stephen@businessownermastery.com

As a hairstylist of 25 years I can’t count how many times my clients have told me they love the way I style their hair but they can’t seem to do it themselves. They tell me they get overwhelmed and frankly lost when it comes to trying to style their hair in a new way. 

“I hate my hair. I love my stylist but I can’t do my hair like she can. Do I need a new stylist or a new haircut or shave my head and buy a wig?” ????

If this sounds familiar to you I have great news! Today I’m going to help you know the right questions to ask your stylist for help, and give you a few pro tips that I give my own clients that have transformed the way they style their own hair. 

Are you ready to be confident in styling your own hair?

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make styling your hair the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

The first thing you need to know is the right questions to ask your stylist. I’m going to be referring to your stylist in this post as she/her/hers just because I’m a woman and this is the advice I give my own clients. If your stylist is a male then simply adjust this to he/him/his.

1. Tools & Techniques

The tools and techniques your stylist uses are VERY important. These tools are part of your craft. A good curling iron or flat iron will have the correct heat settings for your hair type and will ensure the iron is not too hot but also hot enough. They also have the correct metal, ceramic, or tile that will get you the best results. Many of my clients are astounded at how much LESS time it takes to do their hair with the right tools. Here are some questions you can ask your stylist that can help you create your style on your own. 

How is she holding the curling iron or flat iron? Placement is KEY!

What Blow dryer, flat iron or curling iron does she recommend and why? 

What brushes does she recommend and why?

2. Products

Again, the products you use on your hair matter. I know they’re more expensive than what you can find at your local drug store, Walmart, or Target but there’s a really good reason for that. Using salon approved products is going to be a huge game changer in you being able to create the style you desire on your own. And these products last longer in the long run because they’re more concentrated and you don’t need to use as much.  

What styling products is she using and why does she recommend them for YOUR hair type? 

What shampoo and conditioner does she recommend for your YOUR hair type? Products actually matter in getting your hair to look the way you want it to look.

3. Sectioning/Visual

Sectioning your hair correctly is a game changer! This concept alone has changed many of my clients’ lives! Here’s why. When you are in the chair watching her do your hair it looks effortless, right? It is. Because she’s doing it in sections. Your hair is made up of 4 quadrants, or sections. Then these 4 sections can be divided in half or fourths to accomplish your desired result. As she styles your hair these sections are a key player in her mind. Knowing these sections and how to style each section will change your experience completely when you’re learning a new style. If you have naturally curly hair and you are trying to wear it straight, sectioning is the key to your success. Here are some questions to ask your stylist about sectioning. 

How big are the sections she’s taking to curl or flat iron?

Which direction are the curls going? Forward or back? 

Do the front sections come forward or back? 

How to get lift or volume on the crown?

Photos, photos, and more photos

You know how it is, when you can SEE something you can create it. This is a tool I’ve used for years with my clients since everyone has a camera in their purse all the time! It’s brilliant! 

Have her take some photos while she’s styling your hair so you can go home and recreate it exactly the way she did.  

Find photos and/or videos on instagram or Pinterest that you like and try to mimic them with your own hair.

Take before and after photos of your hair the way you style it and the way she styles it so you can see where your problem areas are.

This is super helpful and such an easy fix to the overwhelm when it’s time to style your hair. It’s almost like a hair styling roadmap that you can use over and over until it becomes automatic for you. I even do this when I’m trying something new on my own hair. I pull up a photo or videos on my phone and set it up on the counter in my bathroom. As I style my hair I just reference the photo as I go. There’s tons of tutorials on youtube to help you do fun styles. Trying one every few days will strengthen your hair styling muscle and pretty soon you’ll be a pro!

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make styling your hair the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

Practice & Patience

I know it’s frustrating and overwhelming to learn a new hairstyle. I also know that some people just aren’t good with hair, or haven’t had much practice in this area, or just simply don’t know what to do. That’s OK! You can learn anything you want to learn with the right tools and some practice & patience.

Practice

Give yourself an extra 30 min each day to practice your new style. Make sure you have that extra 30 min to practice. Don’t try to style your hair in this new style on Sunday morning before church. Sunday mornings are inherently crazy and needing an extra 30 min to practice on your hair is not a productive use of your time. Look for days when your schedule isn’t packed and set aside an extra 30 min in your getting ready time to practice. Don’t feel like you need to focus time and energy on your new hairstyle everyday. Just find a few days each week to practice. Your hair isn’t going anywhere, don’t stress.

Patience

Be patient with yourself as you learn new techniques that you may not know already. You know the saying “ Practice makes perfect”? Often we just hear the perfect part and expect ourselves to learn quicker, but that isn’t the way it goes. My clients who are patient with the learning process are far more successful in liking their hair than those who are not willing to take the time and be patient with themselves. Plan on this being hard. Anything worth having is usually hard to get. Keep reminding yourself that you want to like your hair and this is the process to achieve that. It’s ok that it’s hard, you have the tools, now go use them!

