Wendy Tyson author of Killer Image talks about Fashion vs. Comfort #giveaway

Wendy Tyson is taking over my blog for the day. Everyone who leaves a comment will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Killer Image before  October 21 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.Enjoy! 

Comfort versus Fashion. Can the two go together or are they mutually exclusive?

I read an article recently about how to dress for work.  The article noted that people should dress for the job they want, not necessarily the job they have.  Good advice.  But it made me think about the topic of fashion and whether or not we need to be a slave to the latest (often uncomfortable) trends if we want to project a good image.  Are fashion and comfort mutually exclusive?

Before I start, I should warn you: while Allison is an image consultant (and one Jimmy Choo shy of a fashion diva), I am not.  I prefer jeans and flip-flops to pencil skirts and pumps.  That said, I have a day job that demands professionalism, and I think Allison would agree that not only can comfort and fashion go together, they should.

When I was researching real-life tips from image consultants regarding how to look your best, one piece of advice came across my desk again and again: wear clothes that fit your body well.  Too-tight clothes can restrict and make you feel self-conscious.  Pulling at your clothes, limping along in heels that are too high – these things can detract from the look you’re trying to accomplish.  And clothes that are too loose can be unflattering.  On the other hand, a well-tailored and comfortable outfit can help you look confident and fresh.  And nothing is more appealing than confidence.

So how can fashion and comfort go together?  Here are a few tips based on my research for my book:

•      Consider before you buy.  Take a hard look at your closet.  What do you wear regularly?  What have you bought with the idea that it would look great, but in actuality you hardly ever wear it – either because it doesn’t fit right, is uncomfortable or because, while appealing, it doesn’t reflect the way you want to appear?  Be thoughtful about your purchases – and learn from your own buying history. 
•      Quality over quantity.  Sometimes in an effort to chase the latest trends, we skimp on quality.  Good pieces – including good shoes – can go a long way toward creating a fashionable image while maintaining comfort.  Poorly constructed and too-high shoes can contribute to a host of health problems, including bunions and other foot injuries.  Consider buying fewer pairs of better quality shoes.  The same goes for clothing.  A few basic, well-constructed pieces that fit your body appropriately can be the basis for a wardrobe that’s both fashionable and comfortable. 
•     Add a splash of color.  Even if you have a job that requires very conservative choices, you can add flash with color.  For example, a black or charcoal suit can be livened up with a colorful blouse underneath or with a pair of shoes in an unexpected hue.
•      Accessorize.  Want comfort and fashion?  Think about accessories.  Comfortable basics can be paired with jazzier jewelry, scarves, bags and watches.  This is another way to add color to a neutral wardrobe or to add flash in a way that doesn’t compromise the way you feel in your clothes.  Plus, for those of us on a budget, accessories that cost less can help to stretch out a limited wardrobe.

The Blurb

As Philadelphia's premier image consultant, Allison Campbell helps others reinvent themselves, but her most successful transformation was her own after a scandal nearly ruined her. Now she moves in a world of powerful executives, wealthy, eccentric ex-wives and twisted ethics.

When Allison's latest Main Line client, the fifteen-year-old Goth daughter of a White House hopeful, is accused of the ritualistic murder of a local divorce attorney, Allison fights to prove her client's innocence when no one else will. But unraveling the truth brings specters from her own past. And in a place where image is everything, the ability to distinguish what's real from the facade may be the only thing that keeps Allison alive.

Author Bio:

Wendy Tyson wrote her first story at age eight and it’s been love ever since.  When not writing, Wendy enjoys reading other people’s novels, traveling, hiking, and playing hooky at the beach–and if she can combine all four, even better.  Originally from the Philadelphia area, Wendy has returned to her roots and lives there again with her husband, three kids and two muses, dogs Molly and Driggs.  She and her husband are passionate organic gardeners and have turned their small urban lot into a micro farm.  Killer Image is Wendy’s first novel in the Allison Campbell mystery series. 

Wendy has also authored The Seduction of Miriam Cross, a mystery that will be released by E-Lit Books on November 1, 2013.

Find Wendy at:

Website: www.WATyson.com 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/wendytyson)

Facebook: www.facebook.com/wendytysonauthor 

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