Tag Archives: make up

Key to My Style

Key to Me

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How’s that for a first post in a new year? It’s pretty exciting if you ask me.

I was very flattered and excited when the amazing and talented photographer Justyna Karkowska approached me and offered me this photo shoot. I couldn’t wait.

With the photo shoot couple of days away, I still didn’t know what to do with it. What would be the theme? SO many ideas and I was starting to think ‘I have nothing to wear!’ WHAT???? I know. I got to the point when sorting outfits and wardrobes for others became so exciting and straightforward but for a moment I thought that I haven’t done the work for myself. Then I realized I am still just a women and I will still get these thoughts. As long as I don’t reward them with senseless purchases I’m fine though 😉

I then started going through my clothes and putting rather weird things together. When I stopped, relaxed and decided it has to be about me! Not about the season or a particular occasion but me. This is what I preach to my clients and this is what I believe in in terms of style. Trends? Yes, I get inspired by them to the point where they work for me or women I work with, but my personality and body are the priority. So I decided that the photo shoot was going to be about me. Key to me 😉

Something magical happened the moment I decided to accept myself some time ago. Don’t take me wrong I believe in looking after your body and working on improving it but at the same time you have to start with self love; with accepting who you are, how you are build and being grateful for it; loving your body for all the pieces that are ‘perfect’ (for lack of a better word) and those that you are working on or even don’t like. That is the starting point. NOW, every day. It really can only benefit your life and your relationships.

 


So the morning of the photo shot, literary an hour before I decided to add an extra outfit because that’s what I felt like wearing. That’s it. That was the inspiration behind the first styling. Sky high heeled sandals that I have and love but worn only once before becoming a mom. I added cute stockings instead of thick tights that I usually wear at this time of the year. I put a simplest cotton dress and covered it with the new poncho I got from hubby for Christmas (guy’s got the taste doesn’t he? ;)). I added brown accessories to go with the shoes and voila! That’s ME and that’s why I like this one. Don’t you just love it when you wear what feels comfortable and looks good? When you know you made you happy? And if someone else likes it two then that is just an added bonus 😉 The key is to try new things, explore new options, maybe change a hair do or make up a little? This is definitely a cool new years’s resolution to make. They don’t all have to be painful. Changing your style and doing a little something for yourself this year is a must. If you are reading this I really hope you will do it for yourself and maybe get someone to take a photo of it too. Believe me when I say it, the way you see yourself in a mirror is not the same to the way the worlds sees you.

This was not easy for me. Deep down I love the idea of being a model for a day but it felt awkward. I was not sure what to do and how to move but Justyna made me feel at ease and it was actually fun. I realize I can do better next time but for now I am just so grateful for the having these style moments captured so beautifully.

 

 

 

 

The second styling is something I actually prepared a day before. Don’t take me wrong, I like planning my outfits. It makes life easier, especially since I’m a mom but I always enjoyed working on a spot too. So now I work the two. Perfect combination for my crazy nature.

I love the classic pieces. You can never have too many black pieces apparently. They do work for most of us, however the accessories can really transform a simple outfit into something quite special so I always love adding a little sparkle.

In this case I decided to wear the top front to back. I find that cleavage is a bit old school and love exposed back. That is something everyone can do, no matter the age and it can be just as sexy as low neckline. Shoulders and back are the parts of our body that age last in fact. I layered couple of gorgeous silver necklaces to add the sparkle. The effect was really cool both, at the front and the back.

Now, the fringe skirt. I love how much fun can be had with it. It’s perfect for Latino dancing but also just every day. Can be dressed down or dressed up. Can be worn day or evening, It is an awesome piece to have. The fringing was actually first introduced during the time of Asyrian Empire (1300 – 800 bc). The amount of trimming on the full-length skirt was used to indicate the rank of the higher State and Court officials. Also the richness of the material, length and the colour of the fringing on the scarf as well as the way it was worn indicated the station of the wearer. Officials of lower grade wore no scarf at all. Fringing has been back in fashion several times now and it’s back again. We can see everything from tops, trousers, sandals, high heels, jackets, jumpers and even accessories finished with trimmings of various lengths and styles. Aren’t we lucky to life in a era when we can not only choose what we wear but also how we wear it? If that is not enough of an inspiration to go crazy and have fun with fashion then I don’t know what is… .

I finished this look with my favourite pair of blue heels. They are most comfortable and gorgeous pair of shoes that work with a little black, a little white or multicolored dress, jeans, skirts and many more. Also much more flattering against a bare leg that a classic black heel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let me leave you with a little hip shake. This is always going to make me dance. I hope you have a picture of yourself that makes you smile or do whatever pleases your soul. Please feel free to comment. I appreciate every little thought and opinion. Till next time.

With love,

Gosia

 

 

Key to My Style

Key to My Rainbow

This is about my most recent passion – COLOUR.

Understanding my colour pallette and how to put them together to make me look at my best is the biggest discovery in terms of my style that I have made over the last year or so. Being able to help my clients with that too is the most rewarding thing ever.

