Blown away

You guys are so funny - I was blown away by your comments about my Trinny and Susannah-ing day. Thank you so much for all your sweet words of support. You made me feel much bolder going into the lions den on Saturday.

So, I feel I'd be cheating you if I didn't let you in on how it all went. Please feel free to skip along to the next blog if you couldn't care less - I quite understand.

Well I enjoyed myself so much more than I was expecting to. I wore my crocs for extra courage and the first thing they said was 'wow, you've got a pair of those funky shoes'. Good start.

My friend Sarah and I were swathed in different coloured squares to determine 3 aspects of our best colour palettes; dark-light, cool-warm and bright-muted.

The beauty of this system is that it's not a 'red is not for you' judgement, it just lets you know if a tomato red is better than a pinky red or a plum. The dark-light relates to the intensity of the colour, cool-warm is blue based versus yellow based colours and bright-muted is colours with little or lots of grey in them. I am a dark, bright with cool tendencies. This means, in a nutshell these colours in my wardrobe get to stay...

and these have to go......

Yes, I was so taken by the whole thing that I turfed out all the no-no's from my wardrobe the moment I came in. Just on the basis of colour, not how much I paid for them, or I can't part with them for sentimental reasons. Actually, I haven't parted with any of them yet - just hung them in the guest wardrobe to see if I can do without them. It helped that I agreed totally with their advice and actually have many of the shades they advocated in my wardrobe already.

Weirdly, when I look at the no-no's all together, I have to say that they are the things I never get compliments on wearing and don't feel quite comfortable in.

Next, they did our make-up, the scariest bit for me as I am always bare faced by day. I did feel a bit like a child who has been rummaging in my Mum's make-up bag, but a comment from my friend Sarah 'Don't take this the wrong way, but I didn't know you were so pretty' has made me vow to try a little.

Then it was style time, where I was surprised at how kind they were. They didn't criticize anything we were wearing. In fact, their mantra was, if it makes you happy, wear it. But they did help us focus on our good points and give us tips on how to emphasize them. Mine are my collarbones (never really took much notice of them, just thought they gave my arms something to attach to) and a flat stomach (yes, sorry, even after 2 kids, don't hate me). So no focus on my gigantic arse, thunder thighs, chunky calves..... Their advice was, give people something nice to look at and they will gloss over the rest. Which is so true - how many times have folks failed to notice a new hairdo or glasses.

For the cheeky anonymous commenter who asked what it cost me - £125 and money VERY well spent in my opinion. But in the future, don't ask me anonymously or I won't tell you.

So for me, a definite confidence booster and a real help for future purchases. My friend Sarah had colours that are further from what she usually wears and seems less excited than me about the whole thing. But then, she was less hopeless than me in the first place.

Comments

[caroline]

I am so pleased to hear that the day went so well. I was wondering how it all went so thank you for letting us know.

[Alicia A.]

So glad you enjoyed yourself and that it boosted your confidence too!

[Kate]

I am glad you had a great day - it sounds kind of liberating - I'd love to not have to stress about what to wear. What a great excuse to do a lot of shopping!

[Ash]

Wow, it sounds great! I have a wardrobe so sad that its not really even a wardrobe at all. I have three pairs of winter/autumn/spring trousers and three pairs of shorts/summer pants. I then have a variety of fitted tees that go with them. Sadly, I have gone off black which used to be my favourite colour (no decisions required, you know??) and now I'm at sea in a world of colour.

Your day sounds like fun!

[Strikkelise]

Flat tummy after two kids? I'm not talking to you.
(sounds like money well spent, though)

[Angela]

Wow that didn't sound too painful and you sound very upbeat about it all! Glad it was fun and helpful. Do you get to buy some new clothes now? Are you gonna start wearing make-up? Do we ever get to see any stinkin' photos of you all dolled up? Please the people. Your fans await.8-)

[monica]

you know what Coco Chanel used to say? "dress poorly and they'll notice the dress, dress beautifully and they'll notice the woman"

Food for thought, eh?

[karen]

Sounds like you had a great time and you are very good moving everything out already - I tend to be the hoarding type - well you never know when something might come back into fashion - but it really drives me nuts and I wish I didn't do it.

Anyway - no need to mention a flat stomach - mine is still flat too (but only when I lie down). Oh flat stomach where art thou - I miss you!

[lindiepindie]

So glad that it went well! It really sounds like a fun thing to do, but I wouldn't even know where to go. And I definitely wouldn't go alone.

I'll give those clothes a month in the guest closet, then I predict they are out of the house!

[lera]

I'm happy you had a great time. And the courage to get rid of (or hide) your old clothes. You go, girl!

I would love to do that.

[jojo*]

Sounds like fun...and great that you had a friend to do it with. I badly need a stylist. And I'm with Angela--when do we get to see pics of YOU!?? :)

[Nicole]

Thanks for letting us in on the process. I was so curious.. You never relaly know how others see you and I might do this myself one day. Just wasn't sure I could afford it it.

Sorry for being cheeky & asking prices, anon or not!!

Anonymous no longer,
Nicole S - Raleigh, NC, USA

[weirdbunny]

I'm glad you had such a lovely time. I love the colours of the clothes you kept.