I was really surprised and elated to find I was mentioned in The Jewish Chronical last Friday. Why? Because I am running a workshop/styling event at Ronen Chen on Thursday evening. You need to book.  so email info@anneodowd.com to reserve your space. Start 7pm – 9pm. Ronen Chen is one of my favourite labels for our age group so come along and see how it can transform your wardrobe.

The Hepburns. Both are famous actresses and both had incredible style – but very differe in the way they looked. Every one is unique and one style does not suit all, whether or not you have the same name or the same bodyshape.

If you want to find out more about who you are and how to dress your unique style, take a look at my two really popular November workshops. The Art of Style concentrates on the woman within. The Masterclass looks at the physical body. Both will  change the way you dress and the way you think about your clothing. What’s not to love? You’ll never look back.

http://shop.feelfabat50.com/index.php?maincat_id=10  The Art of Style 4th Nov

http://shop.feelfabat50.com/index.php?maincat_id=13  Masterclass 11th Nov

Both £99 inclusive of lunch. Held in Peterborough just 45 minutes by rail from London. Transport to and from the railway station is also included if required

I am so excited. One of my clients, a former seamstress to the Queen of Jordan, has just delivered a new dress that she has designed for me. It’s fabulous. I can wear it so many ways, and you know I love versatility, and it’s a one off! How many people can say they own an exclusive design?

Want one yourself? Then go check her out.

Maggi Rowell is at www.fit-for-a-queen.net

Just finished reading the first novel by the wonderfully talented Jo Parfitt. Sunshine Soup resonated with me on so many levels that it has inspired me to go out of my comfort zone. I’ve signed up for a belly dancing workshop to release my kundalini! Not sure what I mean? Then read the book for yourself. It’s FABULOUS. Plus, if you love to cook, there are some fantastic recipes included. This is a book that every woman should read.  Buy from Amazon £7.99

Intuition is a strange thing but very powerful indeed. I needed to go into the city today to finish off some last minute details for the Glamour Galore fashion show on Sunday (see Calendar for more details). For some reason I felt I needed to look at lipsticks. As I’ve just come back from Amsterdam with 4 new ones in my bag, this was totally unnecessary. However, I stopped at one of the cosmetic counters to look at buying a red one – something that has alluded me all year. The girl that served me was so charming, I took to her straightaway. She helped me choose a colour and as she was applying it to my lips she told me it was her first day and I was her very first customer. She apologised for being nervous and that she couldn’t find the mirror so I could see what I looked like. In the middle of all of this, we had a conversation about her life and what I did for a living and it seemed to me that there was a definite link. Long story short, I bought a lipstick – not red but ORANGE ( those of you following me for a while will realise this significance) and she is hopefully coming along to one of my courses.  Both of us had a lovely experience and I’m hoping she is less nervous when her second customer appears.  The lure of a lipstick is obviously more than just looking good!

I have an array of fascinating women on my workshops and it’s such a thrill to be able to found out more about what they do and their success stories since their attendance on my programme. I’m focussing on the work of the lovely Irene Brankin and her first book ‘The Visible Woman’. It’s a fantastic read and something you can dip into time and time again. She asks “Which of these are you – a confident and mature woman who is still growing and learning or someone who feels middle aged and miserable?”  Her book helps you to recognise just how much wisdom and experience you’ve already gained from your life thus far. She inspires you, by skilful exercises and real life stores, to reclaim the qualities that make you who you are, enabling you to increase your visibility and confidence. Irene, who is an established psychologist, coach, supervisor and facilitator writes in a warm and witty way enabling you to appreciate and believe in yourself and to rekindle your passion for life. Let’s not forget, some of us may have another 40 years or more to live, so we’re only half way there! So, if you want to start a new adventure or your life isn’t quite as it should be, go out and buy the book immediately.   

www.irenebranking.co.uk for more information on the lady herself and her work to entice us to show up in the world.

To purchase, price £9.99 go to:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=irene+brankin   

I’ve feel privileged to have been invited to not one but two book launches. Jo Parfitt and Jae De Wylde (formerly know as Jane Minshall) were both highly instrumental in helping me kick start my career. Jo taught me how to write articles and found me my first book publisher. Without her, I would never have gone into print. Jane Minshall did something for me that I only imagined in my dreams. As a magazine editor, not only did she ask me to model for a couple of very glamorous fashion shoots but she put my face on a magazine cover! It was hilarious to sit in a packed café surrounded by a pile of magazines with my face on the cover with the surrounding customers knudging each other to see if it was the same face drinking my coffee. Oh to be famous! That was something really special that I’ll never forget. I was so delighted to be meet up with them again and can’t wait to read their novels – a first for both. Jo is a prolific author of 27 non fiction books (www.joparfitt.com) but this is her first foray into fiction. Both books can be found on Amazon in print with The Thinking Tank also on kindle £7.99. Both are so relevant to women everywhere so take a look. I know you’ll enjoy them. Sunshine Soup – Jo Parfitt and The Thinking Tank – Jae De Wylde

I’m thrilled to see the 4 lovely ‘mature’ ladies in the new Strictly Come Dancing competition starting this Saturday, with 3 of them, including the two in the photo’s, being over 60 – amazing. They are fantastic role models for women our age. I think they look so much more confident and sexy than their younger counterparts. Just goes to show that you don’t have to be old to dance. In fact, it’s probably more ageing not to dance!! Here’s to getting our dancing shoes out.

This is what one delegate said after her course earlier this week.

‘Sue’s knowledge and experience shine through in everything she does. She is incredibly inspirational and a great role-model for her own business.  The workshop I attended ‘The Art of Style’ was informative, thought-provoking and fun.  It has made me really evaluate why I wear, what I wear and given me some powerful lessons in how to adapt to become ‘the best me I can be’. I’d recommend Sue’s workshops and services to anyone who really wants to make a positive change and think about style in a completely different way.

 THANK YOU

Next one is on Friday 4th November. Find it in the Shop or Calendar sections of this website and book now before it sells out.

I held a fantastic Masterclass here yesterday looking at our bodyshapes – and other crucial elements that define YOUR style.  Here’s what one of the delegates had to say about it:

“Sue, I just wanted to say thank you again for a fantastic day.  Your ability to define and bring out the best in people is truly outstanding.  You have a lovely, warm way of going about things, which enables people to celebrate their good points, accept their not so good points and find ways of working with what they have to create something truly personal, unique, authentic and beautiful.  You lead by example with your energy and your enthusiasm for clothes, but also with your appreciation of the sensitivities that lie beneath people’s relationships with their bodies, their clothes and themselves. 

Thank you so much and I look forward to working with you in the future. ”

The next Masterclass in on Friday 11th November. Details in the Calendar section and to book/pay, go to Shop.  It makes life so much easier when you know what suits YOU.