It's never too late and it's always the right time to deal with the issues in your closet. For those who have put this off until now, take heart in the fact that there is NO perfect time of year to take care of this task. It just must be done!

By the same token, it's ALWAYS a good time to shop! No matter what time of year it is, there are always sales and many items to choose from.

So - a closet can be organized in the middle of July or a successful shopping trip can happen in June. The PERFECT time for closet organization and/or that shopping trip is when you're ready for it!

Having said that, though, you'll find that you'll feel fabulous once you get it done - to say nothing of the fact that you will be stylishly ready for any possible event!

Contact me if you'd like to save yourself time and money. It's also much more fun with an expert!

Swim suits and fit models

Image Consultants and their clients come in all shapes and sizes. So do the models that designers use for sizing their lines - these are called "fit models."

As far as swim suits are concerned, most major magazines had samples of styles and colors either in their May or June editions. Lots of info was given regarding what shape you should wear depending on your body type (assuming you know what your body type is...).

So, armed with this info, you head to the mall and start trying on suits. Why, then, do you find that a size 10 suit from one designer fits one way and a similar suit by another designer fits quite differently?? Here's the reason - every designer and every major label has their own idea of what the average" woman's figure is like, and so every designer has what's called a "fit model." This is a real person on whom they try their final product, to make sure that the design is pleasing and that it looks like the original rendering. No two people, or fit models, are alike. Some fit models may have a little wider hip, broader shoulders, fuller bust, etc. The differences are not huge but they are enough to make the final sizing of similar items that are produced by different designers, well, different!

The solution to this dilemma is to keep track of which designers' clothing fits YOUR body best. Then, when you're shopping, start with the labels you know almost always work - especially when looking for hard to fit items like swim suits.

Footnote - at least 50% of swim wear is now on sale. Have fun "sizing up" the suits and deals you find!

Recently I attended a conference for Image Consultants that was hosted by the Association of Image Consultants International, AICI.org. What I experienced at this conference was typical of what we see in today's work world.

The program information we received suggested that the proper attire for the daytime meetings would be "business." The opening evening was billed as "social casual." The final banquet was, of course, "formal."

It was interesting to observe that, except for those giving presentations, the "business" attire suggestion turned into "classy business casual" in practice. Why did I observe a very polished and professional business casual look rather than the business look that was suggested? I think there were two reasons for this:

1. People interpret such instructions to their own liking, and
2. Currently the attire of the business world is more "casual" than it is "business."

Even I interpreted the suggestion to my own liking - wearing palazzo pants and open-toed wedge shoes (which are not business shoes). Of course, as Image Consultants, we were all trying to be fashionable as well as comfortable and, hence, we all stretched the boundaries of a real corporate image.

As I mentioned above, the exceptions were the presenters. They all knew to wear suits! So, the general message is - if the spotlight isn't on you, then you can relax the standards a little.

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I was happy to hear from a couple of readers who were able to use the packing tips that I shared back in the April edition of this ezine. I happened to give those to you a little bit early in the 'travel" season and they turned out to be very useful for those who had earlier vacation plans. If you missed the packing tips, you can access them here.

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1. How often should makeup be replaced, and
2. Does the extra lipstick, blush and concealer left in the car for emergencies need to be replaced more often?

I'll answer the second question first. Makeup, in general, should be kept at room temperature and, although it's convenient to leave a supply in the car, this WILL need to be replaced fairly often. Even when the car is in a parking garage, the car gets hot and the makeup ages prematurely.

As for how often makeup should be replaced, my rule of thumb is: If you can't remember when you bought it, it's time to replace it. With most of my cosmetics, like skin cream, mascara and foundation, I put a small sticky label on each, marked with the date when I first opened it. Notice that I don't mark them with the date of purchase but with the date when they were opened. This is important because cosmetics start aging upon opening. This is when skin cells, air and, hence, bacteria are introduced.

How about nail polish, you ask?! Yes, it also ages and needs to be replaced. Once the polish and the brush come in contact with the air, it begins to age. With time, it will become thicker and the color can change. For the price of a nail polish, it's best to replace it a couple times a year..

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What's it like to be in a room with almost 300 image consultants? It's extremely stylish!

I'm recently back from my annual Association of Image Consultants International conference. I'm re-energized and feeling even more confident about the value of the work I do. I and the other Image Consultants know that how you look and how you feel about how you look makes a difference in your life.

Like most conferences, it was four days packed full with workshops, luncheons, dinners and a trade show. I'm excited to say that, during that time, I took a three hour session with the woman who wrote the book on personal style - Alyce Parsons, What's My Style. It was wonderful to spend an afternoon with the woman whose advice I strongly advocate. What I share about personal style comes from her work.

The subject of another presentation I attended was Working With Individual Clients. The presenter was Brenda Kinsel who is from the San Francisco area and is the author of a number of books that are simple and to the point and mostly for women over 40. She has wonderful information and I was pleased to learn that she conducts her client appointments in a manner very similar to mine. I did, however, pick up some new pointers and isn't that why we go to conferences?!

There were also workshops on business etiquette, personal style, corporate training and communication skills between men and women in the workplace.

So, what does the Image Consultant pack for a conference? First of all, I must say that my tips for packing were rather helpful - it really does work!

As you know, getting dressed in the morning for an entire day of events, can be a challenge when you need to look your best AND remain comfortable all day. Dressing for an event where you're mingling with 300 Image Consultants from around the world can add to that challenge! It was amazingly interesting, though, to spend time with consultants from Beijing, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Belarus, as well as the U.S. and Canada!

I'm happy to say that I felt confident and comfortable throughout the event. This was my 8th conference, after all. With a mixture of jackets, tops, slacks and a skirt, I felt like I had the right pieces to look really good.

So, this year's conference is done and I feel refreshed and bursting with more good tips I can hardly wait to share with you!

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For more information on working with me on YOUR style,
click here.

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Copyright 2001-2007 Julie Foley. All rights reserved.