Janekoysen 100 Posts Giveaway Winner Announced!

If you entered my contest way back in November, you may have wondered what happened to the giveaway. No, I didn't forget but I did have some trouble with sorting out the entries. I have now contacted the winner and received a response and the prize has been sent out to her. I battled with whether or not I would go into the details  of the reason behind the delay, but I think it may be best not to mar my first contest with the ill of what took place. So, onwards and upwards! It was an exciting post and I hope you guys enjoyed the little give back as much as I enjoyed hosting it. SO, without further ado:

The winner is:

AVISMAUREEN

CONGRATS!!!!!

Thanks to everyone who participated and for those who didn't win , don't be too disappointed because there will be more giveaways in the future.

I just wrapped a huge production and am back on my posting schedule so you can look forward to new reviews, tips and tricks and guides coming up starting this week. I hope you all enjoyed the Easter and got some well-needed rest.

Till next time lovelies,

*Jane

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Review : Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System

I'm back again with another review for you guys & this time, it's a skin care product - the Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System. This is what it looks like:

source

You would have seen this in my January Faves and I've been getting so much use out of this I decided that it would be remiss of me not to give it a full review all to itself. Now let me give you a little history behind why I searched out and picked up this product. When I just started watching and subscribing to Youtube, one of the most raved about skin care products was the Clarisonic. This was basically a spinning brush head that did an excellent job of cleaning, deep cleaning and exfoliating for radiant, supple skin. The price point on it was over $100 USD and while there were claims that it was worth it I just couldn't see myself forking over that much cash for something that I used in the bathroom. No thanks!

Fast forward several years later when my skin decided to become a banshee overnight and basically clog every single pore on my face and neck. These tiny bumps popped up and refused to go anywhere no matter how often I used a clay mask or peeling mask. I did some research using the Makeup Alley app on my phone and it landed me at the Clarisonic again. I still refuse to pay that amount of money for it so I googled the cheaper alternative. Turns out there were almost as many rave reviews for the Olay system as there were Clarisonic with the added bonus that this was less than $40 USD in most places. So, I picked this up over the Christmas holidays and have been making good use of it and this is what I think of it so far:

Packaging

As you can see from the images above, the packaging is nothing too fancy. The system includes a brush unit with a brush head, AA batteries, and a 20mL tube of micro-exfoliating scrub. The brush head attaches to the unit pretty easily and you just need to follow the instructions to slide open the battery panel and pop in the batteries. This can be a tad tricky as the panel is pretty secure to help prevent water from getting inside so be prepared to try a little harder than usual. One of the things I enjoy about this is the fact that it is actually water resistant so on those days where you spend longer in the shower shaving or washing your hair, you can just bring the brush in with you and you don't have to worry about it shorting out.

Use/Application

That said, I have difficulties storing this. The brush head does not come with a cap so I'm always worried about air-borne bacteria and other things trickling onto it, and it also doesn't come with those handy holders that you stick on the wall so you may be scratching your head on where and how to store this. I may go looking for one of those bathroom travel kits that you use to store long bars of soap so I can try using it as a case rather than just storing it supine in my bathroom cabinet.

I've had it for more than six weeks and nothing has broken, popped off, gotten loose or stopped working so I would say that this is pretty sturdy. It's also a breeze to clean and I wipe it down with a wipe and some dettol from time to time just to make sure bacteria stays at bay. For the brush bristles themselves, I simply turn it on and submerse them into a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and anti-bacterial soap to keep it clean. You don't have to do this but I'm a little bit of a germaphobe.

Lastly, it is pretty light and easily controllable with one hand as you use it. The whirring is not loud enough for anybody to wonder what the heck you're doing in the bathroom but not so soft that you wonder whether it is on or not. 

There are two speeds, with a noticeable difference on how they perform on your skin. The standard speed is fine for me for everyday cleansing and taking off makeup and the second speed I use to get more of an exfoliating effect from the brush.

