Tips for your next shopping trip 😊

Hello good morning everyone 🙂

This week was a very busy week, however I had interesting interactions with people about shopping for outfits. There are two things which I hear quite often about looking for an outfit or just wanting a change to the wardrobe…. not knowing what one wants to shop for or pieces bought and never worn. I must confess, this rarely happens to me…. and my husband definitely concurs to this. I run down the corridor on tip toes with my bags of purchases…. followed by What did you buy? More clothes and shoes..😂

Not knowing what you want

Are you shopping for a particular occasion or do you need some retail therapy and want some new additions to your wardrobe?

If you are shopping for an event, think about the dress code required. Is it a formal or more casual occasion? Don’t go shopping with a specific outfit in mind, as the likelihood is that you will not find something exactly like that and you won’t consider other options. Be open to different ideas, even when it comes to colours. I love shopping from particular boutiques where the persons managing the shops are not there just to sell items but also to give advice on what best suits the customer. Listen to what they have to say, and experiment with different styles. Sometimes I try on a piece which I would not typically go for, and when I try it on…. it works! Here are some common comments I hear.

Evening events – long dresses are a must…. NO!

Unless the dress code specifically requires it, such as black tie, you do not need to wear long dresses for evening events. You can still be elegant with a knee length dress matched up with sandals or statement shoes. Personally I love jumpsuits, one of my favourites I have, is a tuxedo looking jumpsuit. Simple yet elegant – I wore a faux fur stole to it and then removed it during the evening. Trousers can be very elegant too. You can either wear wide palazzo pants with a corset on top or an elegant frilly shirt or a bow tie shirt paired up with formal pants and heels – so simple yet chic! This does not mean that long evening dresses are not on 😊 Have a look at some of the gowns worn at the night of the Oscars – can’t really say dresses and gowns are out of fashion:) my message is to not limit your options and consider different outfits, even for you to be different.

On the other hand wearing long dresses for a morning do is known to be a no no – I disagree. I have worn elegant summer maxi dresses for morning events. Don’t create set rules in fashion – it actually gives us the freedom to be creative.

Colours

I walk in a shop and the person shopping is telling the shop manager – I don’t want yellow, green, pink is not me, red is too bold…. have you heard yourself say these phrases? 😉 Black is elegant and I have many clothes in black – but I do experiment with colours too and nowadays love wearing clothes in different colours.

Yellow is very in… yes yellow! There are different shades and you have to find the one that suits your complexion – mustard, canary yellow, pastel yellow? If you are not comfortable with a full yellow outfit, mix it with black to tone it down.

Green is another least favourite colour with people. Have you seen the Versace green? Start off with trying a green top with jeans if you are not too comfortable with a full green colour outfit. You’ll slowly get used to seeing yourself in colours.

Red – bold and vibrant. Have you seen the Max Mara street style picture. Red from head to toe! It emits confidence and energy. There are days when I feel I need to boost my morale – I put on a red outfit or my favourite red lipstick (Dior 999) 💋💄👠

When you wear striking colours, you capture attention and you are making a statement with little effort 🙂 Colours are vibrant and put us in a positive mood.

Think of your next shopping outing …. will you dare try different styles and colours to what you normally wear? Let me know what is a definite no no for you and why….let’s try changing it!

Wishing you a lovely week….. 🤗

Yan

Spoiler Alert….. sensitive topic ahead!

During the past weeks I had conversations with friends of mine and also received a few messages from followers of the blog, about ….weight, size clothes and diets. I am no nutritionist or dietician so I will not attempt to give any advice on these areas. The reality is that our size and body shape obviously has an impact on what clothes we wear. Another reality is that the majority of us women always find fault in our figure, hair or anything physical. Someone last week told me, I am putting on weight but I just won’t stop eating…. yes I can so relate!

We all go through phases and throughout the years my weight did yo-yo, and from my experience here are a few tips of how to deal with these phases.

