Improvability Blog

I guess you’re rushed off your feet with Christmas looming on the horizon and wondering how you’re ever going to fit in time to buy an outfit for the festivities.

Why bother?

Surely you can think of better ways to fill your waking hours between now and then – like putting up the tree, wrapping presents for your loved ones, and making sure you have everything you need to feed them!

My guess is that you’ve got something in your wardrobe already that, with a little bit of imagination, will look wonderful for the holiday celebrations.

This next idea is radical but muse on it for at least one nanosecond before rejecting it out of hand!

Take half an hour out of your hectic festive schedule for yourself

Tell the family you are not to be disturbed and lock yourself in your bedroom.

Write down all the events you intend to attend:

• the office party
• Christmas lunch at Great-Aunt Esmeralda’s
• the Nativity play at your local school
• your best friend’s mother’s next-door-neighbour’s New Year’s Eve party

By the way, saying no to one or two of these events this year will help keep the stress levels down and give you more time for yourself. Oh, alright then, please yourself!

The simplest solution on the planet

Most wardrobes have a pair of black trousers or a long skirt in them (only one?) so put on whichever you feel most comfortable in.

Black will go with virtually every colour under the sun but, if you prefer, choose your darkest neutral:

• Spring – chocolate brown
• Summer – navy
• Autumn – deepest brown
• Winter – charcoal

This one item will see you through most events and then you can add different tops, jackets, and accessories to ring the changes.

Just make sure that you have a back-up pair of trousers or skirt in case some fool spills gravy down your front!

Dress it up

Then, try on all your pretty or dressy tops – those that always make you feel dressed up will be the first on the list.

A silk blouse, for instance, will take you to a restaurant or more formal occasion.

For something more cosy, pop on a camisole underneath and use the silk blouse as a jacket. If it’s especially cold where you are, layering like this will help you keep the icicles away, too.

Ignore the jacket that you automatically wear with the trousers or skirt you have on:

• try all your other jackets instead
• drape a pashmina round your shoulders (but not when you’re cooking, please, or you’ll set fire to yourself – not recommended)
• add a shrug, wrap or pretty cardigan (not just any old rag that you usually wear to the supermarket, if you don’t mind!)

Add some glitz

Raid your jewellery box for eye-catching pieces that will dress up your tops and jackets.

I have just bought an amazing brooch which has been hand-made from a soft downy white feather and a wine-coloured rose in the middle. This will look fabulous on all my dark jackets and cardigans and is certainly something I shall be wearing this festive season.

Get out your glitzy earrings, necklaces and bracelets – unless you’re a Dramatic, this may be the only time of year that you wear them, so flaunt them like mad!

Ransack your wardrobe

This could be just the moment for a good ferret around in the bottom of your wardrobe to re-discover those 63 pairs of shoes that you’d completely forgotten about.

Add coloured or textured hosiery (maybe some black seamed stockings if you’re feeling particularly outrageous) and shoes that haven’t seen the light of day for years, and you will feel incredibly dressed up, and in the mood for enjoying Christmas.

The bottom line

Which brings me to your bottom line (if you’ll pardon the expression). Wearing your most slinky underwear will make you feel fabulous and then you will look and walk even better.

Once you have a selection of tops and jackets to add to your trousers or skirt, the final step is to prepare your body to look good:

• Treat yourself to a face mask but not on the the day before you need to look absolutely gorgeous – give your skin 24 hours to calm down after you’ve blitzed it
• Give yourself a manicure and, if you’re a Dramatic, Creative or Romantic add some glittering nail polish to finish off your look
• Add a little glitzy eyeshadow (silver for Summers and Winters, gold for Springs and Autumns) on top of your usual eyeshadow and lipstick colours, and you will be ready for anything

For how to choose the right colours, read my feature on Make-up Suggestions for your Skin Tone. And if you’re looking for a great present for a friend (or why not treat yourself?), there are plenty of suggestions for make-up gifts too.

I hope you and yours have a really fabulous Christmas, and that Santa brings you everything on your list – you have remembered to send him your list, haven’t you?

Last minute Christmas gift – a handy wallet full of colour swatches that your Mum, your friend (or even you) will look gorgeous in

Treat yourself or a friend to her seasonal or tonal colour swatch wallet for Christmas – order now

The one on the right is a colour fabric fan for an Autumn lady. We also have Spring, Summer and Winter plus tonal wallets too.

What about one for a man in your life?

Take a look at the fabulous men’s versions. These are presented in a discreet, slim-line suit jacket wallet design – because you know the man in your life is NEVER going to show his colour wallet to anyone else but you!

This one is the Autumn version and we also have Winter, Spring and Summer.

Christmas ordering

• Last date for orders: Monday 21st December
• The warehouse will re-open on Monday 4th January

The last posting date for Royal Mail first class in the UK is Monday 21st December so you need to get your order to us by Friday 18th if you want pre-Christmas delivery!

Professional colour supplies for consultants

Order from our wholesale catalogue