I realized some time ago that I used to surround myself with colours (or lack of them) that didn’t always flatter me and my overall image.

A process of discovering my own unique style has been filled with trial and error. I looked online at blogs and vlogs and what I found was often more confusing than helpful. Advise that I found about ‘finding your style’ was to collect images from magazines and articles, anywhere that you can, and make up a board. This is helpful only to some extent. It helps you find a pattern of things that you like so that you can then start copying it. I absolutely hate and disagree with the idea of copying. Most times it means struggling to find the exact outfit and most importantly, rarely looking as amazing as the model/celebrity on the picture. Waste of money, disappointment and still not feeling myself.

Since I work in the fashion industry and spend more time learning and studying it, I realize how subjective it is. Trends are awesome to get inspired by them and choose ones that work for us but we are all ONE AND ONLY and that is the best trend ever. I do believe in inspiration boards and have a giant one myself that I keep updating and changing. It has everything that inspires me in terms of style but also all aspects of my life that I feel are important. It also has pictures of me and those that mean the most to me. Those are pictures of ‘memories’ that make me feel good and inspire me to keep those feeling alive but also to stay grateful as there is so much to appreciate.

In terms of the colours and seasonal pallettes, finding which one I was, was a process. There is a lot of help online but it can also be confusing. I have no idea what I used to base my choices on. I think most of it was the fact that I loved certain looks on other people and I kind of hoped it looked as good on me as it did on them (we often see what we want to). I often felt that the more I tried the worse the result. Then sometimes I’d go for an unexpected choice and ended up with a WOW outfit. It was exhausting though. Not to mention the stress involved with finding outfits for social gatherings where I knew I was going to see people that were so stylish I could never even imagine of being like them… .

It was not until I figured I definitely have a cool skin tone to start changing my clothing choices and getting rid of a lot of pieces that just ‘don’t belong here no more’.

Another part of the discovery was to find out that I am a winter. Oh, how fun it is now to gradually be adapting changes. I love knowing what’s good. Its not just the fact that I have a pallette of colours to choose from. It’s knowing what to avoid that seems just as important. It’s the accessories and it’s power that when chosen accordingly add a sparkle (also to my eyes;). It’s the knowledge of ‘what with what’ that makes me excited for putting outfits together now. It’s also make up. I use less of it that I have for years to find that actually not much is needed when used in line with my skin tone.

I guess what I am trying to say is that nothing seems more important and exciting than doing whats right for you. YOU are timeless and so is your style. Of course it will change with time, just like your life and that is amazing but we really don’t need to be buying a whole new wardrobe every time a new trends come.

I want to share couple of pictures taken by me recently to let you see for yourselves how, just by changing few colours, a face can come to life and even smile more 😉

 

  

 

I hope you can see that the first picture illustrates how the ‘positive’ colours can make me feel and look more radiant, healthier and generally more happy. The second one, I used much more eye make up, the same foundation and blush as on the first one, but different lipstick. I am definitely not happy with the result on that one. I don’t like looking pale, ashy and tired. Choice of jewellery can have a great impact too. Generally speaking whatever is the closest to your face will have an effect on your appearance.

The following pictures proved to me that I really don’t need to be drowning my eyes with heavy make up to make them ‘pop’. It is much more important to make my completion healthy and do nothing to ruin that. So less really is more. I am no make up expert and I often have  up to 5 minutes to do make up. That is why lately more than ever I treat myself to my shade of red. Apart from little foundation, bronzer or/and blush and mascara I add nothing else. I’m happy with this 😉

        

To sum up I NEED to share this. When working with my clients I ask them who their style inspiration is. I am often surprised and it is always interesting to see who and what is it that they like and get inspired by.  One of my first clients, an absolutely amazing and inspiring woman, opened my eyes. I love the fact that every client teaches me something and makes me want to do better every time. It is so exciting to be sharing ideas and experiences with them.  I always take pictures of clients (not always publish them though). We put outfits together and I want them to keep reference to make getting dressed easier once our time together ends but also for them to see the transformation. This lady picked one photo from our session and messaged me saying “Gosia, on this picture, I am an ICON for myself.” ( and I don’t think she meant a style icon only, she meant a life icon ). I still tear up when I think of it. This was one of the most inspiring and rewarding things to hear ever. I thanked her for it and said I couldn’t be happier to hear it. I realized that this is IT. That’s how I wish every women feels about herself. Has a picture of herself from the past or present close by and gets INSPIRED BY HERSELF. Doesn’t want to look like another Kardashian, the world is full of them already. YOU are the ONE AND ONLY. Please accept yourself, love and have fun just like you deserve to. That is my wish this Christmas for all you ladies. Be empowered by YOU. For me it is colour that gives me the power and fills days with fun. I hope you know or find whatever it is that you need to be happy and inspired, to keep smiling.

“Style is a deeply personal expression of who you are, and every time you dress, you are asserting a part of yourself.” -Nina Garcia

Would love to hear from you. Please share if you liked the post. Let me know if you didn’t too and I would love to hear suggestions for the future.

Love,

Gosia