Keep Calm AND Become a Seamstress!

Having lived almost half a decade and worked for 20, 90% of it falls under the category of self-employment. Call me nuts but I simply can't understand why anyone, after a few jobs fresh from graduation as a stepping stone or for experience sake, would want to work for others who end up taking all the credit and making multi-million dollar profit while you, as an employee, dedicate your limited time and resources, working your butt off in a job you probably have no interest in, in exchange for a meagre pay cheque which is nowhere near what your boss make; all the while worrying about getting laid off (thanks to advanced technology). Call me 'unemployable' but I personally don't buy the idea of contributing to a company which doesn't make the world a better place to be, one which only cares about sales figures and meeting sales targets, treating the employees like second class citizens, taking them for granted, and showing no appreciation whatsoever for their input and effort, let alone the wellbeing and sanity of those who rely on the income for survival. 

I believe there are many ways of contributing to the society without selling your soul. I have been teaching English privately for 12+ years and it has been the most satisfying job so far in my life when I see confidence developed in my students along the way. My decision of changing career and become a Personal Stylist is just another way of helping women to regain their confidence, which has been stripped away for a myriad of reasons, by learning to choose the right colours and styles for their unique body shapes and personalities.

Mindless shopping becomes a thing of the past as they learn what looks good on them, the techniques of mix & match, the possibilities of outfit coordinations, and shop in their closets making use of the existing garments in their wardrobe to create even more outfits one couldn't even imagine. Meanwhile, I advocate buying second hand items (clothing or not) from charity organizations which speak to your heart, not only to exercise your muscle of creativity, but helps to contribute to a better world! I have since stopped buying from chain stores and retail outlets which fail to shoulder ethical / social responsibility, and I start to question who made my clothes and where they were being manufactured.

In reality, doing what you love and getting paid for it seems like a fantasy for many. I might be broke but I find it totally unacceptable to compromise my values and beliefs working for someone who doesn't share my vision. I don't entertain the idea of working more (and make more money) only to spend it on new arrivals / fashion which changes so quickly ; dictated by celebrities / models / the big shots in the fashion industry. Why should we wear a particular colour just because 'someone' decided it was the trend for the season?

As a consumer, why would anyone want to wear designer / brand logos on their chest without getting paid for marketing? Why do people continue to buy clothes (fast fashion) just because? I honestly don't understand why we should be spending our hard earned cash (or get yourself in serious debt using plastics) on mass produced commercial garments which lack individuality, not to mention looking cheap. Are we really so tuned out by the marketing gimmicks that more is better; without being aware of the sufferings incurred on those who participate in the manufacturing process whose life and wellbeing are exploited and compromised to such an extent that life doesn't worth a dime? Can you imagine what kind of a life it is to work 18 hours a day for a payment which is barely enough to afford 3 staple meals for a family while the fashion moguls are enjoying extravagance at the Four Seasons? There is no free lunch in this competitive society when the cheap prices come with the hidden costs such as irreversible environmental degradation, underpaid workers, dangerous factories and poorly made clothing which doesn’t last.

To take my disparagement further, I don't see the logic when people are paying for pets when there are so many stray dogs and cats looking for a home. Similarly, why pay for 'new' garments of mass production when there are tons of good quality / timeless pieces available at different charity shops (I love the Oxfam Vintage collection!) which you can get at a fraction of the original price. Most are never worn and they are all unique pieces so mixing and matching of your findings could be real fun! Op-shopping is one of my favourite past-times (yes I am from Australia) and it minimises the impact of wasted garments ending up in the landfill, while simultaneously helping out in fund raising for a cause of your choice.

Technology might be the IT for the digital generation but I can also tell that that the profession in demand in the coming years would be tailoring / seamstress. Forget about getting an MBA, pick up a course and learn to sew and alter clothings would be more desirable as sustainable fashion (recycling / upcycling) is going to be big anytime soon. People are becoming more aware of what they put on their bodies, thanks to campaigns like Fashion Revolution, and buying new is no longer sustainable or making us happy when we finally come to our senses. My job is to educate and advise my clients how to give the old pieces in their wardrobe a new lease of life, and buy only from charity the missing pieces to complete the outfit if at all necessary. The ultimate goal is to save my clients precious time and money while looking and feeling great 24/7.

