I just love how opening up one link can lead to discovering something that can truly change how you think and live your life. DESIRE a word that conjures up powerful images and can take us on a journey of self discovery. I recently followed links and blog sites via Pinterest which led me to such a site.

www.daniellelaporte.com/thedesiremap/ The concept of DESIRE MAPPING is very interesting and it got me thinking about how I could use it as an aid for personal styling. Most of us do have a desired image that we want to project to the world.  It is how we construct our desired image that I am interested in discussing here. Danielle La Porte talks about beginning with our desires and working from there to set goals which will enable us to realise these desires.

In following this process myself I discovered that I desire to project an image of a confident, creative, healthy, well travelled, broad minded individual, who is compassionate about global issues and an intelligent interesting person.

To attain this image my goal setting might look something like this:

To use my own creative resources in my personal style.

To adopt a healthy daily regime which includes healthy eating and regular exercise

To make opportunities to travel, collect pieces adopt ideas from other places around the world and incorporate into my style.

To keep an open mind when it comes to new trends and develop a style which evolves by incorporating trends which suit me and my style.

To individualise my style by adding my own take on a look or creating a unique look which suits me and my lifestyle.

To keep in mind global issues when shopping, travelling, recycling and do the best I can to contribute to a better world.

To maintain an active interest in the world around me and how others  navigate and project themselves to the world.

To continue learning new and better ways of being, doing and understanding.

Your Desires & desired image may be very different from mine. You may desire to focus on areas in your life which calls for a utilitarian style with a minimal focus on wardrobe and minimal effort in your outward appearance. The beautiful actress and past face of Lancome Issabella Rosellini developed her personal style with just such a desire in mind reportedly raiding her man’s wardrobe and embracing a simple paired down masculine style so she didn’t have to spent time thinking about what to wear each day.      

There is no doubt that our desired image is a reflection of our desired lifestyle. Advertising has used this concept to offer us what we want although most of the time what we buy into does not give us what we actually desire and we are left wanting and disappointed.

If your desire is for a sporty style it is perhaps an indication that you desire to be more sporty. Maybe it is time to join a gym or add a sporting activity to your life. We all remember the impact Olivia Newton Johns “Lets Get Physical” had on the way we looked while exercising and the impact it had on the fashion industry. In fact fashion has used our desire to feel like we are doing more exercise by giving us athletic looking leisure wear so that whether we are doing the hard yards or not we look like we are on the outside. A very clever move by the fashion industry although if our desired image follows our true desires we are left with only the empty image unless we do the activity.

Perhaps your desire is for a more feminine seductive style which may indicate that romance is a very important part of your life or that you would like to have more romance in your life.

Maybe you desire to be taken more seriously in a male dominated corporate world hence a classic power suit style may be a desirable image.

You may find that your style has not changed much since you were in your 20′s perhaps your desire being to not grow older? This may indicate you need to do some inside work which will help you to accept that aging is a process which we cannot avoid forever and one which can bring great depth and joy to your life. I have to admit I am constantly checking my style to gage whether it is age appropriate simply because I forget I am now in my mid fifty’s. That doesn’t mean that I consciously dress older I think there are many styles which can be adopted regardless of age provided it is flattering and works for you.

I have always loved oriental style which may be due to a desire to spend time in that part of the world or a desire to study the cultures of  the orient. It may be due to my desire to appear well travelled or broad minded. I like to think its because I was an oriental princess in a former life. I know, very funny and  highly unlikely but its a lovely fantasy.

The key here is so simple, decide what it is you desire and act accordingly when planning your goals and your desired image should follow. Desire is our fuel for life and as we age we can lose track of what is truly important to us as we struggle to stay in step with our fast moving world. Sometimes we can feel like we have lost our oars in a sea of unrewarding experiences and unattainable goals.

