Personal Image Consulting: The Dreaded Days of Bathing Suit Shopping

Personal Image Consulting: The Dreaded Days of Bathing Suit Shopping

The Dreaded Days of Bathing Suit Shopping

The Dreaded Days of Bathing Suit Shopping

Summer is on our doorstep and for many of us in our fabulous fifties and then some, this is the only time our zeal for shopping wanes. One glance at the tantalizing bathing suits dangling from hangers makes us wince.

We may not share our bathing suit fears with others, but let’s be honest; exposing what we consider our physical flaws to the public is enough to fill us with trepidation as we set off to the beach or the pool.

Take heart! Here are some guidelines to help you select the almost perfect bathing suit for a less than perfect body. But remember, the best way to feel comfortable wearing a bathing suit is to feel comfortable in your own skin even if the years have given up the fight with gravity. Accept your body as it is. Confidence is your best accessory!

And if you need a reminder, look around. We’re all in the same boat so you’re in very good company!

You body type is an ‘8’ or an ‘Hourglass’

Shoulders and hips and a narrow waist make your silhouette perfect. Your shoulders and hips are approximately the same width.

For you everything works and you can indulge your whims. Bikinis and one-piece suits look equally flattering.

This season’s vibrant color trends with maxi motifs and geometric patterns will suit you well.

Your body type is an ‘Inverted Pyramid’

Narrow hips and wide shoulders characterize your silhouette. Since this shape tends to have more masculine lines, you need to feminize it more.

Choose a swimsuit with narrow straps that emphasize your décolleté. The goal here is to draw the eye downward toward the lower part of your body, so your hips appear balanced with your shoulders.

Your body type is ‘Rectangular’

Shoulders and hips are the same width but your waist is not well defined. Your goal is to define your waist and accentuate the curves.

Best for you is a one-piece bathing suit with graphic motifs. If a two-piece bathing suit is your preference, choose one with a triangular lower half so as to break up your rectangular lines. Avoid ‘boy cut’ bottoms.

Your body type is ‘Pyramid’

Shoulders are narrower than the hips so your goal is to place the focus on your shoulders.

Pick a bathing suit with a large wide v-neck or asymmetrical neckline. This will create the illusion that you have broad shoulders and make you look more in proportion.

Absolutely no horizontal lines in the lower area. A ‘pareo’ is your best cover-up and will mask the roundness of your hips.

***

If you have large breasts, select a bathing suit with a built-in bra. A crisscross design is very flattering and will create a minimizing effect. For a large stomach, a bathing suit with a panel across the midriff will help slenderize this area. And if you are uncomfortable showing too much of your thighs your best bet is a swim-dress which provides more coverage.

Beach Bag Check List

Before you leave home, make sure your beach bag contains the following:

• Sun Hat
• Sunscreen
• Beach towel
• Roll up beach mat
• Bath towel
• Hairbrush
• Tissues
• Water
• MP3 player/iPod
• Reading material

Lastly, when in doubt, it’s best to cover more inches than less. A lovely, long flowing beach cover-up will create a graceful entrance to either the pool or on the beach.

Now go out, catch some sun and have fun!
Michele


Work with Michele! You can now work with Michele on-line or face to face. Call or email for an appointment. You’ll be thrilled with the results. Michele Benza, Image Consulting & Posture www.michelebenza.com email: Michele@mbenza.com phone: 415-956-3025 Michele Benza Send your Style questions to me at Michele@mbenza.com. I'd love to hear from you!

INSTANT GLAMOUR: RED LIPSTICK + SUNGLASSES

What a relief to have winter well behind us! And even more of a relief to have said goodbye to heavy winter wear. We can now sashay our way around in light fabrics and colors and add dash and daring to our look—not to mention instant glamour—with a vibrant red lipstick and trendy glasses.

In these hard economic times, buying a lipstick is a true pleasure because it doesn’t break the bank. I’m thrilled to see that classic lipstick colors are back in a multitude of shades so you are bound to find one or two or, even three, that suit your coloring perfectly. These are my preferred choices:

Lancôme – L’Absolu Rouge
Shiseido – Rouge Dragon
Clinique – Red-y to Wear
Estée Lauder – Rich Red
Chanel – Rouge Allure
Serge Lutens – ‘Fards à Lèvres’ in ten fabulous shades. Absolute elegance.
YSL – Pure Gloss, Pure fruit
M.A.C - Impassioned
Givenchy - Complement Arty
Thierry Mugler - Rouge Unique
Clarins - Instant Gloss
L’Oréal – Sunset Red #302

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are necessary to safeguard the eyes from damaging sunrays. But remember this accessory, like jewelry, can either enhance or diminish your image. Here are some tips to help you select a pair that suit you perfectly.

