Wednesday 11 April 2012

What mask are you wearing?

I never liked Hallowe'en I felt it was too much work to think outside the box
when it came to a clever costume. Many people jump right  and can't wait to
wear their mask and live incognito for a night and some for a lifetime. It amazes
me how we relish in covering ourselves up and not revealing who we really are.

Are you the wife mother daughter friend who feels I've messed up in this life?
Do you have thoughts that I'm not as good or perfect and successful like so
and so? We all do and if you don't your lying.

We want to cover up and hide from the world. God only knows what would
happen if people found out! They would find that you are fake and that all along
your behavior has been all an act. The fake laugh smile nod is all a role we play
to be accepted loved and liked. How exhausting it must be to constantly switch
back'n'forth to fit in.

What is the pay off? There has to be when we feel uneasy. If only we could
learn to love ourselves with all of our imperfections and quirks. When we
can open up and share our story our tribulations that's authenticity and it's
real. People will have more of an admiration for us when we do. It's common
ground and really most of us feel all the same. We have mutual struggles hurdles
we have had to face...but listening to their triumphs and joy it gives us hope.

I've struggled my whole life with depression and anxiety and when I share
my story and how I overcame it...it helps inspire someone else. I'm a
work in progress and work hard at keeping positive and optimistic.

What's your story?

Monday 9 April 2012

Put your Big Girl panties on and SHINE!!!

Remember riding your first bike? The feeling of excitement curiosity and urgency to
jump on and run free? I do just like yesterday. I remember being excited with my 
tinsel handle bars and a rainbow colored basket to hold my dolls for a ride.We
didn't feel fear since our parents were holding on to the back. We did it and 
learned as we go after falling and getting back up and doing it again.

Life isn't much different than riding a bike. You learn as you go you take risk
experience new challenges and that's when you change. If you didn't take risks
and chances who would you be? As much as we fear change our world is
changeing with or without us and we need to adapt.

The most common fear I hear from woman..."WOW you are brave!"
"I could never do that!" "I'm fine just the way I am!" "I can't afford it right now!"

In reality I hear that my self worth is low and I don't feel important enough to take
care of myself. When our "inner bitch" starts blabbering on about all the reasons why
you "shouldn't" change that's when you doubt yourself. Are those doubts true?
Of course not but unless you get uncomfortable and acknowledge your fears and
accept them as they are  that's when you will be set free.

I  push myself out of my comfort zone constantly and if I don't I push harder even
with all the uncomfortable body symptoms. Have I wanted to back out and not do it?
Of course. Since doing so I am stronger and more confident than I have been in years.
It wasn't easy and my friends can vouch for that but if I stayed miserable depressed
anxiety ridden and fearful I was merely existing and I didn't want to live this way.

Until I was fed up and angry with myself for having a long pity party and torturing
everyone around me that's when I took my life back and make drastic changes.

It's time to put on your big girl panties and SHINE! Are you ready?
 
 

Wednesday 4 April 2012

Dress yourself from the inside out!!

I can spend hours people watching sitting and observing people. The first impression
they give off without not even knowing it is amazing. We assume judge categorize
them and that's without even a conversation!!! Gosh we are bad!

Our outer appearance is a direct reflection of what is going on in the inside.
When you are not feeling your best and your self confidence is down it takes all
the energy you have to take care of yourself. The opposite can be when your
posture is straight your head is held up high and your smiling! What a change
that can be!

Last year I was going through a funk I had gained weight my career was lagging
and I felt terrible. It didn't matter what I wore I felt frumpy and blah. I hated the
clothes I wore and nothing in my closet screamed "Wear me you'll feel better!"

After getting fed up and torturing my family enough I decided to make a change.
It took me to take a close look at myself and ask  "Why am I so miserable
and what are you going to do to get over it?" I was stuck with playing the victim
and wanted sympathy and I was depressed. Most of my clothes were in shades
of grey black brown no color at all! Not only did I feel depressed I looked
depressed how depressing!? I made the decision to get rid of every "non-color'
piece of clothing and add my color to my life! I came alive and the old ME
was back in full swing again.

I felt better and people noticed me more. The weight came off my career jump
started and I felt awesome!  It was a huge difference for me and now I only wish
I did it sooner. You may think no one notices you but we do your image is
shouting out a million words even without you saying a word now that's something
to think about!!!

Tuesday 13 March 2012

Leaving the perfectionistic Diva behind!

Ahhhh are you one those girls? Come on now fess up! I am once in awhile more
than what I want to admit. The pressure is on to look act feel perfect and really
who are we kidding? We drive ourselves over the edge of craziness and wonder
why do we feel this way? It's you. We do that to ourselves and we cannot blame
anyone except ourselves. I started this destructive behavior when I was a teen.