When the scales are in the ⬆️ direction

Unless you are expecting, then few of us enjoy watching the numbers on the weighing scales go up, but it happens and it’s not the end of the world. I think one of the mistakes we make is, even when the clothes are fitting tight, we hang on to them in the hope that in a couple of weeks we lose 3 to 5 kilos and we can fit in them again…. That is living in denial and making oneself feel even more miserable as the clothes won’t fit properly and you will not feel good in them. In my view it is best to buy a few items in your actual size – losing weight is a process and it won’t happen in days. You will feel better with clothes that actually fit. As much as it annoys us to go a size up – it is so much better than turning blue with trying to zip up a pair of jeans which barely fits 😉

Losing weight

When I put on weight and decide that not only for the looks but also for health reasons to shed off some kilos, I believe my mindset needs to change. Personally, unless required for medical reasons, I don’t like going on a very regimental diet where I starve myself. The reality is that when I did that, on a weak day I end up eating all the snacks and sweets in a matter of minutes. The mindset is what will make or break a diet or programme for a healthy body weight. I have seen my sister who decided to go on a healthier lifestyle, shed kilos. I know it was not an easy journey for her however it is her positive attitude that helped her. She makes fun of herself throughout this process and rewards herself when she reaches a goal… rightly so!

Here are some of the fun posts she places on her timeline.

After weight loss

I have seen this happen to a number of friends of mine who from a size 18 went down to a size 14 but just could not believe it! So they kept on buying clothes that fit loose. I remember brining clothes in a changing room to my friend and when I went with her actual size, she looked at me incredulously , until she put it on and realised how good she looked in it! After you lose weight, especially when you go down more than a size or two, it is good to take someone with you on a shopping spree to assist you with choosing clothes for your new figure 🙂

Common mistakes

Skinny people (not all 🙂 tend to go for tight fitting clothes, and as much as they can afford to wear material which clings to their bodies, very skinny people will look even thinner. Create shapes and curves- pair up a tight fitting skirt with a chunky sweater or polo neck. Place a wide belt on a tight fitting dress to create curves. Tuck your skinny jeans into knee high boots. You can wear ankle boots with trousers or skirts.

Bigger women tend to wear loose items, thinking they will “cover” the tummy 😉 the reality is most times such clothes will make you look bigger. I am not saying go for tight fitting lycra…😱 (let us all leave that for the gym!) , however do flaunt your beautiful parts. If you have nice legs, show them off! You have a voluptuous body, be proud of it. Have you ever tried long chiffon tunics with leggings? If you have big calves don’t wear booties which go above the ankle as they will make them look bigger, however you can wear booties just up to the ankle. Wear the right underwear – seamless and in the right size.

One final comment

There is a lot of pressure out there to look good , having the perfect size, shape and figure. We need to be happy and comfortable with the way we look and even more so with the way we carry the outfit. Right now are you sitting or standing? Put your shoulders back, pull up from your core and chin up. Have the confidence in yourself, smile and walk with pride. Each and every person is special in one way or another – we are all different yet beautiful!

Have a good day and week ahead

Yan

Reinventing your wardrobe…. with items you already have 🤩

Good morning!

I have been thinking about this blog post for quite a while. I don’t know about you, however I sometimes get into the habit of wearing a particular shirt , with a particular pair of trousers paired up with same shoes and bag I would normally wear with them and off I go… it is convenient when you are in a rush, but killing the creativity and fun we can have with clothes and accessories we already own. Also, we all go through times where financially we cannot afford to shop as much as we would love to. Here are a few ideas of how you can shop your own wardrobe 🙂

Organise yourself

You need to know what you own, to be able to think about and create different outfits with clothes you already have. A friend of mine had told me that her wardrobe is colour coded, I gave her a look of shock and disbelief. When my wardrobe got to a stage where I was shifting hangers around trying to find something I know I had, I decided to spend a Saturday organising my wardrobe in terms of items and colour. It really does help. You will find some clothes you haven’t actually worn in a while! Plan the time to do this, it takes a a while but it is really worth it!

Be creative!

Nothing beats the feeling of buying something new, and when we go shopping or when we are filling up the online shopping carts, we start planning different outfits in our head. Do the same with the items you already have. Think of different looks and get inspired by others. Go on Pinterest, follow others on Instagram to get different ideas. (You can follow me on yans-imagecons on Instagram, I do post ootd quite often;)

Ask yourself, what look to you feel like? Professional, rock chick, chic, smart and then have a good look at your wardrobe and start creating. Re-mix the clothes you already own, and voila’ you have a brand new outfit! Add accessories like brooches and scarves ( perhaps worn as belts 😉 and play around with creating your own individual look.

Have fun!

Enjoy and have fun doing this. It is really important to find the time, otherwise you will end up with half the wardrobe all lying around and you will find yourself frustrated rather than creative 😉 Think differently and you will realise that you can come up with so many different creations.

