Newsletter: Issue #006 February 2010
   

Style Snippets

Having trouble viewing this email? View it online.

Please be sure to add jane@style-makeover-hq.com to your address book to ensure that you receive my email in your inbox.

Jane's Jottings

Hello {!firstname}

Since last month I've started an online clothing stores directory. There are just 2 online stores listed so far, but I'll be adding to it on an ongoing basis. And, best of all, you can add your favorite stores too! As well as add comments about other stores in the directory.

This month's Style Snippets also contains some travel related articles inspired by my recent trip to Thailand. There is also a link to a new question from a site visitor and my answer. And some exciting news about some upcoming changes to the Style ePortfolio.

Enjoy this month's Style Snippets (phew! Just made it by the end of the month ;D). Until next month, all the best

Jane


PS I always welcome your feedback, so please contact me with anything you'd like to see either on the website or in this newsletter (reply to this email or use the Contact Me link below).

Custom Clothing Update

In the September 2009 issue of Style Snippets I described a failed experience I had with getting a garment custom made. Well, in January my husband and I had a holiday in Thailand, which is also famous for it's vendors of custom made clothing. So, I decided to take along my original silk jacket to see if I could get a wearable custom made copy by selecting the fabric myself.

This decision was made easier due to the fact that I had plenty of room in my suitcase as I followed Imogen's "Travelling Light" guidelines for packing.

This time I have a jacket that I'm very happy with (see the photo)! We visited 3 locations in Thailand: Bangkok, Kanchanaburi and Phuket. It was when we were in Bangkok I decided to try and find a suitable tailor. I visited a number of tailors and selected the one to use based on what felt "right" (professional and listened to what I wanted), the fact that they had a fabric I liked and a price I was willing to pay.  I found the tailors through our guidebook (The Rough Guide to Thailand). 

jacket          New Custom Made Jacket

The price was not as low as I'd expected, but it was still reasonable at AU$140 for a lined, cashmere wool jacket. I ended up choosing a medium-light weight wool rather than silk due to prefering the color, drape and matt finish of that material (Thai silk is quite firm with a shiny finish).

I was expecting to have a fitting, then to go back and pick up the jacket. However, at the fitting the jacket was finished and fitted so well it didn't need any alterations.

I'm delighted with the result. I've worn it already and know I will get a lot of wear out of it.

My husband, Kim, also got 2 suits made when we were in Phuket (we had more time there). He picked the tailor based on a personal recommendation. Kim found some material he liked (1 linen and 1 cashmere wool) in medium-dark colors (marine navy and a textured charcoal grey)  that suited him and that are suitable for business wear. He chose the patterns from some example suit pictures the tailor had and then specified all the details for lapels, pockets, pleats, lengths, and so on. He went back for 2 fittings. 

He paid AU$450 in total for the 2 suits, which is very reasonable. There were lots of lower cost "deals", 2 suits and 2 shirts for US$199 was a common one. However, the guide books and everyone we spoke to warned us off these offers.

Since returning home Kim's worn 1 of the suits and found that although he thought the trousers fitted correctly they actually feel a bit tight around his thighs. No-one would notice, but it just means they're not as comfortable as he'd like, which probably means he won't wear them as often as he thought he would. However, both jackets work well and he's yet to wear the other trousers, which were in a slightly different style.

It seems that the best results are obtained when you can take a garment to be copied. That was certainly our experience and I've heard this from others too. Another tip is to try and find a shop where you speak with the actual tailor who will do the work -- many of the shops have the work done off site so there can be communication problems between your request and the actual person doing the work!

Travelling Light

I travel enough to know that I didn't want to cart a heavy suitcase around. Besides which I was expecting to buy things while I was away, so I wanted to have plenty of room in my suitcase and spare baggage allowance!

I've been getting better at packing light as the years go by. However, there's always room for improvement, so I decided this would be a good opportunity to review Imogen Lamport's "Travelling Light" ebook.

I didn't quite get my allowance down to carry on only (as Imogen suggests) -- I like to take a few more tops than Imogen recommends, so I have to worry about doing laundry less often. However, my husband was amazed at how little I seemed to be taking -- usually he moans about how heavy my luggage is. So, I've clearly improved my packing style a lot since the last time we travelled together!

