FITTED FOR FEBRUARY

 

 

Unlike Marie Claire’s target market some women don’t have $149 to spend on a Splendid white shirt for work or even want to ‘groom for success’ with a $280 Mason Pearson hair brush – both of which are recommended purchases in Marie Claire this month.

Some women trying to get into the work force don’t own the ‘wardrobe essentials’ needed to walk confidently into a job interview. That’s where the amazing non-for-profit organisation Fitted for Work comes in.

Working alongside job agencies in New South Wales and Victoria, Fitted for Work helps dress women for interviews. With assistance from volunteer stylists, the women try on and select outfits from a wide range of high quality second hand clothing donations and walk away, ready to walk into a job interview.

I think this is such an amazing, important organisation, where people’s time and money is well spent.

Fritted for work doesn’t just take clothing but money donations too. If you have an old, ill-fitting suit, or a beautiful blouse that you love but never wear, then help a sister out, Fitted for Work is the perfect place to donate.

You can donate here... www.givenow.com.au/fittedforwork

AM

THE SECRET TO FEBRUARY SUCCESS

February’s issues had a successful career theme,

- Closet Confidential was five pages dedicated to fashion’s hottest bloggers.

- Transformers showcased 10 different women who are “raising the bar in female achievement”

- Lead from Where You Are, a heap of advice on how to be a leader.

- Power Dressers, profiled thirteen of Australia’s busiest women on how they tailor their clothes to their careers

- Groomed for Success, style tips from successful women.

- Office Romance, a look into the two different beautiful officers.

- Give You Finances a Face Lift, tips on how to take control of your money matters.

- It’s All in a Day’s Work, followed the 9 to 5 workday of an artist relations manager, paediatric trainee and a womenswear manager.

- Woman of Influence, the Telstra business women’s award.

This issue is the exact reason why women’s refuges don’t accept women’s magazines. It either could be taken as inspiring and motivational or depressing and demoralising, a double edged sword. It did make me wonder about ‘inspiration’, where we get it and who we get it from?

I realised this month that I’m an inspirational fridge’a. I collect pictures and quotes (usually cut out of newspapers and magazines) and stick them on my fridge. In my last house, my flat mate and I covered our fridge doors until they disappeared under a collage of entertaining cut-outs and butterfly magnets.
 
And the house I’m in now, the fridge theme, ‘the summer of love’

I believe collecting images that spark a thought, that’s positive or amusing, should be kept. Positive affirmations, stick them on the fridge, that’s my advice. The other thing I do is arrange the most creatively inspiring images on my bedroom wall, or stick them down on cardboard.

I found the article on Office Romance inspiring and Holly Garber in Power Dressers, but for me, that was about it. So I went through February's issue of Marie Claire, cover to cover and every time I thought ‘that’s inspiring’, I cut it out. I had quotes like “are you ready to jump out of bed and have a spring in your step?” and “celebrate today.” I cut out images of fruit, girls with amazing eyeliner and books. I had a stack of images, quotes and colours. Then I arranged the best together to create something that is personally inspiring – an inspiration board.

So before you throw out your magazine, flick back through, and cut out and keep the images you find inspirational.


AM

JANUARY WALKERS

This January I went to visit my Nan, at 75 years old she opens her house and her arms to my big family at least twice a year.

I took my January issue of Maire Claire with me and it got Nanna’ed (a term my family uses to refer to something that goes missing) I assume it’s in the stack of magazines that sits on her coffee table and I only hope she gets some use out of it.

My Nanna lost her partner, my Pop, some 18 years ago and has lived alone ever since in a small town, where the main attraction is fishing.

My Nanna, as so many other women of her generation in Australia, was married young and dedicated all her time to three children and her husband. The all of a sudden her children were grown, with lives of their own and her husband in an urn beside her bed. She was alone for the first time in her life and she slipped into depression, guarded, nervous, scared and sad.

She kept to herself, and would walk alone, and after several years of walking past the same fisherman, one of them approached her insisting she should join his wife’s walkers group. I can only imagine my Nan’s embarrassment, as she absolutely refused.

Weeks went by and Bob the fisherman kept persisting, one day telling Nan if she didn’t show up to walkers the next morning his wife Betty would come collect her from her house. Mortified Nanna was pushed to the edge of her comfort zone, something that scared her more than someone she didn’t know was someone she didn’t know coming to her home.

I imagine my Nan, in her early sixties, brushing her short, curly, grey hair and apply her light pink lippy. Lacing up her trainers and feeling ill with nerves as she walked herself to the local walkers group. She was naturally such a shy person, when anyone tried talking with her she would blush red. She must have just wanted to turn around, go home and close her front door. But she didn’t turn around and the several steps she walked that day with the other seniors in her town helped her take a giant step forward.

Fast forward seven or so years and I was sitting next to my Nanna on the little bus that the walkers had hired for their monthly excursion, we walked around a lake in some random town, ate at a boiling club and visited a chocolate factory, my Nanna laughing and chatting with the other ladies all day.

Today, the walkers meet up once a week, Nanna and Betty still walk every day. Poor Bob the fisherman has since passed away but thanks to him my little Nanna came right out of her shell. I would now describe my Nan as a woman who’s independent, capable, and strong.

I’m so glad my Nanna found her local walkers club.

The Heart Foundations walkers groups are Australia’s largest network of free, local walkers groups, including groups for over 50’s. The Heart foundation website has a page for people wanting to find a walkers group in your local area. Walkers groups are a healthy and amazing activity for women. Community and socialising is an important part of life no matter how old and walking is a great way for seniors to get active. heartfoundation.org.au