Showing posts with label Female Confidence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Female Confidence. Show all posts

Monday, 17 October 2016

Get Ready To Be Inspired! The Inspirational Women Series Podcast is LIVE!! 💕


The Inspirational Women (Audio) Series is one of the most exciting projects I have worked on yet - and I am delighted to be able to share it with the world today (Monday 17th October). The series premiered at the weekend to subscribers of the newsletter and to those who have signed up for the private members club - and I have received great feedback so far.

So now it's over to you. Have a listen let me know what you think.
Episode 001 | The Inspirational Women Series An Interview with Anne Threlfall from Elkie & Ark 




I feel incredibly honoured to kick off my podcast launch with the amazingly talented Anne Threlfall. She is the founder of a new ethical fair trade luxury linen company Elkie & Ark, a wife, a mum, a doer, an inspirer, a speaker and a writer. Anne has been published in the Huffington Post, Collective Hub, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines and Emap publications.  She has a masters in applied finance and a bachelor of science (specialising in environmental science) - so she's one smart cookie - and on top of all of that she's beautiful, funny, has a massive heart and cares about giving back.

I hope you enjoy the interview and hearing Anne's story as much as I did.

Stay fab!

Roberta x



You can see more over on the website at www.robertastylelee.co.uk 


Friday, 2 September 2016

14 Ways To Feed Your Confidence



Confidence grows with time. But you can fast track confidence and learn new ways to embed confidence from your very core.

Confidence manifests itself in everything we do, in every aspect of our lives and how we treat ourselves and allow ourselves to be treated by others. It all adds up.

Consider every moment from: 

  1. the type of sleep you get, 
  2. what you eat, 
  3. how much water you drink, 
  4. the amount of exercise to take, 
  5. the words you use when you talk, 
  6. how you interact with people, 
  7. the clothes you wear 
  8. the way you hold yourself (body language)
  9. what you do when you relax and socialise, 
  10. how you apply yourself to work tasks, 
  11. how you plan, 
  12. how react to difficult situations, 
  13. how you process your emotions,
  14. your reactions to things you cannot control... 


As I said, confidence can manifest itself in every single thing you do. You just have to tap into it and use every opportunity to your advantage.

You become like the people you surround yourself with 

You can start to build your confidence by being around people that are confident, that are happy and that are making a success of their life.

People's attitudes are contagious - are the people's attitudes that you currently surround yourself with worth catching?

Confidence can be intimidating...

Not everyone is ready or willing to be around people that exude confidence and dare to be different. Occasionally you'll experience the 'haters' in life - the ones that try to bring confident people down. That's just par for the course and a real reflection on them and their own insecurities. Don't let that stop you on your own personal journey. In order to be different, we have to become different - sometimes that means leaving some people behind.

Confidence can be empowering 

Decide who you want to be - and go for it.

It's easier than you may think to make new friends and be in communities where confidence flows freely like a stream. These are the communities you need to seek out. You can try Facebook, Meet-Up, local groups at the library, free fitness in the community - there are a bunch of things out there right under your nose. You just have to look for it.

There are no limits. Only the ones you set for yourself.

We can all benefit from outside help and encouragement - if are looking for a coach please check out my website to find out more.

Stay fabulous

Roberta x



You can see more over on the website at www.robertastylelee.co.uk 



Tuesday, 30 August 2016

3 Things To Ask Yourself When Considering Sustainable Styling

Featured brand: DFYnorm 

What do I mean when I talk about sustainable fashion? 

I'm talking about wearing what you've got, being creative, maximising your clothes so you get as much as you can from one item. Then when you do buy a new piece - make it a piece that will last. Try to get up to 5 different outfits out of your item - make it a wardrobe staple. Take a look at my style challenge with just 3 key items from the DFYnorm collection. 



Make it a conscious purchase - rather than impulsive | 3 Things To Ask Yourself  




  1. Before you rush to buy something stop and consider if you need it. 
  2. Then stop to check it's been well made, it should be so well made you can wash it a 100 times and it will survive.
  3. Look at the structure - would a tailor be able to open the seems and make it fit you like a glove?


The brand whose pockets you are lining don't deserve to be paid the high ticket price unless they are putting the work in behind the scenes. I don't know about you but I want to know who made my clothes. 


Ethical and sustainable fashion questions | 3 Things To Ask Yourself 

  1. Do they source their materials ethically? 
  2. Do they run their business in a way that is sustainable? 
  3. Do they care? 


These are the questions that the new conscious fashionistas are asking. I've joined them. I care. Here at Roberta Style Lee we care - about people, the planet, ourselves, so it seems like a pretty good fit (excuse the pun) to align the RSL brand with other brands that give a damn. 


