New Year, New Skin, New Image!!!

If YOU feel that 2009 is YOUR year and YOU want to put all the chances on YOUR side, here is my Five step program that will jump start YOUR success! Think about it, the Image that YOU project will ultimately affect YOUR Self-Esteem... Therefore YOU want to look YOUR best in every occasion! As I like to say to my clients: "One never knows who's watching" so be on the look out... For both men and women there are five aspects of YOUR persona that YOU should never neglect:

!YOUR Hair, Face, Body, Physical Appearance, and Attitude!

! Take good care of YOUR hair !

It represents YOUR crown, whether YOU'RE sporting a short sassy style or a longer one, it should reflect YOU in all its glory. For that reason YOU should avoid dry hair by conditioning on a regular basis and damaged hair needs to go, there is no point in holding to something that is dead. A healthy cut, is exacltly what it is, HEALTHY! Don't let the split ends and falling hair drag YOU down. And gentlemen don't be afraid to face that receeding hair line or the area that is slowly thining out. Embrace a new YOU, one that can walk on tall and acheive its goals. To be SUCCESSFULL one must be CONFIDENT, and part of being CONFIDENT is to feel ATTRACTIVE. So how do YOU get there? By remaining true to YOURSELF... Avoid hair colors that don't suit YOUR complexion, and as much as I love the versatility that artificial hair may bring it lacks in authenticity so if YOU must go there, bring along some moderation!

! Game Face On !

Now days the skin care regiments are numerous and accessible to both men and women: exfoliation, protecting YOUR skin against the sun (yes even in winter), using the appropriate products depending on YOUR skin type will undeniably give YOU nicer skin and reduce the aging signs. Neglecting YOUR skin can result in many rejections both on the personal and professional front....

Consider YOUR face as YOUR advertising board; if it is appealing, people will be interested in what YOU are selling. If need be, invest in some more extensive skin care such as acne treatment, microdermabrasion, and even laser hair removal. Let's not forget the routine grooming rituals such as making sure YOU always display a radiant smile, the rugged look is sexy but sometimes a good shave is necessary, and how about taming those wild eyebrows?

! Shape it Up !

No more excuses allowed, if YOU are not satisfied with YOUR current body shape, then make the appropriate changes. Do not set YOURSELF for failure by reaching for an unrealistic goal, be fair and most importantly commit to YOUR plan. 30 minutes of excercise 3 times a week will make a difference in YOUR overall health and appearance. The trick is to do something fun, who said that getting in shape had to be tedious? No time or money to go to a gym, there are some short and interesting routines available on the net. Pull out those old cassettes, (we all have some) they will also do the trick. Find a buddy if it will help motivate YOU, include the kids if necessary, but keep at it. I won't lie to YOU certain clothes don't fit all body types, but YOUR main priority should be your comfort whatever size or shape YOU are.

! Comfortable, personal, appropriate, and trendy !

Those 4 words constitute, in my opinion, the core definition of style... There is no sense in wearing uncomfortable clothes or worst clothes that makes YOU feel uncomfortable all because YOU think it makes YOU look a certain way. I often say it and I won't stop saying that YOUR style should come from within, it must be authentic to be and feel right. Dressing appropriately to the occasion is another aspect that will make YOU or brake YOU in many instances. YOU want YOUR outfit to be remembered because it was da bomb! Women, know when it is correct to maximise your assets, in a professional setting YOU do not want to come accross as flirty or promiscuous. Men tend to be too laid back in their attires, don't be scared to step it up a notch, YOU will not regret it. Last but not least respect the trend...

keep in touch with the cuts, colors and fabrics that are in. That does not mean to do everything that is the magazine or in the media. Most trends will also carry a dimension that flatters YOUR silouhette, but YOU must know YOUR body, cigarette pants, whether YOUR'RE a man or a woman, unless YOU are slender they're not for YOU. Go for a more classical cut, the straight one, very trendy but also very forgiving.

! Tude it Up !

YOU don't need me to tell YOU that even if YOU conquer all four rules, without the right attitude it will make no difference!!! It all starts in YOUR head, YOU must believe in YOURSELF if YOU want the world to see YOU differently. Then the wheel is slowly set in motion. Invest in YOUR future by applying those five principles, and I guarantee that YOU will see the changes!

Until next time,

Classy Sassy

Before, During and After: Dressing your body for Maternity

YOU CAN BE PREGNANT AND FASHIONALBLE!

Having been there twice, I know how frustrating it can be to attempt to dress this forever changing silouhette. It's as if just as your getting used to your new boobs, the belly pops out and demands your undivided attention, but there is hope, and it starts within us! Women, we need to stop expecting aknowledgement and compliments from others and give it to ourselves!

Here are My 3 Golden Rules for Dressing while Pregnant...

No 1: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

As you feel your breast and belly getting bigger, it is not necessarily apparent to others. Keep dressing up for work in a professional manner "no! being pregnant is no excuse to slack off", just make sure you wear your most comfortable clothes until you start shopping for maternity ones. Avoid tight pants with zippers, and opt for low waist pants with buttons. If your shirts for work are suddenly too tight, go with camis or tees just make sure you wear a cardigan or sweater on top. This mix and match will also make it easier to transition to evening and weekend wear.

