‘Hermes at Work’ Exhibition: Artisans Share their Talents and Skills

Hermes is a family run business spanning 5 generations. The brand is synonymous with luxury and quality workmanship. The ‘Hermes at Work’ exhibition at Melbourne Town Hall was a feast for the eyes. Artisans offered us a rare and privileged look into how each items is made.

Is was a wonderful interactive experience. Each skilled crafts-person explained and demonstrated how they transform materials such as leather, silk, precious gems and ceramics into stunning handbags, gloves, scarves, watches, jewellery, saddles and finely painted porcelain. One of the highlights was looking through the jeweller’s 15x magnifying glass at the piece he was working on; a Galop Hermes bracelet featuring 2,500 plus diamonds – dazzling!

It was a fascinating world to experience. one which requires incredible skill, time, patience, an eye for detail and a passion for excellence.

‘Hermes at Work’ is at Melbourne Town Hall until 17 March (closed 12 March). If you’re in the CBD it is definitely worth a visit.

The Leatherworker

Making the handle of a ‘Kelly’ bag

Picking up the main bag section

The Tie-Maker

Hand stitching a silk twill tie

Sewing a single thread slip stitch

The Glover

Softened leather to be transformed into gloves

Rainbow of colours to be made into gloves

The Silk Printer

The ‘flat frame’ silk printing technique

Man uses 'flat frame' silk printing technique

The Porcelain Painter

Hand painted porcelain plates

The artisan uses a fine sable-hair brush to paint the plate

Ann Vodicka is a Sydney based image consultant who is passionate about style and design. She believes you can be stylish at any age, and loves helping people dress to express their individuality, and, to dress for success.

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By icadmin

March 09, 2018

In HomePage-Blog, Reviews

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Stylish Comfortable Shoes for Women

Let’s face facts ladies. There comes a time in every woman’s life when putting up with uncomfortable shoes is NOT an option. You’ve limped, laboured and languished for decades with sore, blistered feet. Corns and bunions abound, and the stilettos hiding in the back of your wardrobe are covered in a thick layer of dust.

We lead busy lives: have places to go and people to meet. There’s absolutely no time for sore, aching feet!

But, thankfully, there are plenty of stylish, comfortable shoes for women. It’s easy to find shoes that look current and modern, not nanna or frumpy.

I’ve photographed some of my favourite comfy shoes to show you the variety on offer. Keep in mind these may not be your preference of colour or style, but it’s the type of shoe or heel that’s important.

Ann’s version of stylish comfortable shoes for women

Block heels (stable and sturdy, have equal width from top to bottom, can be high, low or somewhere in-between) … and an ankle strap makes it more secure and comfortable to walk in.

Kitten heels and sling backs – it doesn’t have to be the combination of the two, but the combination does speak of elegance and sophistication. Kitten heels are comfortable to wear all day or all night, and are perfect for both casual and formal occasions. Sling backs give you support around the back of your heels.

Wedges: mini and higher heel (great if you want to add height and the full sole makes them easy to walk in)

Lace-up sandals

Fun, colourful sneakers

Ballet flats (buy some with interesting detail like the tassels and perforated suede)

elegant flats (in a neutral or your best metallic)

T-bar – the straps give you loads of support and you can get away with a higher heel. Mary-Jane styles that feature a strap or two across the instep will also keep your feet firmly secured in the shoe.

Enclosed and high vamp (a more closed in shoe that covers the foot)

Walking shoes that are not runners (I wore these light weight Ecco walking shoes nearly every day during a 4 week trip to Spain) Other brands include: Merrell and Vivobarefoot.

Boots : Whether long or ankle, low, medium or high heeled, boots give maximum support to the whole/entire foot. Comfort factor = high.

So, the moral of the story is … There are plenty of stylish comfortable shoes for women so you can look fashionable and not suffer in the process. What a relief to know that you can have the best of both worlds: style and comfort = win/win!