A sustainable shopping and styling approach 


I am having a severe reaction to mass produced fast fashion. I see all these 'new' clothes that get produced and I know many of these items will never make it off the hanger, they are clothes that live a lifetime at the back of the wardrobe with the tags on... and there seems to be no real signs of this consumer mass purchasing behaviour slowing down. But we can make a difference - one by one - if we dare to defy the fashion trends and stop buying stuff we don't need, in our own little way we can contribute. 


Guilty 


I have the guilt. I was one of those shoppers. A person who in my twenties shopped for a new outfit for every new night out - I had so many items of everything I couldn't count how many I had of any one thing. 


Making amends 


I used to really enjoy that feeling of buying something new. I had this positive association and a little buzz from the purchase - but I noticed that would soon fade once I got home. Then I'd be keen for my next hit... 


It's not about chucking out stuff you own that isn't produced by an ethical or sustainable brand - it's about using what you already have. You cannot undo what has already been done. But you can make damn sure that you make the most out of it.  Last year I put myself on a strict ban. I was not allowed to buy anything new unless I really needed it. 


I started to become more aware of throw away fashion when pop-up pre-loved designer sales started happening up and down the country. I got involved with a friend who set up her own business a few years back and helped her launch her first event. I worked as a stylist for the day and saw how easy it was to fall for someone else's ex. 


Withdrawal symptoms 


When I decided to change - it was tough. The first 6 months not buying things was really difficult. It was like an addiction. I did however manage to curb my shopaholic ways and started to just buy what I needed.


In 2015 year I became an brand ambassador for Bella Kinesis, an ethical sports brand that produces beautiful fitness clothing for women. This was my first conscious step into ethical fashion. 


I then decided to look at how I could be more sustainable with my fashion and I volunteered at one the Save the Children Boutiques.  I started to use my creativity again and when I got into the swing of it I was dressing the window display, re-working the outfits on the mannequins - showing shoppers how to turn an evening dress into a daytime dress etc. I realised I had had the ability to remain stylish without buying new clothes all the time. 


And so sustainable styling became a thing for me! 



Getting to know ethical brands 


In the main image above, I am wearing DFYnorm items from the transeasonal range - all crafted to a high standard. The company is new, but has big ideas about where it is heading. You can see my review of the range here. I like this brand a lot. I love what they represent.


I will be publishing a list of my favourite ethical brands soon in a new RSL directory (watch this space)  if you have any suggestions for ethical/sustainable brands that you would like me to review and include in the directory please leave me a comment. 

I hope you enjoyed this blog!


Stay fabulous (in a sustainable way of course!)


Roberta x 




You can see more over on the website at www.robertastylelee.co.uk 


Monday, 22 August 2016

Sustainable Style Challenge - How To Style 3 Items into Multiple Outfits




What is sustainable styling? It's about buying less, buying better quality longer lasting investment pieces and being more creative with what you've already got. When you buy something new challenge yourself to see how many different ways you can style it. If you can create 3-5 solid looks - then it's a no brainer. I was given three different items by DFYNorm ethical fashion brand to review and apply my personal style. My challenge as always was to get 5 looks out of each item without buying anything new. 

So how did I do? 

Well bearing in mind I did not buy anything extra to complete these looks, I only used items I had from the back of the wardrobe. I really challenged myself to utilise what I already had and to be as creative as possible. It was not as easy as I hoped. But I was able to get a good few solid outfits created. The 'old' me would have easily been able to create more looks by simply going out and shopping for new items. But I wanted to avoid going back to those unsustainable shopping behaviours... so this is what I came up with:


You can see that I was able to create multiple looks and my favourites are shown below. 


























I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the styles I was able to create.  Some of the key pieces I used from my own wardrobe were:

  • Suede ankle boots 
  • Over the knee suede boots 
  • Suede pumps 
  • Red leather pumps
  • Flat pointed leather shoes 
  • Sparkly evening shoes 
  • Leather Jacket 
  • Black blazer 
  • Accessories: burgundy wool hat, cotton scarf, flower garland headpiece, 3 different necklaces, and a costume jewellery ring
  • 2 different black leather bags - a multi-use clutch/over body bag, 1 tote. 

The shorts and the jumpsuit were the most versatile pieces - and I just showed a few outfits, but many more options were possible. For example, the shorts could be teamed with tights and a jumper to see you through the winter. The jumpsuit is linen so this is best suited for just the spring and summer months - and the black waistcoat dress would look great with some bright coloured pumps a bright lip, a quiff and some pinup curls. 

If you have any comments or questions on how I styled these items - please just leave me a comment below. 

For a limited time only readers of my blog can get 20% the DFYnorm range by heading over to the website and using the code: RStyleLee at the checkout - this is available until the 30th September 2016. 



