Raise Your Hand if You Think You Look Fat

Your not Alone!
Almost every woman I know thinks she looks fat - even women who exercise ever day, eat nothing but salads or juice, and wear a size 6 or less!  In the 25 years I have been in the business of 'image transformation' I have yet to meet a woman who has fully accepted herself for who she is!  I refer to it as "our stuff" regardless if it is all in your head of physically on your ass!  STUFF!
The truth is, I think I am fat too!  I can't stand that I have gained weight in the past few years, I am always searching for ways to lose that final 10 pounds; sound familiar?
As women, I think we all carry around three different weight numbers; the number of pounds we would like to weigh (in our dreams), the number we can live with comfortably, and the number that makes us feel like we are fat.  I am certain you know what I mean.  I know my numbers, and you know yours.  And even though the number that makes me feel fat is within the normal range for my body type "it is what it is in our minds", and can make a huge difference in how we feel and how we approach the world each day.

My passion is to assist women feel better about themselves, to raise their self esteem, to empower them with their own personal tool box of tips and tricks to make them feel like a rock star!  I began my business with the purpose of raising others up; knowing that as I empower others, it helps me with my own "stuff" - nothing is more rewarding than recognizing the best qualities in others and helping them to see and believe it themselves.

As I approach my 47th birthday my vision and purpose has become more clear - to assist as many woman as possible to believe in themselves - to provide the tools and support to our youth in order to raise strong, passionate, and caring young women.  To create programs, workshops and 'self esteem' camps across the globe.....

Growing up with less than a positive sense of self I know how hard it can be to truly believe in ones ability, in her own inner beauty, and in her self worth.....my goal as I grow The Power of Style is to help as many women as possible to see their own inner beauty.

And that is...............The Power of Style

Fall 2013 Trunk Shows coming to Calgary

Fall is in the air......fall fashion that is! Stay tuned for upcoming information from Power of Style regarding the stock/trunk shows we will be hosting in Calgary! Paris Collection Georges Rech will be returning, along with MM: Minicucci x Marcanio, Karen McClintock Jewellery and a few more surprises! Jackie@powerofstyle.ca for more information and to request your private invitation.

Survey Says:

**All survey data will be kept for internal use only and never sold to third party companies.

1. What do you perceive is your biggest problem when it comes to deciding what to wear?

 

2. Tell me about what was your most successful outfit you picked out on your own without assistance in the last 12 months and why?

 

3. What was your biggest outfit failure in last 12 months and why do you think it didn’t work?

 

4. What do you like best about successfully being able to pick out clothes that match your style and body type?

 

5. What is the one important thing you wish you could improve that will increase your success creating outfits?

 

Thank you so much in advance for your time in completing this survey for me.  I look forward to seeing the results!

What's Stopping You......

What’s stopping you from having someone help you to complete your closet intervention and helping you with your style?  Until I met Jackie, I didn’t realize I needed help and thought it was an invasion of my personal space.  But now, I see it as essential and realize there’s nothing to be afraid of!

 

Jackie completed my closet intervention and then took me shopping.  What I thought would be a chore turned out to be a really fun experience.  I love my newly organized closet, which is no longer cluttered with those things I thought I’d wear one day or had been hanging onto for years because they were either a gift or an expensive purchase.  Jackie gave me that push I needed to let go of certain things and had so many practical tips and invaluable advice for the neat things I already owned but wasn’t wearing.  With a few minor alterations and ideas for combining pieces, Jackie’s helped me to create many fashionable new outfits with the items I already had!

 

Having Jackie shop with me really helped me to understand my style and I love how she helped me choose items that completed the gaps in my wardrobe.  And if you're worried about spending the money on a stylist, don't be.  Jackie’s help has actually saved me tons.

 

Jackie is passionate about what she does and makes the experience all about you.  One of the things I appreciated the most is that she doesn’t judge and I felt comfortable with her throughout.   I am grateful to have met Jackie and to have received the benefit of her gift of style.  The experience and her advice is lasting and has made all the difference! 