Ann Vodicka is the principle style coach at Image Confidence. She helps women and men dress for success. For more information regarding the style experiences she offers visit the Home page of her website.

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By Ann Vodicka

February 11, 2018

In HomePage-Blog, Style

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Discover Your Colours

In this article, you’ll learn how to discover your colours so that you look and feel fabulous every day.

Did you make a New Year’s Resolution to transform your look and feel amazing this year? A great place to start is to wear colours that suit you.

Have you noticed that every time you wear a particular piece of clothing people compliment you on how beautiful you look or how well you look? These compliments give you a lift, don’t they? You feel your self-confidence surge and it puts you in a great mood.

Wouldn’t you love to feel that way all the time?

What is it about that garment that attracts these compliments? It could be that the colour is working for you. Dressing in colours that compliment your skin, hair and eye tones creates a naturally harmonious look. People respond positively to this harmony at a subconscious level and it helps to shape their impressions of you in a positive way both socially and professionally.

So how do you know which colours suit you best? Here are 3 simple questions you can ask yourself that will help guide you to discover your colours. They are some of the questions I use when determining a client’s colour palette during a personal colour analysis consultation. Knowing your best colours puts an end to buying and wearing colours that are unflattering on you. Say “good-bye” to the days of spending money on clothes you never or hardly ever wear and living with the ‘I have a wardrobe full of clothes but nothing to wear’ syndrome.

Ask yourself these questions:

Does this colour overwhelm me? Do I see the colour rather than me? Colours that suit you best will blend with your complexion, and give you a natural glow.

Does the colour make my skin look ruddy, yellow or pale? Look at how the colour affects your skin. If you look unwell or the lines on your face look deeper or the bags under your eyes look darker, best leave it.

Does the colour enhance my eyes? If it’s ‘right’ your eyes will sparkle. If it’s ‘wrong’ they’ll look dull.

For most people colour perception is a learned skill. You can learn it too by using the questions. The more you practice the better you get.

If you find it difficult to see how different colours affect your skin tone, an easy way to find out your best colours is to have a personal colour analysis with a professional colour consultant. The consultant is a colour expert and will be able to determine, (with a technique called draping*), which hues suit you. *Different coloured fabrics are held under your chin. The colours reflect onto your face. Your best colours will have you looking radiant, healthy and energised.

If you would like to know your best colour palette, why not gift yourself a face to face or virtual colour consultation?

We also run Personal Colour Analysis Workshops. These fun, 3-4 hour, small group (max. 4) workshops help you discover your colours and how to successfully combine them. You’ll receive a complimentary colour swatch of your colours and a detailed information booklet to take home. Use your colour swatch, (a purse size ‘fan-deck’ of your best colours), to determine if the clothes, accessories, glasses, jewellery, make up and your hair colour are right for you. Having a personal colour analysis is an investment in you 🙂

Discover Your Colours using colour swatches

Discover Your Colours: Use your swatch as a colour guide when shopping for clothes, shoes, handbags, accessories, make up and when choosing your hair colour.

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By Ann Vodicka

January 10, 2018

In Colour, HomePage-Blog

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Happy New Year!

Well, 2018 has arrived! I hope your Christmas and New Year was filled with happiness and fun, and shared with people you love.

I also hope that amongst all the rush and chaos that is ‘the festive season’ you’ve had a moment to slow down and contemplate what you’d like to do and perhaps achieve this year.

I’m feeling very motivated and optimistic about my plans! In January and February (in-between running workshops and spending time with clients) I’ll be working towards attaining my global certification with AICI (The international organisation for image consultants). I love learning, so I’m keen to broaden my knowledge and gain new insights into all things image related. I’ll be sure to share some of that info with you :-). Lastly, I’m expanding the ‘Shop Your Own Wardrobe’ workshops and introducing ‘Colour Your Life’ (personal colour analysis) workshops – all of which will keep me ‘off the streets and out of trouble’!

