What’s Your Fashion Feng Shui® Style?

What is your style? Everyday we are inundated with images and ideas about society’s values on style, from the size of our body to how we dress our body. If you don’t fit into the mold that society projects you can be left feeling left out or worse, worthless. This happens because we lack confidence in who we are and our own style. We might be holding on to old beliefs about how we should look or what we should wear. Its time to let go of what isn’t working and define our style and begin to live in it. But where do you start?

First, we need to get clear on our true selves as it relates to our style. The best way to do this is to check out my Fashion Feng Shui® quiz. I use this with my clients to help them begin the process of defining their style. The intention of this quiz is to determine your primary essence – Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal – you may find that you have two but one will be more dominant. Once you know your essence you can delve more into how you can live with in it by scheduling a Fashion Feng Shui® session on my website. Leave a comment below with your results and be sure to add your aha’s.

1) What type of workout do you enjoy?
a) yoga, tai chi, chi-gong
b) running, sports, cross training
c) pole dancing, Zumba, belly dancing
d) walking, Jazzercise, gardening
e) pilates, body sculpting, power yoga

2) What pastime activities do you engage in most?
a) reading, writing, painting, meditating
b) outdoor activities, motivating, self improvement
c) fun, amusement parks, dancing, parties
d) sewing, baking, gardening, shopping for antiques
e) museums, hosting parties, shopping, travel

3) Where is your ideal vacation spot or favorite activity?
a) yoga, meditation or spiritual retreat
b) adventure outdoor trip
c) exotic islands filled with fun and dancing
d) family oriented
e) upscale european, museums, historic places

4) What do you value?
a) freedom, quiet time, no schedules
b) action and growth, improving your self and starting something new
c) personal connection and having fun
d) tradition and a sense of community
e) independence, excellence and order, organization and beauty

5) What is your ideal career (whether you are currently in this or not)?
a) creative artist, writer, musician, singer, healer
b) entrepreneur, coach, motivational speaker, lawyer, teacher
c) entertainer, comedic actress, pop singer, PR gal
d) caretaker/nurse, social worker, therapist, mom
e) organizer, leader, speaker, spokesperson, CEO

6) What is your preferred environment?
a) quiet and serene for contemplation and deep thinking
b) outdoors and active
c) fun places filled with people, parties, nightclubs, fun parks
d) family oriented, traditional, dinners, golf clubs, community groups, kitchens
e) upscale or refined, museums,concert halls, ballet

7) What’s most important to you in your style?

a) to have a unique look
b) casual, move freely in your clothes
c) making a statement, sexy,
d) comfort, practical and classic
e) perfect fit, high quality and polished

8) You absolutely have to…?
a) do your own thing
b) have to get your daily exercise
c) have to have fun
d) have to be practical
e) have to be organized

9) You are the happiest when…?
a) you are alone
b) you are getting things done
c) you are with people
d) you are helping others
e) you are creating beauty and order

10) What are some of your favorite stores?
a) Anthropologie, Lucky Brand
b) Athleta or Lulu Lemon
c) Kenneth Cole, Victoria’s Secret
d) Gap, Talbots, Ann Taylor
e) Donna Karen, Bloomingdales

Mostly A’s: The Philosopher Water Essence

The Water element represents someone who is independent, a free spirit, spiritual, and artistic. The water gal marches to the beat of her own drum. She sees herself as a unique individual with her own creative style. She values doing her own thing and having quiet time to herself. Therefore, she needs her own space and time to create, write, meditate or do yoga. Her style is unique and creative.

Places to Shop: Anthropologie, Lucky Brand

Water gals love vintage items, homemade artistic goods or artisan designs and products. She loves items that reflect her uniqueness, have meaning and spiritual significance.

Image from Anthropologie®

Mostly B’s: The Wood Pioneer Essence

She is the go-getter, health-nut, athletic gal who loves a good competition and it’s not afraid to try new things. Her style is simple and moveable, she is the girl who is always on the go and doesn’t have time for clothes or accessories that weigh her down. She spends her time, working out, debating, coaching or starting new projects.

Places to Shop: Lucy, Lulu Lemon, Athleta

Wood gals alway look and feel at home in comfortable clothes that don’t limit her activity. This doesn’t mean she lives in sweats but even her cute dresses will allow her freedom to walk into a cocktail party or take a walk on the beach.