Most Madam D’s have multi faceted lifestyles which comes from having been on the planet for a reasonable amount of time. We  are mothers, wives, grandmothers, sisters, doctors, nurses, lawyers, carers, teachers, home-makers, artists, etc. We may desire to project an efficient corporate image at work and prefer a more feminine style after hours or a relaxed sporty carefree look to balance out a busy and demanding work life. We may have a job with a uniform  by day and desire to project a glamorous image after hours. We DO know better than anyone what we desire in our lives. We all have limitations and we don’t all  look sexy in a man’s suit and the chic sporty look can be more difficult to achieve as we age but that shouldn’t stop us from continuing to set goals based on our desires. Taking the time to work out what it is that you truly desire will help you to live the life you want and in turn you will automatically project an AUTHENTIC IMAGE of yourself to the world.

Once every year on the 26th of January our national pride spikes as we celebrate how lucky we are to be Australian.  Aussie divas’s are intrepid travellers and trend setters. Our Surfy brands and sheep skin boots have taken the world by cyclone changing the face of fashion despite the deliberate lack of support from the industry mags. Divas  like  Toni, Rachael, Cate, Nichole, Megan, Elle & our aussie Rose frequent red carpet events and can be found on the best dressed list year round.

The Aussie Diva has earned her southern cross she is confident, stylish, worldly and proud to be Australian. I think what sets us apart from the rest of the world is our great ability to adapt our adventurous nature and our openness to embracing the new. We do fusion food better than anywhere else in the world and our style aesthetic is as eclectic as our culturally diverse nation.  Most Madam D’s will remember Jenny Kee one of Australias fashion pioneers with her exotic printed silks and knits featuring aussie flora & fauna and her famous opal design fabric which featured in Italian Vogue and on the catwalk in Paris with Chanel. Jenny Kee helped to put Australia on the world fashion map and her culturally diverse parentage a Chinese Father and Australian/ Italian mother in my opinion makes her the epitome of a a true blue Aussie Diva www.jennykee.com  

Whatever your cultural heritage and whatever your personal style it is time to celebrate being an aussie and lead the way to  a more compassionate, tolerant and beautiful world.

Happy Australia Day!!

We Madam D’s have rung in more New Years than we probably care to remember and definitely made more resolutions than we have kept. The New Year is a great time to make some style resolutions and a wardrobe cleanse will set you on the right track . If you haven’t recently gone through your wardrobe from top to bottom this is the perfect opportunity to rethink your looks and get rid of anything that doesn’t fit with your new year style revamp.

2013 is the Chinese year of the water snake. I Google what the year of the water snake is set to bring. Interesting! To gain the greatest benefits from this year you must control spending and use your talents wisely! A perfect year to be frugal and begin by shopping your own wardrobe.

Madam D’s know that style is not about the latest fashion in fact styling is often much easier with limited resources as it opens the door to being creative with what you have.

Could this be one of your new years style resolutions to not add to your wardrobe for a whole year? Probably as unrealistic as learning to play the violin.

As I  flick through the pages of last years September Marie Claire pictures of oriental inspired fashion trigger my interest. I have always loved the sumptuous fabrics of oriental design so I  decide that one of my New Year style resolutions will be will be to develop  an oriental inspired style.

I set about shopping my wardrobe and follow the silk road to my first look. A  Cue wrap top in patterned silk fabric bought at a local second hand shop for next to nothing works well over a chiffon pleated midi length skirt & silver sandals. A simple Hermes clutch purchased from a vintage shop during a weekend in beautiful Bordeaux last year with fabric & wood neck piece brings it all together.

My second look almost styles itself as this neutral pleated skirt goes with everything. I add a mauve silk top I have had for years and a Chinese style zip front jacket bought at Momo’s a retro shop in Beaufort St Perth just last year. Red patent Japanese inspired platforms and red wooden Elk neck piece complete the look. A simple change from skirt to black silk shorts & a hand painted silk scarf worn as an obi style belt plus a delicate neck piece helps to create my third eastern inspired ensemble.

 I delve deeper into my wardrobe and uncover a  red satin bias cut Alannah Hill skirt. My daughter had gone to a clothes swap party and come away with this for me.  A clothes swap party is a great way to cleanse your wardrobe of things that no longer work and replace them with things that do. this skirt looks great with the mauve silk top, the addition of a little satin purse and scarf made from kimono fabric worn as a belt brings this look to life. Silver sandals and mother of pearl cherry blossom neck piece make  my fourth look complete.