Alright friends, first we got a better idea of the right questions to ask your stylist so she can help you style your hair the way you like it. Then we talked about the tools and techniques and the products you’ll need to make it easier for you to style your hair. I gave you some pro tips in sectioning and using photos and video to help you achieve your desired hairstyle. Finally, it’s all about practice & patience to get across the finish line. I promise that if you’ll use any of these tips you’ll find that styling your hair really isn’t that hard and having a hairstyle you love can be effortless!

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make styling your hair the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

You really can have great style and not spend heaps of money. It’s all about being intentional and having some sort of plan. Lots of my clients tell me: 

“I really want to look stylish but my budget doesn’t allow me to spend money on a ton of new clothes. I do have a clothing budget for myself but it feels too small to really make any progress. Am I a lost cause?”

Of course you’re not a lost cause!  

A budget is subjective, but everyone works within some financial parameters. Where one person’s “save” might be another person’s “splurge”.

Today, I’m sharing some of my best tips to have great style on any budget.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

Creating a classic wardrobe that feels stylish yet comfortable is about keeping it simple and intentional. It’s also ever-changing. You will forever be editing and updating your wardrobe. If that sounds daunting stay with me, it’s not as hard as you might think. 

Most of us aren’t looking for crazy trends or head to toe designer looks. We just want simple, classic, yet stylish looks with an occasional trendy look thrown in and most of all, easy to pull together.

Looking fabulous and still being smart with your money is more about understanding your style and being more intentional about what you buy rather than just bringing more into your closet.

Here are my top tips to look stylish on a budget.

Out with the old.

“The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don’t.” – Joshua Becker

I know, I know. Most of us have some items in our closet that are oldies but goodies and you can keep those. These are the exceptions though, not the norm. What I’m suggesting is that you purge your closet from all the items you DON’T wear regularly, things that don’t fit, aren’t your current size, or aren’t in your style type. 

– An astonishing number of women try to keep stained and damaged pieces because they could just “put something over it.”

– Even more women have loads of clothes that are the wrong size and will be physically uncomfortable in clothes that are too small because they refuse to buy the next size up.

– Another common reason women are stuck when it comes to style, is because they don’t know when the pieces in their closet are becoming outdated.

For Great Style on a Budget Remove Your Dated Pieces

Styles and fashions evolve. Don’t worry, that pair of jeans you loved in the 80’s will be back with a new improved look, you can pick it back up then. 

So go ahead and do your closet reset now.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

Define Your Personal Style

If you want to have a great style on a budget, knowing what you like, what looks good on you and enhances your personality will save you so much time and money and help you make better choices when shopping. The best way to maximize your budget is to create a framework for your style. Check out this post if you want to know your personal style type.

It’s very helpful to create style inspiration boards on Pinterest. Having something visual of what you like and that is on style, will serve as a guide when you are shopping and allow you to use the most of your budget.

When you get clear on what you like, you start to see those things in other places.

Match Your Metals

“Metals” on a belt or shoe buckle, buttons, zippers, chains on a bag should match. By coordinating your correct on style metal color, you create a cohesive look. It’s subtle but has a significant impact.

Depending on what style type you are will determine what kinds of metals will compliment your outfit. If you are a Style 1 you will wear shiny gold metals that are light and animated. If you are a Style 3 heavy, chunky statement pieces will look great on you.

Work with Solids, Textures, and Basics in your Style Type

For a stylish look on a budget, pair solids and textures with some simple basics in your style type. Not every style type looks great in black but each style type has its own neutrals. For Style 1’s it’s Navy Blue and White, Style 2 is Gray, Burgundy and Cream, For Style 3 is Brown, Sage Green and Cream, Style 4 is black and White. 

Be sure to have basics (pants, shirts, belts etc) in these colors to pair with patterns and textures for your Style Type.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

Don’t forget your shoes!

Nothing throws off an outfit like the wrong shoes. I get it, you want to be comfortable but comfort doesn’t need to be sacrificed for style. There are some really stylish shoes that are uber comfortable, you just have to put the effort in to find them. Knowing your style type will help you tremendously with finding on style shoes that are comfortable too. Don’t take the time & energy to put a rockin outfit together and then put on any old shoe. 

“Creating the wardrobe you love takes a little bit of time upfront.  What I know for sure, after years of helping others get dressed and feel great in their clothes is that you don’t need to spend a fortune.  You just need discipline and an awareness of changing styles and trends to stay modern, current and classic.”- The Well Dressed Life.

The reason we spend too much on clothes

79% of women said the #1 reason they go on a shopping spree, and spend too much, is “to cheer myself up”. 

Whether you’re just having an all around bad day or you’re dealing with hard things in life, emotions are involved. It’s a natural thing to do, to want to cheer yourself up during these times. 

Shopping is a common activity to feel better for lots of women. For most of my clients it’s not a planned shopping spree, it’s in the moment. If you find yourself doing this you’ll know you are experiencing some emotions you want to get away from and are using shopping to feel better.

Let’s Recap.

