August's Nutshell

Over coffee this morning, I reviewed the month of August in order to determine if I’d learned any lessons or discovered something fabulous. Did I find amusement in unexpected places? Was I pleasantly surprised at any point? The answer to all of the above is a resounding ‘yes’, so here I go with my so-called epiphanies:

You can’t tell me that negative energy doesn’t profoundly affect people, places, and things. I think a whole darn building could rot when old, negative vibes aren’t shooed away and replaced by happy and healthy ones.

Sometimes, situations really do come full circle. Familiar faces from long ago might appear in the most surprising venues.

Those little Ped socks, when worn over carefully moisturized toes at night, can save a pedicure without burning you up in your sleep.

Can a cat suffer from male-pattern baldness? The jury’s still out, but so far, all signs point to ‘yes’.

As much as one would like to assume that certain people have changed, evidence, unfortunately, reveals otherwise (although we still must remain hopeful for positive change and remain mindful of the fact that there is power in leading by example). On the other hand, those who may have been written off as lost causes might just step up to the plate and, in their own weird way, try to make amends for past dirty deeds.

I am truly overwhelmed by the support and loving vibes I get from people each day. Please know that I send that support and love right back to you!

Gary Stewart was one of the most underrated honky-tonk singers around.

And that, dear friends, is my August in a nutshell!

Just Stuff

I spent last night – well past midnight, mind you -purging my closet.

It’s that time of year, I suppose, in which I’ve grown absolutely weary of my summer wardrobe, and am none too keen on my current fall offerings.

Something inside simply won’t allow me give the stuff away, even though I know darn good and well that there are many women in my area who could use it. So I shall compromise: mark each piece down to an almost sinful price and sell, providing me with a little extra cha-ching for the new clothes I’ve been coveting in boutiques all over town.

As I sorted through my stuff, I got downright sentimental about a few things. Could I possibly say goodbye to the fabulous little white Calvin Klein all-weather jacket that protected me from inclement weather during my trip to Italy? Could I bear to part with what I affectionately refer to as my ‘Mary Tyler –Moore’ wrap dress that my wonderful husband bought me a few years back? And what about those bright yellow stilettos that turned oh-so-many heads back in the day when I actually wore them?

The answer, sadly, is yes. Though I hate to see some things go, I realize they must. They’ll hang neglected in my closet, eye-balling any new wardrobe editions, and become jealous. Some may grow depressed, others may riot, and I just don’t have the time to deal with any of their drama.

So here they sit by me in my office, stacked up, bearing little stickers that read $1, $2, and so forth. Signs for my afternoon ‘Patio Boutique Sale’ have been placed throughout the neighborhood. I’m hopeful each will go to a good home, to be worn with pride by someone who cherishes them as much as I once did.

Each piece really does have a story to it: the awful suit I bought last year because I simply felt I must have an actual suit. I wore it twice, and felt like Hillary Clinton each time I did. The long satin skirt – an EBay find – that made me feel like movie star. The cropped jacket with ¾ sleeves reminiscent of one of my fashion idols, Jackie Kennedy. I wore it quite a lot during my teaching days, and it will always remind me of the girls in my class who raved about it each time I did. Oh, and my favorite travel bag, the one I just found over twenty euro in, that was by my side throughout France, Spain, and Greece…if that bag could talk…….

But the fashion beat goes on, and I must dance along with that beat. Such is life: change is inevitable, and when we recognize that change is in order, we must take action. We must let go in order to make room for new, beautiful things to enter.

Beth Newman
Image Consultant/Life Coach
Newman Image
www.newmanimage.info
www.firststyle.webs.com
My book, 'Become a First Style Fashionista' now available through Amazon!

Who's Better?

During last week’s First Style Fashion Camp, I caught the tail-end of a very serious discussion amongst my little fashionistas. “Who’s better – Taylor Swift or Selena Gomez?” The debate lasted well past snack time, and I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself at the very question – who’s better? Not who’s more talented? Not who’s prettier? Simply, who’s better?

My good Baptist upbringing taught me to believe that in God’s eyes, we’re equal. Schmuck A is no better than Schmuck B. Yet our image-conscious society convinces us otherwise. Certain girls with certain attributes certainly seem to make out like bandits compared to their ‘less-attributed’ counterparts. Certain boys with certain toys are regarded a bit higher than their toyless buddies. Perhaps if we removed our blinders and actually tried to see through the eyes of God, we’d be a little less critical and a lot more loving.

Now, this may sound crazy coming from an image consultant, but my philosophy is this: it doesn’t matter how shiny your shoes are, if you are critical – of yourself and of others – you really won’t be happy. If you’re too focused on the outward without paying diligent attention to the inward, you’ll struggle. And life, my friends, should never be a struggle. Challenging at times – yes, but we should never feel put-upon, threatened, or worried about certain things that just don’t matter. A higher power protects us and looks after us…but we must be willing to allow this higher power to do so.

So to answer the question who’s better?, let me just say this….we all have different talents, tastes, dreams, and desires. None are better than those of anyone else. We are all the same. We all have something positive to contribute. If we all recognize this, our world will be a much better place.

Beth Newman
Image Consultant/Life Coach
Newman Image
www.newmanimage.info
www.firststyle.webs.com
My book, 'Become a First Style Fashionista' is now available at https://www.createspace.com/3470009

August's Good Buys

The time is now to fall into….well, fall.

Yes, dear friends, I realize the last thing on our minds right now is finding fabulous fall jackets and the perfect winter coat. With summer’s sweltering heat, all we really want to do is lounge by a pool with a refreshing frosty beverage in hand. But think about it, we must, for it’s the best time to score wonderful wardrobe additions for cooler months ahead. You’ll find many stores stocked for fall already.

When shopping for jackets, go for fitted – nothing boxy or oversized. Try to snag a few that are lined on the inside for an ultra-chic look. Your winter coat should provide warmth, obviously, but don’t let it overwhelm you. One can’t go wrong with the classic trench; camel will be the hot color for the season.

It’s also a good time to shop for jeans (select sophisticated, darker denim), flat shoes (DSW carries incredibly cute ones), and load up on big costume pieces and textured tights - they are still all the rage, and are trickling into stores right now.

There’s no need to buy an entirely new wardrobe, so before embarking on a shopping frenzy, take inventory of what you already have. Get rid of anything that doesn’t fit or that you haven’t worn in a couple of years. You can probably donate most items, but do throw away anything with rips or stains.

The best part about the upcoming fall and winter season is that we continue to see a return to a more classic, refined look. Let’s make the cooler seasons ahead our chicest yet!

Beth’s Pick for Fab Fall Finds:
White House Black Market (www.whitehouseblackmarket.com)
New York and Company (www. NYandCompany.com)
Charming Charlie (www.charmingcharlie.com)

For details on the 80's trend that's not going away soon, check out the August edition of Elegant - the little zine dedicated to fabulous living - located at www.newmanimage.info

Beth Newman
Image Consultant and Life Coach
Newman Image
www.newmanimage.info
www.firststyle.webs.com

My book, 'Become a First Style Fashionista' will be available through Amazon next week!