1st Annual StyleLife Contest- Metro East, IL- 2011

Hello powerful, beautiful women (and men). It is such a beautiful time of year. People getting ready for the holiday season, changing colors in nature and reflections of who and what we are thankful for, not to mention all the great fall fashion trends that help us realize our inner superstar, are just a few reasons why right now is a perfect time for a contest. I know we are all busy, but this contest is meant to be a fun and uplifting break from the hustle-bustle. Hope you enjoy.

I am starting an Annual StyleLife Contest, and I invite you to enter if you live in or near Fairview Heights, O'Fallon, Shiloh, Belleville (all in ILLINOIS) or within 20 miles of the above towns. For every fifty (50) entries, I will choose one (1) winner. The prize is a StyleLife Consultation with yours truly. Further details, such as consultation date and time, will be discussed when I choose the winner(s).

Just send me an email at cs.stylelife@yahoo.com (by Saturday, March 12, 2011) and tell me about yourself, or someone for which you are entering, and what you are thankful for, what makes your life beautiful and/or what makes you feel beautiful. Please include your name, the best way to contact you and any other relevant information. Thank you.

I will post entries on my site for inspirational purposes. All of our stories are important and can positively impact others. However, if you would not like your entry and/or name posted on my site, please make a note in your email, and I will respect your wishes. Thank you.

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The Breakdown:

Who? One (1) winner per fifty (50) entries---- from Fairview Heights, O'Fallon, Belleville, Shiloh and surrounding areas within 20 miles, all within Illinois. Next year may include a different location/area.

What? The winner(s) will win a free StyleLife Consultation with me. We can arrange details according to the desires of the winner, such as appointment date and time.

When? Deadline for entries for the 1st Annual StyleLife Contest is

Saturday, March 12, 2011.

The winner(s) will be selected and notified within two weeks of the deadline date.

Where? This year's qualifying locations are Fairview Heights, O'Fallon, Belleville, Shiloh and surrounding areas within 20 miles, all within Illinois. If you are unsure whether your town/city is included, please email me at cs.stylelife@yahoo.com. Thank you. Next year may include a different location/area.

How? Tell me about yourself and what makes you thankful, what makes you feel beautiful and/or what makes your life beautiful. If you know someone who needs some pampering and lifting of spirits, you can enter for them as a gift. Please include your name (and the person for whom you are sending an entry, if applicable), the best way to contact you and any other relevant information. Thank you.

Hope you all enjoy this contest, and I am sure I will enjoy reading your beautiful entries. Have a fabulous day every day. Hope to hear from you soon. -Catherine

Fall Fashion 2010

Hey fashionistas and style queens/ princesses. Winter is around the corner, but there are still lots of days in this fall season left to strut your fall fashion and everyday style know-how.

Plaids done right, boots and booties galore (especially with interesting embellishments), opaque leggings, leopard print anything, lacy tights, ruffles, lace, pearls, trench coats and so much more feminine fabulousness is on trend right now. I am super excited about a chic classic growing in popularity for fall and winter- TWEED. Chanel lovers everywhere are celebrating. An outfit with a tweed jacket can be transformed from classic and prissy (of which I am still a fan) to punchy and unexpected by adding over a tight tank, with dark-wash denim jeans and sexy heels or over a fabulous dress with heels... Button the jacket, leave it open, put a belt (or ribbon) over the jacket... The possibilities are almost endless.

Keep in mind, most of the above trend-worthy items are pretty classic so this is a great time to buy staple pieces for your wardrobe. As always, flavorize each outfit with your own touch.

Accessories and hair are perfect avenues to customize your look further. High volume hair and sexy poofs are super hot now (and always have been to me, as I often do a voluminous poofy bun with my hair). Add a sassy clip and voila! With that said, you may want to make certain that you are completely satisfied with the volume of your hair before you walk out the door. How does your hair look from all angles? There is a fine line between "what-the-Jersey?" and sexy superstar.

Always make sure you are 100% confident with your whole ensemble. It should fit and flatter you, no matter which trend or style. You are beautiful, and your style should accentuate that (not detract from that).

Have a fabulous day every day! Stay stylish.

What IS In Your Closet?

Do you often stand at your closet and struggle with what you will wear that day? Would you like your closet to be easy (and fun) to look through like a boutique? Do you want your closet to be organized but you just haven't taken the time to do so yet? What is holding you back from organizing and enjoying your closet? Do you wear outfits that you plan and clothes you feel fabulous in, or do you rush out the door each morning without planning and feeling great in your outfit? If you feel like you are in a 'style funk,' what are you waiting for to enhance your style? There are many ways to enhance your style on your own or with some assistance from a StyleLife Consultant.

If you are trying to enhance your style on your own, try the following steps and evaluate how you feel once you tried each step.

1. Get a 3-angle mirror for a complete view of the clothing on your body, or have an honest person near to help you make decisions.

2. Interview yourself. How do you feel? How do you feel in each piece of clothing you own? What do you like about each piece? When do you feel your best? When do you feel your sexiest? What is your favorite feature on yourself? What is your profession? Do you have young kids and/or pets? What is your image saying about you to your family, friends, coworkers, boss, clients and strangers? What would you like your image to say? What can you incorporate into your daily routine to maintain your new style once you have achieved it? For example, will you spend 10 minutes each night preparing (steaming the clothes included here if needed) the next day's outfit down to the shoes and accessories? Also, will you look in the mirror before you walk out the door to make certain that your outfit looks put together?
If you would like a professional perspective, hiring a StyleLife Consultant can be helpful, fun and life-changing. A StyleLife consultant will conduct a profile interview of the above questions and more to try to fully understand where you stand in regard to your style and what you would like to achieve.