• Purge your closet of old, ill-fitting, damaged, off style pieces and make room for updated, classic and on style.
• Clearly discover your personal style. It’s a lot easier to shop and create outfits that reflect you best. 
• Match your metals. Keep silver with silver and gold with gold, don’t mix & match.
• Solids, textures, and basics will be your friends. Investing in these will allow you to layer more expensive or trendy pieces without breaking the bank.
• Get some great shoes that are comfortable and go with multiple outfits. Don’t give up when it comes to your little piggies, they need styled too. 
• Take notice of how you are feeling when you want to over shop. It could just be a reaction to negative emotions and is easily redirected.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

Every single body shape can look & feel amazing given the right fitting undergarments.⠀⠀⠀

Let’s chat about undergarments, shall we? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Nothing, and I mean nothing, will change your life more than a good fitting bra. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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The day I found Bali bras was the day I started liking the way my shirts fit. It wasn’t the shirts. Although there were styles of shirts that were better than others, as soon as I got a good bra they all fit better. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Do you know how to shop for a good bra? It can be tricky because there are about 9 different shapes of breasts. How’s a girl to know what her shape is?? And then once you know the shape, what type of bra is best for that shape?? It can all be so overwhelming and might I say, embarrassing for some of us.

I hear you girl! This subject was the cause of a LOT of heartache for me as a young girl all the way into motherhood! Boy do I wish I knew then what I know now!! Which is the reason for this article. Hopefully the information here in this post will help you feel more confident in finding the right bra for you.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

How to determine your breast shape.

In the breast shape dictionary from Third love here https://blog.thirdlove.com/breast-shape-dictionary/ it shows the different shaped breasts that are a possibility. Knowing the shape of your breasts can and will make all the difference in shopping for bras. I know you know what it’s like to finally make the time to go shopping for a bra just to spend hours trying on bras that don’t fit. It’s humiliating and NO FUN! But if you know the shape of your breasts and what type & style will fit best you can cut hours of time and buckets of humiliation out of your bra shopping experience.

Does your bra fit? Here are some ways you can tell.

1. If your bra straps are constantly falling off your shoulders, first try tightening the straps. If they still fall off your shoulders, try going down a band size. This will make the straps closer to each other in the back which will prevent slipping straps.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
   
2. When you go down a band size, you have to go up a cup size. When you go up a band size, you need to go down a cup size. ⠀⠀

4. You want your band to lay low in the middle lower part of your back. If the band is riding up in the back, it means the band is too big and you need to go down a band size.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

5. Most, like 95%, of your support comes from the band, not the cup. Your band needs to be snug on the loosest set of hooks. As your bra stretches out, you can tighten your band.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
   
6. If you have cup overflow: If your breasts are overflowing your cup, it’s time for a larger cup size. That way, you’ll stay supported without feeling squeezed. A full coverage style can also help, as its cups rise higher on your breast, reducing “spillage.”

• If you have side overflow: Similar to cup overflow, try going up a full or half-cup size — that should do the trick. If not, try a smaller band.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

What style is best for me?

There are so many different styles of bras. As I have worked with women to create their own personal style, undergarments are not overlooked. You will naturally gravitate to certain styles based on your personality and likes and dislikes. Your natural personality will give you a sneak peak into what styles you prefer for bras. Of course everyone wants their bra to be comfortable and fit correctly, but some style types prefer the look of comfort while others like the look to be pretty or sexy. Either is completely fine, it just matters that you have what feels and looks great to you. 

Knowing your breast shape and pairing it with your own personal style is a home run in the bra fitting department!

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

Here are some ideas of bra styles you might like when it comes to your personality style type.

Style 1- Fun & Fashionable

Plunge, Balconette, Multi-way, strapless, lace

Style 2- Romantic & Vintage

Lace, T-shirt, Razorback or Athletic, Wireless

Style 3-Edgy & Rustic

Plunge, Multi-way, Demi, Strapless,

Style 4- Classic & Stylish

Strapless, Classic, T-Shirt, 

You can find lots of examples of these styles here https://www.thirdlove.com/collections/bras

Not sure what style type you are? Check out this post.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

If you would like to get professionally fitted for a good bra you can do this by googling bra fittings in your area or you can go to https://www.brafittingsbycourt.com/

Getting the right bra is not just a luxury, it is necessary for you to be able to find clothes that fit you correctly. You wouldn’t walk around in shoes that didn’t fit, why would you walk around in a bra that doesn’t fit? Now that you are armed with important information you need to discover your breast shape, find the bra that fits correctly, and the style possibilities you can rest easy when you go shopping for a new bra.

Let’s Recap.

→Determine your breast shape so you can look for the correct design in a bra. 

→See if your current bra fits. Find out where it doesn’t fit so you know what size to look for. 

→Pick out a style of bra that makes you feel beautiful and attractive.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

Have you ever been so excited to get a pair of jeans you ordered online only to be uber disappointed when they arrive and don’t fit? How could they look this bad? They were so cute on the model and she was even pretty close to your size. You think, “What is happening here?”

Well, it all comes down to body shape, not just size. 