Even though it came with a scrub you can feel free to use this with your normal foaming or non foaming face wash and even with a bar of soap if that's what you use. I don't use this to rinse but again this choice is up to you. As always, be careful with the areas around your eye as that skin tends to be far more delicate than anywhere else. I haven't broken any capillaries there while using this but I would imagine it would be possible with pressure. So just avoid the area or use a very light hand. I don't think I need to say this but please do not use this on your eyeballs whether closed or open, you WILL regret it. Just remove your eye makeup the normal way with a remover or olive oil.

If you use this with a scrub with larger granules this will probably be too rough on your skin so stick to face washes and micro-exfoliating scrubs like the one it comes with.

Pricing

This is more costly than your average face cleanser but it is far less expensive than the Clarisonic or other lesser performing alternatives. I have tried the L'Oreal scrublet and while it does show results it does not compare to the Olay, and the same with the Neutrogena Wave. I got mine for $32 USD at Walmart but you can get this in Jamaica for around $3600JMD or online for between $30 and $40 USD. The brush lasts for a good couple months before you have to replace it and the brush head is only $9USD for two. I think this is reasonable in relation to its performance and comparison.

Results

The difference is definitely noticeable. My pores are unclogged and I can see skin instead of those tiny little inflamed bumps, even my hormonal acne is kept at bay with regular use and it does a wonder at controlling shine all day. It also takes off any residual makeup at the end of the day and shrinks my pores especially around my nose. I haven't noticed any reduction of wrinkles but my skin is bouncier and more supple to the touch and looks more even and healthier generally. I am definitely pleased and I am looking forward to the three month mark to see how much my skin has changed. I don't have any broken capillaries or sagging from using the brush daily and my skin has not gotten more sensitive or irritated.

Final Say

I would repurchase this in a heartbeat (though all I would need are new brush heads) and I heartily recommend this. I am not sure whether this is appropriate for mature skin as I don't know if it is too harsh and may cause sagging but it is Olay the ageing experts so perhaps it is fine. The price, the performance and the results have proven that this is a great product and it will remain a skincare staple for me for a long time. 

Have you tried this? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Till later,

*Jane

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My Top 5 January Beauty Favourites

Hey dolls!

January has been a super awkward super busy month for me trying to balance some things that were left unfinished in December with things I wanted to accomplish for the first month of 2014. I have been chatting face to face, online and via email with a lot of you answering any questions I can and providing more details on previous posts so you can make sure you're getting the results you want from DIY treatments, the best products out there and the quickest, easiest most effective way to get things done.

My last favourites post got a pretty good response from y'all with several follow up questions and posts and I am contemplating posting a video to discuss all my favourites if time allows. In the meantime however, I thought I would share with you my top five favourites along with a short mini - review explaining why I like the particular product and how I've been using it. So without further ado, here they are :

L-R (clockwise) - Jennifer Lopez 'Love and Glamour'; Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Baby Eczema Therapy; Olay ProX Advanced Cleansing System; MAC Matte Powder Blush in 'Desert Rose'; MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in 'Gold Deposit'; Boots No. 17 High Drama Intense Liquid Eyeliner + Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express Mascara

1. Perfume: Jennifer Lopez 'Love and Glamour

Now I am not a perfume girl. I've never bought a perfume or a body spray for myself ever. Ever. But, I do have family and friends that religiously buy me lovely smelling fragrances so I enjoy spritzing a different one on every day. This means that I do not have a signature scent and in my eyes that makes me less of a woman (JOKES!). But really, I strongly associate scent with persons and memories so I am seriously considering committing to one fragrance and riding that puppy home until the last drop. Over Christmas, a family member lovingly graced me with this scent. After a couple sprays to get the saturation out I started to really like it. It is a cross between sweet, musky and tangy with a clean almost woodsy top note. Its blurb reads: 

'Composition opens with notes of Italian mandarin, guava and nectarine pulp. A heart incorporates water lily, coconut orchid, orange blossom absolute and jasmine petals, while a base finishes with sandalwood, sensual musk and amber. While the fragrance was being created and developed, Lopez asked the perfumers to accentuate sandalwood at least a bit more and to make the fragrance a bit sexier…' (taken from  fragrantica.com)

True to form I can definitely notice the muskier notes but not in an ' old lady I use moth balls' kind of way. It lasts about 4-5 hours on me and as the scent fades it turns sweeter which I kind of like. You can pick up a bottle in any of those perfume stores in Half-Way-Tree or you can get it online here. I find myself spraying this as a daytime scent due to its lightness every single day. It crept up on me but I really have been enjoying it and could not leave it out of my January favourites.

