AllSaints Aditya Dress from AllSaints Spitafield

So I asked my friend Gail Schneider to write a guest blog about brows. Gail is the  owner and brow shaping specialist of  Wow Brows, South Florida’s Brow Shaping Masters - and she is the MOST qualified brow expert I know!

How do I shape my brows?

No wonder we are hearing that ‘Eyebrows are the frame of the face’ so many times. This is so true, as the right brow shape should complement and balance your facial features. We recommend that a Professional shaper designs your eyebrows the first time. Once you get the right eyebrow shape, you can maintain it on your own in-between visits.

Here are a few simple, yet important suggestions:

• Find a strong natural lighting and use a magnifying mirror.  This will help you when you tweeze those stray hairs.
• Put an eyebrow shadow on your preferred shape with a slanted brow brush , and tweeze around.
• Do not over tweeze, less is more.

Where does the arch begin?

Mark the Start, Peak and End of your brow line with small dots using an eyeliner.  (see picture)

This should also line up approximately with the inner corner of your eye. Place a pencil vertically against your nose. Remove any eyebrow hairs that appear past the side.

How much to clear/clean above the brow?

This really depends on the shape of the brow and is not a must. Examine your eyebrows before shaping including the hairs above the brow.

When I groom do I comb all hair up and trim?

Gently trim your eyebrows if they are overly long or unruly. Brush the eyebrow hairs facing down using a small toothbrush, or a clean mascara wand. This helps define the natural shape of the eyebrow. Trim any stray hairs sticking out through the brush/ comb.

How much space do I leave between the brows?

Place a pencil vertically against your nose. This should give you an indication of the space needed to tweeze the stray hairs between your eyebrows for a clean, polished look.

What tweezers should I use?

We prefer the slanted tweezers.  Some of our favorites are Revlon, Sally Hanson, and Tweezerman.

If I have bald spots what is the best way to fill in? Pencil or brush/powder?

We designed all the right products at  ‘Brows Gone Wow’. Our favorite to fill in the sparse areas is the Brow Definer – a felt tip pen, waterproof which fills in even the worst mishaps, and stays on all day (rain or shine).

Any other tips and tricks…

Tweeze your eyebrows after taking a shower so your facial pores are open and the procedure is less painful.

Do not over-tweeze. Ultra-thin eyebrows will not complement any face shape and look unnatural.

Never follow the trend. Keep the brows shaped classy, full and arched.

Dear Fendi bag,
You are beautiful. I’m NOT a “bag” girl so this should mean a lot. I’ve been dreaming of you ever since I laid my eyes on you. Are you worth it? Will you make me smile? Am I worthy? BUT, you are on back order for FOREVER so maybe you and me just weren’t meant to be…..only time will tell…

New Years Eve is right around the corner. What are your plans? Are you headed out on the town in sequins to sip champagne? Celebrating at an intimate dinner soiree? Or hanging at home for a super casual get-together?

No matter where you go, you need something fun to wear. To get you started here are some tips for selecting your look:

• Focus on YOUR best asset – flaunt it and make it scream. If you have incredible shoulders, wear a halter, strapless or one-shoulder. If you have a defined waist, cinch it with a belt. If you have great legs focus on your hemline and show those shapely calves.
• Dresses – Are perfect for any occasion, especially New Year’s Eve. When selecting a dress, first consider the fabric as it defines the ‘dressy-ness’ level. Dresses made of jersey or soft cottons are more casual where as dresses made of silks, sheer or stiff fabrics are more formal and dressy.
• Accessories – Really are a girl’s best friend. An over-sized cocktail ring, metallic clutch or dramatic, jewel encrusted chandelier earrings make any outfit dressier and more interesting. Think of your accessories as your outfit maker. Adding them finishes the look and creates style.
• Embellishment – Any accent makes an outfit unique and special. Sparkles, sequins, feathers or fur create individually. The key to embellishment is balance, a little goes a long way. Don’t over do it.
• Fit is critical! The most beautiful, well-made dress will look like a sack if it doesn’t fit properly. Tailor it – so it fits YOU perfectly.