Last year, many of you emailed me to let me know you were interested in coming along to future workshops. So I’m very excited to let you know that I’ll be running 3 x ‘Shop Your Own Wardrobe’ workshops and 4 x ‘Colour Your Life’ workshops in the first half of 2018. I know how busy life gets, so I thought it would be best to give you the heads-up about dates, times and locations of the workshops as soon as possible.

‘Shop Your Own Wardrobe’ Workshop:

If you’re ready to let go of items that have been clogging up your wardrobe, are keen on saving yourself time and money, and want to own less clothes but have more outfit options this workshop is for you.

‘Shop Your Own Wardrobe’ Workshop:

Date/time: Saturday, 17th February, 10am to 1pm, Norman Selfe Room Level 3

Date/time: Saturday, 7th April, 10am to 1pm, Carmichael Room Level 1

Date/time: Saturday, 2nd June, 10am to 1pm, Carmichael Room Level 1

Place: Sydney Mechanics School of Arts – 280 Pitt Street, Sydney

Morning refreshments included

Group size: 12

NOTE: Please bring a piece of clothing that you haven’t worn in over 2 years.

Here’s what Kim said about my last workshop;

“…A very informative workshop which offered practical advice on decluttering your wardrobe, creating a capsule wardrobe and taking 13 garments and turning them into 64 outfits. WOW! Ann’s infectious sense of humour made for a fun evening. If you are thinking of revamping your wardrobe or feel your wardrobe is in a rut then talk to Ann.”

Investment: $149.75

Tickets available through Eventbrite or contact me on ann@imageconfidence.com.au to secure your place.

‘Colour Your Life’ Workshop:

Do you want to transform your look and feel fabulous in 2018?

The quickest and easiest way to improve your appearance and give your self-confidence a boost is to wear colours that harmonise with your complexion, hair and eye colouring.

A personal colour analysis will help you discover the colours that give you a younger, more vibrant and healthier look without even trying!

Absolutely everybody can benefit from wearing colours that suit them.

Join us for an enlightening ‘Colour Your Life’ workshop. These small group personal colour analysis sessions are a fun and economical way to discover your best colours – the colours that enhance and illuminate you. In just three hours you’ll discover your own personal colour palette and how to use it. Shopping for clothes, accessories, shoes, makeup and even glasses will be easy and effective when you know which colours to look for. You will also receive your complimentary personal colour swatch (purse sized colour sample cards) and detailed colour information booklet to take home.

Start creating the new, confident and outstanding you by wearing colours that make you shine!

Group size: 6

Colour Your Life’ Workshop:

Date/time: Monday, 5th February, 10am to 1pm

Date/time: Saturday, 24th February, 10am to 1pm

Date/time: Thursday, 19th April, 10am to 1pm

Date/time: Thursday, 17th May, 10am to 1pm

Place: 69 Allen Street, Leichhardt

Morning refreshments included

Investment: $230.49

Tickets available through Eventbrite or contact me on ann@imageconfidence.com.au to secure your place.

Start the new year by investing in you. Let 2018 be the year you make exciting, positive changes to your appearance and your wardrobe.

Warmly,

Ann

P.S. Watch your inbox for this month’s blog, ‘Improve Your Image With COLOUR’. I’ll be emailing it to you soon.

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By icadmin

January 01, 2018

In HomePage-Blog

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1 Top 3 Ways

How often do you wear the same outfit over and over again without seeing the full potential of each piece of clothing?

Sometimes it’s hard to see past our favourite combinations: we get stuck wearing the same things the same way. ‘1 Top 3 Ways’ is about rethinking how you mix and match your clothes. It’s also about getting creative with what’s in your wardrobe. By styling a garment in different ways you’ll make it more versatile and in the process create new outfits.

In the collections below I’ve used 1 top to create 3 outfits that could take you from day to night and casual to dressy.

