Launch Day 8 | Spirit & Style | Charly Emery

My very first featured guest Charly Emery talks style and spirit for the brendaswanson.com launch. Thanks Charly!

Charly Emery; Personal Strategist, Author & TV personality
website: www.charlysense.com
Twitter: @charlysense
Facebook: Charly Emery

The trees are exquisitely decorated, mannequins adorned in cocktail attire, and brightly shining baubles with plenty of bling line the counters and jewelry cases at Neiman’s. It’s official! The holidays are virtually upon us —and with them will come a slew of invitations that will give you one fantastic opportunity after another to glam it up and strut your stuff with style. The question is, will you stay true to your personal style, believe it, LIVE it and shine, or become one of this season’s fashion victims…

Now I’m a strategist and author of Thank Goodness You Dumped His Ass, so I while I’m usually helping you dress your love life with the right man to fit the relationship you want, personal style is one of my other favorite areas. As a trauma survivor who used to weigh 50 pounds more and struggled with my self image, owning your personal style is something I’m very passionate about. After all, there aren’t that many things you have control over. Yet owning who you are and expressing that through your own style enables you to present yourself with power —and look fabulous! It also feels amazing!

At this point I’ve explored much of fashion and definitely dueled with trends. The bottom line is if you’re dressed in something you love that also complements your individual body… you’re going to turn heads whether you’re wearing this year’s trends or not! So give yourself the gift of owning who you are from the inside out with these tips for discovering your personal style, and making the fashion world bow down to you!

Embrace your body so you can determine how to look your personal best instead of wasting time comparing yourself to other women that you’re never going to look like. The time you spend wishing you had longer legs is better spent figuring out how to make your legs look and feel longer!

Define your body type, so you can get clear on what kinds of cuts, shapes, and lengths look best on your body regardless of what’s trending. When I lost my extra 50 pounds years ago, I had to realize that certain things still weren’t going to look great on me. Give yourself the gift of honest assessment so you’re choosing the best options that will make you a standout. You’ll know it too because you’ll feel fabulous and comfortable when you look in the mirror.

Accept what you can’t wear well and accentuate your assets with what  flatters your figure! As much as you may love the latest trends, your body may struggle to pull them off. I LOVE those big, long slouchy sweaters that taller women wear. However at 5’2” I look more like I’m being swallowed by the trend than setting one. I don’t care what’s hot right now, if you can’t wear it well, skip it!

Have fun exploring what you like and then stay true to what feels right for you. The magazines and style segments may tell you what to embrace this season, but that doesn’t make them the right pieces or colors for your wardrobe. I’m known for my bling and my love of sparkle. Still my personal style is very classic. I like clean lines, tailored jackets and solid colors. I have friends with impeccable style who mix lots of colors with statement jewelry pieces, however what looks fab on them doesn’t even feel comfortable to me. Be you instead of someone else, and again, you’ll look and feel great!

Lastly, go for Successfully Stylish over Fashion Slave. Try on what’s trending —and don’t be afraid to hang it back on the rack if it doesn’t look as good as you imagined. Personal style is about self awareness, self expression and trust. When you pay true attention to your own body you’re able to capitalize on your best parts and accentuate your assets. It also gives you the freedom to  mix and match seasons, build a wardrobe with lots of flexibility and always look and feel like you. Trust in what you feel because it will show on your face and be obvious in your presence. Comfort and connection to your personal style equals confident and captivating to everyone else!

Put you first over fashion and make getting dressed all about how you feel and want to feel because once you’re true to you, we all can’t help but gaze at your beauty! May you have a wonderful holiday season and strut your stuff from the inside out. Wishing you the best life and love have to offer! — Charly Emery