 

 

 

Testimonial for Jackie Hickson

"Jackie is truly one of a kind. She has exceptional style and an eye for fashion. One of her greatest assets is that she is able to customize the shopping experience to your needs and personal style to enhance your overall experience. I was really set in my own ways, limiting many styles and colors to my wardrobe. Jackie helped me break through my one dimensional way of thinking and showed me how to add to my current wardrobe. I actually dreaded shopping before meeting Jackie. I found myself buying things just to get something, and repeatedly buying the same styles. Jackie has actually helped me build an eye for what works for my body, wearing pieces to build an outfit, and feeling good about what I buy and wear. Not only is she a great personal shopping companion, but a pleasure to be around. There is no awkwardness, its just like shopping with your friend who has great style and insight."
www.powerofstyle.ca
Jackie@powerofstyle.com

Thoughts from Just Jackie

Tumblr: Thoughts from Just Jackie


"Stop focussing on what you don’t have….concentrate on the WHY and forget about the HOW"……. I have been told this countless times recently……as hard as it seems, I have CHOSEN to listen, to LET GO, and JUST BREATHE and let it all happen! I have chosen TODAY to INCREASE MY DESERVE LEVEL! “I will fail my way to success!!"…..

Are you feeling like a ROCK STAR???? Thanks Marla!