Body shape is actually very important when it comes to filling up your closet with the clothes you look amazing in. We all want that hourglass figure, the perky chest we once had, and the height of the most popular supermodel at the time, and just because that’s not our reality doesn’t mean we can’t dress for the body shape we have, highlight our best attributes, and look like a million bucks!

Let’s go over a few things that you’ll want to know as you determine your body shape and what clothes to look for that fit your shape.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

What do the body measurements mean?

Body measurements are the proportions of your body in relation to your shoulder, bust, waist, and hip. These measurements will determine if your shape is rectangular, oval/apple, inverted triangle, triangle/pear, or hourglass. There are lots of descriptions for these shapes but these are good to get a visual for this article. You might fall into more than one body shape category if your measurements are very close, and if that’s the case you’ll want to take both body shapes into consideration when shopping and styling yourself. Your body shape also might change over time. I’m sure you’ve noticed that your body shape looks different after you’ve had babies than it did just after puberty. The female body is designed to accommodate these changes. A very common thing that happens as we age is weight gain/weight loss. As you experience this your body shape, and measurements will change.

What is the most common body type?

The most common female body type is an inverted triangle or pear shape. This body shape is characterized by a larger hip, with a narrow bust, and subtle waist definition. Which isn’t surprising when we consider that the female body is designed for childbirth. Our hips are designed to allow us to give life to humans. If you’ve had babies you’ll likely have wider hips than you did before having those babies. That’s a beautiful thing, not one to minimize.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

What is the rarest body type?

The hourglass body shape is the rarest body shape as it requires equal bust/shoulder and hip proportions with a dramatically smaller waist size. Isn’t it interesting that the shape we all are coveting is actually the rarest of them all? There is no body shape that is superior to another. Body shapes are ever changing and each shape has features that are beautiful and worth highlighting.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

How to take measurements to determine your body shape.

In order to accurately determine your body shape we need to take some measurements. It’s a quick and painless process, and you’ll want to grab these items before you start:

1. Fabric tape measure: Grab one on amazon or your local fabric store.
2. Fitted clothes:  A sports bra is best for the top, avoid any padding in the sports bra, and I find leggings or yoga pants work well for bottoms.
3. Pen & paper to write down your numbers or grab my FREE body shape tracker here.

Time: It only takes about 10 minutes to do and can be done by yourself or you may need someone to help you to get accurate measurements.

Not sure what style type you are? Check out this post.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.   

So, how do you measure yourself accurately?

Shoulders – measure from the top of one shoulder all the way around

Bust – measure the fullest part of your bust. Make sure to hold the tape measure tight but not so taut that you squash your bust so you get a smaller measurement than you should.

Waist – measure around the smallest part of your waist, usually just above your belly button.

Hips – start at one hip and wrap the tape measure all the way around at the widest part.

Now, I totally understand if the thought of writing down your measurements gives you a slight heart attack, no problem, you can easily figure out your shape by looking in the mirror and knowing what you’re seeing. You’ll want to be wearing form fitting clothing just as if you’re writing them down so you can really see your shape.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.   

How to determine your body shape without writing it down.

Stand in front of a mirror with your shoulders square with the mirror and your feet shoulder width apart. Take a quick snapshot with your phone so you can easily clarify your shape. 

These are the things you will need to know:

→What is the widest part of your body- bust, waist, or hips? 

→Is your waist defined? Does it appear noticeably smaller or larger than the widest part of your body? 

→Where do you tend to gain weight easily? This can be a good indication of where you hold your weight and what body shape category is dominant. 

→Are your tops generally the same size as your bottoms? Or are you a small on top and a large on the bottom or vice versa? This will give you a good idea of what shape you are.

What does this all mean?

Now that you have a good idea of your shape, what does it mean? Knowing your body shape is an important tool to have so you can more easily find the clothing that highlights the good attributes of your body. Use this information to make the best decisions on styles and design as you shop. Remember, there’s no body shape that is better than another, only better styling information for your body shape.

Apple or Oval Body Shape

If you have an oval or apple body shape you:

• Will have a waist that is equal to, or greater than your bust and hip measurements 
• Will have have no definition in your waist 
• (generally) have a larger bust 
• Weight tends to form on the stomach first

If your waist is larger than your bust, waist, or hips by about 2 inches, you probably have a circle body shape.

Dressing the circle body shape:

This body shape goes by many names: circle, oval, and apple.  It can be one of the trickier body shapes to style because you want pieces that draw the attention away from your midsection and ideally elongate your entire frame.  

To do this, separate more structured pieces will be helpful.  Blouses and skirts, separate tops and bottoms. Empire waists and wrap styles in dresses will also help define your waist and will look more balanced. You can also look for tops that draw attention to your cleavage, instead of your stomach, if you’re comfortable with this. Also, jewelry and accessories that draw the eye upward and away from your stomach.

Avoid boxy cuts or anything with a lot of embellishment along the waistline. Choose longer shirts that go past the waistline. Longer jackets and cardigans will help draw the eye vertically and help this body shape. 

Celebs with a circle body shape: Queen Latifah, Amy Schumer, and Jennifer Hudson.