2. Moisturizer : Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter

I picked this up from Earth Elements in Savannah Plaza because I was looking for a lighter version of Cocoa Butter that I could use at night without feeling sticky. I apply this from head to ankles (I have a different moisturizer made for feet that I am testing out) at night before bed and after a bath. This product appealed to me in particular because it was said to be baby safe while providing the necessary long-lasting moisture needed for eczema sufferers. Ingredients include shea butter, argan oil, safflower oil and evening primrose oil all in organic, naturally occurring forms. Basically I love this. I have pretty sensitive skin and sometimes depending on how much smoke I am exposed to or whether I am using a new bath soap my skin can break out into these tiny little bumps. They aren't super obvious and I can feel them more than I can see them, however once I apply this at night time they're virtually gone in the morning. The scent took a little getting used to because of the Frankincense & Myrrh that was added that is supposed to soothe a baby - to me it smells a little like the inside of an incense shop but it is not super strong and does not linger longer than a couple minutes. I will be repurchasing this but not for a while as this is a good sized tub and a little goes a long way. You can get yours at Earth Elements or online here.

3. Olay Pro X Advanced Cleansing System

The end of the year had me breaking out like crazy leaving me with skin the texture of a fifty-year old donkey. Basically I went mad searching for a solution that didn't involve an expensive chemical peel or an aesthetician poking stuff into my face. After a couple hours spent on the Makeup Alley app (download it in the Google Play store - you will not be sorry) I decided to get this skin care tool. I had used manual forms of this with great results- the Clean & Clear one with the vibrating pads and the L'oreal one with the scrublet. I had also heard quite a bit from the online beauty community about the Clarisonic but I also saw complaints about how it was too harsh on sensitive skin and the price tag was a no-go for me. I picked mine up at a Walmart while I was away because the prices were a bit too marked up down here, but even then I had to search a couple Walmarts to find one in stock. I was told by a worker there that as soon as they stock the shelves people come and buy them out - pretty good sign right? It is a rotating brush with two speeds and it comes with a scrub with micro-fine scrubbing particles. I use the scrub twice a week and my regular soap the other times. I am very very happy to say that my pores have remained unclogged, and the texture of my skin has vastly improved with regular use.  I don't know if what is going on with my skin is hormonal or not but it's no match for this little tool. I am very very happy with it and I keep praying that it will continue to work for a very very long time. I plan on doing a full review at the end of March when I will have used it for 3 months. You can pick this up at a pharmacy or online here.

4. MAC Powder Blush in 'Desert Rose'

I can't quite remember if my husband picked this up (with the help of a sales associate) for me or if I bought this myself at the MAC counter but I had neglected this for quite some time until I misplaced one of the blushes that I regularly reached for. This is a matte blush so on first application I was a little taken aback that it wasn't shimmering back at me like the blushes I had been reaching for during the Fall/Winter season. The colour and the finish make it subtle but extremely flattering on my skin and even though it's matte it blends like a dream - no joke! It's a nice cross between pink and red and I've found that I can pair it with more vibrant lip colours and with neutral glossier colours with equally flattering effects. If you swatch this you will probably be underwhelmed but apply it to the cheeks and it looks like a natural flush. It is also buildable for a more dramatic look and, if you want an even more dramatic look you can layer this up with cream blush to amp up your cheekbones. I see this becoming a staple colour for me - work, church, dates, girls night and I will repurchase this as soon as I hit pan (which thankfully won't be for a while). You can pick this up at a beauty counter near you, at the MAC store or online here.

5. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in 'Gold Deposit'

I had put this in the bottom of my makeup collection because the top layer had gotten too shimmery for me. When I reached for it over the holiday season I applied it with a small synthetic brush then blended it out with my fingers. The tiny flecks of glitter that had bugged me before were basically invisible with that application and I fell in love all over again. I have been using this on the inner corners of my eyes, down the bridge of my nose and on the very tops of my cheekbones with stellar results. This is not the kind of product that you can just dust on with a powder brush or else you will look like a disco ball so do me favour and apply this with a detail brush to the high points of your face only and blend it out and you will experience the true fabulous-ness of the product. An added bonus for applying it this way means that it will last forever, but hey no one complains about that right?
You can also pick this up at MAC or online here.