Click here to read the article on CBSDFW.com!

My actual query I sent via The Source Bottle about the rise of Pinterest….

Yes I use and love Pinterest! I use it both for personal and business purposes.

I am a  writer and Personal Stylist. I use Pinterest to gather, organize and reference many of my interests and desires. I pin items of interest from a large variety of sources. When i pin, from outside sources, i site the source, website, product name, dimensions, and PRICE. This allows me to quickly reference, compare and determine which product will work best for my needs.

My home decor board (personal use – but very easily could be used as interior design business resource) - http://pinterest.com/stylishshe/home-decor/ - On this board I am quite interested in mirrors, chandeliers, pillows and bedding. I have included all of the relevant buying information I need to make a smart, educated and fiscally responsible purchases.

My mens board (business resource for me) - http://pinterest.com/stylishshe/mens/ - I am working wit h a four member alternative rock band on their image. I use Pinterest to gather ideas for their style and image needs. This allows me to do preliminary work without wasting time. I can pull ideas and share with them which allows us all to be on the same page as well as gives them the creative input they desire.

Business ideas and recommendations:

As of right now Pinterest is a fun resource but there is enormous potential as a business tool. For image consultants or interior designers. Taking the medium to a whole different level by making it a destination for consultants/designers and their clients.

Example:  I am an image consultant – let’s say I have 20 clients. I would want 20 separate account/closets/boards (one for each client) that I could upload all of their existing outfit photos (http://gallery.me.com/triciadubrow#100025&bgcolor=black&view=carouseljs&sel=0). From this point I could pin new clothing items that I recommend that would enhance their wardrobe. In order to do this I would want a number of separate (yet connected – to me as the master account holder) accounts for each client. There is huge potential for this type of resource as there is NOTHING out there today that has this kind of capability. It also eliminates geographical boundries too. But do keep in mind – some clients may not want their entire closet and my recommendations to be public – so they may need to be private.

I hope you find this information of interest. I look forward to hearing back from you.”

Check out my last Pinterst post too….

Invitation, check.

Outfit, check.

Hostess gift, aaaaaaahhhh not yet.

What do they like? What should I get? OOOOOHHHH I just don’t know. Here are some ideas around Fort Worth that will get your creative juices flowing!

Hostess gifts can range from simple and cute to elaborate and expensive. My personal range is between $15-$40. Typically landing in the $20-$30 range.

When creating a hostess gift I try to select items that hit all three of these categories because it makes for the best and most original gifts.

Clear – I love clear packaging. First, because it’s pretty, but more importantly you see what’s inside. If your gift is in a clear package, vase or container the hostess can see the gift, comment how creative it is AND anyone else around can see it too. It is a great icebreaker and topic of conversation. LOVE THAT!

Gift-in-a-gift – If the packaging, vase or container is glass than it’s a gift in itself. And the goodies inside are too. Bonus! Two gifts in one.

Personalized – This is two fold: First, to me personalized means that you have selected the gift exactly to and for that person. If they love the ocean or are from the seacoast give them a tall clear jar full of blown glass balls from old lobster traps. They are so beautiful! Second take personalization to the next level and literally create a gift for them. I love the idea of customizing a belt for a close friend in her favorite colors, school colors or theme.

So what to bring if you’re going to a party thrown by your spouse’s boss – that you really don’t know?

Photo Credit: Tricia Mahoney

If they have small children how about an all in one hot cocoa gift. Fill a large air-tight glass container with a lid ($5.99, World Market) with hot chocolate powder about ¾ full then add large marshmallows and fill to the top. Tie to the back of the container a couple of mugs ($3.99 each at World Market) and tie to the front some rock candy, chocolate covered spoons or chocolate covered candy cane sticks. All in all the gift will cost about $20.00 and it is totally adorable!

