I now understand what my clients feel, when they say they are overwhelmed by shopping.

I went into my ‘favourite’ store today to look for basics – a black and a grey polo neck sweater. I thought I’d give up with the cardigans after last weekend’s debacle. I wanted something that felt nice against my skin and I was prepared to pay for cashmere or something similar.  I was SURE M&S wouldn’t let me down on this, but I was wrong.

No basics, just ‘silly’ colours like coral, fuschia pink, bright green or vivid purple cashmere. When we couldn’t find grey or black, one of the assistants actually selected  a light blue TURTLE neck – how old did she think I was?  The black and grey knitwear that was on the racks looked cheap, as though it would quickly lose any semblance of shape and therefore wouldn’t have lasted five minutes. Yes, I was advised that I could buy what I wanted online or order from Customer Services and return at a later date, but I had made the effort to come into the store and wanted my goods now not sometime in the future.  Not good enough M&S. You need to do better than this with basic staples if you’ve any chance of enticing me back.

I wanted to let you know about a fabulous, FREE Telesummit coming up very soon  (with lots of great speakers, including me!) that I’m pretty sure has information you’ll find really valuable, especially if you like the idea of less stress, more confidence and more fun in your life.

The Talking Prime Time Women Telesummit is run by Chris Moon Willems who specialises in helping women over 50 to get their lives back on track after divorce, relationship breakdown or death of a partner.  She understands – from personal experience – exactly how devastating this sort of loss can be and how it can knock the confidence and self esteem of the brightest and most successful women.

Now she’s assembled eleven speakers from around the world, experts in reinvention, confidence, self esteem, finances, setting up your own business, career change and lots more and persuaded them to share their tips and secrets, the stuff many people pay hundreds and even thousands of dollars to get hold of.

Don’t miss this chance to join Chris, me and 9 other experts and get your life going again for FREE!!

https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?cl=136310&c=ib&aff=139957″ target=”ejejcsingle

on a fabulous day yesterday, if you didn’t make it along to Chameleon. We had SUCH fun. Lots of laughter, brilliant clothes, new outfits to wear – many unexpectedly flattering (that’s why I’m invited).  Anita and her lovely team are so helpful, so if you live near Lincoln pop along to 1 Gordon Rd and say ‘hello’.

I will be running style presentations and giving individual help at Chameleon, Gordon Road, Lincoln later today. The style talks are at 3.30 and 5pm and I’m available until 8pm showcasing Ronen Chen, a fabulous collection for women of our age that is fashionable, stylish and comfortable. Please ring Anita Hill or her team NOW if you’d like to  attend. The Autumn and Winter collections are as fabulous as ever and SO flattering, whatever your age, shape or size, so don’t miss out. Ring 01522 531533 to save your space

I’m thrilled to tell you that I’ve been interviewed -again- about my own mid life career change. How fabulous to see one’s own name in print!  The book, is a really good (and quite small so not too much reading) guide to get you thinking about:

• how to find out what your skills are, and how to increase them if necessary
• the steps you need to take to start your own business
• how to develop connections
• the best ways to research and re-train for a new career

Unfortunately, gone are the days when we could start our working life at one company and hope to stay there for the rest of our lives.  Many of us, having faced redundancy, fear or just pure boredom decide to follow our passions and make a profitable living at the same time.  I know I’ve never looked back and my work/life ratio, my fabulous clients, my continuing passion and thirst for knowledge and the results I help to achieve have never been more enjoyable and fulfilling.

http://www.bookrabbit.com/catalogue/detail/bookid/6198652/The-Great-Mid-life-Career-Switch-15-Important-Tips-to-Help-You-Change-Careers-at-Half-time/Gordon-Adams/9781906821562

£6.99 and well worth every penny.

Is it me? I’m not a great fan of cardigans per se (or unstructured jackets, as my colleague Judith calls them) unless they are funky or asymmetric in some way but I needed one to go with my new Vivienne Westwood tartan kilt. The polo neck I usually wear had developed a hole that would have been difficult to disguise.  I had tried one on at the time of purchasing the skirt which had looked nice, but I had slightly baulked at the hefty price tag.  I couldn’t really justify paying so much for an item of clothing that wasn’t my usual cup of tea.

