Hangin in the Closet with… Alyson Schafer

Alyson Schafer is a psychotherapist and one of Canada’s leading parenting experts. She’s the author of the best-selling “Breaking the Good Mom Myth” (Wiley, 2006) and “Honey I Wrecked The Kids” (Wiley, 2009) and most recently “Ain’t Misbehavin’” (2011). Alyson is regularly quoted and interviewed by Cosmopolitan, Readers’ Digest, Canadian Living, Today’s Parents, and Canadian Families and on TV shows like CBC’s The National, TVO’s Agenda, and Montel Williams to name a few.

If you have had the pleasure of meeting Alyson you understand why she is in such demand.  Her funny and warm personality makes her a must watch and her tips and tricks on parenting help lower your stress.

http://alysonschafer.com @alysonschafer

What was your first paying job and what did you learn from it?

Wow – that is going back a ways! I think I was 14 yrs old.  I worked at a lodge in the laundry hut.   I would have to drive my little boat to the resort and work in the summer heat using industrial machinery.   I had to hang 100 pillow cases on the line and by the time the last one was hung, the first was dry.  My arms ached from having them over my head for hours.  THEN I had to iron them!!!

I learned what hard labor was.  I was also loved having my own money to buy what ever I wanted.   I made $20 for a days work, saved it all summer in a peanut can, and bought my first pair of contact lens.

If you weren’t an author and a regular on many prominent morning shows what do you think you would be doing?

I love cooking and food.  I’d love to go to cooking school and learn the regional cooking of Italy, France, Spain and other places.   Can you find me a sugar daddy please?

What inspires or motivates you?

I love being helpful.  I know how amazed I was learning all the theory and techniques myself and just love passing that joy and relief on to other families.  I like having meaningful work that makes a difference to humanity.

How do you define success?

Feeling you are giving your talents and gifts in a way that betters mankind.

Sweats or suits?

Oh, I am changing.  I used to be a tom boy in sweats, but now I am learning to be a woman and to pay attention to what I wear even if I am home alone.   Here I am at my desk wearing a lovely dress and accessories.  ACCESSORIES!!!  Me!!  I shared a room in hotel with a girl friend a few years ago and I brought NO jewelry and only had 2 pairs of shoes.   Oh my – how things have changed. I need a whole suite case just for those now!

What was your biggest fashion faux pas?

HA! I have so many! Wearing a cooking apron in my grade 3 class photo.  I used to pull off turtlenecks slowly so the neck would stay on my head and inside out, look like a wig so I could pretend I had long hair.  Need I say more?   In all honesty, the hardest thing for me has been finding a hair style that holds up on camera.  I ALWAYS hate my hair on TV.

Which celebrity’s style do you most admire and why?

I seem to linger on all photos of Helen Miren.  I don’t know if it’s her style or just a great women who is aging so classy!

Scent?

Burberry

Makeup tips or tricks?  What’s your daily makeup routine?

I wear Revlon Photo Finish base, and the rest is MAC. I love their crème blush.  Lips are GLAM V1.  I recommend everyone take a make-up lesson and don’t give up. I have take 3 lessons and put on eyeliner terribly for 5 years before I got it mastered.  Never give up!

What single piece of advice would you pass along to young women striving to feel good in their own skin?

Boy – I guess I am thankful for all the experts who taught me the skills I was missing (‘cuz God knows my tomboy mother was of no help). I thought it was “me” but it was really all about learning about me and what works.   I invested in myself and now I know how to dress in a way that feels like me, feels good and projects my inner self accurately.   I have been brave enough to try it all.  From Susan Powder brush cuts to forking out for hair extensions.  I have been a blonde a red head and a brunette before settling on blonde.  I have had a spray tan, a brazilian and professional shoppers.  Try it all!!!  See what you like and what you hate.  Make mistakes. Play.  Enjoy fashion instead of being a slave to it.