I now have four oriental inspired looks and I haven’t ventured out or spent a cent. Of course I will add to my wardrobe as the year roles on and I continue to develop my 2013 oriental style. I will be keeping my eye out for an origami inspired skirt, Chinese style slippers and must have a pair of jewel encrusted snake earrings as my personal nod to the year of the water snake.   However I will endeavour to keep in mind that to make the most of this year of the water snake I must try to control my spending and use my talents wisely.

Happy New Year Madam Divas, I hope you have fun making and executing your New Year style resolutions and that 2013 will be a successful and stylish one for you all!

We have all heard the saying Aging Gracefully but saying and doing are two completely different things. I would like to think that I am self assured enough to do the aging gracefully thing and after reading an article recently about Charlotte Rampling age 66 I am spurred on to do just that.

Charlotte spoke about doing a lot of inside work, thinking work. She decided that fighting the signs of aging was not going to change the fact that she was growing older. Charlotte also spoke about her quest for truth which meant she did not want to use any form of trickery to disguise her age from her public or from herself. Saying, what if I looked in the mirror and thought, “Oh shit, what the fuck have I done? That’s not me!”.

Obviously it comes down to personal choice and that is how it should be. Aging is a part of life and while we can delay the signs with cosmetic intervention we are  just tricking ourselves into believing that we are not growing older. For me attitude is the most important thing and embracing life and making the most of what we have regardless of our age is the only sensible thing to do at the end of the day.

We need role models like Charlotte Rampling to give us the confidence to make conscious choices for ourselves.  Everywhere we look society tells us that it is not ok to look older and that we must fight against it. Yes there is more emphasis on healthy eating and exercise which for me is preferable to botox or surgery although the message is still that it is not ok to look like we are aging. The message is also mixed not only is it is not ok to look like we are aging but we must hide or deny the fact that we are having age defying treatments.

Every time we see a fabulous looking older woman the first question we ask now is has she had work done and even if she hasn’t we are suspicious. Maybe we are destined to find the fountain of youth and eventually we will all be able to look young until the day we die. If that is our future I am ok with it provided the inside work is done and we feel good about who we are and what we have done with our lives as well!

Dear Santa, Can you please bring me a White Christmas. PS can you make it French?

Whether you are gearing up for a winter Christmas where roast turkey with chestnut stuffing makes sense or a sun filled seafood extravaganza. Santa can bring you a White Christmas, with a little help from “elise M” that is! Elise’s one of a kind French antique, vintage & crafted  pieces of furniture accessories & objet d’art are perfect for creating that white Christmas you have been dreaming of. Her eye for French perfection is evident in the beautifully presented furniture and the unique one-of crafted decorative objects.   There is no doubt that the timeless beauty of French antiques is universally appealing . For the Madam Diva the home is an extension of  her personal style. Living a stylish life is about knowing what you like, what works for you and makes you comfortable and happy. For me that is anything French in antique white with maybe a hint of duck egg blue! Whatever your taste and style you are sure to fall in love with something in Elise’s showroom.

BY APPOINTMENT only  in Pangbourne Elise can be contacted via email: elise139@aol.com 

AND MAY ALL YOUR CHRISTMAS’ BE WHITE !!

Having settled into life in the northern hemisphere and accepting that the weather was going to get even colder. Like a squirrel gathering nuts I scurry between the shops in Henley On Thames and my wardrobe busily gathering and storing new items of clothing for the winter. Just as a squirrel can never have too many nuts I can never have too many stylish warm items of clothing. I am feeling quite satisfied with my collection and decide I can afford to take a few days off from my gathering when Mr Squirrel (husband) announces we are going to a Charity Fall Ball this coming weekend. In a panic I search through my wardrobe  sure that I have something perfect to wear to a Ball in Fall. I find my lovely black patent & suede heels I purchased in Melbourne a few years ago while on a girls weekend with my sisters and a pretty evening bag I bought in London earlier this year that I had carefully stored after the summer festival. I continued to scour my wardrobe for some evening robes that would fill the bill. Alas there was no suitable attire to be found and this weary little squirrel must venture out again.

