picked out a few frames and mats and you were able to choose the one you liked. Before I tell you how the store clerk was able to pick out the right frame, I want to know how well you do picking out a frame for a painting or print.

Visualize a 11 x 14 painting of a water scene with boats tied up at the dock. The sky is greyish blue and a storm is brewing. What color mat and frame would you put on it? Would you choose a wide, shiny gold frame and a pure white mat. Or would a soft white mat with a non-shiny mat silver frame be better? Now think about an abstract painting the same size but with large, bold,splotches of primary colors. Would you choose the same frame for both paintings?

Of course not, the frame needs to be an extension of the painting. Your clothes, jewelry and makeup are your frame. Your frame needs to be an extension of you so that it can compliment, not detract from your natural beauty.

So how did the clerk do this so easily? He or she did this by looking at the painting and picking out one or two predominate colors and looking at the scale of the painting.

So how can your frame look like a natural extension of you and put the finishing touches on the “master piece,” thats uniquely you? (See part 2 of this blog for important tips on how to use color to do this)

By reading Dressing Smart for Women and or Dressing Smart for Men, you will learn more about choosing flattering shades of color and how to look great everyday no matter what your age, shape or size. These books are available at Amazon.com and as well as your local library or Contact Leslie Stott, Color 1 CEO to buy the book, Leslie@thecolorlady.com

Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,” is a professionally trained “Color 1, personal image consultant.” Her website is: www.WardrobeWiz.com/ She can work with you online using digital photos to create a wallet of your best colors.