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Conselle Fashion & Image Newsletter
From Image Expert, Judith Rasband, AICI CIM |
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| Greetings! |
What amazing success I had on Black Friday! Imagine, I bought a marvelous $259 jacket for $33 and a sharp looking $118 sweater for $19. And that was just the beginning. My husband Neil and I were visiting in Las Vegas with extended family for a lovely Thanksgiving. Early next morning I hit my favorite outlet store. Now, this is not your ordinary outlet store. Located on Las Vegas Boulevard, Limited Editions is a terrific outlet store for direct sale clothing. And it wasn't even crowded! I planned to shop with a purpose. I hoped to find several pieces of quality clothing to expand a particular cluster of clothes in my demonstration collection. We will be using that expanded cluster in January classes on fashion styling and later with International students coming to us from India. All said and done, I came home with 16 new garments to add on to the cluster. Total success! Locally this week, I added six sporty styled garments at 50% off listed price in Christopher Banks, a delightful women's wear chain. A terrific jacket came in at $23 and a plaid skirt went for $9. Excellent quality clothes at low prices are available if you're willing to walk into stores of all types and be selective. What a contrast to "Fast Fashion" shops getting all the attention these days, and the feature article topic in this newsletter. If you're new to our newsletter, at Conselle we work with a complete set of 12 wardrobe strategies. Each wardrobe strategy is independent, yet each strategy builds on the others, much like the pieces of a puzzle working toward the whole. Each month I'll focus on a specific wardrobe strategy within the Featured Article. Other Newsletter sections will dip into timely topics with applied meaning for you. With limited space, I'll try to choose my words carefully to suggest a range of options available to meet your individual needs.
Sincerely,
Judith |
| Conselle Educational-Training for Image Consultants | |
Attend Conselle's 15-Day Educational-Training to become a certified image consultant.
Receive comprehensive image education and materials to launch a full-service image business.
A great image education is an investment you can never lose!
The Next Educational-Training is
March 5 - 19, 2011
 | | Conselle Affiliates at Sundance Resort |
Rave Reviews for Conselle:
"She has provided a true service in helping to expose and correct much of the misinformation and incorrect 'gimmicks' about appearance promoted in recent years, and does so without being negatively critical or substituting other gimmicks. She has a 'touch' that shows genuine interest in the well-being of the user......"
Marian L. Davis, Professor & Author, Tampa, FL
"AICI Convention certainly confirmed that I made the wise choice. An excellent, comprehensive overview of the image industry, with complete academic background knowledge! Be prepared to be exposed to truthful and time-trusted theories behind all that we do. The portfolios inspire us to the same excellence. Consider this your jump-start to learning-you have a gold mine handed to you in one file box!"
Bev Dwane, Durham, NC
Click here for detailed information or call 801-224-1207 and talk to Kathy.
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| Conselle "Fabulous Fit" Retreat | |
 Women whose passion is fashion sewing with a custom and fabulous fit are invited to an exceptional 6-Day hands-on retreat. Spend high value, personalized time with our Master Fitters! Each brings her own unique sphere of interest and expertise to the fitting and fashion makeover experience. Learn revolutionary new methods in fitting and alteration.
Next "Fabulous Fit" Retreat is May 9-14, 2011.
For detailed information and testimonials go to Fit Retreat Information or call 801-224-1207 and talk to Kathy.
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| Conselle "Image Enhancement" Retreat for Women | |
 Retreat to the beautiful mountainlands of Utah for this exciting 6-Day personal improvement workshop. We have put together the ultimate experience in personal discovery and image education, enabling you to discover, define, develop, and achieve an authentic image that brings you joy and confidence, aiding you in achieving your goals in the home, school, church, community, and/or the workplace.
Watch for Spring dates to come.
For detailed information and testimonials, go to Image Enhancement Retreat Information or call 801-224-1207 and talk to Kathy.
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Ask Judi | |
If you have an image issue that is getting in the way of accomplishing your goals, email me about it at judith@conselle.com. I'll do my best to get back to you with a solution that will help move you forward. Please include a contact phone number in case the answer is a bit long, so we can really talk it through. |
| Enter to Win! |
We will select a random entry and email them directly with their prize. |
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Featured Article - Fashion in the Fast Lane
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Conselle's Wardrobe Strategy #12, Smart Shopping, talks you through all aspects of clothes shopping for you, your family, and special friends lucky to be on your list. Newest on the fashion shopping scene are "fast fashion" stores with profits that put department stores to shame -- and sadly so. What's their secret? Speed and low prices!