Image from Athleta®

Most C’s: The Fire Pleasure Seeker Essence

This gal loves drama, having fun and being the center of attention. She is the one at the party dressed in the latest trend, showing off her sexy body and flirting in a sweet way. She values fun over anything else. The Fire essence gal is your social butterfly always at the hottest events and has a friend where ever she goes. She is your actress, PR executive, sales-girl, dancer, event planner, speaker, or anything that keeps her in the spotlight.

Places to Shop: BeBe, Victoria Secret, Kenneth Cole

Fire gals are always dressed in the latest trend. She prefers clothes that are form fitting and showing some skin. Low cut v-necks, skinny jeans, leather jackets and high heels are some of her staple items.

Image from Victoria’s Secret®

Mostly D’s: The Earth Essence, the Peacemaker

She is the caring, helpful and sympathetic gal. She loves to nurture everyone but herself. She is reliable, supportive, nurturing and the one you call when you need to get the job done, or a shoulder to lean on. She is traditional, sentimental and most likely the one to host holiday dinners and bake that classic apple pie! Her style can be described as conservative, comfortable and classic.

Places to Shop: Ann Taylor, Talbots, Gap

The Earth gal is all about comfort when it comes to her wardrobe. She loves her flat shoes, oversized handbags, and classic styles. When she finds an article of clothing she loves, she buys it in every color.

Image from Anny Talyor®

 

Mostly E’s: The Metal Perfectionist Essence
The Metal Perfectionist always dresses in a style that is classic and form fitting. She detests anything that lacks structure or high quality material. You know she is a Metal gal when even her handbag matches her outfit! She enjoys, high-end quality artwork, clothes, jewelry, homes and prefers quality over quantity. She tends to shop name brand stores, but don’t be fooled, she’ll take a bargain anytime. Her mantra? Quality. Clean. Beautiful.

Places to Shop: Donna Karen, Bloomingdales

The Metal gal is always coordinated from head to toe even including her closet. She organizes her closet by either color, category or style. Her accessories are elegant and refined with perfectly fitted garments that have little or no pattern. She lives by the motto “Less is More”.

 

If this quiz has piqued your interested and your would love to learn more about your style, book a complimentary 30 minute Define your Style Strategy session today by clicking here

Create Your Meditation Space

Have you tried to meditate but just can’t sit there and do nothing? The key to meditation is finding a practice that works for you – there isn’t one way for everyone! I’ve been meditating for years and it’s changes from writing, to listening to various meditation CDs, to silence. After years of trying different techniques I’ve finally found my personal techniques that work for me.

Its time to find the right technique for you! You might need to try some things out a few times to see what will stick for you. Begin by setting aside at least 10 minutes a day for your meditation practice. Just 10 minutes a day can help you embrace each day calm and loving, you will begin to see changes in your work, health and relationships.  Instead of starting the day in a rush only hearing the depressing news of the morning, you can begin with a sense of peace and feeling grounded.

Let’s keep this simple, it’s not about creating a room or even a large space suitable for meditation, it is about determining your comfortable spot, wherever that is, that will allow you to sit quietly, focus and re-fresh.  It will be important to have what you need nearby such as music (CD player, iPod, Phone, etc), meditation cards, books and a blanket. If you just can’t get yourself out of bed, then maybe you can simply keep a box with all you need by your nightstand!

Here are some of my ideas on how to get creative with what you will need to set up your space.  Of course, it all depends on you, what you need and how you can work it into the space you already have.


A meditation chair

Ideal if you can have this in your room, preferably only you can use it. If that’s not possible choose a blanket or a pillow that only you use when you meditate. The choice for chairs is yours, but go for a more earthy comfy chair that is relaxing. Add small ottoman too if you can.



1) www.crateandbarrel.com

2) www.pier1.com

3) www.l-z-boy.com


Scents or Candles

Add scents or candles to begin your meditation. Just lighting a candle is powerful enough to move you into a calming mindset.  Select scents that are calming to you and not overpowering. Essential oils or sprays work well too. Here are some of my favorites.


1) Aroma Spray from Mountain Rose Herbs.