Style and color:
The color of the frame is of utmost importance as it should harmonize with your hair color and skin tone so be sure to pick a color that complements both.

Equally important is the size of the frame, which should be in proportion to your face. If it is too big your face will seem shrunken and if too small, your face will appear enlarged. I know, I know, I can already hear you protesting … ”Michèle, big glasses are in!” Yes they are but that does not mean we have to look ridiculous in huge glasses that swallow our entire face.

Be aware that there are options for lens colors too:
-Brown lenses are ideal for bright sunny days and slightly overcast conditions.
-Gray lenses are softer and allow colors to be seen in their natural state.

Fit:
The bridge of the frame should fit the shape of the nose comfortably to avoid indentation marks. Here are some guidelines:
- Fine narrow nose: narrow, high bridge
- Wide nose: wide, low bridge
- Long nose: narrow or large, low bridge
- Short nose: narrow or large, high bridge

• The nose plates and temple points must be comfortable.
• The upper part of the frame should follow the arch of your eyebrows.
• The frame should not touch your cheeks. To test the fit, smile and make sure the glasses do not move up.
• The weight of the frame is important too and should not leave a smudge on your nose or a mark on your cheeks.
• The last important step is to check your profile to view the final fit of the sunglasses. The gap between the lower part of the frame and your cheek should neither be too small nor too large.
Take a good friend with you who will give you an honest opinion. And remember sunglasses don’t have to be expensive to be both fashionable and functional.

Now, put your lipstick and new sunglasses on, collect a friend along the way and set off to your favorite outdoor café. Summer is a great time for serious people watching and a delicious iced cappuccino!
Savor the moment and enjoy!

Michele

*Work with Michele*
You can now work with Michele on-line or face-to-face.
Call or email for an appointment.
You’ll be thrilled with the results.
michele@mbenza.com
415.956.3025

Personal Image Consulting: STYLE ON A BUDGET? ABSOLUTELY!

Personal Image Consulting: STYLE ON A BUDGET? ABSOLUTELY!

STYLE ON A BUDGET? ABSOLUTELY!

STYLE ON A BUDGET? ABSOLUTELY!

By Michele Benza

Beautiful spring days are back and it’s time to tip-toe into stores for some spring fashion updates. Yippee!

Before you do, be sure to look for what I call BGD, the ‘Best Great Deals.’ Where are they? Everywhere! There are significant discounts for Family & Friends, smaller discounts for the rest and free shipping, just to name a few. But before you even walk out the door, check your favorite stores’ websites for any BGD’s. More often than not, many have store coupons, free shipping, or big online discounts. My favorite thing to do when shopping online is to immediately click on the sale page where you will find a veritable deep pool of BGD’s!

The balmier days of spring usually mean serious backyard time so get to your closet toute de suite and clean it out before you laze on your chaise longue. My stern advice: Re-think your wardrobe!

A detailed inventory of your clothes is critical. Be ruthless when you look at your wardrobe. Ask yourself if you really need that many clothes. Toss! Toss! Toss! Don’t be nostalgic and don’t make excuses! Why store winter clothes that are worn out, do not fit any longer, or that are outdated? Be creative with the clothes you already own and love. Learn how to accessorize and figure out how to mix and match.

As for the pile of clothes you’ve tossed, either resell them or better yet, donate them to non-profit organizations. How about having an exchange party with friends and family? If you can’t clean out your closets, hire me! Be warned though, I’ll be merciless.

The other day I was pre-shopping for a client and was admiring one of those trendy voluminous necklaces. I was turning it around and around in my hands and finally decided to try it on. As I picked it up I realized that it is what we call in French a collier plastron; my best translation would be a ‘necklace bib.’ Beads and other appliqués were sewn onto a tulle bib. What a great idea! This eye-catching piece led me to ponder about it for a few days: To buy? Or not to buy? At $365, it was not cheap but I could so clearly see myself wearing narrow black pants and a plain black T-shirt with this fabulous necklace bib. It would be my ‘novelty’ for the spring season. However, I was saved from financial folly by a flash of inspiration. Instead of buying an expensive new piece, I decided to rework an old one.

I own a lovely Max Mara necklace made of thick round dark red beads that I bought in 2007. I thought, why not go to Britex (the best fabric store in San Francisco if not the USA) and buy a couple of appliqués and create my own collier plastron? Haven’t we all accumulated old jewelry that we would love to wear if only the pieces were more fashionable? My suggestion: get thee to the nearest bead store and create your own collier plastron for the season. It would more than likely only cost you a few dollars rather than a few hundred!

That’s it for now. A la prochaine! Until the next time!

Michele



*Work with Michele*
You can now work with Michele on-line or face-to-face.
Call or email for an appointment.
You’ll be thrilled with the results.

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