Triangle Body Shape (or pear body shape)

If you have a triangle body shape you:

• Will have hips that are larger than your bust/shoulders 
• Have a waist that is defined and smaller than your hips 
• tend to gain weight in your hips, butt, and thighs
• may have narrow shoulders

The triangle body shape consists of a larger hip measurement and a smaller waist and bust/shoulders measurement.  As a general rule for this shape, the hip measurement is at least 2 inches larger than your shoulders, or at least 4 in. larger than your bust.

Dressing the triangle body shape:

When dressing the triangle body shape we want to highlight our small waists and minimize the attention on our lower half.  While it is great to have those curves, the most flattering outfits create a feeling of balance. 

Avoid having tops that end right at your hips, or anything that has volume around your hips like a ruffle or a bell effect, as that will make your body feel unbalanced.  Puff sleeve blouses are a great option to help add some volume to your shoulders. Off-the-shoulder dresses and tops can achieve this as well. 

Fit-and-flare dresses work well for this body type. High-rise pants are your friend, as are straight-leg pants. Choose a roomier bottom that doesn’t draw attention to your larger hips and more form fitted waists.

Celebs with triangle body shape: J Lo, Beyonce, and Kim Kardashian (although she does a lot to try and look more hourglass!)

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.   

Inverted triangle body shape

If you have an inverted triangle body shape :

• Your shoulders and bust are wider than your hips
• You gain weight in your upper body/bust first 
• You don’t have a lot of waist definition
• A smaller butt, hips,and legs
• prominent shoulders.

For this body type, your shoulder and bust measurements will be larger than your hip measurement.  In order to quickly assess this, your shoulder measurement will be at least 4 inches bigger than your hip measurement.  Or, if you go by your bust measurement then your bust will be about 2 inches larger than your hips.

Dressing an Inverted Triangle Body Shape:

Anything with a nipped-in waist will help balance out your body shape. A high waist belt, fitted jackets, flares, or anything with a higher rise.  Avoid tops with large shoulder details especially when paired with skinny bottoms. Wrap tops and dresses also work well as they help accentuate the waist while not hugging your bottom half.

The goal with this body shape is to add some waist definition and add the illusion of curves to your bottom half.

Celebs with inverted triangle shape:

Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angelina Jolie, and Demi Moore

Rectangular Body Shape

If you have a rectangle body shape you:

• Will have a bust, waist, and hips that are almost equal
• have little to no definition in your waist 
• don’t have a lot of curves
• Will likely have a bust that tends to be small or average

The rectangle body shape is also called the “athletic” body shape and has a roughly equal size bust, waist, and hips.  For this body shape, your waist measurement will be less than 8 inches different from your hips and shoulder.

Dressing the rectangular body shape:

The rectangular body shape is very flexible because of the balanced proportions between the shoulders and hips.  Our goal with this shape is to add some definition to the waist and to add the illusion of more curves.  Boat necklines can help broaden your shoulders, paired with wide legs. This will create a more narrow waist.

Embellished dresses also work well. They highlight the waist while also adding some volume to the shoulders and hips. 

Try to avoid boxy cuts and anything that is too straight up and down.  High-rise bottoms and belts will help define your waist and give the illusion of an hourglass shape.

Celebs with rectangle body shape:

Natalie Portman, Lara Spencer, Cameron Diaz, Nicole Kidman, and Kate Middleton.

Cameron Diaz, Nicole Kidman, and Kate Middleton.

Hourglass Body Shape

If you have an hourglass body shape:

• Your bust/shoulders are about equal in measurements with your hips
• You have a very well defined (narrow) waist
• You most likely have a larger bust and butt

In order to determine if you have an hourglass body shape, you should look for your waist measurement to be at least 8 in less than your shoulders/bust/hips.  

Plus, your hips and shoulders should be within 5% of each other.

How to dress an hourglass body shape:

The hourglass body shape is very coveted because of the balanced proportions and well-defined waist. 

High-waist wide-leg trousers will be extremely flattering for this body shape.  As well as fitted tops that cinch in at the waist. You want to make sure tops fit your bust and waist well.

Boxy items aren’t flattering to this shape because they can make you appear larger, as it eliminates your waist and only highlights the larger portions of your body. While, low-rise pants can overly-accentuate your hips without any waist definition. Pencil skirts work very well with this body shape, but they look best if they hit above your knee.

Wrap tops and dresses draw attention to your petite waist and curves well.  High-rise bottoms also highlight your figure, however it can be hard to find jeans that fit properly and are not too big around your waist.

Celebs with hourglass body shape:

Blake Lively, Christina It can be all too easy to compare yourself to a friend or celebrity.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.   

However, determining your own body shape can really help you to dress for YOU, without trying to emulate anyone else.

Understanding your body type and how to highlight your best attributes will make getting dressed everyday and loving your body so much easier.

Remember, it is important to know that your body shape changes.  Depending on what measurements you use, your age, and where you gain weight your body shape can fall into two categories. 

You will see this if you use your bust measurement versus your shoulder measurements. So don’t get discouraged if your shape isn’t what you want it to be. You might just need some help making sure you’ve gotten the right numbers. 

