Do you need to rethink your image?

I usually get the call right about the time a woman hits 50. They call me desperate for help - frustrated with how they look with those extra few pounds, the emerging gray hairs or the new found changes in her slightly aging face. Just when they had “ageing gracefully” down pat, along comes a reunion, Bar Mitzvah or an insensitive comment by a friend which sends them into a private pity party about their appearance. Some are terrified of “getting old” while others feel hopeless and sad about the encroaching sand of time, knocking on their door. Suddenly they notice they have stained teeth, poor eyesight, thinning, graying hair and a little extra thickness around the middle.

It’s no wonder women are sometimes overwhelmed with all the changes of moving into midlife.

After working as a stylist for more than 25 years, I can help you take 3 steps to make this moment easier:

1. Get a gynecologist that is experienced with menopausal women. This is going to help you with all the physical issues that make this time of life challenging.

2. Get moving. Dance, walk, swim…do anything to get moving. Your youthfulness and longevity are more affected by this than anything else you can do. Not only will you get those extra pounds off your waist, you will feel so much better, too. Never underestimate all the benefits of making your body move. At a minimum you will just be happier. Just remember the old adage: use it or lose it.

3. Reassess and update your appearance.
What is driving your look? Is it comfort, style, credibility, or are you in a rut and just grab whatever is clean? Women tell me they begin to feel invisible as they age and that’s not surprising. As we age we lose pigment in our lips, iris and hair color. Skin tone and hair texture changes. What worked for us at 30 no longer looks right anymore. We sometimes focus on comfort at the expense of style. No one wants to be thought of as old and washed up. So why do so many women send that exact message? Time to update your hairstyle, reassess your wardrobe and lose a few pounds. Need help? Check out my DVD series on Amazon.com or order from kimfoleystyle.com

Clothing buyers need to know their demographics

While shopping for an outfit for an afternoon wedding I became painfully aware that the majority of styles available would only look good on someone under size 6. Common sense tells you that fullness adds volume. I do not need or want volume. I want slimming, I want optical illusions, and I want something that actually flatters my curvy body! Just who was it that decided that gathered skirts and babydoll dresses are what women get to wear this year? Don’t the designers know that the average size of women in this country is size 14? It is time that the manufactures take note that those of us over size 6 want the option to dress with power and credibility for work and look current, hip and sometimes even sexy for evenings.
Lets face it, most styles this year look flattering on young, slim 20 somethings. But if you’ve got a few extra pounds or you are over 35 you are out of luck.
Buyers take note: We want flattering lines that flatter our not-so-perfect shape.

Five Ways To Jump-Start Your Journey Back To Fabulous

There is a whole generation of women who want to look great and don’t know where to start. Some need an update, some a total revamp and some just need a few tips and inspiration.
Where do you turn? Who can you trust when everyone wants to sell you their products. Women are tired of buying hope, they want results. Well I’m here to help! I‘ve got the facts on how you can look beautiful everyday when you look in the mirror.
Keeping in mind that there are always exceptions to every rule. Here are a few basic facts that, like them or not, may help you to get started thinking about changes to consider.

1. Grey or silver hair looks great on certain women, but there is no question that it adds 10-15 years to your perceived age.

2. Miniskirts, belly shirts, and super low-rise pants are no-no’s after 40, even if you are in great shape. Why? Because they make you look like you are trying too hard to be 25 again. Wear great fitting clothes that are age-appropriate, stylish, flattering—and won’t send the wrong message.

3. Mousey hair with no style doesn’t look good on any woman. Consider getting a great cut that’s easy for you to style so you will look great everyday.

4. Being overweight makes you look older than you are. If you combine a getting-in-shape program with changes in your hair, makeup, and wardrobe, you will maximize the results of both efforts. You will also amaze yourself, as well as everyone around you, with your new, revitalized look.

5. Shoes are very important both to how you feel and to your overall look. You don’t have to wear frumpy shoes to be comfortable!

Eyebrow Shapes

Evil women throughout history have always been portrayed with severe and often highly arched eyebrows. Just look at the 3 top women nominated for the Oscar this year. They all played vicious or unlikable characters whose temperament and attitude was partly created by their eyebrow shape. Eyebrows are odd. For little groupings of hair above our eyes they sure do evoke a lot of assumptions. Mean, angry, surprised or sad, and relaxed. These are just some of the feelings that are evoked when we see the oh so expressive eyebrows.
What do your eyebrows tell the world about you?

Pedicure Tip

I heard on the radio today that you are not supposed to have your cuticles pushed back on your toes when you get a pedicure. Evidently the skin on the toenails keeps bacteria from invading the skin around the toe. This dark moist area is prone to fungus and inflammation. Great…One more thing to worry about. My pedicurist argued with me when I asked her not to push back the cuticles. I explained, with a smile, that she could clean, scrub, shape, buff and polish, but absolutely no pushing those cuticles around. I feel empowered now that I have been an advocate for my happy feet!

Getting Rid of Stray Hairs

Please get a magnifying mirror! Today on the set, a 50ish client who was about to go on national television, sat down in my chair to have her makeup done. She was attractive and polished and needed very little makeup but she had this long black hair growing out of her chin! I didn’t want to embarrass her but I couldn’t let her go on TV with that hair. I asked her if she used a magnifying mirror and good light to apply her makeup each morning. Her answer was obviously, “No”. I held up a mirror and showed her the hair. Much to my surprise she said, “Well just what do I do about that?”
This was her first “wild- woman hair” and she wanted to know if she should wax it, pluck it, laser it, or shave it.
Answer: If you have just a few and you have bright light AND a magnifying mirror, just pluck it. But if you can’t change your lighting and don’t plan on buying a magnifying mirror, you should march right in to have those babies lasered. It usually takes a few visits to get permanent results but you will never be caught in public with the horror of THE HAIR making you look like a fool.

Fashion Trends

Fashion trends from the runways of Paris and Milan scream at me to take a peek. Even the Wall street Journal can’t resist commenting. I scan the designs wondering what the trickle down will be. I am dismayed at the thought of thirty something men dictating what I will be wearing. “Corsets and Skinny pants are not going on this body” I think as I take another look. Just where do all these people wear all their silk and cashmere? Can practicality ever be part of haute couture?