Better Styled is Hangin’ in the closet with… Kimberley Seldon

Kimberley Seldon is probably best known as an award winning interior designer with twenty years of experience at the helm of her own design firm Kimberley Seldon Design Group.  If that did not keep her busy enough she is also the Design Editor of Canada’s Chatelaine Magazine and Editor in Chief of Dabble Magazine.  Additionally she has written two design books and is a regular expert on Cityline.  Kimberley is also passionate about travel which is apparent during her Design Express tours where she exposes people to a unique design experience.

http://kimberleyseldon.com

http://dabblemag.com/

@kimberleyseldon

What was your first paying job and what did you learn from it? I worked at Bob’s Big Boy (don’t laugh….it was Erin Brockovich’s first job too) and I learned how satisfying it is to earn my own money.

If you weren’t an interior designer and President of Kimberley Seldon Design Group, a magazine editor of the fabulous Dabble, an author and a regular on Cityline, what do you think you would be doing? I would like to be an architect. Or, own a bookstore that serves amazing coffee. I’d sit around and read all day and recommend stories to solve people’s life problems.

What inspires or motivates you? I’m inspired by travelling. Discovering a new culture, exploring a city’s architecture and trying new foods is a thrill.

How do you define success? Doing what I love and earning a living at it. That’s the best job in the world.

Sweats or suits? Suits. I know….crazy. But I actually feel more comfortable in tailored outfits than I do in sweats.

What was your biggest fashion faux pas? Today? Where do I start? The list is so long, that’s why I hired you!!

Which celebrity’s style do you most admire and why? Well, I think you could take any of the classic, Ralph Lauren models and that would work. I love timeless grace and effortless beauty.

Scent? http://www.kenzousa.com/item/parfum-d’ete-edp Not only is the glass, leaf-shaped bottle stunning to look at, the fragrance is light and fresh. Divine.

Makeup tips or tricks? I am devoted to KissMe mascara as it washes off with water and doesn’t run under my eyes.

What’s your daily makeup routine? I am a thorough scrubber and I slather on the skin cream. Does it help? No idea. But I love how it feels.

What single piece of advice would you pass along to young women striving to feel good in their own skin? Practice this mantra, “What she/he thinks of me is none of my business.”

Hangin in the closet with… Allison Graham

Allison Graham is a sought-after keynote speaker, workshop leader and private executive coach, who teaches professionals how to grow their circles of influence and elevate their bottom line by catapulting their business networking skills. 

Speaking is Allison’s passion and in addition to her book Business Cards to Business Relationships she also writes a column and blog called Getting Connected for Sun Media. Allison contributed to the Financial Post and has been featured in several media outlets including the national affairs broadcast The Michael Coren Show, featured on BNN’s MoneyTalk, Breakfast Television and the Globe and Mail.   

http://www.elevatebiz.com/

Twitter: @allisondgraham

What was your first paying job and what did you learn from it?

Detasselling corn (basically spent the days walking the corn fields pulling the top of every third corn stalk) What did I learn? I have an aversion to bugs, manual labour in the high heat and getting up in the morning for a job I hated. My entrepreneurial spirit was born.

If you weren’t a speaker, author, and networking master what do you think you would be doing?

I love what I do so I couldn’t imagine any other career path at this point. So the question really becomes, if I weren’t working, what would I do and the answer to that question is I’d be a stay-at-home mom (of course at this point I have no children but would love some)

What inspires or motivates you?

Having purpose.

How do you define success?

Success for me is relative to how excited I am to face each day when I wake up in the morning. If I have no passion for the activities that lie ahead, then I would consider my path to success is on the wrong track.

Sweats or suits?

Sweats the minute I walk in the door and when I’m working in my home office. In public, suits. Definitely suits. J

What was your biggest fashion faux pas? 

Aside from the dry cleaning tag hanging out of the back of my jacket??

Which celebrity’s style do you most admire and why?

It sounds so cliché now but I think Duchess Catherine Middleton has the most incredible wardrobe. Sophisticated, yet age appropriate.