Think of 3 different occasions where you could wear one of your tops and start playing!

Tip: Accessories are an inexpensive way to change the look of an outfit.

1 shirt 3 ways: Deep blue shirt with shorts, red pants and black pants.

1 shirt 3 ways for men by imageconfidence29 featuring a men’s apparel

Cool, Blue and Summery by imageconfidence29 featuring baseball caps

If you’d like help creating stylish outfits from the clothes you already own, contact me for a fun and enlightening Wardrobe Revival session.

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By Ann Vodicka

December 02, 2017

In HomePage-Blog, Style

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Shop Your Wardrobe Workshop

surprised girl in pink, looking up, with open hand

Let’s make yours an uncluttered, uncomplicated wardrobe: Let’s Shop Your Wardrobe

Join us for a fun and informative two hours exploring the creative ways you can Shop Your Wardrobe. Do you have a wardrobe full of clothes but have nothing to wear? Do you have clothes you never or hardly ever wear? This workshop will show you how to get the best use from the clothes, shoes and accessories you already own. Learn clever ways to simplify your life by simplifying your wardrobe. See how to group items together to create an abundance of fabulous fuss-free outfits.

Life is busy. Getting dressed needs to be quick and easy.

Imagine….

– Saving time and energy every morning by not labouring over what you’re going to wear.

– Free your mind and space from wardrobe overload.

– Look stylish and love what you wear every day.

– Have more time to do the things you love to do rather than spending it clothes shopping.

– Own less clothes but have more outfit options.

– Have a fully functional wardrobe with less expense.

It’s all achievable!

This workshop is perfect for anyone interested in living a more organised and uncluttered life, and for those of you yearning for a more functional, versatile wardrobe.

Strictly limited places.

Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and nibbles on arrival.

Tickets: $42.50 Available at Eventbrite

See more information about Ann

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By Ann Vodicka

November 14, 2017

In HomePage-Blog

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Australia and The House of Dior 70 years on

The National Gallery of Victoria’s ‘The House of Dior – Seventy Years of Haute Couture’ is in its final week. It is a phenomenal exhibition featuring over 140 exquisite garments and accessories designed by The House of Dior’s seven creative directors.

If you missed this feast of haute couture or would like to ‘re-visit’ the exhibition one more time, I’ve compiled a small collection of my photos below.

A Little History

Based at 30 Avenue Montaigne Paris, Christian Dior released his first couture collection in 1947. Dubbed the ‘New Look’ collection, it would change women’s fashion forever. Gone were the utilitarian styles of wartime. In its place: tiny waists, soft shoulder lines and fairytale-like long, full skirts.

The Australian connection began in the following year. David Jones paraded fifty of Dior’s original designs at their Sydney city store as part of their ‘French Fashion for All’ promotion. This was the first time outfits from Dior’s inaugural haute couture collection were viewed outside Paris. Australian women loved it! They eagerly embraced his designs and their adaptations.

And, judging by the lengthy queues and hordes of people viewing the exhibition the day I visited, Australian’s adoration for French high fashion and Christian Dior Couture lives on.

Christian Dior (Creative Director 1946-57)

: Where it all started: Christian Dior’s Bar suit, afternoon ensemble 1947

: Many of Dior’s garments were inspired by flowers – Village Party Dress 1955

: Mexico evening gown A/W 1951. Layers & layers of silk tulle, opulent gold thread & a statement velvet bow

Yves Saint Laurent (Creative Director 1957-60)

: Mascarade short evening dress (Left) and Climene dress A/W 1959

: Afternoon and short evening dresses 1960

Marc Bohan (Creative Director 1960-89)

: Slim Look collection S/S 1961

: Silk and linen Evening dress S/S 1983

Gianfranco Ferre (Creative Director 1989-96)

: Disney evening suit and Luna coat dress A/W collection 1989-90

: Divine raspberry silk tulle long evening dress ‘Elixir’, 1996

John Galliano (Creative Director 1996-2011)