2) Buddha Face Incense Holder from BuddhaGrove.com

3) Chakra Incense from BuddhaGrove.com


Blankets, Pillows and Ottomans

I highly recommend a blanket that is used only for your meditation time. The more you embed your energy into this blanket, the more it will help you ease into your meditation over time. Calming colors are blues, blacks, greens.  For grounding select earth tones like browns and yellows.  And for love choose pinks and reds. Mostly, just choose a fabric and style that makes you feel good. Even homemade would be a good choice.



1) Blanket from World Market

2) Pillow from Joss and Main

3) Chair from Crate and Barrel

Meditations

My client and good friend, Tamara Green, offers free weekly meditations. The meditations are done on Mondays, but all meditations are recorded and sent out later in the week. These are truly powerful meditations and each week they are different. Download them to your iPod, or phone. They are ideal for your lunchbreak too. visit http://tamaragreen.me/free-meditation-group/


 

Writing Journal

Writing is a beautiful form of meditation. I highly recommend The Artist Way by Julie Cameron.  She offers great tips on how to free your mind and allow your creative energies to flow through your writing. Don’t forget to use your favorite pen just for journaling.


 

I hope you enjoyed these tips. Please share your favorite meditation techniques, leave a comment below


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You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: “Feng Shui expert, Christine Bove, inspires successful women to allow their creative energies to flow into their environments, images and mindsets to improve their confidence, bring clarity to their future and set them up for success.   Sign up to receive her 5 Feng Shui video tips at www.christinebove.com.”

Tips to refine your look and become a money magnet!

Would you love to have financial freedom? Just imagine having enough money to never worry about the bills and having the freedom to follow your dreams!  Sounds wonderful doesn’t it? You may think that’s impossible but it’s not! The truth is once you clear your mind of the negative beliefs you have about money, instead of blocking money you begin to open up pathways for money to come into your life.

So, how does this relate to your wardrobe? In Fashion Feng Shui®, I teach clients that when they have an intention to increase their income they need to affirm it in their wardrobe. Creating a signature style that is true to you can empower you to pursue and be available for bigger opportunities. Just some minor tweaks to your current wardrobe can get the energy flowing.

To increase our money flow in Feng Shui, we turn to the element of metal.  From a Fashion Feng Shui® perspective we use color, shape, and fabric to implement the elements into a person’s signature style. When a client has an intention to increase their income, I encourage them to incorporate metal materials such as, platinum, silver, and gold into their wardrobe.  Other shapes and colors used to incorporate the metal intention in your wardrobe are round shapes, form fitting clothes, name brand labels, and colors like white, silver, gray and pastel shades.

Below are some great examples of shoes and accessories that allow you to incorporate the metal element in your wardrobe and affirm your money intention.  Key words as you shop are refined, elegant and expensive (looking).

Shoes:

Go simple with silver shoes, wear with a nice pair of black or dark denim jeans. These are ideal for the Fire and Wood essence gals.

 

 

These gorgeous black pumps from Michael Kors are great for work or evening.  These say I have expensive taste!

Ladies, you need to splurge on yourself once in a while. A pair of expensive fancy shoes should be in your closet. If you don’t splurge on your self who will?

Handbags:

The easiest way to refine your outfit and give the impression you are a wealthy gal is choosing the right handbag.

I love this red handbag from Coach. Not only does the red make a statement but it’s elegant and refined, saying you’re one sexy gal who embraces and expects money to flow in your life.

For the gal who prefers smaller bags, here is another Michael Kors that is a bit more understated, but classic.  Yes, it may be expensive, but you will have it for a long time!

 

Jewelry:

Simple, refined and dainty jewelry is the perfect way to create the image of elegance and refinement while incorporating the metal element.

 

I love this necklace from Swarovski crystal. What I love most about pieces by Swarovski is that they are beautiful yet affordable and not everyone is wearing them!

This classy rose gold bracelet from the Michael Kors collection is a unique piece to incorporate into your style.

 

I hope these ideas inspired you to see small ways you can refine and tweak your wardrobe. If while you were reading these tips you noticed judgmental voices in your head saying, “oh I can’t spend that much money” or “I’m not a name brand girl,” note that these are money blocks!  Now, I’m not suggesting you buy a wardrobe you can’t afford.  Not at all, I just want to help you get creative and make better spending decisions to affirm your intention of attracting more money into your life.

I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave a comment below on ideas you liked, any changes you make, and how implementing some of these ideas helped you feel like a million bucks!

To view pieces like those above visit:

www.MichaelKors.com

www.swarovski.com

www.coach.com

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