Girlfriend Let Me Help You...

... Find Your Personal Style Through My Blog

 

Hi! My name is Wendy Shiverdaker and I am so excited to share my love of fashion with you through my blog.

My first "fashion memory" goes back to when I was about 6 years old. My mom had taken me shopping to get  a new Easter outfit. I've never been fond of overdone lace or ruffled dresses. I've always preferred to wear things a little more tailored, so the Easter outfit was no exception. It was an adorable plaid skort with an eggplant turtleneck sweater. I wore knee socks with polished brown loafers-- it was fantastic! I wanted to wear it so badly, but my mom told me that I'd have to wait. I couldn't wait, so I snuck out of the house with it on to go play with my friends in the neighborhood. If I remember correctly, I was grounded for the rest of the day. But you know what? It was completely worth it.

I realized very early  in my life that if I walked out of my house looking good, then chances were that I would be feeling good too. When I feel good, I am prone to share that energy everywhere I go and with everyone I meet. I believe that looking good and feeling good is the beginning of accomplishing your goals.

I'm huge fan of the TV show "What Not to Wear." I wish that more people had the opportunity to benefit from that incredible experience. What happens on that show is life altering. It really isn't just about what you're wearing or what's hanging in your closet. I can tell you that I have witnessed first hand the transformation of a woman's self-esteem when she stands in front of a mirror and sees all that is beautiful and good instead of the things she would like to change about herself. I have spent many hours in fitting rooms with wonderful women and that moment never gets old for me. It is a real privilege to be a part of those experiences.

It's unrealistic for most of us to come up with an extra $5,000 to completely redo our wardrobes, and we don't have to. It's my goal to educate people on how to take what they already have hanging in their closets and use that as a starting point to achieve a wardrobe that's just right for them. Over the years, I have learned how to shop at all kinds of stores and with all kinds of budgets. I believe I can teach people how to shop more effectively and, often times, while spending less money.

I hope you will subscribe to this feed so that I can share tips and trends that can help you enhance your own personal style.

If you'd prefer some one-on-one assistance, I'd be happy to work with you with your existing wardrobe or help you shop for a specific event. You can reach me at [email protected].

Here's to looking and feeling fabulous!

Wendy

Celebrate Your Body!

I started writing this in early January with the thought of wishing you all a Happy New Year.  I've  been so excited about all of the changes that have taken place in my life, and all of the wonderful people that I've met on this journey to building my business, that I put writing on the back burner.  I'm here to tell you all (12 followers) that I'm here and committed to writing more frequently to share my ideas an love of fashion with you!

For many of us, the New Year begins with resolutions about weight loss and money management.  For me, it's just another opportunity to re-evaluate my wardrobe and play dress-up in my closet!

I'm hoping that you read my last post on getting your closet organized, and are now acquainted with what you have hanging in it.  I think the next step to obtaining a good wardrobe is learning your body type and how to make the most out of it.  I know what many of you are thinking, "My thighs are too big, my boobs are too small, I have a muffin top, and so on".  Those messages still float in and out of my head too, but I do know for sure that when I focus on the good things about my body and dress it appropriately, not only do I look better, but I feel better too.

I suggest that you stand in front of a mirror and pick out at least 2 things that you like about your body.  Do you have a small waist, long legs, firm perky butt, or great boobs?  Do you like your eyes, bright smile or shiny hair?  I know you can find something.  It is a slow process changing the negative messages spinning around in your head, but it can happen.  Sadly, most of us have them.  The power of positive thought is amazing!  I know firsthand that when I celebrate all of the good qualities about me, then I am prone to take better care of myself.

Next, it is important for you to except your body.  The notion of perfection is a myth, but that does not mean that we aren't all beautiful.  YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!  The sooner you can except that fact, the better.  Hold your head up high.  Walk into a room feeling proud of your  body.  If you haven't felt that way in a long time it can be hard, but it is possible.  Don't let the number on the tag inside of your clothing define who you are.  It's just a number.  I have three different sizes of pants hanging in my closet that all fit.  I shouldn't just feel good when I wear the smaller number.  I should feel good because they fit me and flatter my body type.

