The Makeover

It was time.  After ten years of personal styling, divorce, moving house, illness and life in general - it was time for a new beginning, my very own personal new beginning.

Colette, Helen, Peta-Gai

I connected with the guru of transition, Colette Werden who quickly cut to the chase of what the make over was really all about.  I allowed myself to be coachable and Colette did her best work.  Phase I had begun.

She sorted through my chosen outfits for the photo shoot and then started pieces together things I would never have connected.  She did what I do for my clients, I just could not do that for myself.  Yeah, I was nervous.  Put yourself in my shoes.  Reckon you might be too.  With the greatest of respect she enquired into the possibility of my daughter's wardrobe ......... and in we went to borrow a leather jacket from materialbyproduct a $20 skirt and a pair of red heels.  Well .......  I never ...... thought I would do that!  But it worked and my lovely 22 year old daughter was delighted and quite flattered to be honest!

On the day of the photo shoot, I started with Bianca at Capelli Armadale for hair that the camera would be happy with.  That means no sticky uppy bits!  She knew the drill.  Bianca has done all of this before.  Bruce had cut and coloured the week before.  Yes there is a pattern shaved into the back of my head.

Peta-Gai weaved magic with her beautiful make up from Iridis under instruction from Colette about exactly which red the camera and my skin tone would be happy with.

In the background I was conscious of a thick and fast conversation going on between Colette and the magician I like to own as my photographer, Joel Rainford.  Every little detail ...... covered.  Intense conversation leaving me feeling pretty smart for the dream team I had selected.  No stone was left unturned.  Joel was determined that she knew how to capture the desired look.  Colette was not leaving anything to chance.  Professional to the finest detail.  The brief was to capture my personality, professional, trustworthy, fun, a tad rebellious, engaging and have you feel like you need to pick up the phone and hire me!

I've spent the new year holiday period giving away, donating or ebaying the clothing in my wardrobe that no longer serves me.  It belonged to my friend Helen who has now moved forward.  The look is clean, sleek and modern.  I'm owning my curves and sense of sassy!  Time to celebrate my shape. Now I'm not suggesting that the gypsy or the hippie in me has gone forever ...... I'm just more select about when she comes out!

 My dream team are worth their weight in gold and I highly recommend them.  This transition to a new brand has been an inside out progression.  It is strategic and fits with a new, challenging and exciting 2014.  Looking forward to sharing Phase II with you soon.

Too FAT for Kookai???

OMG!  Check out this blog on Mamma Mia's website.  Lucy Gransbury shares her experience with Kookai's sizing system. 

They use 1 or 2.  They deleted 3.  Be a smart idea for them to niche and market themselves as a small, narrow frame designer, but they don't.

The real issue here is that there are no sizing standards for women's fashion in Australia.  The rest of the world have them and we don't.  Rock on TFIA - the battle for sizing standards is not lost.  We simply have not won yet!

My clients regularly ask me what size they are in different labels because they simply don't understand it.  How on earth is it that I can be a size 10 in one label and a 'large' in another?  Let's pretend I'm in kindergarten and tell it to me like I'm only four years old.

Fact is, Australian designers are messing with our heads.  I've been sharing this revelation with corporate and personal clients in seminars and personal consultations for years.  A size 14 woman goes shopping and fits into a size 12.  Is she happy about that?  You bet she is.  All of a sudden she finds more in her budget to spend at THAT store.  Why?  Because she's feeling pretty damn good about herself right now.  She's feeling slim, successful and that deserves rewarding, dosen't it?  Huge win to that designer.  They get the sale and serve to confuse the consumer about their size.

Another label decides to toss the sizing system out the door and label garments with 1, 2, 3, 4.  Well that sounds more attractive than 10, 12, 14, 16 dosen't it?  It serves to mask the fact that she really is a size 16 - now she's size 4.  Relate that to sizing standards in the USA.  She's looking quite thin now!

