Journey into me

Before the process started

Finally, decided at 46 to have my colours, make up and image assessed and redressed. I wasn’t ready for the impact just having the first two step of this process would make.  This blog will record in photos and words the events and emotions of the journey into the new me.

Firstly the reason I started this journey was discontentment at how I look and appear, plus Ian proposed to me and I don’t want to get married and regret how I looked on the day.  I had been considering for some time an image makeover and had looked for and image consultant, when my friend and tutor had her’s done and passed the details on to me.  The effect on her was astounding.

I phoned and made an appointment with Sue of House of Colours in Nottingham and was very nervous about the whole thing and at £220 I wondered if it was all a con and a waste of money.  On a bright and sunny Sunday morning I met with Sue at her flat and with another lady who was having her colours done as well.  The day was leisurely and included refreshments and lunch, in addition to Sue assessing our colour schemes.  I turned out to be Blue Autumn and the difference to my appearance the complimnetary colours made took years off me instantly however the wrong colours did the opposite and I was reminded of my own mother.  At the end of the session we touched on make colours for our colour group and both myself and the other lady looked like different people.

For my next session which was make up I was on my own with Sue and we went through all the skincare routine and I was ashamed to admit to myself that I had for years neglected my skin.  After the skin care Sue selected the make up colours and created 5 looks for me ranging from a “sultry night out look ” to a “walking in the Peak District” look.  I went home with my “evening look” make up onand was greeted by Ian with “you look thinner and younger” .

That was nearly three weeks ago and I have worn my make up everyday, I have rid my wardrobe of all colours not in my range and kept only a few items for emotional withdrawal reasons.  The comments and looks I have had from people I know and people I don’t is bringing about a change in attitude, I am taking far more care of myself and even wore my make up whilst on site in my hard hat and overalls.

I have the image day on 1st August and can’t wait I will add pictures as I go along and compare the before and afters, to show how I started and how I end up.

29 July 2009

Getting closer to the image consultation today and have an appointment with the Plastic Surgery Clinic tonight to discuss possible face lift,  have an appointment next week to see about having my front bottom teeth replaced by implants as they have deteriorated beyond belief years of neglect and having children has taken its toll.

I am very excited about the image conultation and have to take along my wardrobe for review for style, shape, etc .  Already the people at work have noticed a big difference and keep commenting on how much better I am looking.

2nd August 2009

Had my image consultation yesterday and I have come out as “Natural” I now have a selection of diagrams of suit, dresses, coats, trousers, skirts and “entriails” that suit me and my body shape. I also have a list of shops that stock clothes for my style these include Max Mara,   Paul Costello, Monsoon, Kew, Hobbs, Coast etc. My first shopping trip is 15th August with Sharon and I can’t wait .  This is so exciting! I will scan and post the shapes of my clothes and some pictures of things I like at a later date.

Soft Draped fabrics that give the item shape rather than fitted clothes

I am a “soft square” which means roughly hips and shoulders same width, so clothes need to be casual but smart as these examples below show the styles.

August 4th

A little nervous about my first purchases but ran them past Sue my consultant who gently guided me in the right direction, so here are todays purchases. In addition to the images below I have bought some fantastic t shirts in my colours from Kettlewells and from Artigiano I bought the trousers to go with the suit jacket.  Stockists used are Artigiano, (I bought through Quidco.co.uk and got £18 back off my purchase), Peruvian Connections, Kettlewells Colours.

This was too big so went back

 

This is one dress as part of the Capsule wardrobe. This looks great on

 

Fell in love with this. Is absolutely lovely

 

Dress for a special event another Peruvian Connections outfit. Looked like a sack on me no shape

Benjamin  took some photos of me after work today so here is the begining of the new me.

New look

5th August    New clothes arrived from Kettlewells and I can’t believe the difference the colours make the photos below give some idea of the difference. Ian commented in the car on the way to Tha Chi that he had a picture of me with Danielle last year and how different I am now looking so here are the two pictures.

Chilling with Danielle April 08

 

Ready for Tha Chi in my new top

Which photo do I weigh the least in???? Would you believe I am the same weight in both.

Some more examples of clothes in my style and that I like

6th August Wore this top today in the colour below it

Kettlewells Colours lovely quality and

colour is lovely

These are my other colours . Some I can Wear 100% ie coat or dress

others are only 75% ie top or skirt.

August 7th Off on a camping trip this should be a challenged keeping my image together, have make up packed and clothes in the right colours not sure about the baseball cap but need to shelter from the sun, or rain and my honcho is just for warmth.

August 8th Glorious hot day met up with loads of people we know and lots of comments on my dress style. So here I am managed to score a 10 today which isnt bad.

Geocaching on way to End of headland and weather is hot

Geocaching on Brean Downs weather is hot I have tried to keep to my colours and styles so have added brown neck scarf, bracelet, rings, watch, blouse with tucks make up and 3/4 length trousers, need a tan on my legs.

9th August Mega event in Weston Supermare and a shopping trip to Mountain Warehouse now have new waterproof coat, fleece and t shirts plus neck tube  in my correct colours and style.

New walking jacket in one of my colours

Looks better on me

10th August new dress and suit arrived suit is too big but dress looks great.

11th August Posted new picture on Facebook and with in minutes had comments about how good i am looking and had i lost weight.  Wore my red slash neck top from Kettlewells today it is lovely. Cape and dress from Peruvian Connections arrived cape is great but dress doesnt work so its going back and back to the drawing board for shopping.

12th August Hair colour now in the correct tones and looking good watch this space for more contrast photos of before after and during.

14th August Shopping with Sharon Cant wait Charity shop and dress agency shopping.  The trip down to London to help my daughter move. Have ordered the following in a quest to create my capsule wardrobe.

 

15th August THE BIG SHOP

Today is the day I meet up with Sharon, who had her colours done first and we are out shopping together fortunately she is a Blue Spring and I am a blue Autumn so we shouldnt fight as out colours are different. 

The first shop we came to i had a glance at the shoes and moved on to scarves, Sharon spotted some Cotton trader Sandals in pink Sharon loved them but i had to rescue her frm making an unwise choice as the colour was mine not hers after some deliberation we agreed they were my pink not hers, Sharon hates me now (lol). The colour is coral the sandal iin the back ground is nearer the correct colour.

Next I spotted a scarf in my colours again the colours are replicated correctly as the lighting in the hotel affects the camera.

My next find was a Monsoon scarf in olive

Other purchases today included a cream Monsoon jacket in my colours.  

                                                                                                  Then i bought a beige wrap withcammi attached by Coast

Then I bought new shoes by KG and an new vanity case by Samsonite to replace my aging one RRP 80 Froxs price 18 bargain.

 

Next we moved on to another Beetroot Tree for lunch and her I purchased some designer jewellery.

After a delightful lunch another shop to visit and here I bought a gorgeous cream lace dress, a red top, Armani handbag suede and brown. a cream jacket cant remember makes but here they are

Total coast for the entire trip was 327.00 excluding the jewellery was 243.  which for the amount and quality of items bought is a steel.

A good shopping trip and now i have to wait for Sue’s verdict and watch this space for the new photos of the new outfits and looks  oh yes in addition i bought a skirt which i will photo graph on me not flat on the bed.