Sustainable fashion is going to be the topic du jour in the coming years as we transit from being fast fashion impulse consumers to ones who care about the social implications / issues of the world, actively playing a part in making a difference, one step at a time. I intend to spend more on experiences and less emphasis on stuff.

Would you care to join me in the process?

How can I help you...?

Only a few years ago, I was a die-hard shopaholic who would succumb to the new arrivals on the rack and went crazy on my plastic, ended up accumulating so much that I could have opened my own shop selling the best of the bests. The concept of ageing was never in my consciousness, believing that I would remain to be the gorgeous 20 something forever, looking great even in rags. Gosh was that narcissism or what was I thinking at the time??? 

After my decision to change career in my mid 40s and took the courage (which never seems to run out), never mind the time, effort and investment to become a certified Personal Stylist trained with one of the bests in the UK a couple of years ago do I realize that I have been wearing all the wrong colours and styles and that ageing is a hard reality of life which I slowly learn to accept and deal with, with grace.

I was browsing in one of my favourite shops in town the other day and couldn't get my eyes off a top, a longish tunic with denim splits on the sides at a reasonable price point. Unfortunately the big bold words crocheted on the front seemed a bit childish and pretentious, which doesn't agree well to my age and my personality. Shame. I must confess my taste on what I put on my body, including head gear, jewellery, accessories, bags and shoes have changed drastically since the first day of my training as I learn so much about wearing the right colours, finding and expressing my authentic self through my unique styles, how to make my wardrobe manageable and well-coordinated, and the way I shop has dramatically changed for the better, saving me all the time and money purchasing garments I tend to forget about the minute I get home. (Gail, thanks for having me at your course!) The transformation has been almost instant and life changing to a large extent, considering my addiction to shopping was serious enough to get me into mountains of debt.

I am a real person, with a real body which is far from perfect so what looks stunning on a mannequin doesn't translate well to a rectangle body shape with a protruding tum. Having evolved myself over time physically and intellectually, I am now more aware of what I wish to express to the world and becoming more confident in the way I present myself through what I choose to buy and wear. Being stylish and well dressed (looking put-together) has never been in the forefront of my mind until recently when I started getting compliments about the outfits and my asethetics which are so motivating and encouraging for both myself and my clients (and you the readers!)

Teaching English has been rewarding and satisfying when I see improvements of my students; who  have become so much more confident in their everyday life knowing that they have acquired a high level of English proficiency which they are proud of. Similarly, it is my mission to help women to discover who they really are (without the official personality tests) and how to express that through their personal colours and styles so that they too can look beautiful and feel great at all times, which inevitably brings about the confidence which was drown out by the negativity and pessimistic outlook of life in the ageing process (and many other reasons too). So I am like a doctor (a consultant) who mends your broken spirit (without the drugs) while providing you the education and advice pertaining to your individual style and personality and the symptoms of recovery is a surge of confidence, acceptance of your own flawed body and the increasing number of candles on your upcoming birthdays and a celebration of beautiful and stylish women around you for who they are. My business and my blogs are just a couple of the many avenues to reach out and influence you to discover your own style (which is an attitude really), to retrieve your  confidence and to empower you with tips to stay current and simply gorgeous.

To a better version of your self,

Rosa

www.style-proud.com

Learn about yourself through clothing...

You might be surprised that a lot of women do not possess a full-length mirror at home and if they happen to have one, they hardly check themselves in the mirror before leaving the house. I used to avoid the reflection in the mirror at all costs, as I loathed what I saw, considering my out of shape body a physicality somehow handicapped through ageing. Yes, I had a negative body image which I was fully aware of and it's best not having to think about it, which inadvertently brought about a bout of depression.