: Japanese origami inspired Mimi-san suit and Konnici Kate suit, S/S 2007

: Look 43 coat: Exquisite embroidered satin with feather and beading details

: ‘Theodora’ evening ensemble 1997: Fluid satin with a theatrical bodice and sleeves

Couture from Top to Toe

: Maria Grazia Chiuri footwear S/S collection 2017

: House of Dior Footwear

Raf Simons (Creative Director 2012-15)

: Look 54 dress, 2015 A modern interpretation of the pleats and full skirts in Dior’s S/S collection 1954

: The eternally elegant Look 10 Bar coat. Red cashmere and silk with a metal belt.

: Look 24 ensemble S/S 2015. Man-made fibres meet nature in this polyvinyl and silk combination

Maria Grazia Chiuri (Creative Director 2016- )

: Broussaille evening dress S/S 2017. Tulle, rafia and silk embroidery.

: Black crescent ballgown S/S 2017. Opulent velvet and the luna shape makes for a dramatic focal point.

: Dresses from this year’s Spring/Summer collection (2017)

Ann Vodicka is a personal stylist and image consultant based in Sydney, Australia. She has a passion for fashion and for helping men and women develop greater confidence and a stronger sense of self by dressing to express who they truely are. Her desire is for everyone she works with to look and be the best version of themselves they can be.

Ann is contactable through her website https://www.imageconfidence.com.au

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By Ann Vodicka

October 31, 2017

In HomePage-Blog, Reviews

4 Comments

Wearing Black

Should I be wearing black?

Recently, Emma, (one of my clients), asked me, “Should I be wearing black? I have so many black clothes, but I think they’re making me look old.” It’s a question I hear often.

How would you describe the way your skin looks when you wear black near your face? Is your response something like “washed out”, “pale”, “drained”, or “sick”? If you have light to medium hair or undyed greying hair and a fair to medium complexion or a skin tone with a golden glow you may have noticed that wearing black near your face is ageing and unflattering.

Our eye and hair pigments fade over time, and skin colour changes too. You may find that after many years of feeling happy in black, you now instinctively feel uncomfortable in it.

Despite what the fashion magazines and media say, black does not work with every skin tone and hair colour. Shock! Horror!

Why not test it out for yourself?

You need two pieces of fabric – one black, and the other a colour you love wearing; you know, the colour that people always comment on when you wear it. Place the black fabric over the coloured fabric and hold them under your chin. Look closely at your face. Are the circles under your eyes dark and pronounced? Are the wrinkles more pronounced? Does your skin look sallow? Now drop the black fabric and do the same again. Do you see a difference?

Some ideas/solutions

So, if you feel like you’re in the same boat as Emma, here are my top 5 tips I shared with her to help her achieve a healthier look when wearing black:

Create contrast and distraction by wearing a lighter neutral or colour near your face. This could be a scarf, a statement necklace, colourful earrings, hat or pashmina.

Adding colour to soften black outfits

As your black clothes wear out, replace them with other neutrals that are dark but less harsh, like navy, charcoal and chocolate. Introduce colours that suit your complexion.

If you feel you can’t give up your black tops just yet, wear the ones made from softer, sheerer fabrics with lower necklines so that your skin colour shows more. Lace, mesh and chiffon are good options.

If you have lots of black bottoms (pants and skirts) and black shoes and boots, find patterned tops that have some black or grey in them to link them together.

Patterned tops with black skirt and pants

Accessorise your LBD (little black dress) with gold, silver, rose gold or pearl necklaces to steer eyes away from the heavy, draining black. Knowing if you have a warm or cool skin tone will help you decide which metal or colour of pearl you should wear.

