look great, feel confident, be yourself

'Dress shabbily, they notice the dress; dress well, they notice the woman' (Coco Chanel)

It takes 30 seconds to make a first impression that persists for 7 years -
you don't have to be rich, vain or famous to want that impression to be a good one!
Dressing well is not about buying expensive or fashionable clothes, or being photo-ready.
You can dress as well in jeans and a tee shirt as a red carpet dress,
if you understand what works for your personality, colouring and shape.
When you feel confident that you look fabulous, you can express who you are in an instant by what you wear,

'Lovely new experience this morning - looked at myself as I passed a mirror and smiled at what I saw. You've given me so much confidence'   (client 2019)

Buy less, wear more !
Knowing what suits you means you can look good, feel confident, and be yourself
without either compromising on style or harming the planet.
You can have more outfits but less clothes, understand how to make outfits from what you already have,
and buy well (but only once) to update your wardrobe and fill the gaps.
Need help with these dilemmas?
  • you have too many clothes, but still nothing to wear
  • you feel frumpy, stuck in a rut, or not confident with how you look
  • your colouring or shape has changed
  • you buy make up but don't know if it suits you
  • you want to look great, but don't want to increase your carbon footprint
Would you like to?
  • save money by shopping less and wearing everything you have.
  • save time by being able to quickly put together an outfit.
  • shop faster, without expensive mistakes.
  • look great, because everything you have suits you.
  • feel confident because you look the best version of yourself, always.
Why wait?  Call (07557 439317) or email, and look great,  feel confident, right now.
‘Compliment coming your way! My dad said he saw you and he said how pretty you were and how clever because red really suited you and you looked amazing – totally unprompted. Mr. Charming!!!’    text received by a colour client following her consultation, who also said 'I can honestly say I have had more compliments in the last few days than I have had for years – all thanks to your great advice'   ND
 'thankyou for all you have done...without your skills and knowledge I would still be a dowdy 55 year old.  I now have the confidence to dress quickly and smartly, and I feel alive!'   GG
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Add a spring to your step and breathe new life into your wardrobe - make use of this season's colour and style trends to update the clothes and accessories that you already have. You can be budget-conscious and age-appropriate, and reduce your carbon footprint, but still have fun with your clothes, make the most of your wardrobe, and even more importantly, make the most of who you are - look great, feel confident, be yourself. Read on for the latest style news.

Here is the news for August ... Ch-ch-ch-Changes

You may feel that over time your body has changed and this is be due to many different factors; pregnancy, more or less exercise, even surgery, and of course those dreaded hormone changes in our 40s and 50s. Your bust may increase or decrease a size or two, your waist seems to thicken and your bottom and hips seem to have grown wider.

I am often faced with clients who are struggling with their changing bodies; still wearing clothes that once suited their body shape, but are no longer flattering. It's actually an easy fix. Showing my clients how to dress for their figure opens up a whole new world and enables them to look and feel good once more.  A few simple tips can make all the difference.

straight line body shapes
Where once you may have been a straight up and down lean column, you may find that over time, your bottom seems to have flattened and drooped, your waist definition has all but disappeared and you carry weight around the middle.
  • Avoid any fullness around the waist such as a gathers and elastic. Although comfortable, it adds volume and bulk (at the very least, don't tuck in).  
  • Ditch belts and go for a little shaping at the waist instead. 
  • If your bottom has flattened, treat that at as a bonus and finish tops and jackets there. I advise my clients to finish hemlines at the narrowest point, not the widest.
  • If you feel your shoulders aren’t as straight as they used to be, try shoulder pads in your tops, sweaters and jackets.
  • You may prefer to hide your middle altogether, so stick to longer line tunics and cardigans . Asymmetric shaping is very flattering.
  • Don’t forget layering too. Shirts worn open over a camisole or t-shirt are a great option. 
  • I teach my clients to buy clothes that follow their body lines, so a straight body shape will always look better in simple straight cuts. 
  • If you carry weight around your middle, or across the bust, look for slightly softer fabrics with the same straight cut as opposed to fussy drapes and folds. 


As hormone levels decrease in menopause, you may have a tendency to store fat centrally in the tummy area, rather than thighs and hips.

Did I mention that you've probably got amazing legs? Be sure to show them off! Clothes that hang from the shoulders in soft fabrics cut straight are perfect for you. Don't clutter up the area between your bust line and hips, and always accessorise with jewellery.

Remember that a looser fit is far more elegant than a tight fit. Don’t become obsessed with a label size!


curvy body shapes

Women tend to gain weight until they are 60; if you have curvy lines, you tend to gain weight evenly across your whole body.

