METAMORPHOSIS

THIS IS WHAT IMAGE CONSULTING IS ALL ABOUT

To learn more about Image Consulting, contact Michele Benza at 415-302-9366 or email michele@mbenza.com

Fashion Snobisim

Can you socially identify a woman only on the bag she carries? In a certain era we could, now with all of the imitation designer fashions around it is impossible to say who is who and who wears what.

And the wrist-watch? The watch too,  was once a sign of a certain standing. But the symbol of a watch is now gone for so many. For generations, the watch was 'the' gift from father to son and sometimes the watch was given down from one generation to the other, but now the watch has barely any meaning of standard.

Shoes too were a way to make a statement.  Especially, the ones with the red sole. As an aside--I can’t help but wonder who invented stilettos? It was surely not a woman!  Have you recently walked in this contraption? Not only the ankles are miss-treated and suffer hard, but also the foot position is at a 45-degree angle, which is absolutely unnatural.

We have to walk on our tiptoes to avoid grids, grass, pebbles, sand or our high skinny heels go into deep.  Deep sofas and armchairs are our enemies too, from which we have to get up with grace without loosing our balance. In short, stilettos are instruments of torture!

And who makes us wear them? Men of course. They are so happy to see us walk in those stilts under the pretence that it gives us a lovely leg. Do you think men’s pleasure is to see us suffer? But vengeance is already on its way with the new generation. Look how young women dress these days in jeans, loose tees and sneakers and clogs!

All of this is to say, please, don’t be a slave, nor a snob to fashion. Know your body and what flatters it, and keep in mind the current styles and trends, but do not be beholden to them when they don’t work for you.  Fashion is flexible.

A Bientôt,

Michele

The Pencil Skirt

Very soon the pencil skirt may well dethrone the miniskirt in women’s hearts and wardrobes.  Today we see them at every fashion show, and on every catwalk.  Don’t worry, unlike most new fashions, it’s easier to wear a pencil skirt than you could possibly imagine!

Some say they are uncomfortable, too sexy for everyday use, and even impractical. They say they are hard to wear, whether you are taking the subway or dropping the kids off at school. Some even accused the pencil skirt of being flattering only on mannequins with long legs!

However, the rising sales and success that the pencil skirt has won in the fashion world is truly remarkable.  This success has encouraged women to dare to wear this feminine attire.

Indeed, it can be difficult to walk in these skirts, but that is a thing of the past; designers have recently optimized their practicality.  First they added creases on the sides so as not to hinder the process of walking (Max Mara).  Then, to increase the range of motion, some designers added stretchy fabrics and mesh knit jersey.  This significantly increases their comfort, making them much easier to wear while performing day-to-day tasks.

The pencil skirt, which arrived in stores this spring, is already a huge success.  Coupled with a cardigan or a plain well cut tee, et voila! a great form of "power dressing."

In the late 1940s, the first pencil skirt was a response to a fashion necessity for the working woman, a beautiful dress without using too much fabric. Today its original function, to dress women in office attire, is still relevant.

"Commercially, it is a piece that works very well… It attracts mostly powerful women, even beyond 60 years of age,” says Carole Bénazet, of the Multi Female Department in Toulouse.

The pencil skirt is now an essential part of a woman’s wardrobe although it does require some confidence to wear, the full acceptance of one's femininity and one's power of seduction.

So what am I saying: all women should have at least one! Its cut flatters no matter what morphology!

A Bientôt,

Michele

PS--Have you seen my newly-redesigned website (http://michelebenza.com/) ? I'd love to have your feedback. Please reply if you have comments or suggestions.
Pencil skirts rule the runways this season.

New Website

I've re-launched MicheleBenza.com with a new look and feel.  What do you think?  I always appreciate your suggestions.

How to Dress For a Baseball Game

In California, where the seasons are not so obvious, nothing reminds me more that spring has arrived than San Francisco’s Giants‘ baseball!

Being Belgian, baseball was completely foreign to me until a couple of years ago when my son Greg patiently explained the entire game to me. Now I ‘m a diehard fan!  With that in mind, one question plagues me every spring...what do I wear to the ballgame? 

As much as I agree that it is vital to support your team by wearing their colors, and no matter how much I love the Giants, I simply cannot see myself wearing a jersey or baseball hat. Instead, I see the baseball game as an opportunity to wear wonderful colors and outfits we would not normally wear. 

For me that means mostly wearing bright orange, which is a blessing and a curse. Orange can be fun and festive plus it is a good color for me, but if you wear only orange and black you run the risk that you will look like a pumpkin. 

For me, going to the baseball game is outside my comfort zone.  I want to have fun, but – like always – I need to look my best!  I wear orange accessories like belt, scarf, ring, bracelet, watch, shoelaces, socks, and if the Giants go to the final again I may be as crazy as wearing orange eyelashes!

Outdoor stadiums can be challenging as far as what to wear to stay comfortable. There is no outdoor stadium more weather challenged than our magnificent AT&T ballpark...sun, fog and wind can all be present during that one game.  So remember, layers are your best friends.

A Bientôt,

Michele
PS--I've compiled a trend report of great spring trends to watch out for. See below for some great trends from ModeWalk.