February 2009 Style Newsletter

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

The 14th of February will soon be upon us once again and whether or not we celebrate it I thought a little reminder of its history might be welcome.  There are various stories of its origination but the most common dates back to Third Century AD in Rome.  Emperor Claudius II tried to prevent or restrict young men from marrying because he believed it made them less effective as soldiers in the many wars fought during his reign.  An early Christian Bishop, Valentine, is said to have secretly helped young couples by performing illegal weddings and when discovered Valentine was put to death by Claudius on 24 February 270 AD.  After his demise, Valentine was made a Patron Saint and some considered him to be the spiritual overseer of an annual festival on 14 February when young Romans would give cards of affection to those they wished to formally see. 

Cards, flowers and chocolates are traditionally given today to loved ones but if you’re looking for something different why not choose one of the following:

• Is he or she yearning to fly a Boeing 737NG?  Then fulfill the dream in a simulator and contact www.flightexperience.com.sg.
• Wanting to give him or her even more WOW factor?  Book a Colour Consultation with Nutri-Style.
• In need of pampering but so little time?  Visit Spa Botanica at The Sentosa for an all day relaxation experience culminating with dinner at The Cliff.  Look at www.thesentosa.com for further information.

And if it’s just dinner-a-deux at home, why not start the evening with a Flirtini?

Pour 1 shot of pineapple juice and 1 shot of vodka into a flute glass and top with chilled Champagne, give to partner – repeat for yourself!

Contributed by Louise Field

Up Coming Workshops

Get together with some friends and have some fun and at the same time learn how to look your best with Nutri-Style's workshops:

SECRETS OF COLOUR

You may want to wear more colours but it can be difficult to know which ones suit you best. When you understand which colours complement your natural colouring you can look healthier, more confident, more alive and more interesting.

SECRETS OF MAKE-UP

A makeup & grooming consultation is conducted with a qualified image consultant, a hair stylist and makeup artist. Learn the secrets of applying make-up professionally and bringing out the best of your features.

TO BOOK YOUR PLACE, PLEASE CALL, 6887 5220.

For more information on the workshops, please visit www.nutri-style.com/her_workshop.php

One for your diary - Your Clothes Friend Swap

It's time to hang out with our good friend "Budget" again.  You remember her...always practical yet flexible.  She knows how to have fun without breaking the bank.  Often forgotten at the end of the year, as we chose to hang around "Luxury" and "Excess"; those girls are fun but tiring. They always leave you feeling exhausted and broke.  Budget is not as glamorous or sparkly as they are but in the end, we always come back to her, needing her savvy ways to get us through the year.  We forget how fun Budget is!

Join Budget, myself and other fun girls of Singapore for a clothing swap! 

Your Clothes Friend is entering its 5th year of swapping in Tokyo and is going into its 2nd year of swapping in Singapore!  The formula hasn't changed since the beginning girls+clothes+cocktails = a great evening of fun and savings!  With the unlimited shopping, you can stock up your closet with plenty of new looks for the New Year. 

Bring all the items that you no longer want from your closet; hats, skirts, suits, dresses, belts, t-shirts, jewellery, coats, are all welcome to swap.  Make sure they are clean with no stains or rips.  Once at the location, you pay a flat door fee of $25 and you take as many items as you like!  Whatever you want from the table is yours to take home! 

Magazines are also welcome for swapping - shoes are NOT! 

At the end of the swap, Budget and I bundle up all the clothing left behind and donate it to the Salvation Army.  The proceeds from the door, after costs, go towards my next Habitat for Humanity build.  www.habitat.org 

So, you get to hang out with two fun girls: Budget and Charity!

Date: Wednesday, February 11th 

Location:  Creative Escape, 2F 306 River Valley Road.  Parking available at UE Square. www.creative-escape.com.sg 

Time: 7-9pm

Cost: $25 at the door - includes a glass of white wine/latte/tea.  (Cash bar available as well.)

Any questions?  Please email Laura at girl-about-town@hotmail.com.

THE “GLOW-DOWN” ON MINERAL MAKE-UP

Mineral make-up is big news in the beauty world but what is it?Mineral make-up is made from naturally-occuring minerals and inorganic pigments mined from the earth that are then finely milled and purified.  Because minerals are inert, they allow the skin to breathe and will not clog pores which is a huge plus when living in Singapore’s humid climate.  In addition, they are also unlikely to cause allergies and will keep the skin clean by not supporting bacterial growth.

And the really good news is that everyone can wear mineral make-up, from the young to the old, because of its unparalleled purity - comforting to me as the mother of a teenage daughter eager to experiment with the latest trends!  If you suffer from any skin condition such as acne, eczema or rosacea, you could find it will be soothed by the calming anti-inflammatory effect of minerals such as zinc dioxide and titanium dioxide.   Mineral make-up may also be a good option for post-surgery skin and for after chemical peels, laser treatments etc but it would be best to check with your specialist or doctor first.

Aileen Lane of Nutri-Style has studied this area of the cosmetic industry closely and now stocks a brand of mineral make-up from Australia called ADONIA.  It is endorsed by leading cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists and Estheticians, is untested on animals and the formulations are based on extensive clinical research.  A number of cosmetic houses now offer some mineral make-up but ADONIA provides a full range of reasonably priced products from foundations and concealers to eyeshadows and lipsticks, all hypoallergenic, oil-free and fragrance-free.  For further information and help just give Nutri-Style a call or pop in to its office.

A couple of tips:

• Allow your moisturiser and sunscreen to dry completely before applying make-up to prevent patchiness – or an oil-slick!
• Invest in a Kabuki Brush, a stubby, wide brush that is excellent for applying translucent face-powder and small enough to keep in your handbag  for touching up.

