Improvability Blog

Part Eleven of a great new series of guest articles from Sue Carter, image consultant extraordinaire!
Series Title – How Image Consultants CAN work together!

I am writing this on Easter Sunday after a filling breakfast of Easter Egg and a cup of tea; the egg given to me by my daughter who regards chocolate as one of the main food groups followed by Whoopie Pies and ice cream. Ah to be 20 again and able to eat anything. The egg made me think of one of my guilty secrets concerning sweets.

I do like Pic ‘n’ Mix provided they come from a store that puts them above pushchair-and-sticky-little-finger height. I like the whole experience; the way that the sweets are laid out for me to choose, the paper bag, picking the sweets, one of each of all my childhood favourites, eating them one at a time. I never look in the bag, choosing by touch-the jelly worms, the giant chocolate buttons with sprinkles, the pink prawns or coconut mushrooms.

OK, I know what you are thinking but I only do this a couple of times a year and, yes, it does have something to do with image and style so stick with me here.

Those of you who have met me on an image course will know that I adore accessories. I have a lot, I collect them and I cannot imagine never wearing earrings. I used to choose my accessories before I got dressed each day. How else would I know what to put on?

• Wearing the purple dragon today then. it needs the bright blue V-neck.
• Want to be lady-like and in pearls? Then the simple little dress is best.

You get the idea.

Where did I keep all this jewellery?

Some in my wardrobe, some in drawers and my favourites hanging on the wall; they were everywhere and that was the problem. Half the time I forgot what I had and so I only wore what I could see or remember. What a waste of my collection.

Then Suzie and I went shopping in Cambridge and added even more yummy items to my hoard. Once we arrived back at Suzie’s she put all my purchases out for me to see including the necklaces we had bought. We played around with the clothes, jazzing them up from the pile on the table. I could see the accessories all laid out before me, I could pick what I wanted and that was when it hit us both.

• I needed a pic and mix display for all my goodies.

They didn’t belong in the wardrobe or a drawer; they belonged out where I could see them every day in all their glory. That way I could get dressed and then pick what I wanted to go with my clothes. It was a light bulb moment for me; I could see the advantages and knew that it would work, if I could find a space large enough!

Once home I sorted through all my stuff and kept out the very best that I knew I would wear. The rest I packed away ready for my house move. I knew I had a problem as there was not a surface large enough in my bedroom for everything. However my daughter returned to Uni and I purloined her desk; her rather large desk, I have to say.

I laid out all my knick knacks and now each day I dress and then walk through and pic and mix my adornments for the day: the pink necklace, the purple earrings, and the jade ring.

It all goes and I never get to wear then same thing twice in a row. I am very taken with my pic and mix bar and the new house will have to have space for one.

I decided to write about this because I think it is worth passing on to your clients; the idea that jewellery should be seen and not hidden away. They should interact with it as they dress. Now, I know that many of your clients will have only a few items so maybe they could store them flat in a drawer that they open and pick from? I would recommend this if they have expensive stones.

Think of the drawers from the scene in ‘The Princess Diaries’ where Anne Hathaway is shown her clothes closet and the sparklies are all laid out on black velvet and by sparklies I mean tiaras, necklaces, rings and what-have-you in real diamonds. As most of us don’t live in palaces, and never will now that William is spoken for, maybe a small area in their bedroom could be used.

I know things will get a little dusty but that isn’t a problem if they are worn all the time and yes, they may have kids so put them up higher, or cats or… These problems are solvable. My cats discovered that the desk was a no-go area because things stuck in their paws and they don’t like that at all. They’d rather sit by the window and snarl at the birds.

It’s just a suggestion but I tell you it has changed how I dress in the morning and it might do the same for a client or two. We want to help our clients look their best and all the tips and tools we can give them make us look more professional and knowledgeable.

Oh and last but not least, I have a question for you:

• Where do you keep your accessories and could you make more use of them if they were in plain sight?

Sue and Suzie are two very different image consultants whose sole aim is to make others look and feel as wonderful as they do.

Series Title – How Image Consultants CAN work together!
Part One – Let’s Talk Boobies
Part Two – Suzie and Sue get to know each other
Part Three – Suzie and Sue share four little words
Part Four – Suzie has light colouring
Part Five – What a difference a grey makes! Part 1
Part Six – What a difference a grey makes! Part 2
Part Seven – Bare Minerals Make-up
Part Eight – I have a big bum – NOT!
Part Nine – Shop Your Closet
Part Ten – Cambridge never saw us coming
Part Twelve -
coming soon

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

This is a good luck saying which dates back to the Victorian era.  Even now, most brides will try to make sure they have one of each in their wedding outfit as a good-luck token.  If she carries all of them on her wedding day, then her marriage will be happy.

The full Victorian version of the rhyme is said to be:

Something old, something new,
Something borrowed, something blue,
And a silver sixpence in her shoe.

The sixpence was a silver coin which was in use in the UK from 1551 to 1967. 

It was made of silver and worth six old pennies.

‘Something old’ symbolises the link with the bride’s family and the past. ‘Something new’ means optimism and hope for the bride’s new life ahead. ‘Something borrowed’ is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family.

‘Something blue’ In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the colour. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular colour for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, “Marry in blue, lover be true.”

And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride’s shoe represents wealth and financial security. It may date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe.

Good luck tokens worn by the
newly-created Duchess of Cambridge on her wedding day

Something old

The traditional Carrickmacross craftsmanship used to create the bridal gown.

• The lace appliqué for the bodice and skirt was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace. The lace design was hand-engineered (appliquéd) using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s.

Something new

The bride’s earrings, a wedding day gift from her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.

• Created by Robinson Pelham, they were diamond-set stylised oak leaves with a pear-shaped diamond set drop and a pave set diamond acorn suspended in the centre.
• They were inspired by the Middleton family’s new coat of arms, which includes acorns and oak leaves, and were created to echo and complement the tiara

Something borrowed

The tiara, the little known 1936 Cartier ”halo” was loaned to her by the Queen – a tradition for royal weddings.

• The ‘halo’ tiara was made by Cartier in 1936 and was purchased by The Duke of York (later King George VI) for his Duchess (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) three weeks before he succeeded his brother as King.
• The tiara was presented to Princess Elizabeth (now The Queen) by her mother on the occasion of her 18th birthday.

Something blue

A blue ribbon was sewn into the interior of her dress.

A silver sixpence in her shoe?

Did she, or didn’t she?