Spring Clean Your Wardrobe: Escada 2011

Your Women’s Conference is almost here, or it’s Sunday morning and you don’t have a thing to wear. Right? May I recommend Escada?

This designer label works for our lifestyle. Escada is well known for it’s classy international image. It does color exquisitely and is devoted to detail. Escada has a great sense of what many women of faith desire – femininity and elegance that doesn’t shy away from bright contrasts and striking silhouettes. Escada is the master of bold color and pattern combinations. These combinations can come off completely amatuerish if you do not know the rules of design elements. COVERINGS trusts Escada to show us how it is done.

This spring, the look is “Cool Glamour.” The trendy neutral tones are the perfect base for a shock of color.
This can be done with a brilliant tank, fabulous piece of jewelry or bag. Personally, we like the very clean crisp all over neutral look. There is an innocent freshness about it. This collection is understated chic. It has a more casual edge for women who are dramatic with a more youthful spirit. If you love easy,uncomplicated style then this collection is for you.

Many of the items can be mixed and matched. We like that, because you would definitely choose the white or neutral shirt to go over the one shoulder look for a Sunday service. The duster or jacket would work well, also. Escada shoes, bags and accessories can be interchanged as well. This season, add some of these pieces to spring clean you wardrobe.

Where to buy: www.esdada.com, Saks Fifth Avenue, or find the location nearest you.

Furs, Faith Fasion: An Interview with Evangelist Shirley Wooten

With a 6.5 millon membership, the Church Of God In Christ gathered in St. Louis for the first time, for their 103rd COGIC Holy Convocation.  Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten and First Lady Shirley Wooten of Williams Temple COGIC, were one of three co-hosts at the helm. They have attracted international attention as innovative Christian Leaders for the 21st century. No matter what your denomination, Lady Wooten has a relevant and inspiring message for all Women of Faith.

Coverings: Let’s talk about your style first. Do you have a favorite designer?

Lady Wooten: I don’t really have a favorite designer. I do shop at Macy’s, and there are some boutique’s that I like. I usually look for a bargain when I shop. Even though I like nice clothes, I do not believe in paying $5,000 for a suit when I can look just as good in something of quality that costs much less.  I can use that money to take care of the needy. My favorite makeup brand is Fashion Fair.

Coverings: How have styles of dressing changed for women in the Church of God in Christ over time?

Lady Wooten: In the past women did not wear make-up, earrings or open-toed shoes. Skirts had to be worn down to their ankles.  Some of the older saints still practice that today. But most of us have changed. We do wear make-up, moderately; we wear open-toed shoes, now. There used to be no finger nail polish, in fact there is still no wearing of red or loud nail colors. We wear soft and neutral colors.  So we have changed a lot in terms of fashion and what is permitted.  There was a time when you were considered to be unsaved if you went against those rules, but now that has changed. Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.

Coverings: Have you found that there are more women coming into the denomination now that those changes have occurred? Lady Wooten:  Yes, yes I believe so. At one point, many women felt that the rules were so strict they said, “If I have to give up everything, then I don’t want to be saved.”

Coverings: Is there anything else you would like to say about that?

Lady Wooten: Only that women now are given more liberality as far as ministry is concerned. There was a time when women didn’t really minister. We now have them conducting revivals, when they once were not even allowed in the pulpit. Now that’s changed. There have been a lot of doors opened in terms of ministry in COGIC also.

Coverings: That’s wonderful. When did that happen, ten or twenty years ago?

Lady Wooten: Things are still changing and getting better day by day. In many of the national meetings we have women who minister. For instance, I was blessed with the opportunity to minister as one of the keynote speakers at the COGIC Women’s International Convention. It was held in May 2010 in Los Angeles, California and was attended by an audience of about 25,000 people.

Coverings: Was that the video I saw on YouTube?

Lady Wooten: Yes. And there are also women who are Pastors. They can’t be ordained, but they can be Pastors now.

Coverings: I love it. That is really exciting!

Lady Wooten: Yes.

Coverings: Now, I must ask because women want to know. There are a lot of women Pastors, and women in ministry, who have had some type of cosmetic surgery done. I know that Joyce Meyer was one of the first ones who had something done a few years back. Coverings tried, but could not obtain an interview.

Lady Wooten: Oh really? What was it facial surgery?

Coverings: Yes, she was one of the first ones to have her eyes done. I think it was about ten years back.

Lady Wooten: Oh I didn’t know that.

Coverings: Well, she is talking about it now.  I could tell back then because this is my business, and my eye is very keen. Anything that has to do with beauty and fashion is my business. I am trained that way. The truth is that women frequently consider having cosmetic procedures done, but do not want to offend God. They look to leaders like yourself, to know not only if it is ok to have it done, but also the way in which it can be done.  So, can you tell us a little bit about your views on cosmetic surgery for women? You can talk in general or specifically about women inside the body of Christ.

Lady Wooten: Well, I would not have cosmetic surgery done just because I wanted to change my nose, features or something of that nature. But I have had two knee replacements done. I was born with Ricketts; soft bones and bones that did not develop properly. I was very bow-legged.  About five years ago, the cartilage in both knees completely wore out and the joints were bone-on-bone. My doctor recommended that I have the knee replacements, or in a few years I eventually would not even be able to walk. Therefore, within three months I had both knees replaced in 2009, and made a miraculous recovery.