If you are interested in the full video DFYnorm review you can check that out over on YouTube.

Stay fabulous ladies!

Roberta 

(Confidence Coach & Stylist)

PS. If you are interested in testing out a FREE confidence coaching and personal styling session just let me know! Visit www.robertastylelee.co.uk 

A Review of DFYnorm Ethical Fashion Range




It's official I have stepped into the world of Youtube... my video review can be viewed below. The sound quality of the video isn't the best, so I apologise for that (the next one will be better I promise) but if you can stick with it you'll hear my thoughts and opinions on the 3 key pieces that I was given to style and review:  






For a limited time only readers of my blog can get 20% the DFYnorm range by heading over to the website and using the code: RStyleLee at the checkout - this is available until the 30th September 2016. 

I hope you enjoyed my fashion review of DFYnorm - and you liked all the different looks I was able to create using my 'sustainable styling' method! You can take a closer look at my outfits over my blog post Sustainable Style Challenge - How to Style 3 Key Items into Multiple Outfits

Until next time... 

Stay fabulous ladies!

Roberta 

The Confidence Coach & Stylist

PS. If you are interested in any confidence coaching and personal styling just let me know! Visit www.robertastylelee.co.uk 




You can see more over on the website at www.robertastylelee.co.uk and other #RSLRecommended products and services all reviewed and tested by moi.




Monday, 1 August 2016

Why conscious fashion and confidence go hand in hand





What does an industry fashion exhibition at the Kensington Olympia and Roberta Style Lee have in common? Keep reading and you'll find out. 

I attended the Pure London show on Sunday the 24th and Monday 25th of July 2016 in support of the co-founder Haseena Latheef on the ethical clothing brand, DFYnorm stand. 

You may now be wondering what the heck Lifestyle Coaching and a fashion event has in common, well if I didn't have personal styling as an additional confidence boosting add-on service to my coaching, it may seem a bit unusual. But I do offer that as a service. Looking good on the outside in addition to feeling good about yourself on the inside is just as important - I am an advocate of taking care of yourself from the inside-out. This event was also about supporting the new partnership I have formed with DFYnorm. 


What's so great about DFYnorm? 


The brand itself is headed up by the co-founder Haseena Latheef who is a passionate speaker and advocate for the powerful women. My brand is about empowering women and so is hers. 

DFYnorm is more than just clothes - yes the collection has certain pieces which I loooove, but it's not just about the aesthetics. It's deeper. Haseena truly cares. DFYnorm as a brand truly cares. The collection is about strength and identity - celebrating the women who make smart choices and care about what they wear - these women are empowered and confident. 

You can read more about the brand in my interview (part of the #InspirationalWomen series) with the co-founder of the ethical fashion brand DFYnorm Haseena Latheef here. 

She hopes her brand will inspire women to be their true selves, to love themselves, to love others and in turn love the planet. 


Scratching beneath the surface of fashion 


That's the interesting thing - fashion can be just be very surface level for some, or it can be explored much deeper. Fashion can mean more, fashion can do more. Those in the industry (designers, suppliers, owners, buyers, consumers etc.) have a massive responsibility on their shoulders to behave responsibly, sustainably and ethically.  More and more consumers are aware (and care) about what they wear. And I care about what my clients wear too  clothing is more than just material, it has the ability to change lives - not just for the wearer, but all those involved in the process. Consumer consciousness can influence the industry and together we can all make a difference. 

Haseena Latheef chaired a panel talk about leading positive fashion trends.  She had her own story to tell post event - you can read her blog: My Pure London Saga, Panel on Positive Fashion and Winners Announced!

The panel talk was interesting and one thing that really sparked my interest was about the myths surrounding ethical fashion brands - that ethical fashion is ugly. The idea that we can now look good, feel good and do good is something that resonated with me. You'll see me using #LookGoodFeelGoodDoGood and #LookGoodFeelGoodLiveGreat a lot more across my social media posts from now on. 

I decided to find out more about ethical fashion and sustainable fashion and what that means for the consumer. I spent a lot of time looking at other brands and asking about their sourcing processes. I found a few new brands that peaked my interest. 

Coming up in my next few blogs:

  • I will be publishing a list of the ethical brands that I discovered at the Pure London show.
  • A review of the DFYnorm clothes I received will be going live.
  • I will also be introducing you to some of the inspiring women working in fashion that I have lined up for my #InspirationalWomen series. 


In the meantime don't forget to take advantage of the special DFYnorm discount code: 



























Until the next time...

Stay fabulous.