I wanted to be thin which I already was but felt I wasn't the perfect clothes to be
the envy of all the girls at school and the list went on. I felt I had to be all of that 
and be accepted. It took me a long time to accept and love myself. 

I felt the pressure from my peers as a young women and even now to fit in.
I've learned to let it go. The constant reminder from magazines and the media
of how I am "suppose" to look is ridiculous. I actually like the way I am with
my flaws and imperfections. It's the icing on the cake I think.
It's being able to shut off the negative self talk and loving and accepting yourself.

When you feel confident on the inside you will project that on the outside.

To all you beautiful courageous women love yourselves enough and let go
of being perfect. 

Denise



















Monday 12 March 2012

WE can do this together!

It's my turn to introduce myself as an image expert for entrepreneurs and I am
noticing that I hit a raw nerve to those who don't care or see that their image
is playing a huge role in their business. The gloss eyed over look their attention
is more focused on their food and drink and  they can't wait to change the topic.

What is there to avoid? I am not the fashion police what is there to uncomfortable
about?  It's not easy admitting to yourself that you need help.
People feel ashamed and embarrassed when asking. You would hire a mechanic
to fix your car see a doctor if you are ill wouldn't you? There is a difference.

You think you can do it yourself. If you have and it's costing you more money
than you want to share hire someone. Let the expert relieve the stress from you
and let them do their skill. Simply that easy.

Having a stylist come into your home is a revelation of your true self. I am able
to reveal your strengths and weaknesses through your clothes. It's not
about me sharing tips on how to wash your delicates and great organizer totes
it all about you!! It's on a deeper level. It's a transformation.

Our time together is discovering what you truly want to show the world. We
will discover what are you missing about yourself and how can we show that
self off more. You will show up differently in your business and present yourself
 more with confidence. End result more clients and business for you.

Let's explore this journey together and find what's missing?

Hugs, Denise



Monday 5 March 2012

Do you wanna trade? Clothes Swapping

We're talking clothes swapping!!! People are jumping on the bandwagon wanting to participate
 in the trend of swapping clothes that you do not wear anymore for FREE! This is a great
way to mingle and you may come home with things that you were thinking of buying anyway.

Many women have clothing that is still brand new I know I do and never worn. I want to show
all of you ladies that this is a great way to build a wardrobe without spending any money.
It also cleans out your space and could help women in need. This is why I've decided to host
the clothing swap. It helps provide items for those attending who have a need and opens up
a great way to pass other pieces onto charities.

If you haven't worn it in a year then chances are you are not going to and for good reason,
it may be too tight, too big too unflattering, or just not your style.
Only keep clothes that you love, that makes you feel beautiful. Let someone else love the
things that are just taking up space. Bring the best of the best to the swap...the things you
know someone else might get excited about.

The ole saying goes...What is someone's junk is someone else's treasure.




Thursday 1 March 2012

Jen's Aha moment shopping with Dee

A friend of mine named Jen was courageous and brave to be one of my clients this past January.
An eager woman wanting to break free from her drab clothes and yearning to share her boldness
to the world. Her transformation was nothing more than remarkable and very eye opening to her
and to myself. We purged more than half of her closet.She had done a full 360 degree turn around
 in her perception of how she dressed and what message was she sending to the world.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting up with her at the mall to see her strut her stuff in a flash
mob. After going through a purge of her closet I had tossed mostly all of her "comfy" yoga pants
and left her with none to go back to. Meeting with her she showed up with yoga pants, a t-shirt
and zipped up fleece jacket. Appropriate for her for this day.
First impression of her she seemed tired not full of spunk as she usually is and off we go to the 
flash mob show she was participating in. As we walked she shares..."Denise I am so tired, no
energy. I said "You didn't sleep well last night?" she shrugged and off we go.

We had lunch did some shopping and then it all changed. We had found great deals and she
decided to try on a few clothes in the changeing room. From the room she yells..."I am not trying
no more clothes on that's it!" I laughed because it had only been two shirts.
She shared that showing up today in her "comfy clothes" was playing a huge role in
her mood. This is coming from a girl who loved her comfy pants. Not feeling confident in
her body...the nasty self-talk is starting and today is turning out not to be the day to shop.

It was interesting to see a client go through a range of emotions from not wanting to go
back to how she once dressed. How uncomfortable she felt being in those clothes. 
A make over is life changeing it's not all fluff and glam. It's more than clothes and shopping it's an
 eye opening experience to your soul. What are you hiding under neath those clothes? 
What are you ashamed of showing?  I help women find what that is.