Mix your smart trousers with flats and a denim shirt for a sportier look. That evening dress you bought for a wedding which is now hanging in your wardrobe – dress it down with booties and a leather jacket. Blazers are very in this season, don’t leave them only for your office job or smart occasion, have you ever tried pairing up a blazer with jeans and trainers?

Here are three different outfits with the same pair of trousers. A skirt which can be worn for an elegant do, or for a hip party.

Let me know what different outfits you create in the comments – I always enjoy hearing from you!

Smart look

Same trousers, different style 🙂

Hair Trends – in collaboration with XAR

Hello again 🙂

For all those who know me, we share this joke that my second home is the hair salon I go to 🙂 I love my thick, wavy hair and I have a lot of it, however it takes me a lot of time to handle and style so I prefer going to my trusted hair salon – XAR Hair and Nails in Ibrag.

The salon is led by the owner herself, Daniela Maggi. I’ve been going at her for over five years and she still manages to create different styles for me. She has a team of another two hair stylists working with her – Roxanne and Toyah and also a nail technician, Adriana. The team is a young one, fun and oh do they treat us customers like queens (and Kings as it also services men) 😊

I get bored of having the same hairstyle, so I am a very demanding customer as I like changing the colour or style quite often, yet obviously wanting my hair to stay healthy. I went from auburn to almost blonde, then black back to light brown and in the process also having different lengths and cuts. XAR offers many solutions and Daniela and her team guide you throughout, explaining what suits the shape of your face or whether the style you want will actually work on your hair type. I walk out of the salon with so many different styles (my husband complains that once he gets used to me with one hairstyle, I change it again 😉) yet still with healthy hair.

One of XAR’s forte is curly hair. Unfortunately, I believe that not all hair salons in Malta embrace curly hair and find it easier to blow dry it straight. Curly hair is not easy to style and manage, however I have seen a number of people walk out of the salon with curls looking fantastic (have a look at Daniela herself with her awesome curls!)

Daniela Maggi, her lovely curls and vibrant personality

I had a chat with Daniela and asked her a few questions on hair trends for 2019…. enjoy the read!

In the last couple of years balayage was the thing to do when it came to hair and colour – what do you anticipate for 2019?

Considering that trends from the 80s and 90s seem to be making a comeback as far as colour is concerned, it seems safe to assume that we’ll be witnessing several different shades of blonde, as well as some bright hair colours in 2019. I personally hope that we’ll get to see the 80s make a bit of a comeback as far as volume goes, because I love creating ‘big’ hair, but I’m not too sure the Maltese market is that way inclined.

2019 – short or long? One length or layered? What do you think will be the must have trend in hair this year?

People seem to be opting for shorter cuts and styles these days. But I don’t think the trend being set is shorter hair as such. I feel that clients are increasingly opting for a complete change of style and since most of them would normally sport longer styles, many are opting for the chop. They seem to want to walk out of the salon, looking and feeling like they’ve made a drastic change and going short is a sure fine way of doing that. In past years, the majority of clients would come into the salon and demand “the usual.” That doesn’t happen as often these days. It’s a welcome trend if you ask me. It makes the job all the more fun and exciting

Product you could never do without in your salon?

Anti humidty spray. Cant go by an hour without it in the salon.

(Yan- I have the mini version to carry in my hand bag 😍)

Leave in hydrating cream for hair

We also spoke about what advice in general would she give, after seeing some common mistakes people make. Daniela explained that sometimes customers show her a picture of a hairstyle and do not take into account their hair type, underlying colour and other factors which may vary slightly the final result. Something she also suggests is the aftercare , using the right products to retain the colour, shine and style.

The salon opens Monday to Saturday, with a late night on Thursdays which is fantastic as I can go after work 😬 It is a pet friendly salon too, so you are welcome to take your furry friends with you. The salon also offers nail services by the hip and smiling Adriana. I get to have my nails and blow dry /colour done at the same time😊

So those were some ideas, tips and trends for your hair. Let us know whether you want to any other tips on hair.

Here are a few photos of the team and Xar’s creations on customers.

Good day

Yan

You can have your nails and hair done at one go!

Roxanne – she created many updos and different styles for my hair:)

Toyah – very meticulous in her work. Just yesterday she patiently carried out my keratin treatment 🙂

Adriana- perfect nails AND one must try the spa pedicure she does!