My training to become an image consultant has totally changed the way I see myself and my body. I began to examine my body through the lens of clothing. Instead of focusing on the messages in the world of fashion about what women my age can and cannot wear, I reach for the wealth of information that clothing offers to me about my body, its relationship to the clothing I choose to wear. I give myself the permission to experiment with clothes, and I learn what feels good to wear and what feels like a struggle. I learn to consider my specific figure in terms of how it works with and against clothes instead of considering it as it compares to BMI charts or the bodies of supermodels. 

It is a fact that we all have a body as long as we are alive so it only makes sense to make peace with it. It is our decision how we want to dress or look, and learning about its shape and features can help us express some of our essence to the outer world. Shopping is no longer a pain in the butt once you become intimate with your body and hone your personal style. When I began exploring fashion and style through my training, I came to respect my body which is integral to my identity. Only when I start to dress in a way that make me look amazing and feel amazing do I finally stop hating my body. 

The consultations that I run is all about choosing what you love about your figure and want to highlight, as well as about understanding your physical challenges and the aspects you would rather minimise or downplay. The traditional standards of style are the foundation on which individuality is built. As I slowly pick myself up from the treadmill of 'less than' or inadequacy, I stop wasting my precious energy feeding the body image beast. I am now so much more confident in the way I present myself, being in friendly terms with my body which was once an enemy.

How OLD are you?

Have you checked out all those blogs rampantly posted by senior style icons lately? There is a growing movement among the mature fashionistas who are embracing older beauty. Each of these women own her signature style, they are tech savvy and above all, stylish and authentic. I can't help but admire their boldness and playfulness, refusing to be ignored and remained invisible in the mainstream media while addressing 'ageism' from a whole new perspective.

Who says style and beauty are exclusive to only the young? And how do you define someone being 'young' anyway? It is all relative! Age is an attitude and style has no expiration date affixed to it. The term 'age-appropriateness' is just a convenient way of saying that women of a certain age should not be wearing certain styles because they are too old to be sexy, and that there is presumably a need to cover up their sagging bodies. A girl in her 20s who doesn't know her body and how to dress, follows trend and happy to be a sheep in the herd is no better than a mannequin without a sense of self-worth, whereas a woman can age in a way that is totally graceful, cool and beautiful. She knows who she is and is not afraid to show her essence to the world, expressing herself in wearing fashion her unique way with confidence.

What is it about ageing to be scared of? Well, the culprit is what we as a society has built around ageing which is mostly negative stereotyping prejudices, not dissimilar to those surrounding racism or gender inequality. Check out the classified section in the paper and you will see job ads that want to hire a 'recent college graduate' or a 'digital native', implying that older people need not apply. This is discrimination at its peak. The overuse of adjectives such as 'adorable' and 'cute' on older people is simply disrespectful. And what is so funny about older people having / not having sex (anyone for privacy?)and having episodes of hot flashes (which is a part of natural progression) and being tech illiterate (it's a matter of choice and individual interests in how deep you wish to be involved with the latest gadgets)? 

No one likes being patronised but the tone of voice we use on an older person could sound demeaning. Ignoring the older patient in favour of speaking to the adult child in company is absolutely humiliating. Similarly the choice of vocabulary to describe an older person could be downright hurtful especially with terms like 'old bag', 'crone', and 'broad'. 

If you pay any attention to the various media, women over 50 are now being chosen and celebrated for major ad campaigns, on TV and in movies. They are proofs that there is absolutely no reason why older women can't look fabulous and contemporary. The population of people over 50 is on the rise and it is only wise to acknowledge the reality and support the 'senior' who are dominating the human population big time. I remember when I was in my early 20s that the idea of becoming an old bag at the age of 30 was not going to happen to me. I could have never prepared myself for that. Now that I am in my mid forties, I am considered young by those who are in their 60s , with the energy befitting a teenager. 

Beauty is no longer about hormones and the number of candles on the birthday cake, it is about who the person really is. Nothing else matters.

How to declutter your pad?

Hi everyone,

I am back after a LONG break from my Newsletter 'Simple Living & Lifestyle Musings', which I shall have them transferred to this site soon. Having been through a helluva roller coaster ride since our last encounter, I decided to share my fresh perspectives on the subject of simplicity and minimalism once again, starting today, here in this blog with better content and I invite you to join me on this journey of a mindful life of experience. 

