by Shai Thompson –
April’s Style Tip:
There is a strong defined colour influence for Spring 2017 that is true to the colours of the Easter season. Think pink, blue, yellow and green. As we saw at the Oscars, blush is a dominant Pantone as well, however not worn well by all. Just because it is in style does not make it a colour that rocks your skin tone!
Q: I bought a $3,000 purse that I thought was authentic only to find out it was a replica. How do I know for next time? That was an assault on your pocketbook! Do your homework with such an investment by going online and learning how to detect a rip-off replica. There are usually five key factors to watch for, and every brand has unique elements that mark its authenticity. For example: Louis Vuitton has a serial number and date inside the product. Replicas frequently have spelling errors, poor stitching, and the hardware is sub-par. Feeling confident with your supplier that has a great reputation is also key.
Q: Some of the spring clothes I’m bringing out need to be refreshed by a dry cleaner. What do I need to know? Most labels today say that the fabric needs to be dry-cleaned but that’s not always true. If it’s wool, cashmere or some rayon, I recommend dry cleaning. When you arrive home with your dry cleaning, take the plastic bag off and hang your clean clothes in the shower with the fan on for about 30 minutes. This will eliminate most of the toxic fumes that have settled in the fabric under the plastic. You do not want those toxins leaching into your closet and the rest of your wardrobe.
Q: I bought a killer dress only to get home and find it was a completely different colour. What can I do in the future to prevent this from happening? All retail stores are not created equal. Lighting is essential to finding true colour so I suggest asking the sales representative if you can take it to the natural light. I frequently take a client outside; that’s where you will find the essence of the colour. This can be a little more difficult in a mall setting. A swatch of fabric that is the colour you are looking for can bring you to instant success and this also gives the sales rep more information to get you exactly what you want.
Q: I travel a lot for work and need some help with clothes that work for me that I can carry on. Not to freak you out, but always wear natural fibres when flying. I was recently informed that in a large percentage of plane crash scenarios, the passengers wearing synthetic fabrics had a higher chance of not surviving. Those wearing cotton, linen and wool, for example, had a better survival rate. When a garment can serve you well I call it the 3 C’s: corporate, cocktail, casual. The shift dress is my favourite: just change out accessories and you are set. When travelling I also suggest bringing costume jewelry – in case your bag goes missing you will not cry a river over losing a family heirloom.
Q: I’m 65; am I too old to wear a headband? I’ve never heard of a headband being identified as age appropriate or inappropriate. As a mature woman I do recommend wearing a sleek and chic look. With age comes texture to our skin, so we don’t need to emphasize more pattern and texture around our face. This really is all about you. Not only are headbands stylish, they’re practical: keeping hair out of our way while taking on the world.