Here are some cool colours, cuts and balayage created by XAR

Hats to create different outfits

Hello!

The fun thing about fashion is that we can create different outfits, and in my case this varies on the mood I am in, what occasion I’m going to and what am I comfortable with on the day. A number of accessories can change an outfit and make it seem different to what it would normally look like, and hats are one of these accessories.

This year I enjoyed wearing hats and given the cold weather we had (this is relative but for us in Malta this year it was cold 😉), apart from making me feel warmer, hats changed some of the outfits and made them look more interesting. The fantastic thing about hats is that they suit everyone! Everyone can wear a hat and look cool – HOWEVER, you need to be comfortable in it. When I wear something which could be the latest fashion trend, but I m not comfortable in it – it will show. This does not mean that you should stay in your comfort zone… but in the case of hats you may prefer starting with a dainty French beret, rather than a flamboyant Russian hat 😊

I went for both and also the baseball cap, beanie and felt winter hat – the latter being my favourite. The felt winter hat created a fun outfit when worn with pants and a sweater, however it can also be worn with a long shirt dress and boots, and give that “western” look. I enjoyed wearing the Russian hat, but I felt it gives a very flamboyant and sophisticated look, so I needed to be in a mood where I felt confident and that I could pull it off! I wear the berets to go to work – I work in an office and typically wear specs to work and feel the specs and beret go well together. The baseball cap can be worn with jeans, long boots and blazers and create a military look or sweat pants and oversize tops for a more casual look.

These were just a few examples and ideas on how hats can change an outfit, and how you can create different looks with them. I am posting a few pictures of me with different hats – please be patient with me until I get used to trying to pose for the blog 🙃

Do hats truly suit everyone? Yes, but depending on your face shape, some hats may look better than others. There are a number of different pages/websites on the net which explain this. I am sharing one which I found useful. It was written a few years back, however it is still relevant. https://www.youbeauty.com/style/winter-hats-for-your-face-shape/.

Let me know whether you wear hats and in case post your pics in the comments if you do, so that we can share ideas on how these can be worn.

Have a good one

Yan

P.s next blog….hair trends 😀😀😀

A trip to the city that never sleeps…

Last week, I had to travel on a work trip to the Big Apple, hence my silence in the blog. I had visited New York four years ago and seen all the main sites. This time round it was work focused, however fortunately I did have a day where I could go round the city or rather fifth avenue 😉 Before I get to that, let’s start off with … the flight.

In my previous job, I used to travel a lot on work including long haul destinations. Initially, I used to walk down the plane looking miserable, my skin lacking oxygen and make up which I had put on hours before, falling apart. I had met a person, a colleague and a friend, who used to travel a lot who had shared with me a few tricks which I will now share with you.

Clothes

When I travel I still want to wear something comfy yet stylish. I typically opt for jeans, a shirt, a pullover or blazer and smart flats. If you’re sitting in a plane for over 5 hours – jeans start feeling tight after a while. Also after a long haul flight, you feel messy in the same clothes you started off your trip in. So, I carry with me another outfit to change during the flight. I’ll have a pair of sweat pants and pullover and after the take off I change to those. When maneuvering in my seat with a tray of food in front of me, it’s not the first time I spill food or drink! This won’t really matter if you’re in your other outfit 😉

Skin and make up

Small make up bags (to fit in a hand bag) with sample skin care are a must to carry on such trips! I always carry with me make up remover wipes, serum and moisturizer for the face when travelling. I also carry basic make up to touch up before leaving the plane. These are always kept handy in my bag. An hour before landing, I go to the restrooms, clean my face with the wipes and refresh my skin with the serum and cream. After a number of hours in dry air, my skin craves for it. I then put on the base, such as hydrating foundation followed by mascara and nude lipstick. I don’t put much make up, just enough to feel more refreshed. I change into my jeans and shirt and hurray … I feel so much better!

Sample skincare to carry with you on plane

Small pocket with necessary make up basics

I hope you like these tips, to make your journey and flights more bearable. I don’t walk out of the plane looking like a Hollywood star mind you, but I do feel better when I follow these steps 😊

A few windows in the Big Apple

Now, for the more exciting stuff! Here are some pictures (apologies for the quality) of some windows of designer flagship stores and stores in New York.

You will note that the theme is: bold and colour or prints. You can see this in the various clothes and items they create. One of my favourite windows was that of Salvatore Ferragamo. The collection incorporates the monogram of their gancini symbol. The window was a complete show of this, which in my view is bold and powerful. Have a look and see what you think. Others might prefer the sportier, casual window of Michael Kors.

