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 blogged about this about 1 year ago but the subject has now been published in a new book ‘Honey, Money: The Power of Erotic Capital’ by female academic Catherine Hakim. Her theory is based on the premise that there have thus far been 3 types of capital ( apart from the capital city) economic, social and human on which we base our judgments of others. However, Hakim believes in a 4th – erotic capital. What is it? A mixture of beauty, intelligence, sex appeal and social skills. Who has it? Some of the best known and most successful business women in the world – Sam Cameron, Tamara Mellon, Nigella Lawson. I know many women believe that getting a job or a promotion should be about ability alone but we know that is never going to happen. Research by Robert Half indicates that only 10% of your promotional prospects are based on your ability to do your job well – in actual fact, that should be a given. Good looking people have always been more successful but this book goes further than that. This is about the ability of all of us to make the best of what we have – dressing well, stylish and well kept hair and looking groomed. If we can’t be bothered to do that for ourselves, why should anyone else bother about us?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=honey+money
…. carrying on the theme of amazing older women, I’ve just booked to see Sharon Glass starring in A Round Heeled Woman at Riverside Studios http://www.aroundheeledwoman.com/?gclid=CJ_TivrR4qoCFUkf4QodqlPv7Q The play is based on the true life story of Jane Jusqa, who placed an ad in The New York Review of Books which said “Before I turn 67 – next March – I would like to have a lot of sex with a man I like. If you want to talk first, Trollope works for me”. She received 63 replies, from men aged between 32 and 84. A Round-Heeled Woman tells the real-life adventures of some of the encounters which resulted. Jane’s courageous journey takes her through falling in love, some heartbreak, rejection and humiliation, a lot of laughs, and her first orgasm with a man after 30 years. The play deals with the universally engaging themes of love, loss, personal empowerment, and the wisdom which comes with the passing years. And yes… sex. If you prefer to read about it, the book is also available on Amazon.
I see Dallas is making a comeback, starring some of the original actors. Expecting grey haired senior citizens, I was completely taken aback when I saw photo’s of Linda Gray. The actress, who plays Sue Ellen, looks even more amazing and gorgeous than she did in the original series, yet she is now 70 years old. Wow! Whatever she’s doing, I want some. Reportage says she works out 6 times a week so she can keep up basketball practice with her grandsons. With that in mind, perhaps I need to get my trainers out!
http://www.lindagray.com/ for more info about Linda and her worthy charitable work.
As you know I had a meeting with Jo Swinson and her team at The House of Parliament on Monday. She is committed to trying to eradicate the false images of perfection that our young people are striving towards by bringing in relevant education.
If you are interested in joining a campaign to represent women as they actually are and stop advertisers and magazines airbrushing or using only skinny models, then sign up for The Campaign For Body Confidence NOW. This is an initiative from an across the board political party action group, which is great news for all of us, whatever our age or circumstances. Let’s face it, there is as much pressure on new mums and menopausal women to look as good as our counterpart celeb’s too.
For more info, go to:
http://www.ymca.co.uk/body-confidence/parliament
You’ll be in good company: Caryn Franklin, Susie Orbach & Gok Wan are putting their all behind this – to name just a few.
I was thrilled and excited to see that one of my very favourite authors had included a chapter on one of my favourite subjects with one of my favourite consultants. Isabel Losada tries everything I’ve ever wanted to try to find enlightenment and happiness. I am a massive fan of ‘The Battersea Park Park to Enlightenment’ so couldn’t wait to get my hands on her latest book ‘The Battersea Park Road to Paradise’.
You might also be interested in Isabel’s book on Men, especially if you’re searching for a good one! All available from www.amazon.co.uk
An impassioned study exposing the dirty secrets behind our habit to furiously turn over the fashion in our wardrobes is now available as a book. ‘Fashion Wearing Out The World’ by Lucy Siegle is quite a worrying read – to say the least. Did you know that we have 4 times as many clothes as we did in 1980 and as prices have dropped it’s led to a throwaway culture, clogging up the planet, polluting many rivers and causing health risks to many people overseas.
While I can’t do much about this on a global level, I am attempting to do my bit by hosting the PECT (Peterborough Environment City Trust) Swish party tomorrow night at Westgate House. I’m also doing 3 makeovers at the Trashion Show next Thursday in Queensgate using clothes from Sue Ryder charity shop. There are still tickets available. So if you want to swap some unwanted, but good quality, clothing for something new and exciting contact Penny on penny.fletcher@pect.org.uk
Oh and by the way, I’m on the radio tomorrow morning at 08.30 telling you all about it. So listen in if you can.
I have been suffering with my skin for a few years now so decided to do something about it. Having listened to various therapists talk about the mineral oil and other nasties that can be found in our cosmetics, even the expensive ones, I decided to look for a brand with ingredient integrity that also had the backing of up to date technology and scientific research. Lo and behold, the Sunday Times Style magazine came up trumps with an article about Jane Wurwand. I’d never heard of her either, but it was fascinating reading about a former British salon sweeper upper who went to LA and made a fortune with her own brand of highly researched skincare – Dermalogica. As luck would have it, there are a few salons in Peterborough that stock the brand but only one that has a totally free skin ‘mapping’ system which works out the damage to your skin and what it needs to best repair and fortify it. The salon is called Nirvana on Oundle Road and I can’t tell you how helpful the staff who work there are. Firstly, I had to put my head in what reminded me of an old time photographer’s ‘box’ with sheeting on all sides. Once inside, I could clearly see, via a mirror, the damage to my skin that years of constant sunbathing had done. Once diagnosed, the therapist taught me how to use all the various products I would need, one by one, and then gave them all to me as handy trial sizes so I could test them at home and see for myself. All this for FREE!! Did I go back and buy? You bet I did. My skin breakouts got worse (I was warned this might happen) but is now clearer and firmer than it’s been for many years. You might not have a salon near you that carries out this technique but you can have a go yourself on the official website
http://www.dermalogica.com/uk/speedmapping.html#/speed-mapping
I would also add that their fake tan is the best I’ve ever come across!