Scent?

Love the scent of sweet pea….or did you mean perfume?

Makeup tips or tricks?  What’s your daily makeup routine?

Recently I went through a change with my makeup routine. It used to be that I would throw some powder, eye liner, mascara and lipstick on and be done with it. Then I realized if I wear full makeup during the day I feel a million times more put-together and confident. So I’ve upgraded my daily routine to add real foundation, contoured eye-shadow and blush (not just bronzer). Funny thing is, it only takes a few extra minutes to make happen.

What single piece of advice would you pass along to young women striving to feel good in their own skin?

If you think you’re fat, unless your doctor has told you that you’re overweight, then you’re not. Stop trying to lose the last 10 pounds. No one cares. Funny thing is I spent years disappointed with my body shape and size.

Eventually I gained about 50 pounds and my doc said, “Allison, you’ve got to do something. This weight gain is unhealthy.” (there were reasons it happened). I would look back and see photos of myself when I was smaller and I couldn’t believe I thought I was so fat. What I would have given to go back to that size 12 when I was wearing 18.

Now, as I’ve managed to shed my extra pounds I am embracing my body shape every step of the way. Because really, this old “fat” is fantastic compared to when I was legitimately heavy.

 Figured out that if today was the last day of my life, the last thing I would want to be obsessing over is the size of my derriere. Certainly puts it into perspective, doesn’t it?

Hanging in the closet with… Kathy Buckworth

Kathy Buckworth is an award winning writer, public speaker, and television personality.  She is the author of five books; did we mention she also has 4 children?    Kathy is a dynamo; she is a feature writer for Sympatico.ca, a columnist for ParentsCanada, Womens Post, Ottawa Families, Dabble Magazine, and GoodLife. And if that was not enough she is also a parenting correspondent for CTVNewsChannel, and appears on shows such as CityLine and The Marilyn Denis Show. So you are probably wondering what we were: does Kathy sleep?  Better Styled is thrilled to chat with Kathy Buckworth.

@kathybuckworth   www.kathybuckworth.com  

What was your first paying job and what did you learn from it?   My first paying job was as a waitress at a Smitty’s Pancake House in Winnipeg. I learned that I did not enjoy wearing an orange polyester uniform.

If you weren’t an author and a regular on many prominent morning and parenting shows, what do you think you would be doing?  I worked in corporate marketing for 18 years, and until about six months before I resigned, I always enjoyed it. I would go back to that world, but probably as a consultant rather than within a corporation. The entrepreneurial skills I’ve learned since beginning my freelance career include making my own agenda and setting my own targets.

What inspires or motivates you?  I get so much energy off of other people.  Mostly I love people who just “do it”.  I hang around with smart, fun, funny, and fearless friends who are always inspiring me, whether they know it or not.

How do you define success?  I’m doing something I really want to do, with someone who really wants me to do it, and it’s advancing me in some way…it’s a success.

Sweats or suits?  Suits.  I can’t shake the corporate mindset entirely. I was the only one in the early 90’s who tried to have “Casual Day” abolished. Right now, in my home office, in front of my laptop, I’m wearing a blouse, dress pants, and unsensible shoes.  Can’t shake it.

What was your biggest fashion faux pas?  Besides the aforementioned orange polyester uniform (not my fault!), it would have to be the many, many shoulder pads I wore to the office.  Didn’t everyone? 

Which celebrity’s style do you most admire and why?  I find it really hard for women in the 40-55 age bracket to find “appropriate” clothing.  It’s either something my teenage daughter would wear or something my Grandma might have loved.  While she’s older than me (really!) I admire Diane Keaton’s style a great deal. She has a way of covering up age-related flaws (neck, hands) that really works for her.

Scent? Never wear perfume.  Never have, never will. Just not interested.

Makeup tips or tricks?  What’s your daily makeup routine?  Love MAC Studio Fix – allows me to do my own before shows – so easy to put on.  With that, some blush, earthtone eye shadow (no glitter after the age of 20!), mascara, and recently all lip gloss, no lipstick.  Learned about using dark eye shadow as an eye liner from my good friend Josey Vogels.  Easy to apply.

