The bane of my life is trying to find sunglasses that suit me. As I wear spectacles to correct myopia  (short sightedness), trying to see in the mirror whether or not the sunspecs suit me is rather difficult. I have lopsided features, and my eyes are definitely one of my best so when they are ‘blacked out’ I can look quite strange.

If you are also having trouble finding a pair, here are my top 3 tips for you:

1. Play to your face shape. If it’s really rounded, don’t choose totally round lenses as this will just accentuate the roundness. Equally, any that are very angular will also look wrong. Your frame needs to be rectangular in shape but having rounded edges so they thin out your face without jarring. If you are angular, you can emphasise the angles by choosing an angular frame with really square corners but you can also soften it by choosing slightly rounded edges like Jackie O.

A long face needs glasses with a wide frame. You can also carry off a larger lens. The horizontal line created shortens the face length. A short or wide face needs the glasses to sit within the frame of the face and to sport smaller lenses to provide some length.

2. Choose a colour that suits your skin tone and your personality. Black suits cool complexions and brown, warm ones. Unless you are sure you have the personality to carry off a bright colour, my advise is don’t – leave that to Christopher Biggins who has made it his trademark.

3. Make sure they are ‘safe’. Always check that the lenses have adequate protection against ultra violet rays (they should carry a  C E mark) and that you will be able to use them to see correctly when driving ( i.e. traffic lights colours are discernable from one another).

Those in the photo are from a Fabris Lane selection for House of Fraser  http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/on/demandware.store/Sites-hof-Site/default/Search-Show?prefn1=brand&prefv1=Fabris%20Lane

or go directly to www.fabrislane.co.uk for a massive variety of styles to suit absolutely everyone, whatever their preference.

A client of mine was lucky enough to sit with Nigella Lawson at a recent event. She remarked on how Nigella seemed so comfortable with her body and how her clothes really worked for her curvy shape. A comely size 16, I guess, with lots of contour and a real sex appeal, Nigella does seem to be very at ease within her own skin and this is what we all aim for, whatever our shape or size.

So what can you do if you’re a size 16 (or above) to look and feel fabulous?

Firstly, you need to be convinced that you really are beautiful in your own right. Clothing, on its own, will never be convincing unless there is an element of truth coming from within, so choose clothes that really support who you are.

Take lots of time and effort to select clothes that really appeal to you -  colour, mood, comfort, fabric and personality – because you are worth it. DO NOT buy the first thing you see that is in the correct size. It must fit both your outer body and your inner goddess.

Carla Mathis, a remarkable woman and one of my favourite teachers, always maintains that we are like individual works of art. It is really important that you believe this and adorn yourself accordingly. Baggy and shapeless will not do you any favours as you’ll just look larger and uninspiring.

Pay lots of attention to your hair, nails, makeup and accessories.  Lack of grooming can destroy all the effort you’ve put in so far. If you don’t want attention on your body, funk up your jewellery and shoes so you get noticed but with the focus directed elsewhere.

To obtain the right fit you may need to spend more, but look on each piece as an investment and make sure you adore it enough to justify the cost.

Designers to try: Anna Scholtz, Vivienne Westwood (if you love the dramatic), By Malene Birger, DKNY, Diane von Furstenberg, Evans (now has a fashionable, funky range by Beth Ditto), Fenwright Manson, Not My Daughters Jeans. Try also Marisota, La Redoute, Beige Plus, Elvi and Box2.co.uk with the beautiful plus size owner Nicky Allen who really understands how to dress women who are not stick thin, want to look chic and modern in clothes that really do the job (see photo).

Following on from yesterday’s post about mood, I couldn’t help but notice how many women were wearing orange. Not a colour I usually see in abundance in the wardrobes I weed – we’re all worried about being tango’d – but it’s presence was definitely out there yesterday.

Even I took a risk, being captivated  by a lovely shirt in very small orange and white check rather then choosing the safer option of blue and white. I also picked up a small patent orange clutch in the sale at Faith, which is really gorgeous, looks divine with navy blue and smartens up my jeans no end. This is the FIRST time I have ever worn orange EVER which proves we can all push those comfort boundaries when the time (and the garment/accessory) is right.

Perhaps the glorious sunshine has affected us and we want to feel sunny and bright. After all orange is the contrast (complement) to blue on the colour wheel so we should feel the opposite effect.  If we can feel ‘blue’ why can’t we feel ‘orange’?

According to Suzy Chiazzari the colour therapist and internationally acclaimed author:

Orange is supposed to shore up the immunity system and stimulate digestion.

Orange is, without a doubt, a “happy” colour. It frees emotions, promotes self-esteem and the capacity to forgive. This stimulating colour fights depression and cultivates good humour. Lighter hues such as peach and apricot, help restore nervous energy.

Those who often wear orange are active, competent and rather impatient. They are independent, motivated, competitive and well organised. They are also creative and practical people, full of energy and often incapable to stay put.