No 2: Buying in a larger size does not work for every article of clothing!

As you will probably learn early on in your pregnancy some peices such as t-shirts will fit in large or x-large, but don't make that mistake with your skirts, dresses and pants. The cuts of maternity wear are completely different; in order to fit your body, it must also fit your new curves. If clothing with elastic bands makes you screech, cover them with a nice top or accessorize with an original elastic waist band or belt! Your best purchases will definetbely be part of the during and after collectionsf maternity wear, think about it as your body grows, the clothes can gradually be adjusted as well.

No 3: Embrace your new body and it will embrace you!

you accept your full breasts, this bulging belly, and the rounder hips you will quickly realize how fun it is to dress it and how well shapes look on them. What about colour! Whether it is with a plunging cami this summer or the twill turtle neck in winter, give into it, with your radiant skin and shinny hair, nothing can stop you.

Pamper yourself, do your hair and your nails, nuture your skin so you can feel gooooooood in it! Sport that nice empire waist, those fresh halter tops without any complex since your boobs are faaaaaaaaaaabulous, faux wraps dresses, and flared skirts and I guarantee those 10 months will fly by (yes girlfriend that's right, those books have been lying to us all our lives, pregnancy is not 9 months)!

***So you want to ...

make sure...You AVOID buttons shirts, go for stretchy material but BE CAREFUL with overwhelming patterns.

make sure...Your pants are the RIGHT LENGHT, as your belly grows, you don't want to be walking around like you have water in the cave from constantly pulling those pants up.

make sure...You own a GREAT BRA it is a must, this should really be your first purchase, everything else will fall into placce once the ladies are PROPERLY CONTROLLED.

Here are some stores you should hit for your wardrobe, and think of buying a few peices that will fit you after you give birth:

Apso bibi
located at 6627 St-laurent (between Beaubien & St-Laurent)
budget of 200$ and more

Thyme Maternité
located in all major shopping malls
budget of 60$ and more

Zara
located in all major shopping malls
budget of 60$ and more

Motherood Maternity
located in all major shopping malls
budget of 30$ and more

Old Navy
located in all major shopping malls
budget of 30$ and more

H&M
located in all major shopping malls
budget of 30$ and more

Sears and The Bay
located in all major shopping malls
budget of 30$ and more

And any other place that caters to your needs, such as internet shopping (make sure they deliver to your area and if they do, watch out for hidden shipping fees), have fun shopping!

Until next time,

Classy Sassy

What it's all About!

People have often asked me: "what is it exactly that you do?" Or they say: "is it like What not to wear?" I wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiish, my own television show and money that is not yours to give out. No seriously it's more then taking apart someone's current style and giving them a new wardrobe to go home. First and foremost my every day client does not have 5000$ at their disposition to revamp their look, so I have designed different workshops tailored to help, maximise and enhance my clientele to better consume. Here is a sneak peek...

Auto Evaluation Workshop

For this workshop a brief questionnaire is given to the potential client and the ultimate goal is to have them auto-evaluate themselves. Throughout the years that I have been dealing with people's sense of style I have come to realize that a lot of it resides in one's perception of itself, so I like getting it out of the way right from the begining. It can also help indicate how challenging a consultation may be depending on one's resistance to honesly view themselves.

Wardrobe Shape-Up

Now here is something that all men and women should do at least twice a year, it consists in re-evaluation your wardrobe content and determining what should be tossed aside or kept in order to add some new pieces. This is almost an essential step in the consultation process as the number one complain is often not having anything to wear. This is simply because the basics are lacking in the wardrobe; feel free to consult the previous blog posting to assess whether or not you are on the right path for yours.

Shopping 101

I know we all hate it when we let some sales person convince us that "it suits us so well", only to get home and realize that it's not completely true. This is simply a few workshops to give the average shopper some efficient tips and tricks to enjoy shopping and be more productive at it as well. This workshop is often offered in parallel with the wardrobe shape-up as some individual may require some guidance in purchasing the missing elements.

Personal Shopper

This Workshop (one of my favorite) is essentialy to assist the client into their shopping trips until he or she can develop the reflexes and patterns needed to acquire the independance needed to shop on their own. The goal is to make all shopping trips or purchases productive and rewarding.

Special Events or Service of MakeOver

This service is strictly offered on demand for events such as a special outing, graduation, christening, engagement party, wedding, etc. It may also require services that Simply Nefi does not offer, therefore outside collaborations are available in order to guarantee the success of this experience (hair and makeup).

keep in mind that all my workshops are designed to suit one's needs, sense of style and budget. So now that you know what I do, if you just had a promotion or looking to get one, perhaps you have something special coming up in the next few months? Don't wait till the last minute, if you want to look the part I am your girl!

Until Next time,

Classy Sassy

Expand yourself and your Wardrobe!

Soooo it's a new year and perhaps you took some resolutions but with all this snow you may have some unexpected free time on your hands! You could make the inventory of your wardrobe. No big deal! However it's more then seperating work clothes from going out clothes.

THE SECRET RESIDES IN HAVING KEY PIECES AND MAXIMISING THEM.