Don't mourn the loss of what you once had; instead embrace your new shape with flattering cuts and colours. 

If any of the above resonates with you and you're at a loss as to how to dress your new shape, think about a Style Consultation with me. I am always happy to chat through your worries and concerns before booking an appointment. This way you will feel far more relaxed on the day of your consultation. 
  • You will already know the benefits of following your silhouette with clothes, and emphasising the waist. Try changing the fabrics that you wear - soft fluid fabrics that follow your body line as opposed to those that constrict. Indeed, Lycra will be your new best friend!
  • Be careful with texture and heavy layers, as both have a tendency to add bulk. 
  • Avoid clutter and detail across the bust and hips, the reason being you don't want to emphasise these areas.
  • An open neckline is always more flattering than one that buttons up to the neck. 
  • You may find that the space between your bust and waist seems shorter (as your bust may drop), so try to lower the appearance of the waist line.  Empire styles work well. 
  • Clients often think they have wide bottoms whereas actually they have long bottoms, so look for trousers with a longer rise 
  • If your waist is still defined and in the right place, make sure you have a good stash of belts.
  • Think about where you wear print which draws attention, so if you're full busted, avoid stripes in that area. If you feel your bottom half is your challenge, wear pattern only on your top half.
  • An all over print on a dress is great, but make sure it balances with your own frame. Small neat patterns are best on small boned frames, large bolder patterns work better on those of a larger scale.
  • Remember to use colour appropriately. Darker colours can minimise, but black, if it's not in you palette, may draw unwanted attention.

colour changes

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Ageing can also change the way that we look; our hair may become less vibrant (salt and pepper) or more intense (steely grey), eyes can become more muted and skin tone can become pinker or cooler. 

Shades that you have worn and loved for years, suddenly don't look so good. This is a clear indication that your colours have changed. For example, someone with red hair and warm skin tone may lose the strong rich look over time and will be more suited to our Soft palette which is a much gentler, muted set of shades. 

If you have previously had a colour analysis but feel that your palette isn't working so well, it may well be time for a Colour Update. If you have never had a colour analysis, but are at a loss as to what suits, you will benefit from full Colour Consultation (and you could even add the Style Express, for the whole picture - ask me about this one, as it isn't on the website yet).

adapt your makeup

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Simply changing your makeup routine can have an extraordinary effect on how you look.
  • Ditch the black eye pencil and replace it with a more flattering shade.
  • Don't use one block eye shadow colour in a deep shade on your lower lid, if you have hooded eyes, as it will only highlight this more. Apply a medium shade eye shadow past the crease of your eyelid.
  • Always wear a primer and lip and eye base before you begin your make-up routine. These will help to smooth out any fine lines and provide a good base.
Just a few tips that I pass on to clients!

When was the last time you changed your makeup routine? Ask me about a makeup assessment, where I can show you how to look gorgeous and flawless using your best shades. A fantastic fun way to breathe new life and youthfulness into your look.

 don't miss it !

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Bridport Fashion Revolution, at the Lyric Theatre from July 30th to August 4th.

The events are intended to 'highlight the gap between the glamour of fast fashion, the way we buy clothes which hardly get worn before being discarded, and the serious environmental and social impact of the worldwide fashion and clothing business.' These are the sessions I am presenting:

WARDROBE WARRIOR free workshop Wednesday 3rd 3-5pm
DITCH THE SHOPPING HABIT talk Wednesday 3rd, 7.30pm
Most of us wear 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time. That's a lot of clothing doing nothing. Meanwhile, the UK is the most wasteful nation, buying more clothes than anyone else, and throwing away more as well. It is estimated that 11 million garments go into landfill every week, and while we are recycling more, the places that receive our recycling are getting so much stuff, that they are now putting it in landfill.  Yes, we should also shop ethically, ensuring we are not supporting exploitation, and giving thought to sustainable fabrics. But perhaps we should also buy less in the first place. Fast fashion is a major contributor to greenhouse gases, and it won't do you any lasting favours either - just furnish a wardrobe of clothes you don't wear.
Buy well, buy once, buy less
- your bank balance will be happier, as will the planet.

I will help you translate this season's key trends into your wardrobe in a way that makes you look and feel fabulous. One or two pieces will update your wardrobe, and if you get colour and style right, will give you value for money in years to come.

Get in touch today to book your appointment, whether you need a review of your colouring, a complete start from scratch, help with sorting your wardrobe, a gift for someone else, or a FREE make up or skincare refresh.
for more information, or to book, contact PAULINE BISHOP
telephone 07557 439317       email pauline@mytruecolours.co.uk

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