If you fall generally into two body shapes, and you’re just not sure which one is best, take notes from both body shapes and try things on.  You will know which one is correct when you put clothes on, because the clothes will make your body feel balanced and proportionate.  

Knowing your body type is not about changing how you look, in fact, it is about leaning into your body shape’s strengths to highlight your ideal silhouettes. Knowing the different kinds of fabrics, colors, and styles that are right for you, make getting dressed so much less stressful and way more fun.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.   

We’re always hearing that we should love our body, but if you’re anything like me, there’s been times that I didn’t want to love my body at the weight it was. I hated how I looked when I saw my reflection in the mirror.  

If you can relate, I totally understand how you feel. I understand what it feels like when you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see.

You’ve gained weight and there are lots of reasons you’ve gained weight and most of them don’t bring happy emotions. I know, most of us gained weight during pregnancy and while we LOVE LOVE LOVE those little people we made from scratch, we hate that weight gain is a result of bringing humans into this world. ????

So while I totally understand why you feel this way I also understand that it doesn’t feel good and hating what you see in the mirror is not helping you change it. 

That’s why today I’m going to give you 4 tips to start loving your body and liking what you see in the mirror.

1. Find a weight loss plan that works for you and your lifestyle.

I want you to ask yourself if you have a plan to lose the weight? Or is it just a want right now?

Are you ready to spend the time & energy on a weight loss plan? If you’re not, that’s ok!! Don’t beat yourself up everyday that you should if you’re just not ready. It’s not helpful and it doesn’t create weight loss! It actually creates weight GAIN when we beat ourselves up and shame ourselves for the weight we are now or the size we are now.

Shaming ourselves doesn’t create weight loss long term. There were lots and lots of times that I WANTED to lose weight but I wasn’t committed to making the decisions to achieve that. I just wasn’t in the right headspace and frankly didn’t know how to get there.

Can you relate?

I had been on every diet known to man and had been successful to a point but nothing that ever stuck long term. I had a pretty ingrained belief that nothing would work for me.

If this sounds familiar I get you sister! I had to get to the point that I was ready to tackle this and I was committed to finding something I could fit into my life. I got to the point where I realized that I was going to need to be open to changing the plan as my life changed. I

had to be willing to experiment with different things and figure out what worked for me. That’s why I created the 8 lbs down in 8 weeks program. It’s so hard when all we can think about is losing 50lbs or more. We feel so defeated in just the thought of needing to lose a bunch of weight. But asking ourselves to lose 8lbs? It just feels doable. It almost feels simple, right? That’s the point. Make it simple. Then repeat those simple steps until you reach your goal.

If you’d like to check it out you can learn more here.

2. Style your hair.

This might mean you need to get a good haircut, it might mean you just need to make time to do your hair everyday. As a hairstylist for over 25 years, this is the #1 thing I help my clients with, styling their hair everyday.

You won’t believe the shift in your attitude when you start styling your hair everyday.

Now, don’t hear me say that you need to look like you’re going to church or walking the runway to achieve this step, that’s not necessary. What is necessary is figuring out what you WANT to look at when you look in the mirror and working towards that.

It could be a cute baseball hat with a T-shirt and jeans that match, it could be a messy bun and a sweater and jeans with ankle booties, either way it’s a decision to wear a hat, not just because you don’t want to mess with it or take the time to comb your hair.

It really only takes a few extra minutes to be intentional and it will help you like what you see in the mirror.

If you need some tips on talking to your hair stylist and some questions you could ask, check out this post to learn more.

3. Get some killer shoes

I’m a shoe girl. I love shoes and I’ll tell you why. I’ve been every size from 22 to 8, but my shoe size is still the same. No matter what size I am, I’m a size 9 ½ shoe.

So when I feel bad about my jeans, I go into my closet and find an awesome pair of shoes! If I had a dollar for everytime someone commented on my shoes I’d be VERY rich!! I have every kind of shoe, ones that are like walking on pillows and ones that give me blisters if I wear them for more than an hour ????????‍♀️ But when I need a pick me up I put on those KILLER shoes and go to grocery store.

Guaranteed someone will give me a compliment on my shoes!! Shameful self confidence boost you might say, but I’ll take it every time!! 

Knowing your breast shape and pairing it with your own personal style is a home run in the bra fitting department!

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

4. Copy an outfit from Pinterest

I do this a few times a week. I have a board on Pinterest of my favorite styles and outfit inspo. When I need some ideas on outfits and how to style them I go to this board.

Let’s say I want to wear a sweater that I just bought but I’m having trouble figuring out what pants to wear with it. I search for sweaters on Pinterest to get ideas of how to pair jeans or trousers with sweaters. I also do this for accessories and scarves. Pinterest is a treasure trove of ideas for any personality and style type.

When I first started putting my Pinterest board together I noticed that I had a lot of things in my closet already that I could make different outfits with. I just didn’t realize it! Turns out I didn’t need to do as much shopping as I thought!