So I went into Peterborough. First stop John Lewis where there seemed to be an abundance of them in every colour way.  I tried on about 6 different labels, in a number of sizes but none of them closed properly across my chest. This might not be a surprise to most of you who have a decent bustline but I am an  A cup at the most.  Determined not to be defeated, I travelled to M&S. The same thing happened.

So a message to those manufacturers of the twin set type cardi.  We are women and we have curves – yes, even me. We do not want our cardigan gaping across our chest or to have to wear something underneath. A square shape will not do, You need to add some shaping so they fit and enhance all of our curves.

Looks like I need to get my darning needle out!

A team of researchers at a University in Northumbria (though it could be Outer Mongolia for their lack of astute and relevant findings) reported that men don’t notice whether or not women are wearing flat shoes or those with heels. Really!!  According to their spokesman, “Women are spending money on high heels, which can be dangerous, presumably to make themselves look good and add to what nature has given them”. Dahh! Doesn’t that go without saying? I have been prancing around on my tippy toes since I was about 5 years old, somehow instinctively understanding that my legs were too short and that I needed some more length to look my best. The funny thing is, that the only time I ever went head over heels unintentionally (in John Lewis on a Personal Shopping trip) I was wearing a 1/4 inch heeled gladiator sandal. I still have problems with my right ankle, wrist and shoulder as a result and it was well over 1 year ago now. If I’d have worn my trusted high heeled boots, I’m pretty sure I ‘d still be in one perfect piece. I can also report, absolutely truthfully, that my husband will tell you that the first thing that really attracted him about me was my legs, and yes, I was wearing incredibly high heels at the time.

My fabulous and generous FFS mentor, Evana Maggiore has recently learned that she was named in The Boston Globe’s 100 Fashionable Bostonians Who Rock the City – their 3rd Annual Best-Dressed List. She says “Since I don’t consider myself a fashionista, I was floored. People have always been my focus, not fashion, so the fact that my name was in lights alongside such Boston-based celebrities as SuperModel Gisele Bundchen,  Debi Greenberg (owner of the uber-chic Louis of Boston clothing store) and Gretchen Monahan (of Gretta Cole Salon and Gretta Luxe Clothing Shop fame where all the most fashionable Bostonians go to get groomed and dressed), was mindboggling. I’ve always had style, but not the in your face cutting-edge kind, which is what best-dressed listers usually recognize. When I finally managed to get my hands on a copy of the August 2010 issue of Fashion Boston (www.FBLOVES.com), I was impressed to read that I had been awarded this honor for: Bringing a greater sense of purpose to dressing without sacrificing style. And that is what Fashion Feng Shui® is all about. AMEN. Thank you Boston Globe for seeing beyond the fashion hype!”

Couldn’t have put it better myself.

For the past few weeks my friend and Fashion Feng Shui mentor, Evana Maggiore, has been participating in the Chopra Center 21 Day Meditation Challenge – something I would really like to fit into my daily routine. This is what she said about her experience to date:

“ One is supposed to download and listen to one recorded session everyday, but I have not been that digligent. Sometimes, my day gets going so quickly that I forget I’ve committed to this daily practice. Othertimes, my morning meditation is cut short by some other family, pet or friend induced interruption. One thing I do remain vigilent about is that the intention to do so remains in tact. I don’t give up just because I haven’t had a perfect attendance record.

This experience has been extremely validating. Every day, I receive a wonderful tidbit, such as “Ritual + Meaning = Transformation.” That’s what Fashion Feng Shui is all about! Taking an every day act and learning how to do it meaningfully in order to transform your look and life. Wow.

If you would like to participate in the FREE 21 Day Meditation Challenge sign up here: http://www.chopra.com/meditationchallenge. Just the sound of Davidji’s voice is worth your time!

The styling event at Ronen Chen was really something. Fantastic afternoon tea – think sumptuous cup cakes, elegant sandwiches, the best china and gorgeous rose wine – and my styling advice. I demonstrated how to get a capsule wardrobe to last you the whole season, in the latest bang on trend hues of camel and grey, which will never crease and doesn’t need ironing.  How to mix and match to gets stacks of new and exciting combinations of outfits so you never get bored and always look amazing. To me, that’s pure joy in your wardrobe. I’m also very honest and if something you try on doesn’t look or feel WOW, I find something else for you to try so you LOVE what you wear. We had many very happy clients yesterday. If you couldn’t make it, I’m at Chameleon in Lincoln on 21 st. Don’t miss it.