Fast fashion stores deliver what the customer wants as quickly as possible. New styles come out every month, every week, and two or three times per week for some. That's why it's called fast fashion. What makes me sad, the low prices are largely due to low quality-cheap chic! What makes me mad are the terrible third-world factory conditions which are just as much the fault of shoppers appetites and retailers greed as of exploitative manufacturing giants.
Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, Buckle, H&M, Zara, and American Eagle Outfitters are applying fast fashion's here-today-gone-tomorrow mindset with prices consumers can't resist. Shoppers can no longer think, "I'll wait till it goes on sale," says Conselle affiliate Jean Turner. "They feel a sense of urgency to buy it now! Tomorrow may be too late! Even Chico's is into the fast fashion process, luring customers back to check out what's new that week." It's addictive.
Favorite fashion blogger Sadie at Jezebel.com asserts, "I get it, I do: when you're broke, or need work clothes fast, places like Forever 21 and H&M can be a godsend." But, she continues, "I know plenty of reasonable, sage people who shop these stores very judiciously: a work basic here, Target undies there, the occasional coat - with buttons reinforced - from H&M. For these folks, fast fashion is what it should be: an affordable resource that expands horizons and allows those on a budget to have a little more fun."
I'm with Jezebel. I popped into Forever 21 for a peek and found a fun red summer satchel for $20. But as for real-life wardrobe needs, fast fashion is not something to indulge in or depend on. It's a disaster for teens and fashionistas being taught to put too much importance on the perceived value of trends, putting too much time and too much money into disposable fashion. Disposable is part of the fast fashion process. With low prices and low quality, fast fashions have to be tossed after a few wearings or washings.
To avoid getting sucked in, smart shopping strategies remind you to:
- Shop with a plan. Core pieces first, matched or coordinated, worn together or as separates, working with add-on items updated a piece at a time. Use Conselle's Cluster Plansheets to guide your shopping options and inspire your wardrobe styling. Rely on that periodic wardrobe evaluation discussed in October. Discard what doesn't work and make a list of what you need.
- Shop with a purpose. So many people discover a clothing need too late, then dash in and grab something, anything that'll work for right now. Over the long term, it amounts to closet clutter and makes you feel guilty. Make it a habit to anticipate your clothing needs according to your calendar. A periodic "impulse buy" makes sense when you take time to think it through. Do you have something the item will go with? Do you have someplace to really wear it? Do you have some money available to cover the cost--of this piece and the quality replacement you'll soon have to purchase? When you know what's in your closet, love plus logic can make that impulse buy the perfect purchase you smile about for years to come.
- Shop with a dollar-amount in mind. You're looking for the best quality at the price you can afford. Shop the quality stores and catalogs with clothing priced in harmony with your ability to pay. Then pick the best piece on the rack. Scout the higher priced, higher quality stores for sale items only-generally displayed toward the back of the store. Or, like me and many others, plan to shop the outlets as well. Sales will continue throughout January. As you anticipate the New Year, start thinking about your coming clothing needs and planning your budget allowances for 2011. It works!
If you'd like the whole discussion of Smart Shopping strategies, order Conselle's wardrobe strategy book #12 Smart Shopping: Even on a Shoestring at $27.97. Order through Conselle's Store or call 801-224-1207 and order directly through Kathy or Sarah.
Order Smart Shopping: Even on a Shoestring here
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| Timeless Truth | |
'Tis the season to layer your clothes to give you effective climate control as well as a stylish and polished look. Work with quality tees, tanks, shirts and blouses, tunics, vests, sweaters, dusters, and jackets. Layering allows for creative dressing at its best! It brings style, versatility, and exciting interest to a wardrobe. A third layer garment, particularly a jacket, tends to add authority to the visual image. Layering provides versatility and insulating effects.
5 Benefits of Layering
- Warmth
- Modesty
- Slimming Effect
- Increased Influence and Authority
- Personal Style
Watch for our upcoming layering class included in our Spring schedule. |
| Consumer's Corner |
Spoken by a well-meaning women's leader, she admonished mothers not to waste their time on shopping excursions with their children. While several in the audience nodded in total agreement, I sat there wondering about the wisdom of that blanket statement. Was I the only one who wondered?
Granted, over-exposure to all the clothing variety that's available can make kids dissatisfied with what they have and stimulate them to want more, what they don't need, or what they can't afford. That's a good reason not to let kids hang out in the mall.
 And nagging children arguing to buy whatever they see can stress any parent to the limit. That's another good reason to limit shopping excursions and shop with a purpose. Get in, get done, and get out!