Coverings: Yes, you sure did. You don’t walk like you had it done. You don’t even look like you ever had knee surgery.

Lady Wooten: And I am not even bow-legged anymore. You know, most people who have [this type surgery] done, have to walk with a cane or a walker, or they are limping. But you saw me in those 4-inch heels yesterday…

Coverings: Yes, I did. I would have never guessed you had that type of surgery done.

Lady Wooten: I made a miraculous recovery from that. But for someone to have surgery just for cosmetic reasons…I wouldn’t recommend it, because of the possible complications,  such as blood clots. They let me fall at the hospital right after the second surgery.

Coverings: What?

Lady Wooten: Yes, with the first surgery my recovery was so rapid, I left the hospital walking without a cane or a walker. With the surgery I had three months later, they let me fall on the very knee where I had just had the surgery. They rushed me to x-ray thinking the knee had totally come apart. Miraculously, everything was fine and I was discharged two days later.  My leg was severely swollen from my hip all the way down to my toes. I was sent home and started therapy. I looked at how large my leg was swollen and thought, “that fall must have really made it bad.”

Later that night, I had a dream that I had died: there were a lot of saints standing around wearing white robes and the voice of the Lord said, “Everyone wearing white robes are going to die but you have a chance to testify before you die.” And in the dream, I was the first one to testify; wearing a white robe. I said, “I thank the Lord for my life and how He blessed me down through the years”…then all of a sudden, I just went on up to heaven. Then I woke up and told my husband, “I dreamed that I died last night.” And he said, “We rebuke that in the name of Jesus.”

In the meantime, this leg was still looking funny, but I said “you can’t die from a knee surgery.”  I called my doctor and was told to go to the emergency room. I thought, well it doesn’t look that bad. But then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Remember that dream you had? Go immediately to the emergency room.” So I went to the ER, and told them what had happened.  They took x-rays and did not find any fractures. One of the nurses came in and said  maybe I had a blood clot. She said they would do a blood test to check for blood clots, but could not use the Doppler machine because it would not be available until much later that evening. After the blood test, the doctor said everything looked good; almost 100% certain that there was not a clot and I could go home and didn’t have to wait for the Doppler machine. Then the Lord reminded me that the doctor said, “almost 100%; remember the dream; don’t go home; wait for the machine tonight at 9:30.”

It was only 4pm then, but I told the doctor I would just stay there and wait for the machine. He said, “But you can go home, you don’t have a clot.” I told him, “well, you said almost 100% and I want to wait for the machine.” He said, “Ok, it’s your choice.” I stayed there until they ran the Doppler studies at 9:30pm. They found a big  blood clot. They immediately put me in an ambulance and rushed me to Christian Northeast Hospital.  They told me, “don’t move, don’t cough, don’t go to the bathroom. This clot is about to break off any minute and could go to your brain, your heart or your lungs and you will be dead.”  The doctor asked, “What made you come?” I said, “Now you’re not going to understand this, but I had a dream that I died and that’s why I came.” He said, “Listen, let me tell you something, if you had not come, your husband would have found you dead in the bed.”

To read the rest of our interview with the powerful Lady Shirley Wooten contact us for the latest issue of Coverings!

Coverings’ Favorite Things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things…

Ok, well maybe not exactly those things. We’re more into shoes that fuse fashion and function, stress induced breakout stoppers, and figure flattering wardrobe pieces; those are a few of our favorite things! We dug through our closets and makeup bags to give you the gift of must-have essentials to keep yourself beautiful and stylish from this year and into the next. With a little something for everyone, the Coverings Crew wishes you style and grace.

Born Shoes

We love the handcrafted comfortableness that is Born Shoes.  I purchased my first pair of Born biker boots for a little over $100 several years ago. I get complements every time I wear them, which is almost daily in the fall and winter seasons. I could walk a mile in those shoes…actually, I literally have. At a price point that truly makes them worth the investment, these shoes buck the cliche that you have to suffer for fashion!.

ASOS.com
We have been drooling over this British website for years, now…but 2010 is the year that ASOS finally came across the pond. That means faboosh fashion for every man, woman, and child minus the international shipping rates!

Leggings
These form fitting bottoms work for almost every body! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Wrinkle free, slimming, and offered in an array of textures and patterns, it’s no wonder the leggings trend has gained juggernaut status.  I’m personally one pair of leggings away from joining a support group.

Neutrogena Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Treatment
Stress is an inevitable part of the human condition, which is bad enough, but add a face full of pimples and your likely to start screaming ,”Why, God? Why? I’m too old to have breakouts!” Well, first of all, take a few deep breaths…then,take the paper bag off your head. With just a pea size amount of this miracle treatment from Neutrogena, you can fight back against stress induced acne before it gets the best of you.

Bobbi Brown Eye Repair Cream
Our very own CEO totes this stuff in her makeup bag, and she has the rest of the Coverings Crew totally hooked! A few pats of Bobbi Brown’s Eye Repair Cream around your eyes and your “stayed up all night to put a magazine to bed” eyes will look well rested and refreshed.

