Bliss, Passion & Lioness

Love the skin you're in

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 14:25:00 GMT

Tips for more self-love and body confidence

Love the skin you're in

February is the month of love. And, what better way to celebrate love than to talk about self-love? Whether you're attached or single, loving yourself should be a non-negotiable. But it's not as simple as that, is it. I think every woman I know or client I've worked with has some sort of hang-up about themselves. For some it's small and others it is massive. I'm no stranger to a hang up or twenty and over the years, I'd say they've evolved and changed as I've done healing work, or entered a new phase in my life. Your self-love can change and adapt, it can grow and shrink and you can change it.

Five ways to build confidence

So how do you love the skin you're in? Well, here are five things you can do to love yourself and build confidence:

List five things you like or love about yourself and pin it somewhere visible or make it your phone wallpaper so you can see it everyday and remind yourself of your amazingness.
Wear an outfit that you'd normally save for "best" at least one day this month, even if you're at home. Take time to connect to how it makes you feel. You can have this feeling every day when you wear what you love.
This one is a biggie, and can be tough. Take all your clothes off and look at yourself in the mirror and say "I love you". This may bring up a heap of emotion and you might find a lot of resistance to it. If you want to start small, stay dressed and say it. Work up to fully embracing all your gorgeousness.
Write down 3 words or phrases that describe your signature style or how you'd like to feel in your clothes and stick in on the inside of your wardrobe or next to where you get dressed so you can check in every day as to whether your outfit is on brand or making you feel how you want.
Edit your wardrobe and remove anything that doesn't fit, you don't wear or isn't you any more. Clearing physical space will also create emotional space for you to move forward with our style, and build confidence.

You got this

When you spend time building your confidence and loving yourself has a much bigger impact on your life that just the clothes you wear. I'm not going to sugar coat it - some of this is difficult, but it is really worth it. And you are worth spending the time on it. Figuring out your signature style can be great fun and really creative. And using your colours and body shape can be useful frameworks to help you get started and try new or different things.

Help when you need it

Engaging the services of a personal stylist / image consultant / body & style consultant is something to consider to help you get the signature style or wardrobe or life you want. It's like paying for a personal trainer or fitness classes or weight management classes. And a big act of self-care showing that you matter to yourself. Like investments in other areas of personal and physical development, stylists will help you achieve your goals quicker and likely save you money in the long run.

A final thought on self-love before I go. In 2021, (and recently divorced and single) I did 'self-love February' where I did one act of self-love a day and I posted on Insta. Things I did ranged from taking a proper lunch break to reading a book to gifting flowers to my mum to meditating and writing gratitude lists to just having a shower and getting dressed with care. It made me realise that acts of self-care and self-love don't need to be big, but it can be taking pleasure in the little things. Just stopping to ask myself what was one thing I could do that day so show myself that I am important was a revelation. And it really helped me at a time when I felt alone.

Hope this helps you stop and think about how you can build self-love and confidence. You matter, you amazing person!

Much love,

Shoulder pads - not just an 80s fad!

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 16:41:39 GMT

Could this cheap and easy style tip be your new bff?

Are you sure, Gail.... Shoulder Pads?

The shoulder pad has had a bit of a bad reputation as an 80s throwback. But it could be your new best friend. There are lost of tops and jackets about just now that have shoulder pads in them.

But you can buy then standalone to add into anything you want or to boost what is already there!

Create a new silhouette

Shoulder pads are the solution to many body problems that we all encounter because they create shape. Nowadays, you can get shoulder pads in different styles and shapes so they work for your shape and your style.

Shoulder pads can do the following:

Make you look slimmer - by strengthening the shoulder line you balance out any lower body fullness. *Great if you're a triangle or pear shaped goddess.
Broaden narrow shoulders or straighten sloping shoulders – play around with size and shape of the shoulder pad so you find one that creates a balanced (or hourglass) silhouette. This can also make you look like you’ve got excellent posture!
If you’d like to look shorter, use a bigger shoulder pad to create a strong horizontal line across the shoulder. Creating horizontal lines stops the eye going up and down (which would emphasis your height).
If you’re seeking to look bigger, add shoulder pads to your layers or bulky fabrics to look more shapely or heavier.
Make your arms look longer.
Create a signature style - it's all about the shoulders!