This is a wake up call to where you are in your life a reflection of what is going on in the inside.
Possibly you are not feeling well your are mirroring that. It shows.
If you dread getting dressed in the morning and hate what you own why is that?
What are you not happy with? Find out why.

And who said shopping isn't therapy?






I

Tuesday 28 February 2012

Seven days to feeling sassy and confident!

I am always up for a challenge and since starting my journey as a stylist I was curious.
I was curious to see "Would I get treated differently if I dressed well?" What I mean
by that is that I took more time to take care of myself and more and selective on
what I wore. The challenge was to kick it up the notch.

I feel that our appearance shouldn't matter and that we have become a superficial society.
It's more than looks and how we dress or is it? Do we treat people people
differently than those that don't?

The beginning of the week went well since I had quite a bit of selection from
my closet to wear but as the end came near this challenge became a "challenge!!!
I was struggling trying to find cute and fun outfits and while I like playing dress up
this is a lot of work. The challenge started to feel like a "challenge!!"

I purposefully put myself in situations ex: asking for help at a store, interacting
more with people engaging in conversation. The challenge ended thankfully
and I did get treated differently. What a week it was!!!

Did it work? Sure did. Try the challenge. Since then I've kept it up and I
feel great! How about you are you up for a challenge?



Monday 27 February 2012

Stand out from the crowd

Every season fashion styles change & so do we and just when you think you have your
"personal style" licked it changes. It's overwhelming to keep up with latest trends and
being able to afford to "fit in". I am guilty of buying every latest magazine flipping through
and adding to my wish list. Is it necessary to put all that pressure to look a certain way?
My motto is wear what you love. There are classic pieces that never go out of style and
are timeless. You can not go wrong with a white blouse black trousers and a pencil skirt.

The fun begins when you experiment with accessories. Let the inner artist within you explore
different options to dress up what you already own. It's that simple. My adding a scarf a new
belt in a splash of color will set you apart from others. You are amazing on the inside now let's
match that on the outside.

When it comes to fashion there are no golden rules to follow. Your message to the world is YOU.
How are you showing up? Are sending the right one?

As a creative spirit I rarely follow the rules when it comes to fashion. I dress for how I feel.
As a stylist the norm is to present yourself in a suit. I tend to differ. I am not comfortable and
feel restrained and by my facial reaction you would tell. I am a jeans girl....very simple with a
little twist. Now with that being said I most likely stand out.

Trust your intuition and have fun with your clothes try different options it's all in the imagination.

Thursday 23 February 2012

Can an Image Expert help ME?

I love dressing for my "clothes moods" and mixing and matching my wardrobe to create unique
looks for my lifestyle. I am passionate about helping you become more confident by changing what you wear, what to buy and how it makes you feel.

Your skeptical self may be shouting..."Bet she can't do that for me...but!

I bet I can because of regardless of your shape, size, age or budget it's all about style tricks,
 optical illusions & confidence that will make you look and feel fabulous.

My guarantee to you is that I will....

*be honest & sensitive at times
*share style tricks that work instantly
*show you what works and what doesn't
*save you time and money
*help you develop your own personal style

Are you desperately seeking a new look and don't know where to start?

Have you started a new career and want to spruce up your image?

So if you are in a rut and want to break free let's get together.

"With the right wardrobe everyone can be beautiful."

Tuesday 21 February 2012

The Shoe is on the other foot

Now it's my turn. I had the opportunity to apply for a position with the eWomen Network in my city.

Soon after I received an invitation to attend the Toronto event for the eWomen Network which over a
hundred women were invited. I was so excited to attend but the first thought came to mind was not
how many business cards I bring or what briefcase it was "What do I wear?"

I am a firm believer in making a first good impression. It's the whole package from your hair style,
make-up your choice of perfume and how current your style is. I feel I did well and met some
amazing women entrepreneurs. My goal was to be myself smile and engage in conversation with others.
 I kept good eye contact and stayed away from the appetizer table even though I was starving.

You might be wondering so what is the problem? There wasn't.  Even though I am an image expert for entrepreneurs I get nervous and intimidated too in how I present myself. I've had an interview and
 the recruiter shared that she wanted to see a picture of me. We talked over the phone but yet she felt it was important to have a visual of my appearance. My impression that I left with the ladies in Toronto is making the decision whether I will have the position. It's the reality. Yes my work experience is a factor but if I hadn't taken the time and effort to put my best foot forward what kind of impression could I have left?

People assume and come up with their own conclusions. It's unfortunate but it's true. Do you make the time and effort in putting yourself together? Are you in such a hurry you throw something on and hope your skills win people over? Make the decision to try harder re-evaluate your wardrobe.

 Are the clothes you currently own sending the right message? If not it's time for a change.