Gel Nail Polish
We had our first gel manicure this year and we absolutely LOVED it! Not only did my nails grow ridiculously long, my mani didn’t crack or chip for 2 weeks. Sure the new gel manicure costs a little extra, but believe me it’s totally worth it. My nail salon actually reassured me that if for any reason my mani didn’t last I could come back and they would fix it for free. While it does take about an hour to apply this revolutionary new technique, you leave the salon with nails that are completely dry and unbreakable. To read more about gel nails, check out this article from Stylist.com.

bareMinerals Refillable Buffing Brush
I love Bare Minerals because it gives me flawless looking skin with lightweight coverage. Now, I love it even more since getting my hands on their refillable buffing brush. With a twist out center compartment you fill with Bare minerals powder, you can easily retouch your face without spilling makeup all over yourself! Just twist open the brush, shake until the powder makes it’s way onto the bristle tips, and apply. Easy, easy, easy.

Coverings’ Ferosh Faux Fur Picks

Temps are steady dropping, and you know what that means…bring on the faux fur! With a waning economy, going faux is a trend that designers have run with, offering faux fur pieces that could easily pass for the real thing. Create a cozy cold weather wardrobe with our favorite ferosh faux fur pieces!

The second we saw this faux fur outerwear, we fell in love. With an affordable faux chinchilla coat from Betsy Johnson to a faux mink from our favorite “fast fashion” retailer, Forever 21, outerwear has never been so chic! The fur trimmed cape at ASOS makes us think of classic British style and would look fabulous paired with two-tone riding boots and oversized sunglasses. For a more contemporary look, we like the belted fur vest. It works well layered over a simple silhouette and instantly becomes part of the outfit. And for the woman who likes to push the fashion envelope, BCBG offers an edgy, faux leather coat trimmed with fur.

But, what if you already have the perfect coat and there isn’t a bit of fur in sight? Don’t fret. You can still get in on this trend with faux fur accessories. Arm warmers from ASOS are perfect for wearing with a poncho or a 3/4 sleeve swing coat. Or, why not switch bags for the season and go with a a faux fur purse like the one from Juicy Couture? If nothing else, you can always get your fur fix with a pair of great boots or a scarf. Trapper hats are also in vogue, and you can’t go wrong with our pick featuring fur lining and a tweed exterior. It’s hanging my closet as we speak. If trapper hats aren’t your style, add a hood to your coat!

The Coverings Crew believes that life is better when you look good; because when you look good you feel good. And, what’s better than creating an outfit that makes you look like a million bucks?

High Shine Holiday

The holiday season is in full swing and nothing says, “celebrate” like an outfit with sparkle. But, it’s a fine line between looking like a perfectly styled holiday hostess and looking like a hot holiday mess. Well, that’s what I’m here for. Follow these simple tips and you’re guaranteed to pull off an outfit that truly shines.

1. A little sparkle goes a long way.
Don’t loose yourself in a sea of glitter, spangles or sequins. Pick one piece that sparkles and let it be the centerpiece of your outfit.

2. Don’t overdo it on accessories.
Actually, this is just a good rule to follow in general. Besides a purse and the right pair of shoes, you only need to add a pair of earrings and a ring, OR earrings and a cuff/bangles. You do not need all three and I can almost guarantee that you won’t need a necklace. Especially if your shimmery piece is on top.

3. Do it big, or don’t do it at all.
The key to pulling off a glam holiday look is to embrace it. Do a smoldery smoky eye or a bold bright lip. Try a messy side swept chignon or big tousled hair. Maybe even add some fake lashes to your look. If you stop half way, you’ll end up with a look that falls flat.

For festive holiday wardrobe ideas, explore our lookbook, or check us out at Shopstyle.com.

Carolina Herrera: Fall 2010

Today I discovered something new about one of COVERINGS favorite designers.  Carolina Herrera was inspired by the late Diana Vreeland (Vogue) to create her first collection.  Whatever her initial inspiration, she continues to inspire us with her tweed suits, fur wraps, and her signature tailored whites blouses.  This 2010 fall collection is an absolute work of art.

The Clinic Presents: A Day For The Total Woman

Donna Gamache Interview

CEO of DonnaGamache.com, Donna Gamache, lunched with Coverings Editor In Chief as they discussed the invention of her Fashion game and release of her new book. Donna’s inspirational story will give you a peek into the mind of a “mom” turned savvy entrepreneur.

Coverings: Donna, tell us your story.

Donna Gamache: Let me start with where I am today and then I will tell you how I got here. Today my company helps business owners create their Powerful Business presence through the use of video, photography and image consulting. We are all about making sure they look their best in front of the camera so that their confidence as a business owner is strongly reflected to their clients.

My entrepreneurial story begins when we lived in Georgia. Out of a desire to stay home with my sons, I created a business from my home making soft sculptured dolls. It was during the time the Cabbage Patch dolls were first available. My dolls were called Pug Pals because each one had a little pug nose. They were really cute and sold quite well throughout a 4 state craft circuit. After a short time I had a couple of women working for me. I didn’t realize at the time I was forming the first of 4 businesses.