Photo Credit: Tricia Mahoney

This one is fun. Take a large, clear Chinese food take-out box (Hobby Lobby, $3.99) and fill it with actual fortune cookies (Pei Wei a bag of 100 for $5.00.) Pop in a set of chopsticks for fun or really up the anti and attach a gift card from your favorite Chinese restaurant. On a note card print out ‘thank you’ in Chinese and attach to the box. It’s also a great ice breaker…have guests open and share their fortune. Total of $9.00 Fun!

Photo Credit: Tricia Mahoney

The Cocktailer – A clear, glass, covered jar (TJ Maxx $9.99) filled with Margarita and Daiquiri in a bag ($5.99 each, World Market); a variety of salt/sugar rimmers ($4.99 each, World Market); and drink stirrers ($6.99, World Market). Total $27.00. Cheers!

Best Friend’s Annual Holiday Party:

Photo Credit: Tricia Mahoney

Ocean Lover – Clear, glass, covered, tall jar (TJ Maxx $9.99) and fill with blown glass balls (etsy.com set of 8, $7.99.) I like the vase filled so try two sets of 8 = 16 balls. Clear balls are beautiful too! Total $38.00. This is a very thoughtful and special gift for a beach lover – it is a different twist than the old boring container of shells!

Photo Credit: Tricia Mahoney

Custom created belt – I love the idea of creating the gift (or at least being a small part of the process.) That is why I love the Frayed Originals belt from Ordinary Meets Clever for $36.00 (yup she is a DFW based business too.) When you order you can specify a color palette, style or theme that you like – such as soft pinks, modern or best of all school colors. The belts are soft, comfy and make any casual outfit put together – instantly. LOVE THAT! Pop it in a cool plastic box (Michaels, $2.99). Total $39.00.

Other ideas:

Wine lover – Clear glass bowl, two wine glasses, bottle of wine and The Pisces Fish Multi-lever corkscrew, Amazon.com $34.99 (my favorite wine opener!) Based on the glasses and wine you select it can be as expensive as you choose it to be.

Christmas Party – Clear glass, covered, tall, jar and fill it with vintage Christmas ornaments. Festive and pretty!

Chocoholic – Clear glass, tall jar – take tall thin plastic bags and fill one bag with M&M’s, one with Hershey Kisses, one with Recees Peanut Butter Cups and one with Rolo’s. Put all bags upright in the jar. Yum, yum!

Tip: putting together a thoughtful gift does take time. Plan ahead and buy in advance. Have a stash of goodies that you can pull from at anytime or better yet assemble a few and store them in your closet. You will be very thankful you did!

Where you can find these goodies:

Tricia is an Image Consultant, style guru, writer, marketer, blogger and style addict. Through her Image Consulting services Tricia helps women of all shapes, sizes and ages with their image and style needs. As a marketer and writer Tricia puts her ideas, tips and expertise to good use via the StylishShe website and blog, Facebook, twitter, style articles, and soon…her book. Visit www.stylishshe.com to learn more.

Check out the this article on CBS!

a.hooper & co.

Chapel Hill
4601 West Freeway, Suite 216
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
t. 817.348.9911
Hours: M-F 10-6; Sat 11-5
https://www.facebook.com/a.hooperco

If you live in Fort Worth and want chic clothing with a hip contemporary edge but don’t want to drive to Dallas? You don’t have to!

a.hooper & co., owned by Emily Adams located in Chapel Hill, is exactly what your looking for! This cool, hip, sleek women’s boutique offers high-end clothing, jewelry, belts and handbags.

So how did it begin for Emily Adams? Funny enough she worked at a.hooper & co. for years and loved it so much – she bought it. That was five years ago and she’s never looked back.