*Bonus Favourite*

I wanted to include this not necessarily because of the products themselves, as though I enjoy using them but they don't stand head and shoulders above similar products on the market. These are included because of how I've been using them this past month. Raise your hand if you hate the stinging sensation and red blotchy eyes you get from using long-wearing liquid eyeliner. * raises hand* I learned my lesson a long time ago to stay away from waterproof or long-wearing eyeliner because I am a cry-laugher meaning that even if I am not rubbing my eyes, my eyeliner will eventually get into my eyes during the course of the day. When I wore contacts this meant that flecks of the eyeliner would end up on the contact and be hell to get off when washing them at the end of the night, and when I didn't it would result in my eyes getting and staying super-red for a day or two. So I quit using it. This meant though that I couldn't depend on my eyeliner to stay put. Out of sheer idleness one day I decided to follow the line of my eyeliner with waterproof mascara. I dipped the felt tip applicator onto the mascara wand to pick up product and followed the line I had already drawn with the liner. I kept checking throughout the day and was more than pleasantly surprised when I saw that not only had my liner NOT budged an inch during the day but it had not faded at all either. Now, I like this mascara because it does not flake and I imagine that if it did then it would have made my problem a lot worse but now that I've discovered a solution I will keep doing this to keep my liner intact all day. 

Have you ever tried any of these products? What was your experience with them? Will you be trying my new trick with waterproof mascara? If you do, tell me how it goes!!

Till later,
*Jane 

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Tortilla Fruit & Vegetable Pizza

Yes, I said fruit, vegetable on a pizza. Since I gave up all meat except seafood for Lent I've been trying to come up with meals that I regularly enjoy but that are hearty and healthy at the same time.

You will need:

• corn/wheat round tortillas
• tomato paste /low fat spaghetti sauce
• oregano flakes
• honey
• pineapples (fresh ones are best but tin ones in water NOT syrup are fine)
• tomatoes
• green peppers
• low fat cheese
• onions
• dried cranberries (un-sugared)
• (optional - lime juice/pepper)

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven and lay with foil or flour/ spray a cookie sheet with pam
2. Mix the tomato paste with a teaspoon of honey and a pinch or two of oregano flakes and spoon onto the tortilla and spread around evenly
3. Chop all the onion, green pepper,tomatoes, and pineapples and sprinkle over the flat tortilla. Add the cranberries
4. Grate the cheese on top  of the tortilla and toppings then add a few dashes of lime juice or pepper if you like
5. Place in oven on foil or cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes
6. Turn off oven and EAT!

You can add spinach or another light veggie or fruit but remember the tortilla is thin and you don't want it to break. Hope you enjoyed this quick post!

Till later,

*Jane

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Review: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Balm Stain

As I've said before I hopped on the lip colour train really late and ever since then I've been riding it pretty fast. I've tried the lip butters, the lip stains and when I heard about the lip balm stain I just had to try it for myself.

Fast forward a couple months later I spotted the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Balm Stain at the beauty counter at Chesterfield Pharmacy and I decided to give it to a go. I got the shade Smitten in 030 which is, no surprise, a berry shade. 

First Impression
The first thing that I noticed was the scent. It smelled like winterfresh bubblegum which was pretty surprising. For me this meant that it would probably sting. I haven't had too much fun with cosmetics that have menthol or some sort of similar substance. Let's just say I pretty much burned myself. Thankfully, the smell was just that and there was no tingly feeling at all. 

Application
The stick is pretty much like a big crayon so you feel less than glamorous applying it. In fact, be prepared to get a few odd looks if you're applying it in public. That said, the application is smooth and the colour goes on evenly without dragging. The tip is quite big though so if you have smaller lips then you may want to make sure you are applying in front of a mirror. 