To explain how my second business was started, let’s fast-forward a few years. We had relocated to South Carolina where I took a job as a school administrator. It was here I found I had a real aptitude for the computer and decided I wanted to do something more. God is so good and opened the door for me to work at an advertising agency. It was there I discovered that I just loved creating ads and teaching others how to use graphic packages.

When my mother-in-law developed Alzheimer’s, we decided to move to Missouri to help out. I was told by several people that I should apply for work at Maritz, one of the largest sales and marketing companies in St. Louis. The recommendation was for one of their divisions where I could put my skills to work as a graphic designer and trainer. So, I went for a couple of interviews and was offered a couple of positions…all starting at the entry level which meant a small salary and starting at the bottom which was not what I wanted to do. This is when I formed my second company Desk Top Consulting. I bought myself a Mac computer with only 30 Megs of ram for $5,000 and that didn’t even include the printer!

Coverings: Did you work from the office every day?

Donna Gamache: Mostly I worked out of my home, but here’s one of the things I am most proud of. Less than eight months after forming Desktop Consulting, I went back to Martiz but this time as my own boss. You see, I negotiated a contract to train all of their graphic designers and word processors. And the great news is…I got to charge what I wanted to charge.

Coverings: How did you become that proficient in graphic design?

Donna Gamache: I learned it basically on my own while working with the advertising agency. I am a very visual person. If somebody shows me how to do something and I do it a couple of times, I just get it.

Coverings: Wait a minute. With no formal education in graphic design or training you started your own company and trained all the graphic designers in Quark Xpress and Adobe Illustrator and the entire word processing department in Quark Xpress and Microsoft Word?

Donna Gamache: Yes. That’s it. I had several clients in the area and even did some public classes for about five years. The good news is that I really loved what I did and was able to do most of my work from my home office which meant I was there whenever my kids needed me. Everything was going great and then I got hit with a major blow. A little over nineteen years into my first marriage my husband wanted a divorce.

Like most women going into a single lifestyle many thoughts went through my head “I won’t have my 401K! I won’t have my husband to fall back on. Do I keep the business and build it? How can I survive alone?” I finally came to the conclusion that I had to let go and let God do his work and sure enough someone in my church offer me a job as an IT consultant. God is so good! This new position allowed me to work with three large firms in St. Louis: Edward Jones, Anheuser Busch, and Monsanto. As an IT Consultant, I would work with developers to understand the company’s proprietary systems and then take what I learned and break it down into easy to understand training documents for the end-user. My job was to create the training documents and then train the end-user how to use the system.

Coverings: This is an interesting career path for someone who has a creative side, especially in the early days with your experience in computer graphics. Creatives don’t usually work with both sides of their brains equally as well. What were you thinking all of this time? Were you comfortable? Were you loving it or wishing you were working just as a creative.

Donna Gamache: You know, at the time I loved what I was doing. I was creating documentation but also had the opportunity to design some of the training documents. I also loved training. I moved up very quickly in my position with Edward Jones and I wanted to leave after 2 years, at the end of my contract. Edward Jones and my consulting company asked me to stay another year which I did but learned a valuable lesson about working as a consultant in the corporate environment…never stay more than 2 years. From here I moved on to do several projects with both Monsanto and Anheuser Busch (now ABInBev). It was a great experience for me and I learned a lot about my field of expertise and about working with people. After about 10 years in IT consulting in the corporate environment, I found I was getting really burned out…not so much on what I was doing but on corporate America itself. Even as a consultant you experience company politics. It was at this same time that I ran into someone I used to do public training classes with…Steve Gamache. We were both invited to attend a Christmas party and found that we still had a lot in common. Steve and I dated 4 years and were engaged for a year before marrying in 2001…it will be 9 years for us this September. If you do the math you realize we were married right after one of the most horrific things that ever happened on American soil, 911. It made both of us realize how very blessed we were to be Americans and to have found each other after all those years.

The reason I am sharing this part of my life with you goes back to my statement about being burned out with corporate America. You see, I just couldn’t handle working in the corporate environment anymore. After being married for a very short time, I came home one day and said to my husband, “My spirit is dying inside of me…I just can’t do this anymore.” Without hesitation he said,”What do you want to do?” “I don’t know what I want to do,” was all I could say. His prompt reply was, “Well, what you don’t have to do is go back.”

Coverings: There are so many women who want to do that. They feel tied to the job because they do not have a supportive partner.

Donna Gamache: Exactly. I know God has been so good to me and I am thankful every day for 2 gifts…first my wonderfully supportive, loving husband and second for the opportunity to leave that environment and start another company! I am truly very blessed. When I knew that I was going to be leaving the job, I made a point to work another couple of months to tie up loose ends. I was never one to just walk off of a project. During this time, I started my third company called The Right Results. I was at the point where I wanted to go back to what I have always loved…fashion and design. Now this really excited me. I rebranded my company and this time my consulting services included image consulting; personal shopping, makeovers, workshops and seminars.

Coverings: How did you become the Executive Managing Director for eWomenNetwork?

