Hurry down to one of my favourite stores so that you don’t miss out. Up to 50% off the fabulous clothes that look good, and feel amazing on women our age.
Ronen Chen, 23 New Quebec Street, London W1H 7SD
0207 402 5292
Near Marble Arch tube station – take Exit 1.
Every year Vogue issues a copy of its magazine focussing on Ageless Style. Last year I was really disappointed to find that the 50′s age group was not mentioned, despite its editor being in this age group. Because I felt strongly about this, I felt compelled to write to her personally. I was originally pleasantly surprised when I received a reply from Ms Shulman herself but to say the contents were curt would probably be an understatement. On the strength of that, I perceived my opinions to be worthless and I therefore won’t be making that mistake again.
I feel that I am a stylish and fashionable 50 something who I loves Vogue and I’ve always looked forward to the Ageless Style issue. So imagine, yet again, my disappointment when I this year’s copy contains profiles of women in their 20′s, 30′s, 40′s and 60′s – no 50′s to be seen.
Many of my clients say they feel invisible. Not surprising really, if even our top fashion magazine thinks we’re not worth mentioning!
Roll on 60 perhaps?
I was really fortunate to meet the fabulous Catherine Schuller at the AICI conference. This is a woman with a huge heart and a fantastic joie de vivre. You cannot help but be completely bowled over by her and her confident outlook on life. Catherine is a well known plus size industry leader and a former plus size model so I was truly overwhelmed when she asked if we might work together finding and promoting funkier clothes in larger sizes for both sides of the Altlantic. Just because someone is not a size zero does not mean they have to wear dull clothes. So ladies, watch this space.
For more details about Catherine and the fabulous work she does go to:
As most of you probably know, I am hot, hot, hot on customer service. Not that there is very much to write home about these days as eye contact and a smile is usually lacking in most of the shops I frequent. We have enough disappointment and angst in our lives and a friendly smile can really make a difference to our day. It’s good to feel special and wanted and it doesn’t really take much effort on the part of the sales assistant so why they don’t make more effort is beyond me.
So I was quite intrigued by a session called Civility Counts on my recent trip to Vancouver. In North America and the East, it seems that civility is a huge subject. I wasn’t aware of the damage and under performance created by bullying, worrying about others in your workplace, actively avoiding them and so on. Add to that offensive bad manners, which often people don’t realise they are doing – such as answering their mobile phone when in a conversation with you or avoiding eye contact on meeting, and the world does appear to be a very selfish and self centred place.
I have to say that I’ve been hooked on this subject and how it affects all of us, whatever our background or employment, so I’ve just ordered the ‘manual’ to help me figure it all out and ensure that I’m not breaking the rules!
‘Choosing Civility’ by P M Forni – fascinating. If you feel that your environment is not what it should be in terms of civil behaviour, manners, respect, restraint or responsibility then this book is for you.
I feel so strongly about this subject that I plan to run workshops – so if you would like me to help out, please ring to chat further. After all, image is obviously concerened with Appearance but also incorporates Communication and Behaviour so in my profession I have a duty to include this in any corporate workshops. Enable and empower your people to be civil and just watch your productivity rise.
You’ll probably recall that I had some new specs designed earlier in the year. I loved them because they were different to the mainly oblong shaped ones you find in opticians everywhere – and I love to be different, especially in choosing something I need to wear every day.
I’ve recently returned from Vancouver – the AICI conference where image professionals form all over the globe congregate once a year. I found two spectacular places to go if you want original and unique eyewear. Firstly, my colleague Wendy Buchanon who is an eyewear image expert and has the most amazing array of styles and colours to suit anyone, whatever their personality type
www.perceptionseyewear.com
Secondly, Granville Eyeland was a shop I came across purely by accident. Situated in the centre of a public market, the spectacles on display left my mouth watering. Designs included frames made from horn, leather and wood. Oh my!! Loved them all. www.granville-eyeland.com
But why the Man Magnet title? Well, the round, old fashioned type that I chose seem to have a peculiar affect on men. Not that I’m complaining, as every time I wear them I get winks, smiles and you know, that LOOK that says I’m a very desirable woman.
Talking to my girlfriends, we decided that my new glasses are the equivalent of the prudish looking secretary that suddenly shakes her hair loose and whips off her glasses to reveal a sexy siren underneath. I’m all for that.
Tomorrow I’m off to Vancouver, volcanic ash permitting, to spend a few days with image professionals from around the globe at our annual conference. It’s always really interesting to spend time with colleagues from different parts of the world and learn about their culture and style. It’s also great to catch up with the many friends I’ve made over the last few years. Choosing the outfits to take with me? Well, that’s an exciting (challenging!) prospect. We all want/need to look good. It is our job after all. Just wish the airlines would increase the baggage allowance!!
I’ve noticed some new dark ‘age’ spots appearing round my cheeks and thought it was about time I tried to do something about them. I already have quite a few on my hands and, as we know, these are a sure give away that we’re not so young as we might appear. So I’m trying Clinique’s much hyped Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector to see if they fade away. When you purchase the products you are given a small tracker chart showing 15 different shades of brown pigmentation so you can ‘match’ to your own blemishes. Apparently, in 4 weeks I will be able to see a marked difference and after 12 weeks a verified 53% improvement in skin tone will take place, even with stubborn dark spots. Let’s hope so.
scoop neckline one side and a V neckline on the other and are designed in such a way that you can choose which way to put it on, so very flexible. I have them in every length and don’t just wear them under my dresses. I use under long jumpers, worn with jeans, because they smooth over belt loops and any unslightly flesh or bulges from badly fitting underwear – though I know as my readers, you would not commit that particular sin. So try it out and see for yourself. You’ll thank me. 
I’m the only licenced practitioner of Fashion Feng Shui in the UK so I was thrilled to see a piece on the wonderful art in the Express. Evana Maggiore is my mentor and friend so I couldn’t have put it better myself!
As you can see, we Feel Fab at 50′ers know how to have a fabulous time.
The Bollywood or Bling party was held at my home and attendance was complicit on wearing native costume. Tickets sold in minutes so it was definitely worth organising.
Parveen Ashraf, standing on my left as you look at the photo) our chef for the night and the producer of wonderful Spice Boxes (even an idiot can make food taste good with these wonderfully illustrated recipes) is also a presenter on Ideal World TV, so a celebrity in her own right.
www.amaanispice.co.uk for more details
