We only have one body and this body is NOW

Sad news of the sudden and premature passing of a gym colleague last Friday prompted me to revisit my philosophical thoughts regarding our existence on this planet

It is my observation that we only have one body.  This body allows us to function and ‘live’ a life.  It may not be the life you want.  It may not be the body you want.  But it is the ONLY body you have.  The life you have is largely the result of choices you made a long time ago; maybe because of the body you have, maybe not; but it can be changed.

Here’s what came to me:

We can GRIEVE for the body we used to have, we can WISH for the body we want to have, we can ENVY the body others have, but at the end of the day, we only have ONE body, and that is the one we have TODAY.  Instead of hating it, loathing it and telling it how dreadful it is, how about we try, just TRY to learn how to appreciate it, stop for one moment comparing it, and maybe, just maybe, learn to LOVE it…. ok, let’s start with ACCEPTING it.

For me, learning how to dress for my shape, body, lifestyle and personality was the beginning of the Journey back to mySelf, and regaining my own power. We are multifaceted and not one dimensional magazine pictures.  We are more than a number on a scale. We are Human Beings: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, all wrapped into one.

It is as simple as making a choice.  I know what my friend would have said.

Carpe Diem.

Tracey xxx

Ps, if you want help with learning how to dress it or make it over, give me a call.

Summer Lovin’

It’s warming up here in Oz.  Time to get the summer wardrobe ready.  How’s your skin?  Is it ready for the revealing dresses and singlets of summer?

I’m a naturally pale, fair skinned soul.  Peeps like me do not and should not try to ‘tan’*.  Actually, with the prevalence of skin cancer in our country, nobody should.  But some can hold colour, and I believe that a bit of colour actually makes summer fashion look better.

There aren’t many options for a sun free colour.  Basically, there are only 3.  And I’m not counting solariums in that number, as the health risks there are not desirable either.

Spray Tans. Great if you’re about to star in your own wedding/party/special occasion.  They wear off, and done badly, they can streak.  I also do not find the whole ‘getting sprayed’ ordeal enjoyable.  And the colour doesn’t last very long on me.  I look good for the day after the spraying, then by day 3, I really need to get in there with a good scrub and get rid of the remainder as it’s usually gone blotchy. At around $35 a go, it is  special occasion thing for me.

Self Tanning Creams.  I am yet to find one that doesn’t make me look yellow.  Actually, I haven’t seen it on many people who don’t look yellow or obvious.  And the yellow palms, knees and ankles are a dead giveaway that you’re using it.  I also found that as the colour developed on me, it did not smell so good. I gave it up a long time ago.

Tanning Makeup.  Yes.  ‘Makeup’.  I have found 2 products so far that I don’t mind.

Sally Hansen’s Airbrush Legs

I am not trying to create a look that makes me look darker than I really am, I just want to take that ‘cadaverous white’ appearance off my legs.  You know what I’m talking about.  So last summer, I used the Sally Hansen lightest shade on my legs, and also, on my arms and décolletage, when I was wearing a strappy summer dress or singlet.  And I was happy with the results.  I even wore it when I was swimming and it didn’t come off until I washed it off with a sponge in the shower.  I still have half a can left from last summer.  Not bad for $15.00.  By the way, although it comes in a spray can, you don’t just spray it all over yourself.  No.  Use a little moisturiser first, then spray a line of product and blend it in evenly, adding more as you build up to the colour you desire.

The second product I recently purchased to try is this one:

Dr LeWinns Instant Body Bronzer

It is just like a moisturising gel only with colour.  This product is excellent.  It blends in easily, dries quickly, looks natural, and doesn’t rub off on your clothing.  My only criticism would be the fragrance of the product, it would be better if it was unscented, as I use my own beautiful perfume, and don’t need help from a body lotion, but the smell faded away completely after about an hour.  I used it on my legs, arms, shoulders and décolletage for a realistic summer glow. I went to the beach with Pip for a walk, and it did kind of wash off where the sand and salt water continually rubbed at my ankles, but the rest stayed put.  This is my new favourite product and only cost $14.00.  Dr LeWinns are well known here in Australia as a skin care company, and they have a fairly good reputation.

So, what about you dear Reader?  What are your favorite ways to get your bod ready to be revealed?  If you do decide to try using natural sunshine, please make sure you use a 50+ sunscreen, at least on your face.  You will still get sun exposure even using sun protection creams.  Stay safe, and protect your skin from premature ageing!

Happy Tanning

Carpe Diem

Tracey

*Except for the lass I work with who has the most amazing olive skin and no history of skin cancer gene in her family.  Keep sun baking Riss, some peeps are ok to enjoy it, just keep an eye on any ‘unusual’ freckles or spots xxx

Who Inspires You?

