'There's no such thing as an ugly woman. There are only those who haven't realised their potential'
Arlene Dahl
Have you noticed there is a lot of red around at the moment? Yes it is that time of year when you see lots of red and black in the shops, there is no getting away from Valentines day.
Red is a fun colour, it will get you noticed. But which shade of red looks best on you? If you have olive or sallow skin that tans easily or has freckles you will look better in warmer reds while if you have a pink tone to your face or are very pale you will look better in a cooler red. Think of raspberries and cherries if you have a coolness to your skin. With olive or sallow skin that has yellow tones to it think more towards coral reds. You will find colour charts to suit your skin tone in my ebook which is £4.99 from www.whatcaniwear.com
Wear red on Valentine's day
As red is the colour of love here is a red dress from the House of Fraser. If like me you feel the cold you could also wear a blouse or a lightweight jumper underneath. It costs £70 and also comes in black.
For an added bit of fun you could accessorise with a red handbag.
This unusual red bag is from www.peachaccessories.co.uk and is £38. Their website is easy to navigate and all the bags are
organised in colours so very easy user friendly.
Top tip
When I redecorated the spare room I got rid of the old freestanding wardrobe which was looking tired and worn out. There is a huge dresser in the room that can hold a lot of clothes but if someone comes to stay there is now no hanging space. I bought a cheap metal hanging that was used at Christmas but have since discovered this comapany that specialises in storage solutions.
The boat wardrobe is made from bamboo and looks so much nicer than the metal one I have. It costs £159 from www.howardsstorageworld.co.uk
Website of the month
I love coming across something a bit different and Zinnia is a company that certainly is that. They sell beautiful suede shoes, boots and handbags is lovely colours.
The ballerina pumps can also come with spots on. They cost £60 but are very soft and comfortable and great for anyone with problem feet. They also come with a little bow in 10 different colours.
www.zinnia-gifts.co.uk
The same company sells loafers again in a variety of colours for the same price £60.
They also do suede handbags at £78.
What I am loving this month
By February any sign of a sun tan is long gone and my skin looks very washed out so I went in search of something to brighten up my face. I was browsing the make up counters at the local House of Fraser when I came across Aveda. Their products are 90% organic and they use recyclable packaging and containers. After explaining that I wanted to boost the appearance of my skin the consultant recommended the tinted moisturiser.
Since wearing it I have been complemented on how well I look someone even asked if I had been on holiday. It is very light to wear and gives you a hint of radiance without appearing oily. It also has an spf of 15. It costs £22.50 from Aveda make-up counters or at www.aveda.co.uk
In The News
Poor old Victoria Beckham has been in the news recently and the pictures are not very flattering. The lover of high heels has been seen wearing ballerina pumps because of her bunions.
I can sympathise as I had a bunion removed 3 months ago and am only now able to get into normal shoes. In my case bunions are genetic and not only do the women in my family suffer my eldest son did as well which affected his game of football until he had it removed.
Having had the operation I could not get my foot into any of my shoes and as it was winter I was pretty desperate to find something to wear. I ended up buying a pair of Converse sneakers as the laces can be loosend and I could get my feet into them. I am now a convert. They are so comfy. I did put in a pair of insoles with support but they have been a godsend. They also look great with jeans.
I bought mine on e-bay For £10 as I bought a larger size to accommodate my swollen foot but take a look at www.fairdealtrading.co.uk which make the shoes with fairtrade certified organic cotton and fairtrade rubber soles. The sneakers are produced by a project that supports workers and their families in Pakistan. They cost £32.50 and come in orange, pink, dark blue, olive, white, black and red.
Book of the month:
Celebrate the Art of the Special Occasion
by Lucia Van Der Post
For ideas and inspiration on how to make the most of any special occasion. Full of glamorous and sensible ideas of how to make any occasion extra special including Valentine's Day, Easter, Christenings, Weddings, Anniversaries and much more.
It costs £9.85 from www.amazon.co.uk
What Can I Wear gift cards
If you are looking for an unusual present for a female friend or relative then take a look at my e-book cd greetings cards. On the cd you will find my book 'What Can I Wear?' which is beautifully illustrated and full of easy to follow ideas to help you create a wardrobe full of clothes you love to wear. There are tips on skincare, make-up, colour analysis, clothing, hairstyles and much more.
The cards with the e-book cd inside cost £5.99 and you can buy them from my website http://www.whatcaniwear.com/department/gift_card/
'A smile is always in style.'
Lilian
www.whatcaniwear.com
Last Updated: May 12, 2010