Wear
 This balm definitely lives up to its name and even if you apply several different layers it's still quite moisturizing. The moisturizing feeling lasts for maybe 3 hours without a touch up and the colour doesn't fade if you're not eating and/or drinking. It reminded me of a lip balm alright with that slightly slick feeling. It doesn't melt off in the sun so you won't find yourself wiping around your lip line no matter how sweltering it is. My lips didn't get tight or crack or dry out while wearing it making me a happy camper. 

Look
This isn't a glamorous product- you should be able to tell by the packaging. It's meant to be functional, practical and quick, and true to form it is all of these things. The colour is semi-sheer and can be worn as a wash of colour, a daytime lip colour or a practical office lip colour. If you want something that screams glamour and sexy or siren, this isn't your product - this is for a look that is more soft, feminine and pretty. It looks velvety more than satin-y but it definitely ins't a matte finish.

Kiss-Test/ Transfer
This wasn't super-messy but I did notice that if I sipped something within ten minutes of application then it transferred pretty heavily. If I waited however, the transfer was light or not at all. It didn't come off when I was changing clothes either. The lip balm stain transfers with moisture so a kiss on the lips meant transfer but a kiss on the cheek didn't. I would skip the blot and powder test though. If you want the stain to stick and stay all day then apply a lipliner in a similar shade, blot, then apply the lip balm stain. This should pretty much set you for at least 6 hours.

Conclusion
Overall, I would give this product a 7.5 out of 10
The packaging is a bit un-sexy and the crayon tip means that you can't really apply over another colour without running the two colours into each other. The colour isn't opaque which can be a problem for girls with more pigmented lips like most black women but again, if you are looking for semi sheer or sheer colour this is it. Nevertheless, it lasts, it's pretty and true to colour, it's moisturizing and it smells great. The cost is anywhere between $800 and $1200 depending on where you buy it. 

What do you think of the Revlon Lip Balm Stain? Have any questions for me? Leave me a comment below and let me know.

Till later,
**Jane

(all photos my own)

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What I'm Eating to Lose Weight

So, I'm pretty much at the heaviest I've ever been in my life and the most uncomfortable. I cringe at pictures I see of myself and long for the day that my thighs don't try to fight each other as I walk and I don't feel so self-conscious about my arms. So, after moaning and groaning for a couple months (read, one year) I decided that I needed to get the situation under control pronto.

I apologize in advance for the length of this post but while I'm being honest I should just put it all out there right? I was exercising at least twice a week and though I would sweat up a storm I wasn't seeing the inches drop like I did when I was high school. Back then, if I wanted to drop five pounds I'd have banana chips and soda for lunch and that was that. Yes, I know uber un-healthy. And yes, my digestive system is still paying for that. What I'm saying though is that it was easy. Now, its H A R D!!! 

Admitting that it wasn't going to be easy and gearing myself up for it was the first step. The next step was deciding to eat healthier. Now I LOVVVVE food. I grew up watching my mother make food that would make people moan in ecstasy as they ate it and I made sure to pick up a few of her tricks in the kitchen so I knew that any diet that would require me to eat tasteless food and cardboard would not work AT ALL. (Am I over-using caps here? Nah...). So after doing extensive research on the web (read: an hour or two of reading weight-loss stories), I came up with something that thankfully made me lose seven pounds in a month with very little exercise. So here it is:

1. Always eat breakfast - I wake up super late so this is always a struggle so I shop for really quick things. What I've been having lately is - a smoothie (yes i know, blender work but if i blend it the night before and put plastic wrap over it its easy to grab and go in the morning. I blend it same time I'm making dinner so I'm already in the kitchen.)  I use the fruit smoothie frozen mix they sell at Pricesmart becaue you just add water); OR special K cereal and 1% milk; OR two hard boiled eggs with a fruit and a piece of toast; OR a loaded granola bar with a fruit and some tea. Basically you need to get protein (like oats, eggs, fish, other meat, peas or grains) and some fruit/fibre in your system.
2. For lunch, skip one of the sides. For example, if something comes with rice & veg. Skip the rice and eat the veg, if it comes with fries, skip the fries. Leave off cheese and other additions like mayonnaise. Every now and then have just a salad. I don't recommend eating just a salad for lunch because if you are going to the gym after work you will have zero energy unless you carry a power-up snack to have before your work out. What really works well is if you have a soup and a salad or a soup and half a sandwich or a half sandwich and a salad or any combo thereof.
3. For dinner, pick a small plate like a breakfast plate to eat on (not a teacup saucer guys lol). Don't let the big plate get you! You'll have the urge to fill it up. Sometimes I will actually measure the portions - no more than one cup carbs like rice or potato, then protein the size of my hand and veggies to fill up the rest of the plate. I try to skip the carb every other day. But on the weekends me likey carbs. On especially tempting days I will put the veggies on first (no croutons) then the remaining space gets filled so that I'm not bad.
4. Snacks - I will snack in between each meal. My snack of choice is some peanuts I put in a ziplock bag and shake up with some raisins, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds and something else I cant remember. Or, I will have a low calorie granola bar or a fruit.  This month I am trying a sunflower seed spread with some zero fat crackers. (It's a cross between solomon gundy and hummus).
5. Redemption - every now and then I will over eat. The other day when I had four slices of pizza and four wings in the space of two hours, I felt really bad. SO the next day I did some exercise and had a slimfast shake and a fruit for dinner.
6. Treats - I treat myself every weekend but with lower calorie options - dark chocolate in the small packaging,  or the super tiny one scoop haagen daz ice cream...yeh or those zero calorie fruit chews that are addicting. IN the SMALL package. 
7. Liquids - I drink green tea that I stir with honey or just plain water at night before I go to sleep. Otherwise it's me and my big bottle of water. Occasionally, I will tip some lemon juice into it to change the flavour. But, water is the way to go.
8. Vitamins - take the ones geared for women but not anything that says 'active' because it will make you hungry and ravenous like a whoa. Evening primrose oil is a great supplement that seems to suppress my appetite so I take it along with my multi vitamin.

Here are some more general tips 

• Download 'Fat Secret Calorie Counter" from BB App World and use it. It tells you how much calories you are consuming, how much you are burning even from things like sitting down and shows you a chart of how much calories you need to burn at the gym doing exercise to make sure you drop lbs that week
• If you're hungry - wait. Ask yourself, when was the last time you ate. If it was less than four hours ago then wait for 20 minutes and do something else. If your tummy is still telling you that you're hungry then decide if its time for a meal or for a snack and go ahead and eat but do it slowly. 
• When eating, when you've finished half of your food stop and ask your tummy if i'ts full. Drink some water and if you still feel empty then continue. The idea isn't to feel full. The idea is to feel like something is in your stomach. You can't trust your body, it's out to trick you!
• When you go out to eat ask for an extra plate. They will give you one of those small plates more than likely. Share your food and eat from that. Have them box up the rest of your food and carry it home to have it for your next meal
• If you are going to drink, go for low calorie options. Apparently the more transparent the liquid the less the calories. I don't know how true this is but I hear you cant go wrong with a glass of wine or a vodka tonic. 
• print a picture of yourself when you liked your body and tape it to your fridge. Serious. It will stop you from going back for seconds when you should just hold your corner and drink water.
• Do a mini challenge - this month I am going to try to get to 100 pushups. I currently can only do two lol. It may be situps for you or crunches or lunges.
• Pick a part of your body you like or you like working out and exercise it as often as you can
• If your partners are health conscious then that's great if they aren't then you need to not fall into their habits. My husband in not health conscious so my rule is don't have what he's having. EVER lol
• Eat and listen to music rather than eat and watch tv. You will see yourself eating the food and your brain will register that your body is being fed and it will shut off its 'feed me' signal quicker.
• Buy 100 calorie popcorn and eat the whole bag when you feel like binge-ing. It will satisfy the craving and fill you up
• Don't keep things you know you can't stay away from in your fridge.

I hope this helps someone out there who is struggling with their weight and what to do without going all extremist. If you guys have questions or any other tricks, leave a comment and let me know. 

Till later,

*Jane

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Wardrobe Staples for the Working Woman

As a woman you will get judged more times than you should be, by what you wear and how you carry yourself in the workplace. It is always important to look professional but friendly and approachable. You need to look like you can get the job done, rather than you're just killing time until you can find someone to mind you.