What is your body type?  Are you curvy?  Are you fuller on the top or on the bottom?  Do you have a defined waist?  Do you have hips?  If you don't know, ask a friend to help you.  Feel free to email me  [email protected] if you have any questions about body type.  Once you determine that, it will make it easier for you to dress your body.

I have heard all too often, "If I could just lose 10 pounds then I will start updating my wardrobe".  Don't wait!  You are worthy of that great pair of jeans right now!  Don't deprive yourself of looking good and feeling good.   You deserve to feel wonderful, all of the time.

I have spent many hours shopping with different women and I have NEVER experienced anything short-of -wonderful when they realize how amazing they can look wearing the right clothes.  I promise you, you don't have to be a size 4 to look fabulous.  You just have to believe in yourself!  So, what are you waiting for?  It's time to start putting together the wardrobe you've always dreamed of. 

 

...Get Your Closet Organized

I've been overwhelmed with ideas about what to write for my second posting.  I get so excited thinking about clothes and shopping and playing dress-up in my closet, it's really hard to pick just one!

I've had people ask,  "Where do I start in achieving a good wardrobe?"  I think the best place is in your own closet.  As with anything, we save time and money by being organized, and clothing is no different.  How often have you had an event to go to and you stood in your closet looking for something to wear and found nothing, so you found yourself at the mall?  I'm not suggesting that you never go shopping for anything new, but I believe that most of us have far more hidden deep in our closets then we think.  It's really important to know your own inventory.

The first thing I recommend, if you haven't already done so, is organize your clothes by item.  All pants together, all short-sleeved shirts together, skirts, etc.  You might find that you have some duplicates.  Ask yourself, "Do I really need four black skirts", and then pair down accordingly.  Look at pant and skirt  lengths when making your decisions.  For instance, you might want to have two different lengths of black skirts and pants.  You may want to have a pair of black pants that you wear with a heel and one that you wear with a pointed toe flat.

You'll want to look at the condition of each piece.  Don't keep anything with a stain or an irreparable tear.  Buttons are replaceable and well worth the effort if you truly love the garment.  Let go of clothing that follows those crazy trends from 5 years ago we didn't think we could live without.  Trends come and go, but classic pieces never go out of style, and if cared for will last for years.  That's a topic I'll address at a later date.  If you're choosing between four black pencil skirts, decide which two you gravitate toward and discard the others.

Take some time to try things on too.  You may have forgotten how much you love that black pencil skirt because you haven't worn it in awhile.  Make sure you check the fit.  Pants and skirts shouldn't pull through the tops of the thighs.  That's a sure way to make you look fuller trough the hips.  Buttons should not pull on any garment either.  I've been told that we aren't supposed to keep clothes in various sizes because it promotes a yo-yo effect with our weight, but I don't agree with that.  I see nothing wrong with having a few skirts or pants that are forgiving after six weeks of holiday eating.  I'm always grateful for them!

After you have your closet organized by item, you'll want to group things together by color, all black shirts, all white shirts, etc.  This is helpful when putting an outfit together and also when you're headed out to do some shopping.  It allows you to take a quick look in your closet to see where the gaps are.  We tend to be creatures of habit, especially with our clothing.  Maybe if you see that you have 15 black shirts hanging all together, it will encourage you to try something different.  There's no need to keep spending money on the same things.

After you've gotten your clothes organized, it's time to tackle the shoes.  Ladies, please discard all square toed, clunky heeled boots and shoes immediately!  They won't be back in style any time soon, and if they are, that's a trend you don't need to participate in.  Look to see if you have any shoes that just need a little attention.  It's always cheaper to maintain them rather then replace them.  Leather can be polished and the tips on your heels can be replaced.

After you've finished, you'll want to find some place to donate all of your unwanted items that are still in good condition.  If you live in the San Jose area, I have some names of a few places that accept clothing.  I'd be happy to refer you to them.  You might want to check with your friends to see if there's anything they'd like to have.  I always appreciate my sister sharing things with me.

I truly believe that getting your closet organized is the first step to having the wardrobe you've always wanted.  You may want to invite a friend, whose opinion about fashion you value, to help you sort through everything.  I'm also available for closet consultations.  You can reach me at [email protected] to set up an appointment.

Happy Organizing!