Contributed by Louise Field

EXORCISE THAT BULGE!

We all know the effective way to lose weight is with a sensible eating plan and regular exercise but what if those stubborn bulges just won’t go?  You’re happy with your weight and are swimming/running/walking etc several times a week but still your thighs/stomach/bottom are large and lumpy!  Totally exasperating isn’t it?Perhaps if we all had Madonna’s time, commitment and money we could work out with a personal trainer 24/7 to spot reduce those die-hard areas but most of us are not of celebratory status.   Therefore, what are the options other than surgery?  

With regards to exercise, try something new.  Our bodies get used to exercise regimes so if you do the same thing several times a week you need to surprise and kick start your system again.  Introduce a new form of exercise and vary the routine.  Fat burning is not only induced by aerobic exercise it also requires resistance, so start lifting some weights – lighter weights and more repetitions are best to encourage fat burning.  This develops long, lean muscle tissue so have no fear of developing a bulky body appearance.  It’s worth knowing that muscle tissue also burns calories even when you are resting so by increasing muscle your body will naturally be burning more calories on a daily basis!

And then, of course, there are the numerous slimming and exercise clinics in Singapore – their prolific advertisements and no pain claims entice us daily.  Chatting to friends for recommendations is a good way of referral and I have heard of two: The Body Firm in Holland Village and Med Spa at The Camden Medical Centre.

The Body Firm uses waveform technology which flexes the muscles to mimic concentrated exercise to firm skin, build muscle and reduce inches.  Check out its website on www.bodyfirm.com.sg .

The Med Spa uses the Stimushape Plus method with a SyneronVelashapemachine, which is a radio frequency infra-red vacuum treatment that claims to effectively decrease cellulite, reduce inches and tone the skin.  For further information look at www.ivorjlim.com/medspa/index.html.

Then finally, there are some golden tips to follow to look trim:

• A fake tan helps us to look slim and improves our confidence
• Body wrap spa treatments provide a quick-fix to help us into a special occasion outfit
• Monochrome colour dressing to streamline and elongate our appearance – wear one colour from head to toe
• Pinstripes in a suit, skirt or trousers to make us appear taller and slimmer (Though avoid pin stripes if they fit too tightly as you end up with a distorted stripe which adds to the bulge!)
• Vertical seams for the same effect
• Nude coloured shoes to elongate our legs
• Draw attention to your good areas with accessories or details on clothes – a patterned shirt to draw the eye upwards and away from hips; a bold necklace or earrings; a shorter skirt to show off trim legs, these are just a few examples
• NEVER wear horizontal stripes across larger areas.

But please remember, we are all unique and beautiful and any negatives are just minutiae…

Contribution by Louise Field

Looking for a stylish gift for that someone special?

Click to view Nutri-Style Colour, Style & Makeover Gift Vouchers

Style E-Books

Learn how to be stylish not trendy. Our online E Books will equip you with all the knowledge every woman should know!   

Written by leading Image Consultant, Aileen Lane; she shares her knowledge to help women feel better about themselves. Choose from 5 exciting titles; everything from choosing the correct accessories to becoming a polished career woman.

    Click to view Nutri-Style E-Books

Great Finds in Singapore - RAOUL

Having mooched around all the shops having a look at the Spring/ Summer 2009 fashions, I was most taken by the gorgeous workwear and evening wear available at Raoul for women. Even though I couldn't actually find anything to fit (I am now almost 9 months pregnant), I was sorely tempted to splash out in anticipation of getting my figure back in the near future. I was very impressed to find sizes went up to a 14-16UK. There are some great separates such as shirts, blouses, jackets & pants that are ideal for a stylish work wardrobe and even for a stylish lunch with the girls. My favourite has to be the day dresses that came in a range of vibrant colours and at great prices too (Dress in picture below was priced at SGD253).

Developed and launched in Singapore in year 2002, Raoul is undoubtedly one of the fastest-growing fashion brands in Asia. Introduced as a men’s shirt brand, it quickly made a name for itself in the competitive menswear scene with boutiques mushrooming across the region. The brand quickly evolved to include a womenswear line in 2005 along with an impressive collection of leather goods and accessories.

RAOUL Ladies, is a fashion-forward label for the multi-tasking, trendy and confident women of today. RAOUL Accessories has a dazzling multitude of quality leather bags, shoes, belts and small leather goods.

A home-grown brand that has grown from a single store five years ago to a current count of 47 stores spanning Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Dubai and Bahrain.

Where to find Raoul in Singapore:

• PARAGON SHOPPING CENTRE, LADIES’, 290 Orchard Road, #02-12 ACCESSORIES, , #02-49
• RAFFLES CITY SHOPPING CENTRE, MEN’S & LADIES’, 252 North Bridge Road, #01-13

• SUNTEC CITY MALL, MEN’S & LADIES’ , 3 Temasek Boulevard, #01-22/24

• HITACHI TOWERS, MEN’S & LADIES’, 16 Collyer Quay, #01-11/12

• CHANGI AIRPORT, MEN’S & LADIES’, Singapore Changi Airport, #026-107-01, Terminal 2 Departure Hall

Interested In Becoming A Colour Consultant?

Nutri-Style is well recognised in Singapore as a leader in colour & style services. Employing the reputable Color Me A Season colour system, Nutri-style teaches people how to find the colours that suit them best and bring out their natural beauty. Nutri-style offers Colour Consulting Training to aspiring colour & image consultants.

For course detail and contents , click here: Colour Consultant Training

Next Colour Consulting Training Course

18th May 09 - 19th Jun 2009

(Every Mon & Fri 9.30am -12.30pm)

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