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Wendy Bryant Gow Image Consulting ■ Wardrobe Styling ■ Professional Organizing |
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ARTICLES
■ A Matter of Details - Embellish your classics for fall by Wendy Bryant Gow ■ Looking Younger without Plastic Plastic Surgery by Bethany Lye ■ Fall Style - News & Observer Fall 2006 by Wendy Bryant Gow ■ Spring Style - News & Observer Spring 2006 by Wendy Bryant Gow ___________________________________________________________________
A Matter of Details - Embellish your classics for fall
Step out confidently this fall with a more luxurious style of dressing. One of the most important and apparent themes across the board involves the dominance of opulent embellishments. Look for the play in fabrics as well as modern menswear influences, where anything from eye-popping hues and luminous sheens to luxurious textures and strong silhouettes define this season’s hottest trends. This is a great time to update or glamorize the more classic section of your wardrobe. Since this is the season for coats, it might be the right time to invest in a bold-colored coat in a durable fabric like wool, leather, shearling, or fur. Don’t forget to find that perfect tweed suit, structured bag or some fantastic gold jewelry. If you’re still struggling to manage the mortgage after your last shopping trip, try important lower-priced items like a flirty pencil skirt, a pair of menswear trousers, a frilly blouse or a cashmere turtleneck. To ice the cake, hunt down a pair of chic elbow-length gloves in leather or suede, as well as some ballet flats and stacked pumps in either animal print or patent leather. Finding the right combination of these items can give you that luxurious look of fall while maintaining your personal style. My best advice for Fall 2007 is to plan your budget in advance to maximize your shopping experience. Good luck and remember to have fun. Enjoy! — Wendy ■ (originally published in the News & Observer Living In Style Fall 2007) ______________________________________________________________________
News & Observer Fall Style 2006
Blue Heaven. For this Tar Heel, these two words best represent fall in the Triangle.
As the air turns crisp and the leaves take on their vivid autumn hues, I occasionally find myself reminiscing about those days long ago ... a return to classes and old friends, court parties, fall rush, Franklin Street, tailgating and, of course, Saturday afternoon football. The wondrous roar of the crowds at Kenan Stadium traditionally festooned in a sea of Carolina Blue, and handsome young men in khakis and navy blue blazers escorting beautiful young coeds in plaid “kilt” skirts and monogrammed sweaters with those ever-present add-a-bead necklaces dangling playfully from their Peter Pan-collared blouses.
Even then, for me, it was all about the fashion.
Fall is traditionally my busiest time of year, as clients old and new eagerly await my arrival to transition their summer wardrobes into the latest fall trends. With few exceptions, the questions remain the same: What’s in? What’s out ? What works best for my figure? How can I create a more professional look? Can you fit all that into this budget?
With each client, the focus is always on building a classic wardrobe that will withstand the elements of change from season to season. Then it is just a matter of enhancing it with a few trendy seasonal updates.
Fall 2006 appears to be the most “figure friendly” season for fashion in quite some time, with every imaginable silhouette well represented. No longer is it necessary to use your figure as an excuse for not keeping up with the latest styles.
For the full figure with slender legs, try a pair of black leggings under a longer knit top or a little dress, and add ballet flats. For a taller figure, thin or full, try the new wide-leg trousers with a fitted jacket or blouse and platform heels. For the sophisticated professional of all sizes and shapes, try an updated plaid skirt or pantsuit that can easily go from day to evening with just a change into a sheer romantic blouse. The taller and slimmer the figure, the bolder the design can be.
To update your wardrobe with a moderate budget this season, I might suggest a chic satchel bag; shoes or belt in leopard print; patent leather skimmers; a red or purple blouse or knit top; a pair of black suede flat boots; a sweater coat in black, charcoal gray, camel or chocolate brown; a velvet top or blazer; plaid slacks and/or skirt; a flirty dress; and a large gold chain-link necklace. Voila!
I hope you enjoy our latest edition of Style. I’d like to thank my resources, the wonderful Triangle retail community. Your support and expertise are greatly appreciated. To my clients, it’s going to be a fabulous fall for shopping! And finally to my friends at The N&O, my heartfelt appreciation for your continued trust and confidence in me and my vision of fashion in the Triangle. ■ ______________________________________________________________________
News & Observer Spring Style 2006
Relocating to the Triangle from Atlanta, I was more than a bit concerned that the fashion division of my business could suffer without the same level of retail resources available to draw from. I found quite the contrary; with the recent trend of hip, young, business-savvy sophisticates introducing their own interpretive sense of style into the Triangle's prospering retail community, this fashion scene is quickly heating up.
Just as eager to encourage this momentum, the Triangle's traditional merchants, mentors to more than a few of these emerging trendsetting business owners, are updating their own inventories with new labels to attract a broader clientele. With upscale national retailers now locating to our area and their own highly skilled fashion consultants ready to assist the most particular styles and tastes, why shop any further than our own backyard?
I encourage each of you to venture into these chic new boutiques, revitalized retail shops and upscale department stores, and enjoy the experience. And when you're ready for some real retail therapy and a whole lot of fun, please give me a ring or drop me an e-mail.
In this latest edition of Spring Style, we are pleased to present our highlights of this season's impressive selection of fashion trends in the Triangle.
Once again, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to my friends at the N&O, our wonderful retail community, and my loyal clients, both old and new, who provide me the opportunity to succeed in a career that I find so rewarding and enjoyable. ■
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