Style School

'Style School' is a brand new series of 6 courses from Cori Burchell...your personal stylist and fashion coach!

6 courses in 6 weeks that will teach you my insiders secrets of style.

Develop your personal fashion image and feel confident about your wardrobe choices.

Learn how to shop....where to go, what to buy and what to avoid.

Create a fully functioning wardrobe that makes getting dressed easy and fun.

Courses begin in January 2010....please email me for more details.

cori@coriburchell.com

One for the Team

When deciding what clothes you should keep in your wardrobe, stylists will say to keep only the items that you 'love'. I've decided that you have to take that love one step further.......your clothes need to earn your love! In fact, I prefer to think of your clothes members of a team....your team. And if they're not making a solid contribution to the team...they get cut!

Often when I'm working with a client doing a closet clean-out, they will tell me the story behind their clothes and give me the reason why they must keep that dusty, musty tweed blazer that's a million years old and completely out of style. Clients will insist that 'I love it'....but the truth is they don't actually love that musty, dusty blazer...instead, they have a big emotional attachment to the memories of wearing it or to the person who gave it to them. Or they have an emotional attachment to the label or the amount of money they paid....even though they haven't worn it for 10 years. Unfortunately, this 'love affair' often doesn't serve them as well as it should...they hang on to pieces of clothing long past their prime.

Try this experiment.......go to your sock drawer and do your own 'closet clean-out'....(I promise this won't hurt too much.....it's only socks)!

Scrutinize each and every pair of socks you own. (You could also do leggings/tights/pantyhose if you want). Immediately discard ALL with holes, runs, tears and obvious wear. And by discard, I mean into the garbage...for good. And by obvious wear, I mean wear..fading...worn down...skin showing. Take a good look at what's left....(if anything)and ask yourself...are these the socks/tights/pantyhose of the person I want to be? Do I have enough socks? Are they the right kind of socks? Do these socks go with the clothes I actually wear?

Finally, go out and buy yourself 3 pairs of new socks...nice socks, ones that you will enjoy wearing, ones that will work for you and ones that will work with the clothes you own.

It's a strange place to start but I think you'll find this is a very powerful exercise! Today socks....tomorrow...underwear drawer!

Let me know how you do! And of course, I am always available to help, once you're ready to tackle the rest of your closet!

Shopping Evening

I am offering a limited number of 'group shopping evenings' this November! It's a great way to have fun, learn what works for you and add some great new pieces to your winter wardrobe!

If you have a group of girlfriends (sorry guys...the November events are for women only!) and are interested in have a professional stylist help you shop, contact me right away. Spaces are limited.

Dates Available: November 5, 19 and 26, 2009

How High is Too High

Yesterday I decided to wear my green tweed J.Crew skirt....with some high boots that I hadn't worn in awhile. They have a stacked heel and a squarish toe...a bit of a 70's vibe that I like. As I was heading out the door, I thought...hmmm ...are these boots going to be comfortable? I didn't even walk all that much and by the time I got home my feet were throbbing.

It happens to the best of us...and especially after age 40, as you loose some of the padding on the ball of your foot. It got me thinking....'how high is too high'...what is the best heel height?

The answer is the height that you can walk confidently in! That may sound obvious but as I watched various women walking around the downtown core, I realized that a too high heel can look very unattractive, regardless of your age. If you can't walk elegantly in your footwear, you look awkward and uncomfortable. I observed a young woman in a 3" black stilletto pump strolling along with a very confident walk. Then I saw another young woman in a similar shoe who walked so awkwardly and uncomfortably that I thought it was a miracle that she made it across the street! And finally, an older woman in a 1 1/2 - 2" patent heel...dressed well and looking fabulous, confidently strolling along and clearly not havning any foot issues!

So today is a 'shoe evaluation' day for me.......if I can't walk and feel confident in all my shoes and boots...they will be retired.

Anyone need a size 8 black leather boot with a 70's vibe??!!

Upcoming Changes

Look for some exciting new changes in the near future at Cori Burchell Image Consulting. We are working on a new website, a newsletter called 'The Wardrobe Department' and some great ideas to better help you with all your image and fashion styling needs.

Send me an email or a post and let me know your questions and comments...... what is your biggest wardrobe dilemma this fall? Have you got your Holiday wardrobe ready to go? Need some tips for sprucing up your business wardrobe so that you make a great impression at work?

Look for great styling tips to make the most of the clothes you've got, along with photos, videos and shopping recommendations.

Amelia

As many of you know, in addition to working with private clients as an Image Consultant, I also work as an Assistant Costume Designer in film. Last year I worked on 'Amelia' starring Hilary Swank and Richard Gere and it's finally coming out in theaters now!! I hope you can go see it and to entice you ......here's the trailer:

http://movies.yahoo.com/premieres/14160665/standardformat/

Let me know what you think!