Orange combines red’s and yellow’s stimulating attributes. It is a “happy” hue with a strong personality that pleases active, self-confident people. It seems that dancers are often attracted to orange. Those who find orange too strong often find such as terra-cotta, peach or amber more acceptable as they retain some of the attributes of orange.

I remember Evana Maggiore ( founder of Fashion Feng Shui) saying to me that ‘if you really don’t like a colour (and I’ve never been a fan of orange) it’s probably the colour you SHOULD be wearing to provide balance in your life’.  I’ll let you know how I get on with it but I can already tell you that my husband thinks it looks great on me, so ladies, never say never.

Is there a colour that captivates and entices you that you could you introduce into your wardrobe right now? Give it a try. Not sure? Then choose something unexpensive which you can wear away from your face – a bangle perhaps -  and see how you feel. Don’t forget to let me know how you get on.

I attended a fabulous seminar this week run by the inspirational Debbie Gray, a friend and colleague who has in no small part played a role in getting me where I am today in terms of my professional knowledge and passion for what I do.

Many times we can go to our wardrobe and ponder the age old question of ‘what can I wear?’ even though we have oodles of clothes to choose from.  Many image consultants will tell you that fit, fabric, colour and style personality are key words when working out what suits and what doesn’t but I always knew there was more to it than that, otherwise, it would be easy. Just learn the rules and get on with the practice. Obviously the occasion is important and so is your audience’s expectations – it’s unlikely you would wear jeans to pitch for a huge piece of corporate business for example  – but there’s still more to understand about why something works one day but not another.

As women of a certain age, we probably have more hormonal fluctuations than most of our counterparts. Some days we feel happy and others sad and yet we have no real clue about the cause behind these changes in emotions. What I do know is that it’s crucial that our clothing supports these moods and Debbie’s workshop yesterday absolutely confirmed this.

For example, let’s say you are very bright (complexion and personality) and your favourite colour is fuschia pink. Is this what will support you if you are feeling under the weatherand a little vulnerable and curling up on the couch is what you crave. You need some tenderness, a huge hug and a cuddly garment to wrap yourself in and bright pink may not provide the answer you’re looking for at this time. I have a huge, fluffy cream sweater that fulfils this role for me. Cream? Yes, cream and you’re right, cream should not look great with someone with cool colouring but the texture and the feel – yummy. I’m nurtured and cozy.

So when you’re going through your wardrobe looking for something to wear, take a moment to actually unearth the mood you’re in or perhaps contemplate the mood you want to be in – sexiness isn’t the prerogative of the young you know!

I feel I’m getting obsessed with sleep – or trying to get a decent night’s rest, so I’m trying everything on the market at the moment in my quest for an interrupted 8 hours of bliss. My latest acquisition is a skin care range from Origins. Oiginally set up with the help of the wonderful health writer and guru Leslie Kenton, they have some expert names assisting in the development of their product ranges.

The Night Health range  is the brain child of Dr Andrew Weil and comprises of a number of aromatherapy based lotions that produce relaxation and promote repair throughout the night. A separate pamphlet provides some tips and techniques on achieving a better night’s sleep, including keeping a journal, avoiding stimulants like coffee and exercise and creating a cool sanctuary in your bedroom.

Available from most department stores or online www.origins.co.uk

After my recent postings about my sweat filled nights, I received a lovely email from Todd Fraser, which I thought might offer a solution to all of us in the same position:

Briefly, about seven years ago Anne Best was a happy and healthy wife and mother of four young boys. Her breast cancer diagnosis however tipped her world upside down. Following a successful surgery she underwent chemotherapy and suffered terribly from one of the most common side effects; night sweats.

At a loss, her husband suggested she try wearing one of his moisture-wicking fabric athletic shirts to bed. While not comfortable, and certainly not stylish, the material did the trick and kept her dry, giving her a night of uninterrupted sleep.

After beating her cancer she decided to explore creating a line of sleepwear intended to help women suffering from night sweats brought on my menopause or medical treatments. She worked with some of the top fabric designers in the industry and developed a proprietary material that was at once silky smooth and comfortable.

Her now successful line is called DryDreams Sleepwear and includes Pajamas, Cami’s, Nightgowns, Hospital ‘scrubs’ and even pillowcases. In addition to helping women battle night sweats, she donates 100% of her profits after operating expenses to breast cancer research. She is set to launch a new line in the next month called Performance Sleepwear which will offer garments to men and younger women.

Additional information can be found here: www.drydreamssleepwear.com.   

Sue, congrats on cutting back on the alcohol and I’m glad to hear that it has helped with your night sweats. If they reappear, and a specifically designed nightgown like Anne and DryDreams produces isn’t of interest, you may want to consider a moisture-wicking shirt that can be found in most any clothing store. It may not be the most stylish but it should help you get a good, DRY night’s sleep!

Thanks Todd