Readers of my blog may notice that my focus is not on celebrity, but about enabling women to find confidence and belief in themselves to express their own personality and style through what they wear and how they present themselves to the world.  You won’t find articles here that may cause you to compare yourself to women who have an army of experts to turn them out looking like models every day of the week.  Comparison is the enemy of confidence, self-esteem and creativity.

However, there are always one or two exceptions.  I find inspiration in women who look as though they portray the same values as I stand for.  Women of style and courage who stand out from the plethora of images that bombard us daily.  Here is one woman who I find to be a little inspirational.

Sure, she’s most likely to have had some ‘work’ done, but her face has not been pulled tight to erase all signs of having lived a life.  She is a family woman.  She comes across as being authentic with a vivacious smile. I like her style and her short hair cuts. She looks like someone I’d like to meet for coffee.

Annette Bening:

So dear Reader, who is your inspiration?  Who inspires you these days, whether it be in life, work, or style?

Please share

Authentically Yours

Tracey

Out And About – Real Gals from Real Life

Congratulations for being a Woman

I met this beautiful young woman today in one of my favorite boutiques.  I overheard a conversation she was having with the shop assistant and being nosy, couldn’t resist joining in.  It was about shoes.  Sandals to be exact.  These divine little flat leather thong style sandals with jewelled accents.  We got talking.

Thing is ladies, this blog is about real women in real life.  Not airbrushed imitations of women in magazines, not celebrities who hold up a standard that is impossible for most women to achieve, but real everyday honest to goodness women who very often don’t see their beauty, only their flaws and imperfections.

So I’m here to celebrate the beauty.  In all women.  Everywhere.

I looked into this young woman’s face and I saw her heart, her spirit.  I saw that she was trying her best to be her best.  To all you women out there who do the same, I congratulate you.  I am not about perfection.  I am about helping women be the best they can by giving them some of the tools to make their appearance the best it can be.  And that’s all we can ask from ourselves isn’t it?  That we at least try to be our best.  So let’s stop judging ourselves by other’s standards, or worse, by the standards imposed on us by a multi billion dollar fashion and cosmetics industry, and let’s just start being ok with who we are and celebrating that.  We are all so different, it amazes me that we are expected to be able to pick clothes off a standardised rack and have it fit.  And don’t get me started on the lack of sizing standardisation in the fashion industry, or even across a single brand.

Courtney: A million dollar smile and a beautiful spirit

Let me congratulate Courtney.  Who I think is beautiful, remarkable and delightful.  I hope you do too.  But then, my opinion, and yours come to that, is neither here nor there.  I hope Courtney sees herself that way, and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.

By the way Courtney, I hope you bought that dress because Baby, you rock it.

Thanks for being part of my blog.

Love your life, Love your style xxxxx

The bejewelled sandals. Made for Goddesses

Why Shopping Can be Such an Emotional Process

Shopping for clothes.

How does that sentence make you feel?  Does it fill you with a sense of wonder and excitement about discovering something new, or does it fill you with dread, and make you feel like ripping your hair out in frustration because you can’t find anything you like that fits?  Have you been reduced to tears because you can’t find a style that works for you?

Ever thought about the emotional investment that goes into our appearance?

Do you know where that started?  Maybe it began in childhood when you were scolded for scuffing your good shoes, or maybe you had to wear clothes that didn’t fit right and they were uncomfortable, maybe they were hand-me-downs, and you always felt second best.  Maybe your body has changed and you just don’t know how to dress it to suit your shape anymore. Maybe you’re so frustrated, you’ve given up trying to look good at all.

Clothes really carry a lot of emotional baggage for us.  They not only tell a story about us to the rest of the world, they represent how we feel about ourselves.  Sometimes, we get that story right.  Other times, it gets lost in a confusing array of choices, colours and styles that we have no clue about.  Take sizing for example: Sizing is NOT standard across stores, or even brands.  I have had clients who are different sizes within the one brand, simply in a different style.  It’s confusing for a stylist, let alone a customer who has their self-esteem pinned on being a ‘certain size’.

Shopping for clothes is really a simple process – if you take the emotion right out of it.

When I take you shopping, we are on an assignment that we have both agreed to.  We have a list.  We have direction.  I am not making a judgement about the sizes I am handing to you, I am not making any negative judgements about your size whatsoever.  It doesn’t matter to me the size of your garments.  What matters is that they fit you correctly.  Personally to me, the sizing standard makes no sense, and it’s not worth getting upset about.  It is a number that identifies one garment from another on a rack.

As for giving up on your appearance just because the manufacturers can’t get it right, well, that’s just sad.  Come shopping with me, I’ll make you look good.  And I’ll take the pain out of it.  Call me.