Roberta x 


DON'T MISS OUT ON FUTURE INTERVIEWS - SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER HERE: http://www.robertastylelee.co.uk/#!subscribe-to-the-newsletter/umwhr 

You can see more over on the website at www.robertastylelee.co.uk and other #RSLRecommended products and 
services all reviewed and tested by moi.



Monday, 27 June 2016

Confidence Boosting Permanent Eye Make-Up








When we talk to people, the place we focus on the most is their eyes. We see so much out of them, but see so much when we look into them; it's why the eyes are known as the window to the soul. Given they have such an important job, is it such a bad thing to find ways to really make them sparkle and shine? Of course not. 


When we are sick our eyes are dull. When we are healthy and feeling fabulous our eyes twinkle. With that in mind, I started to think about how I could give my eyes that extra sparkle. I'm was never very good at using eyeliner or doing eye makeup so it seemed pointless wearing eye makeup - and wearing it badly. When I got invited to Natural Enhancement to get permanent eye makeup done, I considered the benefits: perfect eyes every time, in no time at all. The idea seemed appealing to me and worth exploring. 


The fear 

I will be honest the idea of having a needle scraped across my eyelids for vanity purposes made me question myself. What was I doing? However, the eyebrow tattooing I had done by Andrew Stassi the owner of Smudge Free completely changed my face and the small procedure absolutely sky rocketed my confidence. I was sure that the eye makeup would do the same. 

The treatment


Yes - it's unpleasant. I'm not going to pretend someone tattooing your eyelids and lower lash line is fun. It's OK though - I was able to manage the discomfort and get through it. 




The first lady I had it done with at Natural Enhancement didn't quite do the eyes how I expected. Now this is a real consideration with anything you get that's permanent. If you don't like it - it can have the opposite affect on your self-confidence. Unfortunately for me - I did not like the way the lower lash line was tattooed - it looked too unnatural. As  all good companies should, I was invited back to get it corrected and that is when I met the eye expert Kim Balaskas. 


Getting the perfect shape doesn't happen in one go



It's a slow step by step process

Slowly adding to the line and adjusting the shape

Filling the line to enhance the shape of my eye

And creating the perfect flick to shape the corner of the eye. 





Before the needle comes out

The numbing lotion goes on at the start of your appointment - it takes about 20 minutes for it to kick in. Then the shape is drawn on (this often takes the most time - see pics above ). 

Then the tattooing is done straight afterward whilst your eyelids are numb. 

I have a little video below of the tattooing process - apologies for the quality but this is the only one I was able to get with my eyes shut! 





The correction process

For my correction/touch up Kim put me at great ease and even put extra numbing lotion on and allowed it to stay on my eyelids for longer so I could no longer feel them. She really 
helped me and my nerves (in anticipation of the discomfort and it going wrong again). 

A technician should move fast when tattooing your eyes and she/he will keep your eyelid held very taught. This prevents all the blinking and crazy eyeball movement. If the technician is experienced she will make you feel at ease and the process should be over quite quickly. 


The result

I recommend seeing Kim. She was great for the touch up - I would have liked to have her for the original treatment.  In actual fact, it was a pain free correction/top-up. Kim worked fast and managed to balance out my eyeliner make-up - she even made it look better than I expected. 

My eyes itched and I did not look like my sparkly most fabulous self for a couple days. My eyelids were swollen and pink. The tattooing was very bright and obvious. After a week it settled and now all I can say is I love having the permanent eye makeup. 

I didn't think I was an eye makeup person until Kim showed me how amazing my eyes could look. I would have never created the shape that Kim gave me, but now I love it. Everybody always compliments me on it too (see pic at top of page - this is 1 week afterward). 


My secret weapons

  • Andrew Stassi - North London (Crouch End) for my perfectly shaped eyebrows 
  • Kim Balaskas - North London (Muswell Hill) for my eyeliner

I have to say thanks to both of them I now have beautiful looking eyes that frame my face (and make me feel more beautiful). I was never a fan of my eyes and used to shy away from wearing eye makeup and drawing attention to them. 

But let's be clear here ladies. - it wasn't my eyes that were the problem it was my confidence. I wouldn't have had this done to create self-confidence - only boost it. Confidence and beauty comes from within. Once I found my inner confidence I started using all these little beauty tricks to help boost my self-esteem that little bit further. 

Eyeliner tattooing = time and money well spent. 

When I look good I feel great - and when I feel great I feel empowered, I feel like I can take on the world! Watch out!

If you have any questions about the treatment (I haven't gone into detail) - feel free to ask me! Just add a comment below. 

Stay fabulous ladies - and remember it's always about beauty on the inside first, beauty on the outside second. 

Roberta x 


You can see more over on the website at www.robertastylelee.co.uk and other #RSLRecommended products and services all reviewed and tested by moi.