4 Jewelry Tips to Make You Look Younger

No, de-aging jewelry is not a pierced belly button ring or a nose stud. That looks like you’re trying too hard. It’s certainly not a watch since everyone now checks the time on their phone. Your everyday jewelry at 50 is probably a mash-up of real and fake selected by habit, emotional memories or a random just-throw-it-on attitude.   Time for a rethink. I know you’re picky about everything from wrinkle cream to heels that won’t kill your feet so why not apply that gutsy attitude to your jewelry.  Nothing personalizes or de-ages a wardrobe faster than jewelry. Three big swaps to make now:


SHORT STATEMENT NECKLACES INSTEAD OF LONG  ONES.  A chunky collarbone necklace lights up your complexion and brings sparkle back to your eyes- especially in mixes of pearls, beads and stones that reflect light. A bib that starts at the collarbone and goes to mid-chest can even disguise sun-damage and crepe-y skin. If you have a big or saggy chest, a short chunky necklace (+ a good bra ) can refocus  attention up and away. Longer necklaces that dangle over the cliff of your boobs  are no help- even your mother’s pearls or a “find” you brought back from Thailand. Keep amulets and charms no longer than mid-chest and loop those long necklaces lariat style like you do with long scarves ( check that Diana Vreeland photo for a how-to).
STUDS AND LIGHT HOOPS INSTEAD OF HEAVY DROPS AND CHANDELIERS. If you’ve been a fan of big earrings by now your piercings are stretched and elongated- a dangerous and aging look especially when combined with droopy lobes ( Did you know that your earlobes and noses keep growing forever? As you get older they just get bigger! ). Get your piercings sewn up by a cosmetic surgeon and re-pierce when all is healed. Even Oprah got her ears pierced ( first time) at 50 so it’s not a big deal. Studs are light and are a hot trend again- everyone from Tory Burch to Marc Jacobs are doing them but you can find low-cost ones for under $20 everywhere. Sparkly slim hoops are another option that looks youthful especially if your hair is long, you smooth it behind your ears or wear a ponytail.

 

STACKED BRACELETS AND RINGS INSTEAD OF SINGLES. Stacks of matching, similar or totally mis-matched rings and bracelets add personality and a contemporary look to your hands and wrists. They make trendy polish look cooler than ever and power up tees,  fitted sweaters and 3/4 sleeve jackets. Wear stacked bracelets on both wrists for major impact. Don’t hesitate to mix your “good” bangles with rubber “cause” bracelets, chains with jewel-studded cuffs- the combo brings out your individuality and charisma even if you’re wearing a basic black tee and cropped pants. When it comes to rings, anything goes. Add skinny bands plain or fancy to your engagement, wedding and eternity bands for an update. Slip major cocktail rings on any finger you like ( see Oprah’s photo above for glam inspiration).  I love baublebar.com for inexpensive finds and sophisticated rings from Kenneth Jay Lane and Oscar de la Renta . Check out these: Kenneth Jay Lane enameled 18 -karat gold and cubic zirconia ring ( $120, net-a-porter.com) and Oscar de la Renta two cabochon ring, Amazoni-rose ( $ 195, saksfifthavenue.com).
Use it or lose it goes for jewelry too !
For more de-aging tips and wardrobe revitalizing tricks check my new fashion book The Wardrobe Wakeup, Your Guide to Looking Fabulous at Any Age by Lois Joy Johnson ( $ 13.88, amazon.com).
Photo credits :
Oprah Winfrey : fashionista.com
Diana Vreeland: dianavreeland.com
Vera Wang : stylebistro.com
Jodie Foster : tvguide.com
Kenneth Jay Lane ring : saksfifthavenue.com

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Business First Impression Consulting Services

Please let us know, if you or your employees would like to receive one-on-one coaching from Patti. Patti also offers customized training in body language, first impressions, customer service, sales, and or presentation skills. She also offers a comprehensive consulting evaluation of your businesses’ first impression including your employee’s nonverbal behavior.

Business First Impression Consulting Services
·         Do you want to know what kind of first impression your business gives to your customers/clients?
·         Would it be helpful to have a fresh pair of eyes and the keen observations skills of a body language and first impression consultant look at your business?
·         When someone calls in or walks into your business how do they feel and what do they think?
·         Would it be helpful to know what you’re doing well and what and how to improve your customer service and first impression interactions?
·         Patti works with large and small businesses, hospitals, hotels and restaurants to improve their businesses.
·         There are several types 0f consulting available.
·         Observation and one-on-one coaching on you and your communication skills.
·         Observation and data collection of your business or businesses.
·         One-on-one feedback on your business.
·         Recommendations for training and changes.
·         Design for employee training.
·         Deliver of employee training.

You may be familiar with secret shoppers or had someone shadow your sales staff or listen in on your front desk or customer service representatives. Patti does all this and more and offers an in-depth evaluation of all your businesses first contacts. She follows up with one-on-one coaching, a log of all the data she taken about your business and evaluation and recommendation sheet and can also offer customized training based on her observations and data collection.

If you would like to learn more specifics about Business First Impression Consulting information, please feel free to call Patti or visit her website at www.pattiwood.net.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

How to use Charisma to persuade and hold attention. A Walt Disney Body Language Trick

Walt Disney was “the great convincer” in the words of his marketing director, Card Walker. He liked to exercise his famous eye-lock technique in which he caught his victim’s face and held it tight. If he or she turned away, Disney would say, “What’s the matter, aren’t you interested.” Pamela (Author of Mary Poppins) was his match. She called him “Mr. Disney” and did not turn away during their long talk in Burbank that April working on Mary Poppins.  This is a quote from a book I just finished reading “Mary Poppins, She Wrote –the life of P.L. Travers” by Valerie Lawson. Interesting as I say in my workshops on body language laser focus eye contact is a body language technique used by highly charismatic people. 

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

What is the worst thing that ever happened in your life that led to one of the best things that happened in your life?

My answer to a great conversation starting question.

A media source asked me what was the best personal and business thing I learned from the worst thing I experienced in my life. Here is the answer.

Worst thing. When I was 28 I was teaching body language at Florida State, had a business as a professional speaker and working full time on my Doctorate when my best friend, my twin soul, Roy Moyer told me he was dying from AIDS. We were both devastated.

Roy who had so much to give was dying very slowly and painfully and I wanted to move from my home in Tallahassee Florida to Atlanta to be with him.

I sold almost everything I owned down to the bare walls and moved to a little fourth floor walkup and spent a little less than a year with him before he died.

It was horrible and humbling but I learned so much about love and friendship. One of the best things I learned is to try to say and show my friends and family that I care for them.

I also learned things that served me well in my business specifically about first impressions that led to me writing a book. That learning included time I spent in hospitals with Roy.  I write and speak on body language, first impressions and patient care.   I also went from owning a business to working as a temp secretary that year and learned a lot about how offices work, specifically the front desk and how unsupportive women can be to other women at lower levels which has led to my speaking on first impressions as well as women and leadership.

The best business thing that happened is that I moved to Atlanta and my business took off.

Roy was an amazing person and we had always been there for each other but when you have so little time you learn that each conversation is gift.

The best thing I learned or more correctly must continue to learn is that I need to be present with those you love.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.