"The Peanut Head Coat"

Guess what?! I found the offending coat yesterday whilst out for lunch with Donna. We happened to pop into Zara and there it was in all it's glory. I still thought it was gorgeous - Donna however wasn't enamoured with it! I had to get her to take a picture of me in it, so that you could see what I was talking about when I said the scale was too big for me, resulting in a peanut head? Mind you looking at it again I can see that it wasn't just the scale that was wrong but the shape too! The coat does nothing to flatter my curves because it is not fitted, instead it makes me look huge.

There are lots of fake fur, sheepskin and shaggy wool coats and cardigans out there. If you, like me, are planning on buying one, then think about the scale and the shape that best suits you!

Primark

Now I have to admit until two weeks ago I had never shopped at Primark! It just isn't my thing - if I need wardrobe staples then M&S works for me. However, I went with a friend to pick up matching dresses for our daughters, as they were singing together and wanted to look the part, and found this little number! I have attached two photos as I obviously think I look better with my chunky arms covered but I wanted you to see the dress. I think this is a bargain, £17.00. It is bang on trend and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Wear it with flat pumps, opaque tights and cardigan for the day and with killer heels/shoeboots, bare legs and on-trend jacket for the evening. I don't need to mention necklaces here as this goes without saying!

Blue day!

When I was younger I used to think black was chic, super flattering, cool, slimming..... you name it. I dressed almost head to toe in black with the odd splashes of lime green (yes and my friends can confirm this!). It wasn't until I trained as an image consultant and had a colour analysis performed that I realised it didn't suit me.

I think I had started to suspect that it was ageing and it looked really hard against my fair complexion. In fact, dare I say it, I thought I looked a bit rough in black!

So instead of wearing black, I was sold the concept of navy as an alternative, by those in the know. At first, I wasn't convinced for I used to think navy was for "yummy mummies"and "smart elderly ladies", and I don't fit into either of those categories! Now however, I love it! It compliments my natural skin tones and colouring, it is just as flattering and you can always find it in the shops! Finding navy shoes I have to add isn't as easy! This is yesterday's outfit and the block colour and high waist make my legs look long once more!!

Definitely a miss today!

Well today was definitely a miss! In my eagerness to get my wear out of my new Betty Jackson boots, I forgot the golden rule about body proportions. So instead of trying to elongate my already dumpy legs, I have cut them off at the ankles and at the top!

I love this t-shirt as it is just "rock chick" enough for a 40-something-year-old-mother-of-two, without making me look like mutton and wanted to wear it with the boots. I stupidly thought this whole ensemble would look great, but it doesn't!

Next time I will not use contrasting colours unless the boots are high and the trouser waist band even higher!!

My new tie-dyed black denims

I thought today was definitely a hit but now I am not so sure. My nine year old daughter who hasn't the slightest interest in clothes, fashion, accessories and anything remotely related to style, told me my jeans were very trendy and she liked what I was wearing! You can see my predicament.

I have to say I love my new tie-dyed black skinny jeans that I bought from Zara! In my eyes they are comfy and cool - perfect for a natural/dramatic style personality like myself! I think they work because the elasticated denim stretches over my curves, rather than restricts them, which would have resulted in some very unsightly lumps, bumps and rolls!

Anyway here is my snapshot so you can judge for yourself!!

Peanut Head

Last weekend I happened to stumble across a Zara in Marrakech, which was the best part of the weekend for me. I am always interested to see if different countries hold different stock and so spent my time browsing around the store.

Now as an Image Consultant I know the importance of understanding the theory behind what clothes suit me, but even knowing this, I still felt compelled to try on a shaggy fake fur cardigan coat. The only word I could use to describe the sight I saw in the mirror was "peanut head"! Absolutely ridiculous, I only wish I had have got my husband to take photo to show you all! The moral of this story is never underestimate the importance of scale.

As a result of this revelation I have decided to open myself up to ridicule, by posting some photos of me in some fashion hits and misses, that I have come across this season!