Professional image consultant, Lori Ann Robinson brings her 20+ years of experience as a Hollywood fashion /costume designer, stylist, to her practice, helping people look and feel their best. She says, “What I know to be true is that most women don’t know their body type, their colors, the latest trends, and what looks good on them.”
1.Re-examine your lingerie. Take a long,
hard look at what is in your drawer. Throw out anything that is tattered and
worn. Once elastic is stretched out, it is shot. No wearing bras and panties
with the squiggly, broken elastic. Invest in new undies in a timely fashion. TC Fine Shapewear (available at
Bloomingdales) makes a fabulous new panty that has no visible lines nor does it
ride up. Bye bye VPL 2.
Don’t keep clothes in your closet if
they do not fit. Keep your closet
current with what DOES look great on you. If you must keep items that you
cannot bear to get rid of, pack them up and store away. 3.
Say sayonara to an all black wardrobe.
Yes, it is chic and it is sooo LA/NY. Black is often the go- to- color when we
have gained a few extra pounds. If this is your case, keep a dark color on the
areas you need to camouflage. There is a world of color out there just waiting
to be worn. Especially this spring and summer. Mix your best colors with your
neutrals, lighten, and brighten up! 4.
Have at least one default evening and
day outfit that you makes you look and feel fabulous. Make sure it is one
that you get tons of compliments on when wearing. Have easy access to it in the
closet in case you get a last minute invite to a great party or luncheon. This
way you will avoid last minute shopping and buying something that is just not
you!
5.
Stock your closet with wardrobe
essentials this year. Invest in the best. Have pieces that are great basics
so you can mix and match with ease. If a fabulous pair of pants or if that
amazing skirt has eluded you, then this is the time to seek it out.
For
more information, please visit Lori at www.larconsultants.com Or
email, lori@larconsultants.com
Lori was featured on the front page of the Los Angeles Times' Living Well section, Tuesday, September 11, 2007.
"A Great Year for Looking Good"--be age appropriate & up-to-date this season!
By Barbara Beckley-Special Advertising Sections Writer
Some timeless excerpts from Lori:
“Pantsuits are one of the most elongating and figure-flattering looks, and pinstripes make all figures look taller and slimmer,” said Robinson, who has been nominated for four Daytime Emmys for dressing the characters on TV soaps — many of them in the plus-50 age group.
Robinson praised shorter-sleeve jackets. “To look slimmer, (one should) choose clothes that end at the narrowest part of your body. For example, three-quarter sleeves end at the slimmest part of your arm — midway between your wrist and elbow.”
The same goes for jacket lengths: The eye will go to where the jacket ends so stay away from those that end at the widest part of your hips, she said. Robinson’s advice on where your clothes end is consistent: Look at where your leg is narrow and choose your skirt length accordingly.
“Never layer with bulky sweaters and thick fabrics —too much volume makes you look dowdy,” Robinson advised. Instead, you can “layer (knits) so you see one neckline under the other, such as a wide scoop under a deep V-neck” – which is good news for mature women, since V-necklines elongate and trim the body image, especially in tissue-weight cashmere.
“To elongate the look of your legs, wear shoes that match the color of your hemline if you’re wearing pants, or your skin tone if you’re wearing a skirt,” advised Robinson. “The longest-leg look is heightened even more when your shoe-style is minimal, such as a sling-back, open- or peep-toe style.”
“You can look 10 pounds lighter simply by wearing the proper undergarments. A properly fitting bra with (an) under-wire will lift your bust to the right spot — midway between your shoulders and your elbows — to give you a more youthful figure. Shapers (not your grandmother’s girdles) instantly slim your abdomen, thighs and hips. Today’s shapers are light, comfortable and even provide back support.” Her favorite shapers are those made by TC Fine Shape-wear (sold at Nordstrom) because they stay in place and offer firm support.
Never fall for the latest color just because it is everywhere in the store. When you’re in the dressing room, hold an outfit up to your face and take a hard look to see if it makes you look more vibrant —or exhausted and drained.
When you can, “wear white or ivory around your face. It’s very flattering because the light reflects off your complexion, smoothing out wrinkles and giving your face a lift.”
Lori’s Seven Fashion Tips For Looking Great At Any Age
• Know your body shape.
Are you…an inverted triangle, an hourglass, rectangle, apple, or pear? Embrace your inherent body shape, and work with it.
• Wear the right undergarments.
I love those TC shapers and Wacoal, Chantelle and Le Mystere bras. Have a professional bra fitting to make sure you are wearing the right size and a style that will accentuate or minimize. Many women wear the bras that are too tight. And droopy breasts can add years to your look. Nordstrom’s has trained fitters. The proper fitting bra will make you look instantly more svelte and sexy.
• Camouflage and accentuate with style.
Keep the focus on your face by wearing a great color around it. Do you want to look thinner? Wear a monochromatic outfit. If clothes are too loose or too tight you will look larger. What ever area you want to diminish, wear darker colors, to emphasize, wear lighter colors.
• Wear the right colors for you.
Do you look better in warm colors (yellows and oranges) or cool colors? (blues and greens) Wearing your correct colors will make you look more attractive and vibrant. If you are wearing a color that is not flattering, something in your closet that you just love, at least wear the proper color around your face.
• Be stylish.
I know that fashion today is so youth-oriented and it is hard to find things that are right for you but don't get discouraged. Find a store that you love and get to know a salesperson who can help you or seek a professional image consultant.
• Create your own personal style and update with accessories.
An easy way to update is via accessories. Sometimes a great belt or shoes can make something very basic look smashing! And sometimes it's worth splurging on a great piece of jewelry that will be the focus of an outfit and project your own personal style.
Scarves can really pull an outfit together and are ageless. They soften the face. Gold jewelry is best on warm skin, silver jewelry best on cool skin. Pearls in all their many colors are never out-of –date.
• Purge your closet once a year. (At least!)
I also know that it’s hard to part with things you love but sometimes you need to bite the bullet and banish out-of –date clothing from your closet. Dated clothes are aging. Take everything out your closet and scrutinize. Or better yet, ask a friend to help you, ideally someone whose opinion you trust for these things.
• Focus on hair and make-up, update on a regular basis.
Wear colors that are yellow-based if you have a warm skin tone and blue- based colors for a cool skin tone. Seek a trained make up artist to help refresh your look and make up. Hairstyles and even color should be softer as we age. Hair color should work with skin tone too.
As the founder and CEO of LAR Consultants, Lori works with women (and men!) to help update their wardrobe, hair style and color, help them shop for everyday and special occasions. She also offer her clients a broad range of resources developed over the years--relationships with major department stores and specialty boutiques, leading Hollywood tailors, personal trainers, make up artists and hair stylists.
Visit her website, www.larconsultants.com
Contact her directly: (818) 567-0989 or lori@larconsultants. com