I scurry from shop to shop searching for the perfect evening attire for a Fall Ball but day after day I return to my wardrobe empty handed knowing that the weekend would soon be upon me. I was looking for something long and preferably black that would be elegant and timeless and keep me warm as I danced the night away with Mr Squirrel (husband). The day before the ball came and I ventured out into the town again knowing I must find something or I would be unable to go to the ball. Weary but hopeful I entered the one shop I had not tried. There were several gowns hanging in a corner that were long and one of them was black. I hurried into the change room with the gown and like magic it fitted like a glove. I was very relieved and happy but still this lovely perfectly fitting evening gown would not keep me warm. I would need a cape to wear with the gown.  I scurried back through the town, I knew I had seen such a thing but I had been into so many shops I could not remember where? At last I found it. The little furry cape was still hanging in the shop as if it were waiting for me to return. Very weary but very pleased I hurried back to my wardrobe. I would be going to the Fall Ball after all !!

What I wore: Paul Costello Satin backed crepe evening dress, Woven Fur Cape ,Patent & Suede heels Brend Italia, Satin embroidered evening bag Cadari London. Mother of Pearl neck piece & earrings.

I recently picked up a copy of the magazine PREVENTION.  Two articles “Fifty shades of 50″ and “The Unexpected Upside of Failure” inspired me to write this post.  We can learn how to CREATE OUR OWN SILVER LININGS from whatever life throws at us.  We can create a FABULOUS LIFE for ourselves at any age and we do not need to settle for anything less.  We are STRONGER SMARTER and SEXIER than ever according to the article “Fifty shades of 50″. Dressing with style over 50 is no different to dressing with style at any age. Successful dressing isn’t about copying someone else. Dressing with style over 50  is about knowing yourself and finding the style that suits all aspects of you and you’re life. All the help and information we need to look our best and enrich our lives is now at our fingertips and our lifestyle choices are broader more interesting  and more global than ever.  There is no doubt that we are morphing into a new breed of woman. We can have it all and that all has a deeper meaning which encompasses all that is really important in life!

Set that bar high Madam Diva’s and ask the question HOW DO I WANT TO LIVE MY LIFE NOW? The answer may be confronting but whatever you decide don’t use your age as an excuse not to follow through. YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD !! If you need a little or a lot of inspiration go to facebook.com/prevtionmagaustralia it contains a wealth of information and comments from women living fabulous lives on the other side of 50.              LIVE LOVE LAUGH DRESS UP and make it happen!!

1. Knowing how to show off your best assets can change the way you see yourself and the way others see you. Training yourself to focus on your best features and show them off is a great exercise in building your self image. All too often when we stand before the mirror we only see the bits we don’t like about ourselves and our gorgeous hair or eyes or smile don’t even rate a mention. I remember going  to a friends house years ago and the mirror she had in the bathroom was a tiny little thing that she couldn’t even see her whole face in. She obviously preferred not to look at herself in the bathroom. Now this may not have been a sign of poor body image she may have preferred to imagine how she looked. I didn’t ask her and will probably never know. However if you do suffer from a poor body self image learning how to show off your best assets may help you.
2. If your hair is one of your best assets  CUT, COLOUR and MAINTENANCE are all important. GREAT HAIR is always a head turner and its care should be a DAILY ROUTINE. As we age our hair does change and usually begin to grey. This can really work for you and become part of your signature style.It has even been said that GREY IS THE NEW BLACK !! Grey hair is usually courser so it is important to find the right products when washing and styling. A GOOD CUT IS MOST IMPORTANT as it will help you to keep your hair in top condition and the right cut & style for your face shape will enhance your facial features.  www.face-shape.com is a great site to determine your face shape and what hairstyles will suit best.  For inspiration take a look at my PIN BOARD, Hair & Make-up.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      IF YOU CHOOSE TO COLOUR YOUR HAIR make sure it is the correct colour for your skin tone. A Warm skin tone will look its best with warm hair colours a cool skin tone looks best with cool ash based colours stay away from colours with a red base! Dark hair colour can be aging so keep to at least one shade lighter than your natural shade if possible. It is said that If you have a cool skin tone that suits cool strong colours ie (Winter season) your natural hair colour will suit you the best especially as you grey! Have fun with your hair and if you are not sure what suits you try different styles until you are comfortable with your look. Remember your individual style is about what suits you inside and out from head to toe!
3. Next time you look into the mirror turn a blind eye to the bits you regularly agonise over especially if there is no changing them. Work out what you consider to be your best features and highlight, emphasise, uncover do whatever it takes to show them off in an age appropriate way of course. Remember a golden rule for Madams and Mademoiselles legs or cleavage never both!! Struggling to find your best features then ask your best friend or take notice next time someone pays you a compliment. We all have them but sometimes we can’t see the wood for the trees!! Most of all be kind to yourself sometimes it take patience to change. Once you do learn how to show off your best assets Madam D’s I can assure you life will be better!!