It's all about creating a capsule wardrobe and Imogen gives lots of good advice illustrated with pictures of sample capsules.

Great advice, thanks Imogen! 

>> Read more about the ebook and get your copy

>> Read more about wardrobe capsules

 
  in this issue
Jane's Jottings
Your Questions Answered
Product & Service Updates
New Style Articles Tell Your Friends

Style Snippets Back Issues
 
  fundamentals of style
Understand and wear your best colors

Know your body shape and proportions

Dress to flatter your shape

Your Questions Answered

Each month I pick 1-3 questions I've been asked that I think other readers will be interested in and publish them here. You can ask me questions or share your style story either directly on my website or through my contact me form.

I've been receiving plenty of new face shape questions, but have been a bit slow in answering them due to being away and then being busy with clients since I've been back. However, I will eventually get them all answered. There's a link to one of a new q&a below.

I'd love to receive more style questions, so don't be shy, ask me here.

Q: Can thin people wear wide belts? from Larissa of Melbourne, Australia

A: Feel free to contribute your thoughts as a comment at the bottom of my answer.

>> See my answer here

Product & Service Updates

Discover Your Best Range of Colors
If you haven't had your colors done yet, or if you had your colors done many years ago and feel you may now have changed color categories I provide a color analysis service. If you live in Sydney find details of my in-person colour analysis service here. If you live anywhere else in the world contact me for details of my online color analysis service.

The Next Generation Style ePortfolio & a Special Offer!

The Style ePortfolio is a program that gives you personalized style recommendations based on your body shape. It uses the same style "engine" that I use in my studio to generate style portfolios for my in my in-person clients. 

new eStyles               New Style ePortfolio Program

To date it has been available as a software download that is only suitable for PC users, so Apple Mac users have missed out. It is now just about to be released as an online product so it won't matter what computer you have. There will be no need for a download. This is such good news! 

It also means you'll be able to access it from any computer with an internet connection.  So, if you're at work and you want to go clothes shopping at lunch time and just want to remind yourself which styles suit you, you can!

The look and feel of the product has also been given another makeover. I think you'll find the new look is a lot "cleaner" and easier to read and use.

This format for the program will mean the clothing and accessory images can be regularly updated to remain current.

If you purchased your Style ePortfolio within the last 12 months (or upgraded the last time around) you will be contacted by The Australian Image Company to let you know how you can access your personal recommendations in the new system. There will be no extra charge for this. Please note this may take a few weeks after the release is announced due to the large number of clients.

If you've previously downloaded the free sampler but haven't yet purchased your personalized version I'll contact you with the new details when the new product is released.

Special offer on the current Style ePortfolio: Get the current Style ePortfolio at AU$69 (representing a $10 discount) and you'll get the upgrade to the new version with no extra charge.

As a bonus, after you've purchased I send you an email giving you the information I give my in-person clients so you can get the most out of your ePortfolio.

This offer is strictly limited to before the new system is released (I'm expecting notification of the new release within the next day or so).

Download the sampler, from the link below, then order from the downloaded ePortfolio.

>> Click here for full details of the Style ePortfolio and to download the free sampler

Look Great! Feel Great!
If you don't yet have your personalized Style Solutions portfolio you can find the details here...

New Style Articles

Online Clothing Stores Directory

I have started a directory of online clothing stores. The idea is to list the best online clothing stores (my favorites and yours) with the country the store ships to, the country the store is located in, the categories of clothing stocked and the types of styles. 

You can add your favourite online clothes shop or add your own review to an existing store.

>> Read the whole article

My Shape

The MyShape online store encourages you to create a personal shop by supplying your measurements and clothing preferences.

>> Read more online store details

Obsid

This is the first online store listing submitted by a reader.

>> Read online store details

Tell Your Friends

Please forward this newsletter to friends you think will enjoy it!

If a friend did forward this to you and if you like what you read, please subscribe here.

Style Snippets Back Issues

You can find back issues here... https://www.style-makeover-hq.com/style-snippets-backissues.html