Book Review: Who Do You Want to Be Today?

I have a secret. I want to be Trinny Woodall. I have a girl crush, yes I do – and it’s Trinny. Love her style, love her voice, love her elegance, frankness, energy and candour. Coupled with the luscious Susannah Constantine, this illustrious, fashion-busting couple have done it again – teaching ‘real’ women how to flaunt their fabulousness.

Who Do You Want to Be Today: Be Inspired to Dress Differently is a neat little tome that calls on us to take a peek outside our fashion comfort zones. For those of us on the fast (but exciting!) train to ‘middle age’ – it’s so easy to become complacent about what compromises our true style or become fixated on a style we can hide behind… one that perhaps doesn’t allow us to shine.

Of course, first impressions are important – not only for how people see us, but for how we express who we really are, and most of us are multi-faceted chameleons. While we probably understand our own style type – smart casual, urban, glamourpuss, tizzy – there is certainly an androgyne, ice queen or gamine in all of us somewhere. So why can’t we reflect more than one style?

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The Fashionista Fallout

This is the Fashionista Generation. Chalk it up to Gossip Girl or Next Top Model or all those banks who handed out credit cards like they were candy — whatever the reasons, designer labels have become a part of our culture. We use them to fit in, to stand out, to create a glow of status and power.

Girls use brands to look more mature and hip; their mothers, to look more youthful and hip. This makes the marketers very, very happy. Read more

Could Real Beauty be the New Black?

The recent announcement by DOLLY magazine that their June issue will be free from airbrushing, has again highlighted the camera tricks and post-production measures used in fashion shoots by magazines. For decades women and girls have been comparing themselves unfavourably to these images at the expense of their self-esteem – and until now, magazines have been reluctant to accept any responsibility.

Although women are becoming more aware of the tricks used by beauty and fashion magazines, the sheer number of these unrealistic images in the media, is enough to make even the most dedicated fashionista, feel ugly by comparison. But now the tide appears to be turning towards a broader, more realistic definition of beauty. Read more

Dolly Launches Airbrush-Free Issue for Body Image Campaign

DOLLY magazine will show teen girls that not everything is as it seems, creating an entire issue without airbrushing the celebrities and models on the editorial pages – including the front cover.

The airbrush-free June issue (on sale from May 13) is part of DOLLY’s “Heart Your Body” campaign, which encourages teenage girls to realise no-one is perfect and to celebrate their bodies, regardless of shape and size.

Miranda Kerr, Kate Ritchie, Natalie Bassingthwaighte and ROXY pro surfer, Laura Enever are just a few of the inspiring celebrities supporting the “Heart Your Body” campaign and letting girls know that friendship, happiness and confidence are way more important than the way they look. Read more

Plus Size Fashion Label Helps Women to Strike the Perfect Pose

A recent survey by Australian fashion label, Sara, revealed that three out of five Australian women dislike having their photo taken and avoid it at all costs.

As a brand that champions beauty in all shapes and sizes, the plus size fashion label Sara, wanted to do something to help women feel better about themselves and so they created the ‘Sara Perfect Pose‘ website. The Perfect Pose website gives women practical tips on how to enhance their perfect pose in photographs.

“Every women should be able to feel confident in front of the camera and I know better then anyone that it all comes down to your pose. Trust me, it’s not about how you look – how you hold yourself is the key to having the perfect picture pose,” said Sara brand ambassador, Ljubenka (pictured).

The Sara Perfect Pose study revealed that 62% of women are uncomfortable with certain parts of their body or face in photographs and more then half were not aware of any tips when it came to looking better in photographs. Read more