But from experience I know that a well planned shopping excursion shared by parent and child can become a happy and well-remembered special occasion. Many families have become disconnected and shopping together can become very natural way to re-connect.
Be it shopping at Wal-mart or at the mall, shopping is a terrific time to teach children and teens about values, comparison shopping skills, and looking for the best quality on the rack at the price you can afford. Get children involved in the shopping process. Teach them to make a shopping list prior to shopping. Discuss what the family budget will allow for what gets on the list.
A birthday is a great excuse for a daddy-daughter shopping date. The same goes for a son. It's a good time to talk about goals for the upcoming year in their lives and what clothes might help prepare them to achieve those goals.
Back-to-school clothes shopping can become an annual event for each child individually. Before the big day, Mom or Dad can teach children about needs versus wants, and again, ask about goals in the upcoming year. What activities, committees, or clubs do they want to participate in and what clothes might aid them in working or playing with others.
And of course there's Holiday and Christmas shopping excursions. Take children shopping one at a time for siblings and friends. Take time to talk over the likes and dislikes, the lifestyle and personality of the person they are picking out a gift for. Help them to choose a gift they think the recipient will so enjoy.
If children receive money as a gift to spend on end-of-season sales, by all means, turn the outing into a special event. This is precious time to put into practice all that they've learned about smart shopping! And don't forget to plan time to stop for a treat-a good drink or an ice cream cone, maybe even a light lunch. It's great fun of worth for the memory book.
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 Consultant's Corner | |
With budgets being restrained, offer long-lasting quality to your value-conscious clients. Recession-proof their holiday shopping, be it for themselves or on gifts for others. Pass up underwear worn as outerwear. Pass on by the big huge flower trim on tops and sweaters, anything overly girly, and everything that signals deconstructed "trash fashion." If we're willing to pay full price for frayed collars, cuffs, and closures or "raw" hemlines, manufacturers and retailers are going to assume they can stop finishing anything.
Don't overlook red. Red is not only the color of the season but the color of confidence this season! Red hasn't been this prominent in fashion in years. On one extreme, red can be worn as a power color by women in executive positions to emanate strength and assertiveness. Or, it can be worn by virtually everyone to brighten a gray winter day with a feeling of fun! Wear a little or a lot.
Anticipating end-of-season sales, avoid strong textured or patterned hosiery. Paired with patterned clothes it's a battle royal as they fight for undue attention. Worn with solid-colored clothes they still draw all attention down. Less is more. Go for a subtle statement when it comes to hosiery. Say "No" to camouflage prints and to extremely masculine military style jackets
Buy into one of the beautiful scarves available to soften the look of tailored separates. Choose classy belts and boots that can work so well with heavier winter-weight jackets and coats. Winter handbags are another after-Christmas item to clue clients into. Department stores generally offer the best bags at the best sale prices.
Now is the time to scout out classic coats, many of which will go on sale just before and after Christmas. Conselle affiliate Kathy Walters heartily agrees. Kathy travels to Salt Lake City for our January Conselle Affiliate Retreat and one stop she always makes is Utah Woolen Mills for fine quality classic clothing at more affordable sale prices. She found a darker teal blue-green classic wool coat to emphasize her sparkling blue-green eyes. Scout your local stores for wardrobe neutral core colors in black, charcoal, navy, dark brown, burgundy, and forest green. Try consignment stores and eBay. You've got options! |
| Tip for a Fabulous Fit -- Dress Slim! | |
Instead of stuffing yourself into a heavy peacoat or parka,
 | | Rauna by mshandwoven.com |
surround yourself in the luxurious feel of a fabulous rauna or poncho. It's art to wear, meant for both formal and casual occasions over silk or cotton turtlenecks and velvet skirts or well-fitted jeans.
A rauna is a free-flowing wrap with an open front. You can wear the rauna long in front and open like a shawl or throw one or both sides over your shoulder(s) for a more romantic or dramatic drape. A poncho is basically a big rectangle with a hole cut in the center to go over your head. The neck style may be rounded or V-neck. Rotate the poncho around your shoulders till you get the look you like - symmetrically horizontal or diagonally.
There are many stylish options in stores, just right for holiday occasions or gift giving. One size fits all and floats over the figure. It's fabric with function as well as beauty and elegance that is just plain fun to wear!
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In Closing We are delighted to be able to share with you information about image management to help you create a more authentic, appropriate, attractive, and affordable personal and professional appearance.
Wishing you and yours a safe and happy holiday season! Merry Christmas!
Sincerely,
Judith Rasband
Conselle Institute of Image Management
801-224-1207
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