As far as work is concerned, I say it all the time to my clients, you should dress for the job that you want and not the one that you have; within reason of course. That does not mean your look should be stiff and boring nor revolve around the same pieces... You should also upgrade your wardrobe gradually in order for it to remain both current and cost efficient.

SO WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIALS THAT BOTH WOMEN AND MEN SHOULD ACQUIRE?

For my ladies

• A classic yet fitted white shirt (front and back darts will accentuate your shape as opposed to a man's type shirt)
• A pencil skirt (if they aren't flattering for your figure an A-Line skirt will do)
• A suit (purchase pants and skirt if possible)
• A casual structured vest (Jeans, velvet or tweed)
• A fitted turtle neck (avoid the ribbed ones, they tend to expand and add volume)
• A casual dress (on that can be worned at the office but dressed up for an evening look)
• A camisole (opt for one with trimming or visual details)
• A dark wash pair of jeans (a nice straight leg will automatically elongate your body)
• A cardigan or long coat
• A signature piece (anything that will set you apart from the crowd, but still represents you)

For my fellows

• A white classic shirt (pay special attention to the lenght of the sleeves)
• A coloured shirt (neutral color that will go with your suit)
• A casual but structured vest (velvet, tweed, corduroy)
• A suit (if you can find one with a nice waist vest go for it you will be able to break it up for a more casual look)
• A dark wash pair of jeans
• Two pairs of casual pants (kakis or cords will add a nice twist to a wardrobe)
• A fitted turtle neck (this will elongate your torso)
• A couple of short sleeves polo
• Sweaters (opt for a few without sleeves that way you can layer up with a polo or a shirt)
• A signature piece (Just like the ladies, you are entitled to your sense of uniqueness, somake it count)

REMEMBER FOR YOUR BASICS TO GO FOR NEUTRAL COLORS AND SIMPLE CUTS, THIS WAY YOUR PIECES WILL TRANSITION EASILY FROM ONE SEASON TO THE NEXT.

Then the fun part, trust me, is to add to your wardrobe, but please remember to gradually replace your articles; there is nothing trendy in wearing worned out clothes, no matter how nice they used to look...

Until next time,

Classy Sassy

"Snazzy looks for the Holidays"

It would be such a faux pas if I would let the holidays pass by without posting a little sometin', right? So here are my picks for this festive season and they can be carried on throughout 2008. I command you to embrace yourself! Women, whether you are tall, short, thin or full figured; you look good and the holidays are always a good time to sashay around looking confident and stylish. And for you handsome men, walk tall and proud and if debonair is what you are looking for, that's what you should go for. So let’s talk clothing…

Ladies first…

I will not be made a liar and tell you that you can look like Halle, Rhianna or Alicia on the red carpet. Puleeeze, do you know how much work goes into that? Seriously, what I can tell you is to let your personality shine through your style. Be authentic instead of being static. Fashion trends are designed for all to follow; I, the fashion consultant is telling you: don’t! Be smarter, take the pulse of what is going on out there and make up your own mind.

If you can't afford a new dress, simply take out your faithful black dress or your nicest skirt and give it a twist. Match it up with some sexy top and nice accessories like multiple necklaces or a bold pair of earings, add a broach or a belt to complete the look. I guarantee you even your best friend won’t believe that it’s not a new outfit… Other funky looks such as colored animal print, or sharp sequence will give you that unique edge that will make you stand out through that crowd. It's party time so show off those legs with a sassy pair of hills. Keep it real, make sure they fit and that you can walk in them, there is nothing attractive in a woman not in control on her hills, it just ain't cute!

As for my fellows,

this is also your time to shine, that nice structured vest in a rich texture is a must, if it's not one of your pride posession, get one! It will be a good investment, you can then alternate with your shirts or turtle necks. Try to go for contrast, whether it is with the shirt, pants, or the tie that will complete the look. Don't be afraid to show off your colorful side, remember pink was the last taboo color for men and it's been out of the closet for a while. One of my favorite looks for this year is definetely the waist vest, closer to the body it will give you that slender appearance. The bow ties and scarves are also making a huge come back, however only go for it if it matches your personality. I don't want you to look like the guy on the runway, I want you to look gooood! If you feel like splurging, why not add a nice pair of cuff links, choose a design that will add character to the simplest outfit.

After all that shopping and prepping, the most important thing is to be comfortable in whatever you're wearing, you will always look your best if you think you look the best!

On that note, I'd like to wish each and everyone of you a wonderful christmas and may 2008 bring you Health, Happiness, Spiritual guidance if needed, and of course lots and lots of shopping opportunities...

Until next time,

Classy Sassy

"It's about Time"

Years before "Simply Nefi" was born people have been harassing me to put something together so that my fashion tips and tricks would be available at large. Well I had to get pregnant and confined to the walls of my house to finally get to it! Simplement & Easy will be a guide that most of you will be able to follow without having to hire my services as personal fashion consultant, how's that for a deal! In the near futur I will be displaying both little fashion exerts but also pictures showing a variery of ways you can bring your wardrobe back to life... In hopes you will like what you see,


Classy Sassy