3. Try on every single piece of clothing you own, and evaluate how you feel in each piece. Does each piece "fit and flatter" your body (height, shape, size- by look and feel- NOT by the tag size)?

4. Decide which pieces of clothing you will keep, alter or give away. It is handy to use multiple baskets or boxes to distinguish between each category for easy clean-up.

5. Once you have your "keep" items together, organize them in your closet. Use a convenient method. For example, like with like- shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, etc. Or organize by work wear, weekend wear and special occasion wear. Then, further organize by sub-categories of like with like. You can take it even further and organize by color too.

6. Once you have organized your clothes in a convenient and fabulous way, evaluate your wardrobe's 'style holes,' and write a list of clothing pieces that would fill the 'style holes.' For example, do you have a solid white oxford button-up that fits and flatters your figure? If not, that should definitely be on your list. When writing this list keep in mind that much of the list will consist of solid, neutral colored items that are your staple pieces. You should also consider including accessories/other key pieces (jewelry, bags, belts, shoes) on your list. Having an idea of what to shop for will definitely make the process seem less daunting. And you can budget accordingly. Your staple items will get more wear so focus on quality even if that means spending a little more to get higher quality.

7. Go shopping. A StyleLife Consultant will help with personal shopping assistance, but if you do not hire a professional, consider taking along an honest friend who can help give you feedback when you try on each piece. Ask yourself how each piece fits your body from all angles? Do you feel confident in each piece? Rate each piece on a scale from 1 -10. Don't settle for anything under an 8 or 9. You want to look and feel fabulous no matter what is in your closet. Only buy what you will wear with confidence.

8. Play dress up, and try on outfits from your closet. Photograph the outfits that you rate a 10 and keep in a 'style book' for easy planning and finding later. Include shoes, bags and jewelry. It may help to keep note of which accessories you put with each outfit.

9. Plan ahead. Each Sunday afternoon, take a few minutes to plan 5(-7) outfits for the work week ahead (yes, domestic goddesses are included, of course). Try using sachet bags to store the smaller accessories, and then hook it on the hanger to the appropriate outfit. Also, try using shoe bags for the shoes if space is an issue. *Coordinating outfits ahead of time in this way is extremely helpful for travel as well.

10. Enjoy the rewards of being even more fabulous and organized.

Have a fabulous day every day!

Time For a Fabulous Change

Have you been thinking about organizing your closet or purchasing a new wardrobe but just have not made it a priority or you just do not know where to begin? How important is your wardrobe and image to you professionally, socially and personally? Are you portraying the image that you want people to see? How long does it take you to find an outfit each day? Once you find an outfit, are you happy with your choice after you put it on? Do you look and feel fabulous? How do you decide when you are ready to walk out the door?

If you are looking for affordable, professional style assistance, an honest opinion and want to have fun while refreshing your wardrobe and closet, then I can help. Contact me today to schedule your StyleLife consultation appointment at cs.stylelife@yahoo.com or call me at (618) 401-1434. I look forward to meeting you and helping you look and feel even more fabulous.

Have a fabulous day every day!

Spring 2010 Fashion Preview

It is February and that means spring is near. For many of us, spring is an exciting time. Flowers bloom, the sun shines in between beautiful rain showers and fabulous fashions emerge, or re-emerge in many cases. Of course many of us may not have our new spring wardrobe completed yet, but we still have some time, so worry not. Here is a preview of what you can expect for Spring 2010 fashion trends .

Like many spring collections, Spring 2010 fashion will be filled with lots of color. Brights and pastels will both be in trend. Some trends will be inspired by cinematic pieces and others by nature. We will also see a lot of nature-influenced styles, including natural materials on purses and shoes. Naturals are going to be more popular than ever given our society's awareness of being ecologically and animal-friendly. In addition, expect to see lots of imaginative heels and dresses. We will see a lot of pieces with funky colors and unexpected combinations. White will also be on the fashion platter, but expect to see it with fun and colorful accessories. Spring fashion is all about having fun and putting the winter blues behind us. Bring on the sunny days and fabulous outfits.

As always, wear what makes you feel and look your best. Wear what fits and flatters your beautiful body and enjoy dressing each day. Have a fabulous day every day! :)

(c) 2010 CS All rights reserved.

Happy 2010!

It is now three days into the new year. If you have any resolutions, there is no better time than now to follow through or at least start working toward your goal(s). If you are desiring a career change, trying to rediscover yourself, trying to achieve your life dream or just looking to pamper yourself, then first take time to evaluate yourself, your current situation and what you can do to follow through with your resolution. Then, create a plan, calendar, map and/or list to help achieve your goal(s). Remember to be positive. Once you are on track, it is time to monitor your own progress, motivate yourself continually and reward yourself often. You can do anything you put your mind to if you are willing and dedicated to accomplishing your goal.

If you would like to make a StyleLife Consultation appointment, please contact me via email at cs.stylelife@yahoo.com or call me at (618) 401-1434. I look forward to working with you and to helping you achieve your StyleLife goal. :) Have a fabulous day!