Donna Gamache: During the same time I was transitioning out of IT and building The Right Results, a friend of mine who managed the St. Louis eWomenNetwork chapter told me she was moving to Florida. She asked if I had any interest in managing the chapter. You see I had been a member for eight years and loved the structure of the organization and how they help women connect and grow their businesses. I said yes to the opportunity and have been the Executive Managing Director for five years now.

Coverings: How did you hear about eWomenNetwork?

Donna Gamache: I don’t remember. I believe it was through someone I was networking with. Networking is a big, big part of how I have built my companies. The more you put yourself out there, the more opportunities there are. It’s how I met you!

Coverings: Let’s talk about your transition into fashion.

Donna Gamache: Okay, it all started through networking and my volunteer work with a local non-profit. You see there was another woman who volunteered for this same non-profit and people kept telling me I needed to meet her and they kept telling her she needed to meet me. Have you ever had love at first sight with a woman? I am talking about how your spirits go “Whoa!” They just connect immediately and you don’t even know why. That is what happened with this woman and let me tell you things moved quickly from there. Within a few short months, we formed a style company named Anatomy of Style. It was an online membership company where women could get education about how to dress and then shop based on their style personality and shape. My partner and I actually measured the clothes to make sure they were the right shape and then photographed outfits so that the member could go to their page and see what worked for them.

Coverings: Could you buy the clothes online?

Donna Gamache: Yes. There was a link you could click that would take you directly to the buy page for every item.

Coverings: Is the site still available?

Donna Gamache: The concept was so incredible but it didn’t move quite as quickly as we had hoped. I was the one responsible for keeping the web site links up to date and marketing the site. We were finding that the clothes were not available long enough. I made a comment to my partner that the clothes in the links were selling out pretty fast. Just a comment on my part with a thought that maybe we should look into buying our own clothes to put online. Well, you have to understand my ex-partner to understand what happened next. You see I truly love this woman but she is the kind who will pull the trigger without aiming first. The next thing I knew we wound up at the Dallas Merchandise Mart buying clothes and then opening a boutique.

Coverings: Where was the boutique located?

Donna Gamache: The boutique was in mid-town St. Louis. What I loved about that business is that we helped women embrace their bodies. Often they lacked confidence. For instance, if someone said something negative to them about their legs (and I’m talking about as far back as 5th grade), they never wore dresses. We encouraged them and gave them the support and love that they needed to know that they have beautiful legs. To show them they can wear skirts and dresses. It was that part of the business that I loved and really embraced. At first, things were going pretty well with new customers but it didn’t take me long to realize I didn’t really want to be a boutique owner. You see I realized I don’t like selling but my partner loved it. It took a lot of courage to realize I needed to get out. Walking away from a business that was so right at the beginning was so hard but I knew there was no way I could keep investing in what the business had become. So, with a very significant debt and a lot of life’s lessons learned we eventually dissolved our partnership. She kept it for another year and a half and then sold it.

Coverings: Explain a little more about the life lessons you learned.

Donna Gamache: I learned you have to really get to know someone before you jump into a business together…I always say we should have dated a lot longer before we “got married”. You see a business partnership is much like a marriage and many times you spend more time with that partner than you do your spouse. I also learned a lot about what I did not do right in setting up the business…the paperwork that should have been in place. That is why I am co-authoring another book about women and business partnership. I hope to impart what I learned to others so they can learn from my mistakes.

Coverings: That is great and I’m sure a must read for many women who are partnering in business. Now I want to talk about your idea for the fashion game. Where did that idea come from?

Donna Gamache: I am very excited about the game and believe is a direct revelation from God. I think we, as busy women are “crazy busy.” We are not taking the time that we used to when we could get together with our girlfriends just to have a night of belly laughs and maybe drink a glass of wine …just have fun together. The vision was to help women recapture that inner fun girl. It’s a game that would pull them together for fun and also give them another purpose for being together. You see it would be educational in teaching them about their individual styles. I have created a prototype for the game. It has been through a couple of plays with a focus group that I pulled together called my “dream team.” You see a “dream team” is a group of people that helps you build your dream through their support and advice. This amazing group of women is helping me fine tune the game by sharing some of their own amazing ideas. I have a second group “dream team” that will assist me with marketing.

Coverings: What is the fundamental premise for the game? How do you play it?

Donna Gamache: Instead of a board, there is a table cloth you put on your dining room table. Imagine that! Each person picks a paper doll as their playing piece. The paper dolls represent the five styles. The characteristics of that particular style are listed on the back of the paper doll. We use a big pink die to get around the board. The spaces help you earn either a shopping trip to the boutique mall or a celebrity card. The game cards ask questions about the different style personalities so players learn as they play. The cards also have some fun questions such as “What did you wear to your senior prom?” This leads to a fun discussion about style back in that era.

Coverings: On the back of my paper doll would be dramatic, so what would I shop for?

Donna Gamache: I call that “Dynamic Driver”. Now don’t let the dramatic fool you…it doesn’t necessarily mean theatrical. A dramatic woman is usually a CEO. She is in charge. She is the “Dynamic Driver”. When she dresses she likes things that are simple to wear…no layering for this woman. No, that would be for the “Fun Flirt” which is my style personality. I just love to layer. That’s a part of who I am but for the dramatic, well they are very comfortable in a suit or simple dress…something that is uncomplicated and easy to put on. Now, for the dramatic personality there must be something unique about the suit or dress….that is who they are.