Diane Von Furstenburg knows how to dress women and I keep coming back to this saying of hers. “WHEN A WOMAN BECOMES HER OWN BEST FRIEND LIFE IS EASIER” It is so true! Knowing how to look your best at any AGE regardless of your SHAPE or SIZE is easy when you understand how. We all have bits we wish we didn’t the secret is knowing how to disguise or down play them and to HIGHLIGHT YOUR ASSETS

Once you know how to make the most of what you have you will begin to focus on your assets WHICH IS WHAT YOU WOULD DO FOR A BEST FRIEND. A perfect example is the gorgeous Cristina Hendricks (Joan) in the TV series MAD  MEN. She celebrates her shapely form and highlights her assets and the result is GORGEOUS. www.my-wardrobe.com/DvF

FOCUSING ON YOUR ASSETS will do two things 1. You will feel and look fabulous. 2. Others will notice not only how great you look but how confident you are. SELF LOVE and I don’t mean vanity, SHOWS !! So whether it is your womanly shape, great legs, beautiful eyes, gorgeous hair, or a fabulous smile make the most of what you have and you will always look your best at any age !!

GREAT LEGS: are always admired and if you have them accentuate them by making sure they are a focal point. Whether they are long & lean or fantastically shapely work your look around them by finding the best DRESS LENGTH to show them off, perhaps even  a side split, a la Angelina Jolie. Remember to keep it age appropriate Just above the knee is the shortest appropriate dress length for M Diva’s. Black opaques are a great way to accentuate  slim & elongate  legs especially with the edition of a high black boot or shoe. Skinny leg jeans and leggings were made for madams with great legs so don’t hold back there. When baring your fabulous legs make sure they are in tip top condition. Wax & moisturise regularly and if they are a bit on the pale side there are many products on the market to add some colour without damaging sun exposure. Air stockings, spray on colour will even out skin tone and hide any blemishes. Gorgeous footwear will draw the eye down to the legs so go to town with the latest colours or striking  faux animal skin. When exposing feet & toes make sure your pedicure is up to date! www.mytights.com

CURVES: The Feminine form is a thing of beauty and curves are innately desirable in my opinion. If you are fortunate enough to have them wear fitted clothing to accentuate them. Pencil skirts were made for women with curves and can also help to create the  illusion of curves where there are none. Belts are the perfect accessory for accentuating a curvy figure make just make sure they are the correct width for your frame. To accentuate curve without cutting yourself in half go for a self belted dress or a belt in the same colour. www.belts.com One colour or tone on tone from top to toe will lengthen your frame if you are curvy and petite. Dark cool colours will help to minimise an area and warm bright or metallic colours will maximise. Shape wear undergarments are a great way to make your curves work for you. www.sears.com

Following posts will focus on how to accentuate other best features so please keep reading!