Creating an outfit from someone else’s brain relieves so much stress and anxiety about getting dressed in the morning. When you have an outfit put together completely it’s much easier to like what you see in the mirror no matter what size your body is.

Not sure what style type you are? Check out this post.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.  

Loving your body and liking what you see in the mirror is a journey. Yes, you can do mindset work and get to the place where you like what you see as you are right now and I recommend doing that, but there are also ways you can start liking what you see by changing some small things today.

By making some intentional decisions and making some time for yourself you can start crafting a routine that will soon have you smiling at your reflection in the mirror instead of cringing. And can I tell you a little secret?

When you start smiling at your reflection you’ll want to commit to losing the weight for good, but this time it will stick. 

If you are ready for a closet reset and would love someone to help you make the hard decisions of whether to keep it or toss it I’m your girl! I can give you some very simple guidelines to take into your closet that will help you make that part very easy! With me as your guide you will know exactly what your personal style is, whether or not your current wardrobe reflects that style, and where to shop for your style if it doesn’t.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.  

About 8 years ago I found myself very lost and even depressed. I was struggling with who I was and who I was supposed to be. Who I thought I was supposed to be was very unattainable for me, that person was very out of reach for me. This brought on a lot of shame and a ton of guilt. My mother passed away when I was 24 years old. I was newly married and had no children yet. In adulthood, I didn’t have a mother to help me become that person I thought I was supposed to be. This brought me lots of sadness and I was really struggling.

At this time, I learned about Carol Tuttle’s personality profiling from a friend and how our style is reflected in our personality. As I learned more about my own Style Type and the characteristics I naturally express, it became so much easier to feel confident than it ever had before. This is when shopping and getting dressed everyday became the easiest thing to accomplish in my life. 

When I understood my natural tendencies and characteristics that God blessed me with, it gave me permission to be who I am, instead of trying to be someone I thought I was supposed to be.

Discovering my personality was like getting a checklist of my spiritual, God given gifts. Then as a bonus and a cherry on the top I learned how to dress so that who I am is visible to the world. Once I started dressing in alignment with who I am my world exploded! My self confidence soared and I started to live the amazing life I was meant to live!

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

You see, I was always a curvy girl when I was younger. Looking back I wasn’t fat or overweight, but I developed a lot sooner than my friends and my chest was not your typical tiny little girl chest. ???? 

It would turn out to be the thing I struggled with the most all through adolescence and young adulthood.

It started me down a very long journey of trying to hide my body. 

After 25 years of being a successful hairstylist I’ve had thousands of women come into my salon. As I have studied these women’s faces and bone structure to create that perfect hairstyle for their face shape I have seen a lot of similarities among us women. 

When I learned about Carol’s work it filled in some gaps for me and explained why I was seeing these similarities in the clients who came into my salon.

I began applying what I learned from Carol’s work and it absolutely transformed my craft as a hairstylist! 

Now, I take the knowledge of 25 years styling women and my tools as a Life Coach and help women LOVE getting dressed everyday!

Getting dressed doesn’t have to be a drag. It doesn’t have to drain you and suck the life out of you.

It can be EASY.

Shopping can be effortless.

Finding the right outfit can be a breeze with the tools I will teach you.

Let’s explore these personality style types and their characteristics and how it can help you create your personal style.

Style 1- The Fun & Trendy Style

Style Preferences:

When it comes to styles and colors of clothing, the Style 1 woman feels best in bright fun colors. Pinks and yellows, coral and turquoise are in this style color palette. You look amazing in white but black really drags you down. If you are a Style 1 you love points and circles in your clothing creating a fun and animated movement in your clothes. The texture of fabrics is important when it comes to choosing your personal style. If you are a style 1 you enjoy the feel of light, crisp, bumpy yet not clunky, textures in your clothing. Anything light but still holds its shape is a good bet for you. Patterns also come into play and if you are a style 1 you love lots of pattern that is random and scattered and full of color. For this style type the jewelry and metals are bright, shiny gold.

Characteristics:

To understand the behaviors and characteristics of a Style 1, ask yourself these questions. Do you have lots of ideas? Do people tell you that you’re very animated and walk fast? These are characteristics of a Style 1. These women are fun and are often the life of the party. They create happiness easily and love making people laugh. They are very social and have lots of friends in lots of demographics. They are extroverts. They can be a little scattered because they always have new ideas coming in. They are creative people and love seeing their ideas come together. Each of these styles has an element of Nature that helps us understand each style. Style 1 is air. Air is light and moves quickly with an upward movement. Air is easily moved and can be very animated and very unpredictable like volcanoes for example. This is why change is not a problem for you if you are this style type. If you are a style 1 then even your facial features are upward. You have smiling eyes and a rounded forehead. The corners of your eyes turn upward and maybe even your nose.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

Style 2- The Subtle & Timeless Style

Style Preferences:

For styles and colors of clothing for a Style 2 woman comfort is key. She feels best in soft, romantic, and subtle colors. Creams and ocean blue, gray and dusty pink are in this style color palette. You look amazing in cream but black is too harsh for you. If you are a Style 2 you love curves and ovals in your clothing creating a flowing and soft movement in your clothes. The texture of fabrics is important when it comes to choosing your personal style. If you are a style 2 you enjoy the feel of soft textures in your clothing. Again, comfort is the most important and the fabric feels on your body is no exception. Your jewelry is muted as well like brushed silver or pewter.