The real problem is that so many women define themselves by their clothing size, not their shoe size of the length of their hair - their clothing size.  So when a designer like Kookai stocks only 1 or 2 - it automatically makes over women over size 10 feel less than fabulous.  If there's one thing that sucks the energy out of room in a nano second, it's a woman trying on a garment that is way too small.  You can see the thought bubbles flying out of her head "not good enough", "I'm too fat",  "nothing here fits me" ......... 

It's bad news for women.  I've been known to cut labels off while shopping, or re-label a 16 to be a 10.  That's how much impact the numbers have on some women! 

What's your experience?

One Small 12 Piece Wardrobe - 57 Outfits to cover your whole life!

Whether we’re time poor, lacking confidence or just a little overwhelmed by choice, sometimes we all need a little help in the wardrobe department.
 
Cylk would love for you to come indulge with us over a glass of bubbles and learn how to make the most of your wardrobe with one of Australia’s top image stylists, Helen Robinett.

She has worked as a stylist for 10 years, with many more years experience in the industry, and is well known for her warmth and humour and knowledge of personal branding

While most of us are guilty of only wearing a fraction of what is in our wardrobe, she’ll show you how to make your purchases really earn their rent.

Helen is not afraid of breaking the styling rules and is set on smashing the myths on what we should and shouldn’t wear both for business and pleasure.

You will see 12 key pieces transformed on a real body into 57 different outfit options for work, cocktails, Friday night drinks, Sunday brunch, Prahran Market on Saturday, Dinner with friends, casual BBQ, Job interview, night club and dinner with your folks.

She is one of only six image professionals in Australia to achieve the designation of Certified Image Professional through the Association of Image Consultants International and has published a book on Personal Branding, Apprentice to Business Ace. Helen also chairs the board for TRY Australia and Big Brothers Big Sisters in Melbourne.

Join us for this special workshop in store at 497 Chapel Street South Yarra in Melbourne at 630pm until 830pm on Wednesday 15 Jan 2014.

We will be serving champagne and light refreshments.

Numbers are limited and bookings are essential at $30 per head.

Call Erin on 9827 7528 to book now.

Women's body image - enough is enough!

Recent events with Justin Bieber calling a Hyatt Regency Perth hotel guest a beached whale have raised concerns around body image.  Click here to hear the radio interview on 2dayfm.

There are three issues that matter:

• A high profile celebrity in a powerful position missed an opportunity to make a valuable contribution to society.  Calling on #Hugh Jackman or #Will Smith to step up and provide some guidance and mentoring to the young celebrity in the middle of this issue.  C'mon guys.  Boys learn to be a man from a man. 

•  Given his fan base are young women, who are prone in teenage years to have major concerns about their body image, this is a major issue.  The media do not help either.  Click on this link to watch what Jean Kilbourne has to say about the media and women's body issues: media & body image

• Women are on the cusp of coming to a position where they are begining to accept their body as it is.  I love seeing full figured women in a swim wear, proud of their curves.  Pregnant women proudly display their growing belly with fitted clothing instead of the tents we used to wear years ago.  The insult of a curvy, size 12 - 14 young woman is totally unacceptable.  Enough is enough.

Finally, bravo Dove for embarking on a campaign to change the way we see ourselves!  This four minute video illustrates the emotion of what happens when an artist draws women and they realise their beauty.  The awakening is so very beautiful.

We are all absolutely fabulous, just the way we are.

How do you see your body? Are you able to honour the uniqueness that is you?

Helen Robinett - BIO

Executive Stylist & Coach, Animal Lover, Speaker, Gardener, TFIA Trainer, Mother, Author, Stylist Mentor, Conscious Styling Innovator

Helen Robinett is obsessive about helping people to feel fantastic about themselves. With a background of over 20 years in sales and marketing coupled with extensive experience advising leading corporate and individual clients, Helen understands why personal and professional image are key ingredients in business success. Helen works with clients to develop a comprehensive image-management strategy and ensures that staff reflect the image and branding of the company.