What single piece of advice would you pass along to young women striving to feel good in their own skin?  Be yourself.  My friends make fun of me for my “uptight” dressing style sometimes, but it’s truly what I feel comfortable in.  PJ pants and Crocs are just not me.  Find out what works, and then work it.

Why leggings are not pants

Iam always telling clients that leggings are not a substitute for pants and when I stumbled upon this picture I thought it made for an appropriate blog post. 

Leggings are a staple in alot of women’s wardrobes but as you can tell there is a right and wrong way to wear them.  Thick black leggings are in style and a longer top is always age appropriate.  Make sure you think about proportions and what would work best for your body type.

Better Styled partners with Fasken

On Thursday evening I had the privilege of giving a seminar on What not to Wear to a large group of downtown lawyers.  I really enjoyed the evening and had such a great time meeting all these amazing women.  Our seminar discussed the importance of dressing for success and becoming your own personal brand. Combined with a fashion show highlighting appropriate work attire it was an informative and fun evening.

A special thank you to the amazing team at Fasken Martineau for putting together such an amazing event. viagra

Stuck in a style rut? 4 Easy ways to transition into spring

Colour Up!
A great lightweight coloured linen scarf with colour can pop any white tee and jeans. Adds instant colour to your face or for a funkier twist put it through your belt loops and wear it as a belt.

Get ‘THE’ Shoe
This season one of the must-have shoes is a fabulous neutral pump. In a sling back, stiletto, lower heel, or even linen finish, this stunning shoe elongates your legs and can add instant style to any outfit. And the best part, a beige or skin coloured shoe goes with everything.

Bling is the Thing
Add a bold statement necklace this season specifically with a chain detail. Layered silver or gold chains make a statement, even enamel oversized chains are being shown. Accents of aqua and coral are also showing up – and adding some colour can pull you out of any style funk.

Crop It
Nothing says spring like showing a little leg. For a more casual look you can pair this length back to a ballet flat, or for a night out on the town pull out your gladiator heels or a neutral pump.

Royal attire

The wedding of the century has taken place and I thought I would pass along my thoughts on the event.  While initially I was wondering why everyone was making such a big fuss, when I woke up early Friday morning to watch the ceremony live I figured it out rather quickly.  For every woman who ever read a fairytale as a child when you see it all play out in real life it takes you back to being a kid.  But also who doesn’t love to see a spectacular wedding and two people who love on another.  

And they definitely did not disappoint.  The glamour was high and Kate Middleton looked amazing.  Her gown was the perfect blend of maturity, glamour and royalty and her simple yet elegant makeup (which she did herself by the way) and hair fit the occasion and gown perfectly.  Nothing says sophistication like lace and Sarah Burton from the house of Alexander McQueen did not let us down.  Her second gown worn for the party was equally as special.  Simple and elegant were on the tip of everyone tongue.

Catherine the Dutchess of Cambridge is going to the one to watch!

News worthy!

Our very own Erin has been featured in Beauty Connexion an only site featuring beauty tips, tricks, and ideas.  The interview titled 5 minutes with Erin Nadler can be found at http://www.beautyconnexion.com/index.cfm?DocID=15119

The May issue of Flare Magazine features a fabulous story on appropriate wedding attire written by Shawna Cohen.  Check it out to see Erin dishing on her tips and tricks for deciphering the dress code, as well as helpful tips for bridesmaids looking to make their dress more unique.

Everything Mom meets Better Styled

When the lovely Carrie Anne decided to come into Better Styled and do a story on seeking the help of a stylist versus shopping alone I thought – what a great idea!  And the article is fantastic.

http://www.everythingmom.com/style/using-a-stylist-to-update-your-wardrobe.html

We talked about everything from spring trends to the benefits of seeking help. Hope you enjoy the article as much as I did.