Characteristics:

Do you worry a lot? Do people often say that you ask a lot of questions? These are characteristics of a Style 2. These women are sensitive and methodical and are often slow paced. They create peace easily and love connecting with others. They are very gentle and subtle and relationships mean a lot to them. They are introverts and like to gather information by asking lots of questions in order to form a plan. They can be slow to make decisions because they need more information. They are good at creating plans because they do lots of research and you know they’ve thought through everything. The natural element that helps us understand this style is water. Water is powerful and has a fluid, flowing movement. Having a plan creates comfort for you. This is why you don’t like change. Being comfortable in your surroundings is very important to Style 2 women. You’ve put in a lot of time & energy into your plan and you don’t feel comfortable if someone comes in and changes it. If you are a Style 2 then even your facial features have downward, soft, fluid movement. You have downward almond shaped eyes and a rounded forehead. You have an oval face shape and teardrop shaped nose.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

Style 3- The Edgy & Rustic Style

Style Preferences:

As for styles and colors of clothing, a Style 3 woman loves an edgy and rustic style. She feels best in rugged and rich colors. Rusty red and mustard yellow, sage green and burnt orange are in this style color palette. You look amazing in the colors of fall but black is too rigid for you. If you are a Style 3 you love edges and angles in your clothing creating triangles and squares in your clothes. The texture of fabrics that appeal to the Style 3 are heavy, substantial and firm, think wool and leather. If you are a style 3 you like strong firm textures in your clothing as well. You love rustic, brassy, rich gold jewelry.

Characteristics:

Do you love to check off your do lists? Do you love to see the vision come together? These are characteristics of a Style 3. These women are bold and determined. They are driven by results. They are very active and move fast. They are extroverts and like to get things done. They can be pushy and forceful in order to get things accomplished quickly. They are good at executing plans because they make decisions easily. The natural element that helps us understand this style is fire. Fire is substantial and has a sharp movement. Fire is warm and inviting and a style 3 woman has a gift of making others feel like they belong. A Style 3 is tenacious and won’t stop until it’s done. They are passionate and can easily cheer someone up. They believe in people and have the ability to help others believe in themselves. They have the gift of seeing the picture and the drive to make it happen.

The facial features for a Style 3 are angular and geometric. You have strong points and angles in your cheekbones and jaw. You have multiple smile lines and likely have freckles or beauty marks on your skin. If you are a Style 3 you have deep points on the inner and outer corners of your eyes and a chiseled chin. Style 3 women usually have a bumpy nose or it’s even crooked. You have an inverted triangle shape face and an angled, substantial nose.

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.

Style 4- The Chic & Stylish Style

Style Preferences:

Styles and colors of clothing for a Style 4 woman is a classic and structured style. She feels best in true tone jewel colors. True red and royal blue, emerald green and bright orange are in this style color palette. You look amazing in black & white. If you are a Style 4 you love parallel lines, elongated ovals, and rectangles. Very structured clean lines. The texture of fabrics that appeal to the Style 4 are clean, classic, smooth and sleek. Pencil skirts and blazers are stunning on a style 4 woman. If you are a style 4 you like shiny textures in your clothing as well. You look best in shiny silver jewelry.

Characteristics:

Are you a perfectionist? Do you often spend more time on a task than you should because there’s always room to make it better? These are characteristics of a Style 4. These women are  classic and stylish. They are constant and reflective. They are very still and move with intention. They are introverts and very focused. They can be a know it all and be judgemental because they are always perfecting things in their minds. They have the gift of seeing the big picture and perfecting it. They are always watching how things are done so they can make it better. They love lists and spreadsheets and organization. Everything has a home and should be in their right order. If you are a style 4 you follow the rules because there is safety and comfort in rules and regulations. The natural element that helps us understand this style is Earth. The Earth is substantial and structured. The Earth is all knowing and encompassing. Other elements that help us understand the style 4 are a reflective pond and an iceberg. A reflective pod is still and smooth, and the iceberg is very deep and you only see the tip. It’s unassuming and vast at the same time. A style 4 woman is very refined, poised, and intelligent. They are private and have deep feelings. They are deep thinkers and often enjoy meditation.

The facial features for a Style 4 are symmetrical and striking. You have a square face shape. 

You have parallel lines with your eyebrows, lips and nose. You don’t have beauty marks on only one side because your face is symmetrical. If you drew a line down the middle of your face the 2 sides would mirror each other.  

Which description do you feel aligned with the most? Everyone has all of these style types in them but we lead with one that is dominant. Each style has amazing qualities. When you discover which one is the one you lead with, you can fully embrace you and that’s when the real fun begins!

If you would like some personal one on one time with me to help you achieve your own personal style and make getting dressed the easiest part of your day then schedule a style consult today.