Little black dress with yellow gold accessories

If you would like to discover the colour palette that best suits your complexion, hair and eye tones so that you look fabulous every day and shop for your best colours with confidence – contact ann@imageconfidence.com.au

Your colour guide

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By Ann Vodicka

September 26, 2017

In Colour, HomePage-Blog

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Put the Brakes on Fast Fashion

You’ve probably heard of the term fast fashion. The Oxford dictionary defines it as, “Inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends.” I think it’s fair to say that most of us have bought fast fashion.

In March 2017, ABC’s Lateline program reported that “in Australia alone, more than 500,000 tonnes of textiles and leather end up in landfill each year.” That’s mind blowing!

These days the fashion industry has the ability to manufacture cheap, low quality clothing very quickly. Retailers are introducing new trends every few weeks and this is impacting our buying habits. We’re buying more and more clothes and the flow on effect is that the amount of clothes we’re throwing away is increasing too.

So how do we put the brakes on this fast fashion phenomenon? What can we do to extend the lifespan of our clothes and delay their journey into landfill?

Here are some ideas to get the ball rolling:

Donate to and shop at charity stores. There’s plenty to choose from: Australian Red Cross, Vinnies, Salvos, Anglicare and The Smith Family. I bought this stunning Elie Tahari silk blouse for $28 at my local Red Cross shop…. Bargain!

Saying "no" to fast fashion: my Elie Tahari blouse bought at the Red Cross Shop

Elie Tahari silk blouse from my local Red Cross shop

Sell or buy at recycle/consignment boutiques. I’ve used Recycled Rags Emporium in Sydney to sell some of my near new clothes and shoes that were lying idle in my wardrobe.
Buy and sell online at websites such as Ebay, Gumtree and Facebook’s Marketplace.
Organise swap meets with friends or participate in a local community event. Last Sunday Inner West Council held a clothing swap as part of their Footprints Eco Festival. It was a fantastic initiative and lots of fun.

Say "no" to fast fashion by clothes swapping.

Clothes swap at Eco Festival

What else can I do to put the brakes on Fast Fashion?

Offer or gift items to family and friends (with no offence taken if they don’t want them.)
Buy eco friendly fashion items from businesses that promote ethical and sustainable fashion such as purepod.com.au, theark.com.au (their Travel 17 collection is fantastic), wellmadeclothes.com.au and threadharvest.com.au
Sell at markets and car boot sales. I have sold clothes, shoes, accessories and other bits and pieces at Rozelle markets in Sydney on the occasional weekend. Each time I walked away with a tidy profit of more than $600!
If you buy from fashions brands like H & M, Nike and Patagonia, look into their recycling programs and incentives.
Donate ‘gently used’ professional clothing to your local not for profit organisations that support women and men in their quest for financial independence through employment and upskilling. e.g. Wear for Success in Melbourne (for men and women), and Dress for Success (Women only. Locations around Australia).
Vivienne Westwood said it so well; “Buy less, choose well.” Invest in higher quality items that mix and match with pieces you already own. Not only will they last longer, (that’s the aim of the game), but you’ll get better cost per wear per garment. Every item will earn its keep. Spending money on higher quality fabrics and textiles helps garments retain their shape, colour and surface texture for longer.
Shop your wardrobe. Spend an afternoon reinventing new outfits from the pieces you already own. You’ll probably discover items you forgot were there or find pieces that still have the shop tag on them! Get your creative juices flowing! Breathe new life into the existing contents of your wardrobe.
If you’re handy with a sewing machine or know a quality clothing alterations store you can repair or restyle garments to give them a new lease of life. You could change them to align with current fashion trends or to better fit your figure and proportions. And, if you’re stuck for ideas, Suzannah Hamlin Stanley’s book, ‘DIY Wardrobe Makeovers: Alter, Refresh & Refashion Your Clothes * Step-By-Step Sewing Tutorials’ provides plenty of handy tips and inspiration. Another book worth mentioning is, “The Refashion Handbook: Refit, Redesign, Remake for Everybody.’ by Beth Huntington.
Rent items you’ll only wear once. It’s such an easy, affordable way to stay current and you’ll never be seen wearing the same outfit twice. Rates are very reasonable compared to the cost of a new garment and most suppliers offer next day delivery to capital cities. dressedup.com.au glamcorner.com.au yourcloset.com.au
Lastly, create a capsule wardrobe: a group of clothes that mix and match with each other unified by colour. You’ll need less clothes and have more options because all items work together. It also equates to better cost per wear per item e.g. A $100 for a shirt worn 100 times = $1 each time you wore it.

