Fashion Makeover or how I let people into my closet
February 21st, 2009 by Ingrid Cliff
One of my clients is a brilliant personal stylist in Brisbane - Bettina from Kahootz. She is also a very talented patternmaker, dressmaker and women’s clothes fashion designer so when she said she wanted to be let loose in my wardrobe I did what every self respecting woman did – I panicked!
Luckily for me Bettina is very persistent and persuasive and I finally let her into my wardrobe (it took 4 months for me to get up the courage). Guys – if you don’t know, having a trained fashionista cast her eye over a woman’s wardrobe is akin to the feeling that wandering around naked in peak hour in the centre of town would give you. Actually it is very similar as most of the time I was in bra and undies between changing outfits. It was terrifying!
It was also the most educational things that I have ever done. Having Bettina look with a critical but caring eye over my figure good points (yes, apparently I do have a few) as well as my challenge areas, and then make me try on everything ( … everything including the raincoat!) in my wardrobe, was brilliant.
I found out why I liked some clothes (even though I only wear them to costume parties), why other clothes didn’t quite work, why some needed to be shortened and others lengthened and which necklines worked.
She came up with combinations I would never have dreamt of in ten thousand years and new ways of wearing clothes I thought were only to be seen again in the dress-up pile.
I even finally had a name for my personal style – corporate bohemian (as a writer I need a funky label for everything).
Years ago I had my colours done by an image consultant. Bettina finally made me realise what the colours actually meant and the difference the right shades on the right outfits made.
Yes … 1/4 of my wardrobe is now going to St Vinnies (figured that was going to happen), 1/2 is off to get adjusted and I am living with a few OK outfits until all the fab ones come back. We are also going to get some great new outfits made that actually fit my long legs and arms (a miracle!)
Did it feel good – yes … at the end of it all. I also am armed with knowledge and a whole lot more confidence.
So ladies … invest in a full wardrobe audit with Bettina. It is worth every cent and then some!
Until next time
Ingrid Cliff
We put your business into words
This entry was posted on Saturday, February 21st, 2009 at 4:25 pm and is filed under Heart Harmony. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
February 21st, 2009 at 9:46 pm
I’ve had a makeover by Bettina too and she’s fabulous. (Albeit mine was on A Current Affair – try spending a day mostly in your underwear in front of the camera crew, reporter and assistants too!) I love the outfits she made me and the small suggestions she had about getting some of my existing pieces of clothing altered.
Whenever someone asks me if I have a favourite clothing label, I always tell them, “Yes. Kahootz Clothing.” (And it makes me feel special to say that – even though I don’t even really know any other labels!) It really does feel good to have clothing that actually fits properly and flatters too.
February 27th, 2009 at 10:05 am
That sounds awesome Ingrid. I got the shudders thinking about her going through my wardrobe and seeing me in my undies too! Sounds like the gain is more than worth the pain. Love the title “corporate bohemian”. Did Bettina give your look a label too Donna-Marie? Hope you’re going to post some pics of your new outfits Ingid.