Emily is Texas girl at heart – Fort Worth born and raised and a TCU Fashion Promotion grad. Emily has her finger on the pulse and understands the Fort Worth woman. She has honed and perfected the art of selecting wearable clothing. “Our pieces aren’t too over the top trendy because it is higher-end. We offer classic clothing – with a little bit of a contemporary edge. Clothing that will last season after season,” explains Adams. So how do they balance that small town feel? “We know many of our customers run in the same circles, so we buy limited quantities of our pieces to ensure that you don’t see your look walking all around town,” continues Adams.

a.hooper & co. focuses on separates that can be mixed and matched. Pieces that will compliment and add to what women already have in their closets. They carefully select their merchandise for their shoppers. They know what they like, know what they need and know what they want.

Photo Credit: Tricia Mahoney

For fall a.hooper & co. is right on trend – long flowing maxi-dresses, luscious capes, sultry knits, jewel toned silk blouses, shorts (which are PERFECT for our Texas climate!) and small florals (which Emily pointed out she was very specific with her selection to be sure that these florals didn’t look or feel too ‘cowboy’.) Brands include high endclassics like Trina Turk, Ella Moss, Velvet, Michael Stars and Joie as well as some more cutting edge like Karina Grimaldi, Graham and Spencer, Young Fabulous & Broke, Gemma, Parker and Madison Marcus.

And if you’re into jewelry – you will love the jewelry at a.hooper co. It’s cool, hip, and bold. There is great mix of delicate and dainty pieces as well as show stopping drama pieces. OOO La La! Most of the jewelry is designed by Texas native Amanda Sterett. Supporting local artists – love that!

CBSDFW.com Insider Tip: When you visit the store, be sure to say hello to their little furry helpers…. Lyle, Emily’s golden retriever and Layla, Nancy’s long-haired Chihuahua.

Tricia is an Image Consultant, style guru, marketer, blogger and style addict. Through her Image Consulting services Tricia helps women of all shapes, sizes and ages with their image and style needs. As a marketer and writer Tricia puts her ideas, tips and expertise to good use via the StylishShe website and blog, Facebook, twitter, style articles, and soon…her book. Visit www.stylishshe.com to learn more.

A friend told me about the Strengths Finder by Tom Rath. She said I had to get it because it has a strengths test that you do online that determines you five top strengths. How cool – I’m in! It took about 35 minutes to complete. The test and the results were fascinating!

Let me know what you think and how well do you think the themes describe me? Below is my strength theme information:

The Clifton StrengthsFinder Results for Tricia Doyle Mahoney:

As you may know, the Clifton StrengthsFinder measures the presence of talent in 34 categories called “themes.” These themes were determined by Gallup as those that most consistently predict outstanding performance. The greater the presence of a theme of talent within a person, the more likely that person is to spontaneously exhibit those talents in day-to-day behaviors.Focusing on naturally powerful talents helps people use them as the foundation of strengths and enjoy personal, academic, and career success through consistent, near-perfect performance.

Below are my top five themes of talent, ranked in the order revealed by my responses to the Clifton StrengthsFinder.

Empathy

People who are especially talented in the Empathy theme can sense the feelings of other people by imagining themselves in others’ lives or others’ situations.

People who are especially talented in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb.

People who are especially talented in the Connectedness theme have faith in the links between all things. They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason.

People who are especially talented in the Developer theme recognize and cultivate the potential in others. They spot the signs of each small improvement and derive satisfaction from these improvements.

People who are especially talented in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena.

To learn more about the Clifton StrengthsFinder and how you can discover your top five themes, visit http://strengths.gallup.com

I bought mine on Amazon for $12.95 – you will get the online test code in your book!

Mascara, Gloss & Studs…

In a pinch for time…all it takes is 30 seconds to look put together. A clean face – mascara, lip gloss, a pop of color on your cheeks and some cute sparkly stud earrings – DONE! You will look fab no matter where you’re going!

Oh if your hair is a mess to….try a low slicked back pony-tail. If your hair is a true train wreck…pop on a cute hat.