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By Ann Vodicka

September 03, 2017

In HomePage-Blog, Wardrobe

5 Comments

Frida Kahlo: The Artist’s Fashion Style at La Casa Azul

Frida Kahlo was an outstanding Mexican artist and a remarkable woman. Her paintings vividly illustrate her irrepressible spirit, her life’s loves and its many tragedies. It was her ‘soul-revealing’ paintings that brought Frida world acclaim.

In 2004 the discovery and unveiling of Frida’s wardrobe further enhanced our understanding of her and her fascinating life. The public could see these items for the first time in 50 years. Nowadays some of this collection is on display at the Frida Kahlo Museum (La Casa Azul) in Mexico City.

While I was travelling in Mexico a few months ago the Frida Kahlo Museum was on my ‘must see’ list. It was amazing to view her art and personal belongings displayed in the house she once called home. The colourful clothes, accessories and ornately decorated medical supports really grabbed my attention. These items revealed a part of Frida I knew little about. I gained insights into her fashion style, her expressive personality, her love of her indigenous heritage, and how she dealt with the many physical challenges she faced.

Inside the Frida Kahlo Museum

Full length embroidered skirts showed Frida’s love of traditional Mexican folk dress, and emphasised her love of colour, pattern and texture. They also served another purpose: to hide her thinner, shorter right leg which was the result of contracting polio when she was 6. The physical and psychological setbacks continued when the lower half of that leg was amputated due to gangrene. She showed amazingly resilience and positivity about the loss of her leg and showed this by painting her prosthetic limb vibrant red. The image below shows the dragon motifs that decorated the boot. This quote sums up her optimistic attitude:

“Pies para que los quiero si tengo alas pa’ volar.”

“Who needs feet when I’ve got wings to fly.”

Frida Kahlo traditional Mexican folk dress

Frida Kahlo’s prosthetic limb displayed at La Casa Azul

Art out of tragedy

In 1925 a bus that Frida was travelling in collided with a trolley car. This accident left Frida seriously injured with an array of broken bones and internal wounds. It was while Frida was bedridden healing from these injuries that her life as an artist really began. The plaster casts that she wore after the operations became a canvas for her artistic talents. She beautified the casts by painting them: transforming practical, unattractive moulds into works of art. And, to conceal the bulk of the casts and orthopaedic corsets, Frida wore free flowing, intricately decorated tops and dresses.

Frida adorned herself with ornate necklaces and head dresses too. These accessories drew the eye away from her ailing body up to her radiant face. Even Frida’s famous ‘mono-brow’, seen in her self-portraits and portraits of her by other artists, served to draw attention upwards.

I spent hours walking around the rooms of the Frida Kahlo museum. Here was a woman who successfully used different mediums to express who she was and how she felt. Everything she wore resonated with her identity, beliefs and values, and at the same time accommodated her physical needs. She made her style her own and I greatly admire her for this.

Ann Vodicka is an image consultant who is passionate about helping her clients discover, express and develop their unique sense of style. She is the owner and director of Image Confidence.

For the month of August take up our special offer of $50 off Personal Shopping and Wardrobe Revival Experiences. Ann will make clothes shopping fun and rewarding, and will help you organise and revamp your wardrobe. Email or phone Ann to take advantage of this offer.

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By Ann Vodicka

July 31, 2017

In HomePage-Blog, Reviews

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