Some key things that every woman will need to get her through a work week are:

• No-show underthings - these range from slips to camisoles to bras w/o raised patterns and underwear that will not result in visible panty lines. For heaven's sake ladies, wear a bra with a little padding so the whole world doesn't see just how pointy your nipples can get.

  

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• Sensible shoes - I am not talking about granny shoes. Sensible depends on the woman wearing it. If you can deal with a three inch, pointy-toes heel all day then by all means go ahead, if you require a lower heel then get one and if heels just seem impossible to you then, un-embellished neutral flats can be your staple. 

   

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• The knee-length pencil skirt - for the work place a pencil skirt must at the very least toe the line of being appropriate. It should be fitted enough to show that you're a woman but loose enough to show that you're a lady. In other words, when you look at your back-view in the mirror, there should be a faint line that outlines your bottom but if you can see the outline of each 'batty jaw' or the dimple in each cheek then it is too tight. If you're still not sure if your skirt is too tight then two simple test are - 1. whether you can tuck your shirt or blouse in w/o seeing the fabric from the outside of the skirt or 2. whether your hands can pass through the waist band of the skirt to the bottom of your hips.

  

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• A good skinny belt - yes, women need belts too - think of this as your safety net between being able to keep eye contact with your boss and introducing him/her to crack city every time you get up or sit down. Additionally, a belt helps to polish a look and pull it together in a way that a top and bottom can never do. Belt your cardigan, belt your dress. Belt anything to look more polished. A simple leather/leatherette belt will do sans studs or chains.

 

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• A button up shirt - very important that the shirt fits well around the bust so that there are no gaps between the buttons and you're not flashing anyone glimpses of your bra; and that it is long enough that it won't ride up to expose flesh at your belly or back if you reach up to comb your hair or get something from a shelf. You want to look like you're eager to work not work. 

  

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• A feminine blouse - these are quite frankly a girl's best friend. They look equally good with pants as they do skirts and they make even the boxiest suit jacket look softer. I personally like mine a little roomier as well because it creates a nice contrast with a pencil skirt. Tie-front blouses are now really popular but a neat trick is to just get a scarf in a similar tone and tie it around your neck in a loose bow and pin it where the seam meets the neck of your blouse.

  

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• A corporate sheath dress - these are for the days when you're expected to attend the Christmas cocktail party or to accompany the boss to meet a client for dinner after work or on the days when you have a late day at work and an early dinner date. Dresses are versatile and can be worn alone, with shirts underneath, with a jacket or cardigan on top or even with a skirt to change up your look.

  

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• Tailored pants - you want these in a fabric that will not cling if you have a typical Jamaican bottom. Why? Even if the men appreciate the view of the full outline of your batty jaws, the women in your workplace will think you're trashy. So respect them and respect yourself and get something in a thicker fabric like wool. 

  

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• A versatile jacket - step out of the box and instead of getting a traditional blazer get one with a shawl collar or with an interesting liner for when you roll up your sleeves or one with a shortened collar. It will add interest to a basic look and help you to stand out

   

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• A watch - yes you need a watch for those days when you're phone dies and being on time with a deadline or for a meeting could make or break your time at that particular organization. A watch in more traditional colours like gold, silver, black, white, brown or navy is appropriate for the corporate world while others with more interesting detail can be worn in more creative work spaces. My personal advice is to stay away from rubber watches or anything a high schooler could be seen wearing.

  

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• A structured bag - unstructured bags or tote bags that can't zip up deflect from a well put-together outfit. Many places in Kingston sell bags like these for about $2000 and up. If you want to splurge on something name brand then make sure it is not something with the logo splashed all over. You want people to be looking at you and not your handbag right? In the same note, having a zippered bag is neater and more polished than one where everyone can see what you're toting around with you including that errant sanitary napkin and that note reminding you to replace your birth control. Get it together ladies!

 

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What do you need in your work wardrobe? Leave a comment below and let me know. In a few posts I'll be discussing what I carry in my work bag to make sure I'm prepared for just about anything.

Till next time,

*Jane

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