Coverings: Suits are my favorite thing to wear.

Donna Gamache: Because you’re dramatic you will also carry a really nice purse that will last for a long time.

Coverings: We like an accent piece. Something to make our look pop.

Donna Gamache: Yes, you love a unique, iconic piece of jewelry or maybe even sunglasses to make your outfit pop. One of the first things I noticed about you was your great ring and the suit you were wearing…I pretty much knew you were a dramatic or “Dynamic Driver”. I just wanted to make sure you knew dramatic wasn’t theatrical. After being with you during this interview it is apparent to me that you are a “Dynamic Driver”.

Coverings: What would your paper doll say?

Donna Gamache: If I picked the one that was my personal style it would be the “Fun Flirt”. This style is all about being the life of the party…being very personable, most people like a “Fun Flirt as soon as they meet her. They also can be a CEO but they will gladly take second seat…do whatever’s best for the company. But the “Dynamic Driver” is very much in charge. Did you know most people are more than one style? Now there is going to be a primary style every time but for me I am also a “Dynamic Driver” as a secondary style. .

Coverings: How does a “Fun Flirt” dress?

Donna Gamache: We dress with flair. We usually have to have something a little showy and as I said, we love to layer. We don’t spend a lot of money on our purses because we want to change up every few weeks. And, we love bling!

Coverings: Are you trendy?

Donna Gamache: There are always some things in each style that you have to be careful of. A fun flirt has to be careful of the trends because she can go crazy.

Coverings: How does one win the fashion game you have created?

Donna Gamache: As you are going around the tablecloth board you’re collecting your clothes. Your whole objective for moving around the board is getting clothes from the mall boutique so that you have a complete outfit (shoes & purse included). The other thing you are doing is collecting celebrity cards…there are 4 total. The celebrity cards you collect are for your shopping spree in Paris, your makeover, your hair and your photo shoot. You have to have all 4 celebrity cards and a complete outfit for your paper doll to enter the runway towards the magazine cover. The first one to land on the magazine cover with all 4 cards and a complete outfit is the winner. And, after the game everyone can discuss the outfits chosen to see if they truly fit the paper doll’s style personality.

Coverings: It is my understanding that the game was initially designed for women in the church community. From what I am hearing all women would enjoy playing.

Donna Gamache: You know what? This game is for any woman. I think that Christian women are just like anyone else. They are looking to bond with their girlfriends. This game is for everyone. I played it with my daughter-in-law and we had so much fun together. I can see girlfriends playing together and mothers & daughters playing together too. I have made some really cute suggestions for the hostess to individualize their game party. She can buy party gifts to add to the winner’s prize. For instance, even though winning the game is the magazine cover…which is of course is make believe…maybe they want to have a little crown to put on the winner. Fun stuff like that. It has to be about fun. The plan is to release the game cards first, as conversation starters. And, my hope is to package them in something that looks like little make up bags. They will be in various fabrics that appeal to the different personality styles. My goal is to have the cards out in the next three to four months. And, I am looking into starting virtual games before the release of the board game.

Coverings: I am so excited. I want to play! Will we be able to get the game from your web site or will we have to go into one of the stores?

Donna Gamache: We are planning on both. My big vision is to package the game in a purse. I have this vision in my head; Women walking through the store…Target for example… looking for a game and seeing a purse in the game aisle… every woman will want one. Every style personality is drawn to something a little different. You will be drawn to something that is classy, like black velvet with one little accent piece on it.

Coverings: You know me too well already. (laughs) I love classic stuff with a little hint of a trend…just a little surprise something.

Donna Gamache: Sure, I know. You’re dramatic all over. It’s good though that you know who you are. Most women do not. I want to help them understand and discover themselves through my fashion board game. If you try to take someone who is sporty or romantic and stick them in a suit, they are very uncomfortable all day.
A Romantic loves flowing fabrics and lace. You know a Romantic style personality is the most compassionate. They are the most true blue friend. It’s very interesting once you get into it. I have seen women go from feeling insecure and dressing totally wrong to discovering their true style personality and how to dress it. It brings such confidence. You just can’t stop them when they make that discovery!

Coverings: Dressing wrong for who she really is does cause a woman to be self conscious and unsure of herself. And you are saying everything we believe in. It is not so much about how I am built. I am in here inside. The “real me” is in here looking out at you, asking, “Do you see me?” And in retail we just see the shell.

Donna Gamache: Yes, you are right in many cases we have been just dressing the shell.

Coverings: We have to find the girl inside. We need to tell her it’s okay to come out and play and discover who she really is. It’s okay to be you. Come on out. You don’t have to fit in to a mold. It is possible to make your personality work with your body type. Most women can wear almost anything or color there is. As style professionals, we need to take the time to show them how. Are you thinking the same thing?