The Evolution of You: Seven Tips for Kick-starting an Updated Image

Posted on April 25, 2013 by admin

Do you know what it’s like to look in the mirror each morning and feel ambivalent about what you see? You don’t hate the way you look, but you don’t get excited about it either. If so, you’re not alone. We all get so caught up in other aspects of our lives that we let our images evolve (or not, as the case may be) on autopilot. And as I’m sure you know, when you don’t give a task your full attention, you usually can’t expect spectacular results.
One thing I’ve learned as an image consultant is that spending some focused time and attention on updating your look every once in awhile is well worth the effort. Not only will you love what you see in the mirror every morning, your image can also affect how confident, energetic, and balanced you feel throughout the day.
The best news is, you don’t have to totally revamp your wardrobe, your hairstyle, and your makeup to reap these benefits. Here, I’d like to share a list of tactics that can help you kick-start an updated image. Some of them will apply to you; others you may be “on top of” already. Just mix and match, then say hello to the new you.
*Schedule a closet cleanout… The messy closet problem plagues millions of women all over the world. If you’re one of them, your closet is probably a primary cause of your lackluster look. After all, if the state of your closet stresses you out, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, or if you can’t easily see many of the pieces you own, you won’t be able to maximize your wardrobe.
Make a serious commitment to go through your closet, determining which pieces honor you for who you are right now. That means you’ll need to remove clothes that don’t fit; pieces that are worn, stained, or out of date; colors that don’t make you look your best; things that don’t match your current lifestyle, etc. Be sure to try on everything as you go so that you’re making an accurate assessment of each piece. It might be a good idea to hire a professional or to ask a trusted, non-judgmental friend to help you with this task.
*…then restock your wardrobe. This task goes hand-in-hand with cleaning out your closet. As you discard pieces, make a list of items you’ll need to build complete looks with the clothing you’re keeping. For example, perhaps you discarded a blouse because it was damaged or didn’t fit anymore. Or maybe you need a new sweater or jacket to go with a skirt that you love, but with which you have nothing to wear. Once your list is complete, head to the store! Again, you might want to hire an image consultant or bring a friend along to ensure that you’re making wise choices. (Look back at this blog post for more ideas on how to clean out and restock your closet.)
*Figure out what flatters you. I’m sure you know that different colors look better on different people. The same thing goes for various clothing styles. The question is, do you know which colors and styles look best on you? If not, you might be unintentionally sentencing your look to “average” instead of allowing it to be amazing! It’s a good idea to revisit this topic every few years as both fashions and your body change. Get clear on colors and styles that are most flattering, and stick with those guidelines whenever you make a new purchase.
If you’re not sure where to start, many fashion magazines and websites offer general advice regarding what colors and styles tend to look good on various complexions and body types. You might also want to ask a trusted friend for honest advice. But if you want more personalized results, I recommend working with an image consultant whose trained eye can help you to look your absolute best.
*Do a handbag and shoe review. A good pair of shoes can transform how you look, how you walk, how you feel, and how other people perceive you. And a great handbag can have a similar impact on your comfort level—not only because of how it looks, but because it’s not too heavy while holding everything you need. Sometimes, though, it’s easy to ignore both shoes and handbags if you’re too focused on clothing.
Take some time to review your shoes and handbags. Which ones do you use on a regular basis? Which colors and styles do you need to complement your clothing? Are heels or flats better suited to your lifestyle? How high of a heel are you comfortable wearing? How large of a handbag do you need? Is a certain type of handle most comfortable for you to carry? Write these criteria down and refer to them when shopping. Don’t come home with ten pairs of black shoes!
For this season, nude or muted metallic shoes and bags make clothing look fresh, and can be carried throughout the year. Other neutrals (that category includes black and animal print!) are also good long-term investments. But don’t be afraid to spice up your look with a brightly colored pair of shoes or tote when the spirit moves you.
*Sort through your jewelry and scarves. Sometimes it’s the small things that make an outfit really pop and that help you—and other people—fall in love with your look. Do you own pieces that make you feel beautiful and excited when you get dressed? Or are your accessories an afterthought? Especially if you’ve owned the same things for years, this may be a good time to invest in a few key pieces of jewelry and/or scarves that will give you a distinctive look. Keep in mind that spending a little more money on fewer statement pieces will set your look apart. And the dollar-per-wear ratio will be in your favor over the long run!
On the jewelry front, I’m currently enjoying Alexis Bittar’s acrylic cuffs, which are accented with silver, gold, and crystal. (I wrote about them a few months ago as well!) They’re beautiful and unique, but because they’re clear, they match any outfit. I also recommend larger Majorica pearl statement necklaces and/or earrings as well as colorful jewelry of all types from Bounkit, which can be customized to complement your wardrobe.
*Face yourself. Your look isn’t all about what you wear. Your face is one of the first things that people notice when they meet you, and it’s also what they primarily look at as they interact with you. Unfortunately, beauty rituals pertaining to the face are one of the easiest ruts for women to get stuck in! Think about it: When was the last time you changed your hairstyle? Have you updated your makeup this century? And when was the last time you switched your glasses frames?
If you haven’t addressed any of these areas in awhile, it might be time for a change. Plan a visit to your favorite makeup counter, your hairstylist, and/or your optometrist. Explain that you’d like to update your look in a way that’s fresh, stylish, modern, and that plays up your natural beauty. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen the right makeup, hair, and glasses take years off my clients’ faces!
*Take your clothes to a tailor. Many people I know are reluctant to visit a tailor because they assume the service is too expensive, or not worth the money. I promise you, that has never been my experience. The fact is, when your clothes are properly tailored and fit you perfectly, you’ll look great, you’ll feel even better, and you’ll get more wear out of the pieces you own. And guess what? When you love what’s in your closet, you won’t feel compelled to shop as often, meaning that the cost of tailoring will pay for itself.
Even if you don’t typically have trouble finding clothes that fit, I encourage you to visit a tailor. Almost everyone needs alterations to take pieces from “fits well” to “fits perfectly,” no matter what size they are to begin with. A few seams, tucks, and hems can take your look from okay to WOW!
If you’re familiar with me and my philosophy, you won’t be surprised by the last piece of advice I’m going to give you: When it comes to updating your image (or making any change in your life, for that matter), avoid things that make you feel uncomfortable, negative, or fake, no matter how trendy or in style they may be. Regardless of what you wear or how you style your hair, the best accessories are always a confident attitude and positive outlook that come from being authentic and true to yourself.