Every SHE should have a go to crisis outfit in a pinch. Mine is a Juicy sweat suit or my ripped boyfriend jeans, plain top, funky belt and cut cap.

Create your own crisis look…and your crisis won’t be so stressful next time.

Tricia

A friend of mine sent this to me last October – I was cleaning out my emails and came across this article – fascinating. What do you think? Below is the full article by The Body Odd – check them out on Facebook or Twitter.

Jeff Roberson/AP

Hello, bombshell! These ladies might be internalizing more messages about Victoria’s Secret than they realize.

If you feel a little snobbier when behind the wheel of a BMW, or a little more outdoorsy when you slip on a North Face fleece, or a little hipper when using your new MacBook Air — you’re not alone, as they say. It’s widely known that a product’s brand image has a profound impact on our own self-image, but a new study finds that we may actually change our personality to match the “personality” of a brand.

“For example, if I want to convey an image of being adventurous, I might buy a Harley-Davidson motorcycle or wear casual clothes from outdoor adventure companies such as REI,” says Deborah Roedder John, a marketing professor at the University of Minnesota and one of the authors of the study published in the December issue of the Journal of Consumer Research. (You can find the report here, but a subscription is required.)

John continues, “But our prior research didn’t delve into the question of whether consumers actually ‘took on’ the personalities of these brands they selected to boost their self-images: If you buy a Harley motorcycle, will you really see yourself as more adventurous?”

For one part of the study, the University of Minnesota researchers recruited about 100 volunteers — all women, all between the ages of 18 to 34 — at a mall, asking each of them to carry around for an hour the shopping bag of their choice: a bag from Victoria’s Secret, Old Navy or Limited Too. Every participant chose the pink Victoria’s Secret bag. When they came back from an hour of shopping, Victoria’s Secret shopping bag in tow, they were asked to take a survey rating how they felt about themselves. The researchers found that the “personality” of Victoria’s Secret — sexy, glamorous, feminine — actually did make some of their volunteers feel sexier, more glamorous and more feminine. (No word on whether carrying around a bag from Victoria’s Secret made some feel a little like a 15-year-old.)

The same researchers did a similar experiment instructing participants to write with a pen with an MIT logo on it, with similar results — some of the participants really did feel smarter when using their MIT pen. (The researchers conducted four separate studies, involving more than 200 participants in all, John says.)

The trick is this: If you’re the kind of person who thinks a particular brand will make you more feminine, or more glamorous, then it will. That’s called “entity theory,” and it means you’re the kind of person who seeks out products to make you feel a certain way about yourself. But if you’re not the kind of person who feels that way about the brands you buy, well — then you won’t feel much of anything after using a particular brand. That one’s called “incremental theory.” You might think you’re staunchly one way or the other, but these researchers primed their participants to identify with one of those theories by having them read an article promoting it.

The study results shed light on how those “entity theorists” and “incremental theorists” experience brands differently. An entity theorist is — well, let’s just let the experts explain it, as John and her colleague Ji Kyung Park write in the report:

Individuals who endorse entity theory view their personal qualities as something they cannot improve through their own direct efforts; instead, they seek out opportunities (such as brand experiences) to signal their positive qualities to the self or others. Conversely, individuals who endorse incremental theory view their personal qualities as something they can enhance through their own efforts at self‐improvement, reducing the value of signaling opportunities through brands.

“For consumers, our study could help them understand how brands really affect them — just carrying a shopping bag with the Victoria’s Secret name makes you feel more glamorous, feminine, and good-looking (at least for a good deal of people we call ‘entity theorists’),” John says. “So, you don’t really need to buy and use the brand–just have some association with it. Maybe this is a money-saving tip for anyone strapped for money during these recessionary times?”

What do you think? How does the stuff you buy influence the way you feel about yourself?”

It is fascinating to me the power of brand. It also speaks to dress the part or dress to who you want to be! What do you think?