Donna Gamache: I am. That’s exactly what the game and my business is all about…helping women discover their best self! I will say this about body shape. There are some shapes that can be enhanced tremendously. Take a very rectangular body shape, straight up and down put a belt or something around the middle, and you’ve got an hour glass shaped figure.

Coverings: But you want to do it in the context of making the body style work with the personality style?

Donna Gamache: Right. It is all about the inside. One of my biggest pet peeves is when I hear women frustrated while shopping. Do you know what they are frustrated with? The clothes don’t fit!. It’s not them. It’s the designers. Designers design for sticks. I can really get on my soap box about this. You know I would love to go into designing.

Coverings: This is the time to start designing. That is how Carolina Herrera started. She is one of my favorites. She had never taken a design class. She simply knew that she was not getting what she wanted. She could afford it, so she just started designing her own line. She took them to the manufacturer and just did it!

At Coverings we are looking for designers who have an ear to God. We know they exist. Just like you said…women are frustrated. They are being locked away inside and these new designers have the key. They need the confidence to step forward. The fashion industry needs what they have.

Donna Gamache: I am sure you will agree with me. There’s a scripture verse which says that even from the time we are in the womb we are uniquely created by God. So I think every person has a unique footprint. There is something in each person that needs to be shared with the rest of the world. As for me, I think I started early on with what it was and got really sidetracked onto other things. Now I feel like I am coming back to it, and I want to share it with the world. That is how I know I will be successful. I think what trips most of us up are two things. The first is fear. Many times it’s not even fear of failure. It’s fear of being successful… ‘what am I really going to do with that?’ The other that stops women especially is money. Men do not seem to be stopped by money as often as women. Have you noticed that too?

Coverings: Yes; I have experienced it and see it all the time. But, also I see women can make it happen when we come together.

Donna Gamache: Collaboration is my greatest strength. It’s all about collaboration for me in a nutshell. Without it, I would not be where I am today.

Coverings: You just published your first book “If You Really Want To Be Successful, Get Connected!”

Donna Gamache: Yes. The book offers wisdom, insights, and strategies from entrepreneurial women. Jo Lena Johnson and I co-authored the book. She is all about putting more good into the universe and has a company called Absolute Good. I am very proud of my collaboration with Jo Lena and the entrepreneurial women interviewed in this book. I am so grateful they are willing to share their practical wisdom, insights and strategies to help other women be successful! Many of the women interviewed in the book are connections made through eWomenNetwork and through our own personal entrepreneurial journeys. I learned so much in the process and really enjoyed editing the book and seeing our concept of a book that would help women become a reality.

Coverings: It is an excellent tool for business owner’s in a sluggish economy. Of the various topics you cover, I was most interested in customer service. What’s wrong with customer service today?

Donna Gamache: I don’t think there is customer service.

Coverings: How do we get it back? What’s the remedy? How did it slip away? I will give almost anybody my money if they give me good service.

Donna Gamache: People don’t buy products and services. People buy people. Let’s put you in a room where person “A” is attempting to sell you a television. Person “B” is trying to sell you an identical television. Which salesman are you going to buy from? The one you like the best. It really is all about people. Let me use Target as an example. Target does a pretty good job of customer service, but it’s still not quite what it used to be. In many companies employees have to work faster and are being paid less. They are actually asked to do too much sometimes. There are only so many hours in a day.

Coverings: Then it actually begins higher up?

Donna Gamache: Management. Owners and managers need to understand what brings people through the door. They need to be trained that people are more important than stocking shelves. Also managers should be more complimentary. It helps to say things like, “I saw what a great job you are doing…how you greeted that customer. You are doing a fantastic job.” That would make an impact on customer service.

Chico’s does a great job of that and Nordstrom’s too. Before Macy’s bought Famous-Barr they were really good at it too. Macy’s has cut back staff so much; it’s just not the same.

Coverings: What do you see as the future for designers?

Donna Gamache: Are you familiar with Doncaster? This is a pretty high-end clothing line? What about Etcetera? These designs are not sold in stores. Actually Carlyle and Doncaster are on the same level. Etcetera is the sportswear line for Carlyle. Not quite as expensive. I used to rep for them and loved the clothes. They are not only beautifully designed but are also great quality clothes. These designs are sold by independent reps at open house type parties where the customer only has about 10 days to shop. Another popular clothing line is CAbi (Carol Anderson by Invitation). She sells her designs through independent reps who facilitate home parties. You cannot find any of these designs in stores. I really think the convenience of home shopping parties are becoming more and more popular and can see other designers following this model.

Coverings: Does the CAbi line design for “real” women?”

Donna Gamache: Yes. She has a lot of little tricks to help us look better and slimmer. If I were to go into designing I would do something similar; having people all over the world selling for me. I have no idea how to even get started and am going to leave it at “maybe someday” I will find out how.

Coverings: Who designed the clothes for your game?

Donna Gamache: I did. I selected styles and fabrics that appeal to each of the style personalities…right down to shoes and hats.

Coverings: I look forward to the release of your fashion board game. I love that you care about women. Your game will be a healing balm for women, Donna. It is going to be phenomenal.