As we are 9 days into the new year (yes already!), and Spring cleaning is approaching at full speed, I'd like to quickly touch on the topic of decluttering your home, suggesting ways to make your pad clutter-free without much drama. Are you ready?

Rather than tackling your home in one go (which is not realistically possible), give yourself a time frame (say 15-30 minutes a day) or deal with just one area at a time. Start with the easiest and maybe the smallest zone to build momentum. As you go through the clutter, have a trash bag or carton box handy where you can ruthlessly dump items which you haven't used or remember having. You can always go back afterwards for reviewing (which I don't recommend) as these items could be donated or given away. I don't advocate throwing away items which end up at the landfill and I do believe whatever you trash could be someone else's treasure. Make sure you find a place for each item you decided to keep during the process of decluttering and that you return the item to its place every time you finish with it.

I am a bit of a freak when it comes to organising and tidiness. I like clean surfaces and knowing where everything is which is totally do-able when you make a habit of it. As I don't get that many snail mail except for promotional leaflets and catalogues, I have almost unsubscribed everything to reduce paper waste and getting my inbox to zero email at the end of the day is so so satisfying. Instead of cleaning the pots and pans after meals, I do it while waiting for the food to be cooked. Another way to beat procrastination is to finish small jobs as you encounter them throughout the day. Take the trash out when the bin is full, put your laundry into the washer, wipe your dining table and kitchen top after meals. Put your extra shampoo and moisturiser in the cabinet instead of leaving them on the shower caddy. (I don't recommend buying toiletries in bulk in the first place but then again it is hard to resist the temptation of a discounted bundle or items on sale).

Personally, 'a place for everything and everything in its place' is my mantra to stay organised. Let me know what you do to maintain a clutter-free home!

Clouds of Sils Maria

The ageing cycle begins the second we draw our first breath out of the mother's womb. The promise of ageing, illness and death is already set in motion whether we like it or not. We grow, change, and evolve constantly without paying much attention to the process and in the blink of an eye, decades flew by and we no longer enjoy looking into the mirror, seeing a stranger looming in the reflection who is no longer attractive and pretty, at least nothing like what we remember the way we were in our prime years.

I watched the DVD 'Clouds of Sils Maria' the other day and I couldn't help but resonated with the protagonist Maria Enders played by Juliette Binoche. Asked to play a role in a play which brought her fame 20 years ago, only in a character as a much older woman, Maria came to face head on her gremlin, an unsettling reflection of herself as the boss who ended up killing herself in the play. I can see myself as Maria, reluctant to accept the harsh reality of life, a torment which is only too much to bear especially when a much younger actress was chosen to play her old role as the alluring young girl in juxtaposition.

Why is it so heartbreaking to accept ageing which is part of the natural landscape of life? People have been trying to 'preserve' themselves with botox and plastic surgery, fighting against the onslaught of this ugly predicament so called ageing. The beauty industry has never been more prolific when million of dollars are raked from those who refuse to look 'less than', believing that there is indeed a secret to the fountain of youth if they are willing to pay. It has taken me years to make peace with my ageing mind and body. And that is totally liberating!

Fighting against ageing is just futile. Get real. Time is marching forward regardless. We don't think the same way we did 20 years ago as we are now much wiser and know better. The machine which we called our bodies are wearing out at different pace and no amount of exercise or quality food is going to reverse or stop that process of declining. Yet it is not true that life goes out at 40 or 50 and beyond, as long as you make adjustments and make new choices. Instead of showing off everything only being youthful can offer, I can now look at myself in the unforgiving mirror and be proud of myself for who I am,  expressing my values, personality and point of view without a care. It is a presence larger than life and it is ageless. 

There is no point picking on ourselves, digging up old wounds and comparing ourselves to false ideals (which are never true in the first place). My suggestion is to honor yourself for becoming the woman you are at this point in time. This is probably the best age-defying mechanism you can get (and for free too). 

You are what you wear: Christina Dean at TEDxHKBU