Looking in the Mirror

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.

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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.

How to Go from Frumpy to Fabulous Without Buying New Clothes

February 11, 2011 by Nancy Goldblatt 1 Comment

Nancy2-Original — Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore, Nancy Goldblatt

The term “ready to wear,” implies that you can buy something off the rack and wear it immediately.

“Ready to wear,” clothes are proportioned for a fit model who is very tall and perfectly proportioned. This does not describe what most of us look like. The truth is that very few women can put on a ” ready to wear item” and not need some alterations.

So how much should you shorten something? You can “eye ball it,” but there is a more accurate way to determine vertical alterations, its called Fashion Fit Formula.

When I first discovered the ” Fashion Fit Formula,” I already looked good because as a professional image consultant I knew my best colors and styles. but I did not know everything. I am short and I do not have a defined waistline, so I always wear a layered look with a jacket or long blouse over a shell. I discovered I was wearing my tops too long and this made my legs look shorter. I also have short arms and I did not know my best sleeve length. I discovered my best coat lengths, skirt lengths, and pant lengths with the Fashion Fit Formula.

. I can use this system no matter what my weight because it looks at vertical, not horizontal measurements. If your have spine curvature, this system will tell you the best lengths for both the left and right side of your body.

Do you get attached to your clothes and have difficulty parting with them? One way to refresh and update the clothes you can’t part with, is to alter them so that they are in perfect proportion to your head and body.

Janet Wood is the developer of the Fashion Fit Formula. She has developed a formula based on 12 vertical measurements that will take your existing wardrobe and any new clothes you buy from looking frumpy to fabulous with a few simple alterations.

This cost-effective investment will transform your current wardrobe and make simple alterations on any new purchases well worth the effort or money. The cost of this service has come down since I purchased my Fashion Fit Formula. There is a kit for men and a kit for women. I believe current cost is $50 for the basic kit. Go to http://WWW.FashionFitFormula.com

(The Wardrobe Wizard has not received any compensation for this recommendation)

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.”

The Wardrobe Wizard, is available to work with you no matter where you live. If you live in Baltimore, Md 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.

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 “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.

Nancy@WardrobeWiz.com, 410-513-9496, WWW.WardrobeWiz.com

Avoiding Looking At Your Body In The Mirror?

October 25, 2009 by Nancy Goldblatt Leave a Comment

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?

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

What do you say to yourself when you look in the mirror?

June 21, 2009 by Nancy Goldblatt 4 Comments

Years ago there was an episode of Sesame Street on television called “Pick Your Pet.” It was a version of the “Dating Game.” The contestant was a little girl muppet and behind the curtain were 3 pets. Number one was a bird, number two was a dog and number three was a big shaggy monster muppet.

The little girl asked number one, the bird, ” Do you like milk”? The answer was no.

She asked the dog, “Can you purr? The answer was no.

She then asked number one and two,“Will you sit in my lap?” The answer again was no.

Time ran out and she never got to ask number three, the monster muppet any questions.. She had to choose number one, two or three.

She choose number three, the monster muppet.

The audience booed. The bird came out and gave her a peck on the cheek, the dog came out and licked her face and then it was time for number three, her choice to come out from behind the curtain.

The audience continued to boo. The poor monster muppet lumbered out from behind the curtain with shoulders hunched over, looking at the ground as the audience continued to boo and make fun of him.

The little girl looked at the monster muppet and said “You are Bou- tee- ful.” The monster muppet stood up straight, lifted his head, smiled and said “I like milk, I can purr, and I will sit in your lap.”

Words can transform how we feel about ourselves

When you focus on what’s wrong , its hard to feel good about yourself.

What happens when you look in the mirror and focus on what you like about your looks. Remember “You are Bou tee ful.”

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Nancy Goldblatt is available to work with you no matter where you live. If you live in Baltimore, Md 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.

“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.

Nancy@WardrobeWiz.com, 410-513-9496, WWW.WardrobeWiz.com

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