My sister and I recently won an evening with the Internet Chef and spent a fabulous evening cooking and tasting several dishes. The dishes looked amazing but were easy and quick to make, can definitely be replicated at home, not to mention they tasted amazing.

I found out that the secret to the perfect scrambled eggs is using a spatula to push the eggs around the pan rather than stirring them. By using the spatula the eggs remain intact, light and fluffy. As soon as you start stirring they end up in a mangled mess (not that I have ever done this to any scrambled eggs I have made). Pushed and not stirred, who thought something so simple could make such a difference.

It got me thinking about how fashion and style can be like cooking. It can seem daunting and only for the experts until we are shown how to break down the elements into something achievable. Just like following a recipe to create a dish, you can follow style advice to create a fabulous and functional wardrobe. Once you have the information for your body shape, it is easy to recreate your outfits and look amazing! Think of the ingredients for your image as your body line, face shape, hair, eye and skin colour. These will influence the clothes, accessories and makeup you wear. All you need to do is mix them to your advantage.

Creating a great dish usually requires you to follow a recipe and to measure out the ingredients accordingly. The more adventurous will try experimenting with different ingredients and quantities but they will still follow a theme to create their dish. Style is not that different and you can think of your clothes in the same way. Follow your body line and break down each piece of clothing to check whether it is right for you. The difference between a great jacket and an average jacket can be as simple as choosing a jacket with a straight lapel instead of a jacket with a round lapel (or vice versa). Simple but extremely effective. Often these secrets and tips are very simple but until we are shown, we don't understand why one jacket looks better over the other. Once you learn these tips, you can apply them to each piece of clothing for the rest of your life. Take the jacket again as an example, look at the sleeve length, jacket length, collar and colour to make sure it is right for you. Importantly check that is it fits you properly. Over cooked scrambled eggs can be dry and rubbery, like wise a jacket that is too small will loose its effect and will make you bulge in all the wrong places.

Like a great dish, your wardrobe is as good as the items in it. Make your clothes work for you. Whether you follow a set style or are more adventurous and set your own style, build a wardrobe that fits with your personality and lifestyle.

Anna Martin, from Izziana Image Consultants, inspires and empowers women through their clothing style. She specializes in colour, style, makeup, wardrobe planning, personal shopping and millinery. She provides group and one on one consultations for women looking to enhance their confidence, image and wellbeing. Contact Anna at Izziana Image on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.izzianaimage.com.au