Donna Gamache: I think there is beauty in every woman…it’s just a matter of bringing it out of them in a way that expresses their unique style. This is what my company helps people do…express their unique style. Every business owner needs a video and we help you look your best, feel your confidence and look relaxed in front of the camera.

Coverings: Where can we contact you?

Donna Gamache: For the latest on the game and to find out more about how to create your Powerful Business Presence, please go to www.DonnaGamache.com. Visit our store to purchase a copy of the book, the game and other style related products. Thank you so much for the opportunity to share with your readers! You can also follow me on Facebook at Donna Gamache Global – Powerful Business Presence.

Buyer Beware: Splenda (Sucralose)

When summer rolls around it is tempting to use food and drink with artificial sweeteners in an attempt to cut down on calories, surprisingly, no research has ever convincingly shown that using these products contributes to weight loss. The artificial sweetener sucralose (brand name Splenda®) has been increasingly added to processed foods. Sucralose is a sugar that has been chemically altered to create chlorocarbon. Chlorocarbon is a sugar enhanced with CHLORINE! The chlorine causes Splenda to pass through the body largely unabsorbed, and thus reducing the caloric intake.

Splenda® can be Gut Wrenching: Research suggests that Splenda®, while FDA– approved, may be doing damage as it passes through the intestines. According to an article in Dr. David William’s newsletter Alternatives, Research with Rats, “Splenda® can reduce the amount of beneficial bacteria in the intestines by as much as 50 percent, increase the Ph level in the intestines, increase body weight, and cause the re-routing or inactivation of certain drugs through the alteration of glycoprotein levels.”

Splenda® has Something in Common with Organochlorine Pesticides: The sucralose molecular structure resembles organochlorine pesticides such as DDT, lindane and endosulfan. Although 85 percent or so of sucralose passes through the digestive system without being absorbed, the 15 percent that does get absorbed may be problematic.

According to James Bowen M.D., in an article titled The Lethal Science of Splenda, a Poisonous Chlorocarbon, “Any chlorocarbons not directly excreted from the body in fact can cause immense damage to the processes of human metabolism and, eventually, our internal organs.” Recent research suggests that they may actually confuse the body’s response to sweet tastes and contribute to weight gain. The percentage of Splenda that is absorbed into the body’s organs and intestines can be POISONOUS!

The liver is a detoxification organ which deals with ingested poisons. Chlorocarbons damage the hepatocytes, the liver’s metabolic cells, and destroys them. “In test animals Splenda® produced swollen livers, as do all chlorocarbon poisons, and also calcified the kidneys of test animals in toxicity studies. The brain and nervous system are highly subject to metabolic toxicities and solvency damages by these chemicals. Their high solvency attacks the human nervous system and many other body systems including genetics and the immune function. Thus, chlorocarbon poisoning can cause cancer, birth defects, and immune system destruction. These are well known effects of Dioxin and PCBs which are known deadly chlorocarbons. Just like aspartame, which achieved marketplace approval by the Food and Drug Administration when animal studies clearly demonstrated its toxicity, sucralose also failed in clinical trials with animals. Aspartame created brain tumors in rats. Sucralose has been found to shrink thymus glands (the biological seat of immunity) and produce liver inflammation in rats and mice.”

Instead of artificial sweeteners, why not have a small amount of real sugar, or better yet, honey or maple syrup which are unprocessed sweeteners that occur in nature! Americans have become habituated to the intensely sweet taste of artificial sweeteners and it’s long past time to kick that habit. If you have a yearning for something sweet, why not just a small taste of real sugar! It’s natural, it doesn’t take much to sweeten up food and drink, and it hits the pleasure centers of the brain, which the artificial sweeteners do not. Even better, use natural Stevia or have some fresh fruit, which comes “packaged” with nutrition and fiber.

References
Nakagawa Y, Nagasawa M, Yamada S, “Sweet taste receptor expressed in pancreatic beta-cells activates
the calcium and cyclic AMP signaling systems and stimulates insulin secretion,” PLoS ONE. 2009;4(4):
e5106. Epub 2009 Apr 8.
Abou-Donia MB, El-Masry EM, Abdel-Rahman AA et al, “Splenda® Alters Gut Microflora and Increases Intestinal
P-Glycoprotein and Cytochrome P-450 in Male Rats,” Journal of Toxicology and Environmental
Article from: Gilead Healing Center, 306 S Creyts Rd., Lansing, MI 48917

Ralph Lauren’s Summer 2010 Collection

Summer is in full swing and no one does “summer wear” quite like Ralph Lauren. While I’m sure he didn’t invent “nautical chic,” he definitely perfected it!He’s one of, in my opinion, a handful of designers who can make me salivate at the sight of a basic striped top. In this season’s collection he manages to do it again. Ralph blends East Coast “Hamptons,” Mid-Western “cowboy,” and West Coast “slacker” styles to compose a collection that is ripe with pieces that can easily be mixed and matched to create signature looks.

Pictured above are three of my favorite looks from his Blue Label line. For summer 2010 Ralph is mixing western wear pieces, with lightweight long line linen cardigans, and classic khakis. The result is effortless All-American girl style that seamlessly transitions from work time to play time. See more of the Ralph Lauren Blue Line at RalphLauren.com.

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