Helen is experienced in delivering dynamic presentations designed to inspire and enlighten.  Popular topics include the importance of first impressions; managing perceptions of those around you; dressing for where you want to be; disrupting the style rules for leaders and effective wardrobe management.  Helen is known for her warmth, humour and impactful style.

She has extensive retail experience in men’s and women’s leading fashion labels on both national and international levels.

Her ability to maximize the potential look and feel of individual personalities and corporate cultures is second to none.  Helen is recognized within government and corporate environments as the ‘go to’ person for executive styling.  Clients who have experienced Helen’s magic touch often speak of having a new attitude and approach to their work and life.

She is one of only six image professionals in Australia who has achieved the designation of Certified Image Professional through the Association of Image Consultants International and has published a book on Personal Branding, Apprentice to Business Ace.  She is also a recent edition in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Who’s Who of Australian Business Women.

Helen Chairs the board for TRY Australia and Big Brothers Big Sisters Melbourne.                                           

Why do women love to browse and shop?

Long have men complained that women spend hours 'shopping' without buying anything.  What could motivate women to throw away their time so frivolously?  Perhaps, as the quote below identifies, women simply gain pleasure from the activity - or, if going with friends, it provides them with a setting for social interaction.

Clearly, shopping and browsing fulfil emotional needs.  Researchers Falk and Campbell argue that Shopping is seen as essential not just because it is the only means of obtaining information about the full range of items available for purchase, but also because it is recognised that it is only through direct exposure to items for sale that the experience of 'desire' which general 'wanting' can occur.  However, in addition to this, the activity of shopping whether any purchases are made or not.  They refer, for example, to the pleasure to be had in 'just looking around', in a way which suggests that a fundamentally aesthetic and expressive gratification is involved (Falk & Campbell, 1997 p. 170)

So here we have it.  Women will refer to shopping as a 'trip', seeing it as a leisure activity in its own right.  One of the 6 core needs of human beings is connection.  We need to connect.  Can't do that on the internet, eh?

I'm quite convinced many women shop without any intention to purchase.  If the retailer can engage them, they will get the sale.

It all comes down to the experience for the client and how the retailer can engage them.

If you are a retailer, how are you creating the experience for your client?

A special invitation to view Autumn/Winter 2014 ....

           

Style by Wesson in conjunction with Helen Robinett and Image Quest invite you and a colleague/friend to experience our no obligation Style by Wesson exclusive preview of next year’s Autumn and Winter fashions at three beautiful locations:

Melbourne on Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 November at the Park Hyatt, Melbourne, from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm.

Sydney on Monday night 25 November and Tuesday 26 November at Sheraton on the Park from 8:30 am until 7:30pm. 

Perth on Thursday night 5 December, Friday 6 December at the Hyatt Regency from 8:30 am until 7:30 pm and Saturday 7 December from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm.

Your discernment has brought you a long way, and because you understand the difference between fashion and style, you never compromise on quality.   May we introduce you to Style by Wesson, an exclusive style and couture service for women who have most things but time.   Style by Wesson stands for elegance, quality, and that contemporary yet timeless look that comes from the world’s great designers.

In a one-on-one personal, pressure-free hour of style and French bubbles, clients are able to preview (and buy if they choose) the latest from the leading European fashion houses.  Labels include Hugo Boss, Just Cavalli, Patrizia Pepe Missoni and more. Our fitting and alterations specialists will also be there.

When clients leave, they know that their autumn/winter styles and accessories are perfectly catered for.

You are under no pressure to buy, although all stock is available for purchase. You won’t be disappointed.

Looking forward to pampering you while you relax and enjoy this exclusive preview of next year’s Autumn / Winter 2014 fashions.

To book with Helen for your personal appointment 

phone 0409 324 248 or email helen@imagequest.com.au