Have fun with it

Moreover, with removable ones, you can play around with them in your clothes and see how you can change the look of something just by adding the shoulder pads – suddenly feels like you have a lot more looks available from the same number of clothes!

When does it NOT work?

If you're blessed with a strong shoulder, shoulder pads may not be for you as it will make your shoulders look broader. If that's what you're going for, then work it!

You can still use a small pad to balance out any sloping shoulders though.

Where to buy

You can buy shoulder pads at most haberdasheries or search online. Also, https://www.johnlewis.com/search?search-term=shoulder%20pads has a great range. Remember to look for how they will fasten to the garment, your skin or your bra.

You can also check out my video on TikTok showing you the pads and talking this through, as well as other video blogs - https://www.tiktok.com/@gailjchisholm

Until next time friends. Let me know if you tried this out, if it helped and how it made you feel.

What do I know anyway?!

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 11:11:31 GMT

It's been one heck of a journey, but I'm still here and excited to tell you a bit about me and what I am passionate about.

Well hello there.

I'm Gail.

Although if you're here, you probably already know that.

I had a blog a while ago when I had my womenswear boutique and I loved sharing tip and observations or latest trends to help my clients. I do share some content over on my socials and TikTok, but I've recently re-discovered my joy of writing. So, I thought I'd figure out the tech on this website platform and get the blog up and running again.

My business

So I have two pillars or sides to my business. Firstly, I'm a body and style consultant and I help people find their body bliss. I'm particularly focused on helping people after life changing events and even more specifically, those who have or have had cancer. Having been through it myself I understand what it's like and have real experience of what it's like to get your body and style confidence back.

The second pillar to my business is that I'm a celebrant. This is a recent addition since finishing my training in December 2023. I felt called to work in the space after my cancer experience - it made me comfortable with death and also made me realise how we don't talk about it or that it can be scary. So I want to de-mystify some of this, but also bring people's story to life in eulogies. Now, I am a MASSIVE romantic and all for love (even though I'm divorced and had ups and downs dating) so I wanted some ying to the yang of funerals, so I am also a wedding celebrant. I can legally marry couples in Scotland. Honestly, curating ceremonies is a magical experience, listening to people and learning about them, their loved ones and all the experiences that make them unique.

I'll share more on these over time. I've now written and led 3 funerals. Massively nerve-wracking initially, but unbelievably rewarding.

Why these?

I have always had an interest in fashion, styling, individuality in this space. And, I've experienced judgement and confidence knocks. I have hidden away and spent a long time working on my own confidence and style. I'm passionate about helping people present themselves to the world in a way that is truly a reflection of who they are. I also love how our style or image can be creative and fun. And, when we step out into the world in a confident, self-loving place, people shine and give off an amazing blissful energy. I want everyone to be able to be in that place, including myself.

But, it's not easy, as I know.

Becoming a celebrant was a natural progression for me because I am a big believer in using rituals or ceremonies to mark occasions (big and small) in our lives.

To some people it may seem odd having these different strands to my business but to me they are linked - I am supporting people through change and creating a space where they are seen and heard. And, I use ceremony and rituals working with my Body Bliss clients to celebrate what they have achieved.

Bliss, Passion & Lioness

Bliss, passion and lioness are my core feelings or my north star - I want to feel like this in all areas of my life. I've used these for years to set my goals from and they have supported me through career changes, taking leaps of faith, divorce, cancer, moving home, boundary setting and trying new hobbies. I want to help people feel this way as well. I'll share a bit more about where these come from and how you can figure out your core feelings or values to help you make decisions in your life.

Thanks for stopping by. Please do email or message me if you've any questions or things you'd like more information on. 2024 is also about feeling empowered, connection and celebrated for me, you and all of us. So let's connect :)

Much love

Bliss, Passion & Lioness

Love the skin you're in

Tips for more self-love and body confidence

Shoulder pads - not just an 80s fad!

Could this cheap and easy style tip be your new bff?

What do I know anyway?!

It's been one heck of a journey, but I'm still here and excited to tell you a bit about me and what I am passionate about. ﻿

It's been one heck of a journey, but I'm still here and excited to tell you a bit about me and what I am passionate about.