Salvatore Ferragamo window and the gancini symbol

Michael Kors window in 5th Avenue

Department stores showcasing various designer clothes

Tommy Hilfiger flagship store…. design is amazing

So have a look inside your wardrobe and check out the coloured items you have or those with prints. Don’t be scared to use them… go for it! If you are less adventurous , why not try jazz up a plain outfit with a colourful scarf or wear a black outfit and bright coloured shoes. Think about it…. and dare to be slightly different 🙂

Next…will post on one of my favourite accessories…. hats 🙂

Have a great Saturday evening!

Yan

Trends for 2019….

Out with the old, and in some cases aren’t we happy….think transparent bags (why…really??). Let’s have a look at the main trends we are anticipating for 2019, and I will add how these can be adjusted to suit different figures.

Layering

Think of “separating” your outfit. Belts….if you look at the latest fashion shows of various designers, you will see the use of belts in numerous outfits, mainly added to shirts over pants or belts over dresses to create the idea of layering. Can anyone wear a belt? Of course, however depending on your size and figure, you will need to choose the right belt and add it to your outfit in a clever manner.

If you have a straight body, make sure the belt is placed above your hips to create shape. For short petite figure, wear slim belts over waist (they will make you look taller 😉 If you are short – match your belt to the upper body and not your pants or skirt. If you are round, go for slightly wider belts under your bust to create a slender waist.

Remember – the bigger the waist, the smaller the belt. you can also let the belt loose on your waist or hips.

Melissa Mccarthy owning the belt- one of my favourite actresses when it comes to style (and not a size zero!)

Oversize long coats

These are very fashionable, however not everyone can pull these off. If you are not tall you may end up looking like you are in your dressing gown especially in certain colours and with the knotted belt at the centre. If you are not tall, don’t despair – layer with long cardigans and ideally find one which is not one length to create the illusion of length:) I personally love the selection of these at Desigual.

Colours and prints

As much as black is always a favourite, many designers included colours and prints in their collection. Have a look at the Versace collection with bold alphabet prints and pop art colour. Chanel adds contemporary hieroglyphs to bags, whilst Alexander McQueen goes bold with studs and chains. Locally, the Charles and Ron collection showcased many prints and colours – one of my favourite pieces is the long ball like skirt which you can also dress down with their logo t-shirts.

For those of you who are big framed, or a big size, don’t be scared of colours. Be clever – make sure the colour is in the right place or if you dress in prints choose one to enhance your figure such as block colours. If on the other hand you are very skinny, embrace loud and busy patterns.

Designers set the trend and the high street market, which is more reachable to customers, will follow suit. Even if you cannot afford designer pieces, watch out for the seasonal collections in order to take on ideas and then adjust to your style. Having followed the collections mentioned above, I went for a pair of studded pumps from Aldo (at sale price 🙂

This was just a flavour of what is coming our way. I will soon be looking into the hair trends for this year and will be having my first guest for the said piece … can’t wait!

Let me have your comments – always good to hear from you.

Thanks

Yan

All about you!

Good morning and thank you for the positive feedback, it was overwhelming.

The idea of this blog is to, on the one hand speak about the latest trends and how these can be adjusted to suit different sizes and ages. I will also speak about skincare, makeup and hair. Apart from this the intention is also to have features on people, people who are not in the public eye but have a fashion sense which I find interesting. And that is why this blog is not about me, but all about you!

You have sent me a number of topics you would like me to write about, amongst which fashion on a budget, winter essentials yet looking fashionable, however my favourite was please write on fashion for short and chubby people 🙂 I promise you – I will! Let me know what other topics you would like me to write about – this is your blog ladies.

Look out for the next blog – trends for 2019 and how you can adapt these to suit different figures.

Good day

Yan

Fashion, image and embracing oneself!

Thanks for joining me!

I love fashion, I consider myself a fashion enthusiast.

Some people believe fashion is only for super models, but we all come in different shapes and sizes and we can all look good and dress to enhance oneself – and we all have our good side 🙂 Believe it!

The idea of this blog is to post on different styles and trends focusing on my personal preferences and how these can be adopted to all, irrespective of age or size.

Hoping you will enjoy this blog….. my mantra is, the best way to feeling good is feeling comfortable with yourself!

Yan

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