Barbizon Blog

Color can really make a difference in your appearance.  Have you ever had someone say “You look great!” when you hadn’t done anything different to yourself?  It was probably the color you were wearing, making your skin look clear and bringing out the highlights in your hair.  Conversely, perhaps someone has asked you in a concerned voice whether you were feeling well when you felt just fine.  In this case, you were probably wearing a color that makes you look unhealthy.

Skin has either a “warm” or “cool” coloring.  Finding out which of these you are will determine your makeup and wardrobe choices.  To determine your skin tone, you must first see if your skin has a blue or yellow cast.  In natural light, place a white sheet of paper next to the inside surface of the wrist.  Check to see if the cast is blue-pink (”cool”) or gold-yellow (”warm”) against the paper.  Warm looks best in earthy and medium colors while Cool looks best in pastels, neutrals, and strong colors.

Now that you know your skin tone, find out more about correct makeup choice in our Barbizon Modeling Classes Curriculum.

Do you remember being read the fairy tale Chicken Little when you were young?  In the story, the chicken is obsessed about the sky falling down and didn’t notice Foxy Woxy prepping for a nice chicken salad. There’s a little bit of Chicken Little in everyone.  Instead of focusing on what’s in front of us, we humans devote too much time to daydreams and thinking about everything but reality.  In many cases, it’s not sweet dreams but worrying or “awfulizing” that eats up our time.

Do you have the “What ifs?”  What if I fail the math test?  What if I never find a boyfriend?  What percentage of the day do you spending imagining worse case scenarios?  Optimism, in reasonable doses, is far more constructive than pessimism and it will inspire you.  But be careful.  Too much optimism and believing “nothing bad will happen” can give you a false sense of security.  Talking to a parent, older sibling, or teacher as well as going to Barbizon can help you develop a more positive way of thinking.

1.  GRADES — SEEK KNOWLEDGE

• Cut back on one hour per day of TV time or playing video games.
• If you enjoy both, cut back 1/2 hour on each daily.

Perfect posture will add to your confident appearance more than any other contributing factor. Here are some of the benefits of perfect posture:

1. Proper posture builds good health by allowing the inner organs to function properly.
2. Speech is improved by giving more power to your voice through correct position of the diaphragm.
3. Body alignment gives a more youthful appearance.
4. Clothes will hang better.
5. Tension is reduced through proper alignment, which reduces fatigue, resulting in a more relaxed
appearance.

As a model, actress, or performer, it is important to be healthy and fit. Proper exercise, nutrition, water intake, supplementation, and sleep are vital in obtaining these goals. The foundation of any well-rounded fitness program should contain the following components:

AEROBIC / CARDIO TRAINING: Cardovascular conditioning is any exercise that gets you to your target heart rate for a sustained period of 20 to 30 minutes. Examples include walking, jogging, and swimming. You should do cardo a minimum of 3 times per week.

RESISTANCE / WEIGHT TRAINING: Resistance / weight training is any exercise that uses weights or body-weight to strengthen or build muscles. Examples include push-ups, sit-ups, bands, dumbbells, or weight machines. You should do resistance / weight training 3 times per week including upper and lower body.

FLEXIBILITY / STRETCHING TRAINING: You should keep your muscles loose and limber in order to avoid injury. Exercises that are good for this are yoga, dance, and pilates.

SLEEP: You body needs time to rebuild, recharge, and recoup. Sleep is the only way this can happen. You should aim for at least eight hours of sleep per night.

To learn more about Barbizon Fitness, visit our website or call the Barbizon in your area.

Here are a few Barbizon Tips for Good Health. Let us know what makes you healthy.

1. Start cutting back on junk food, adding more nutritional foods gradually.
2. Be very careful to avoid buying junk food at lunch. Don’t be afraid to pack a lunch. It’s better for you.
3. If you are eating more than 5 candy bars a week, cut out at least one. The same for soft drinks.
4. Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet.
5. Walk everywhere you can.
6. Instead of TV or video games, go bowling, biking, or swimming. Stay active.
7. Go to bed at the same time every night.

You can find more tips on our website or follow us on Twitter.

Pageants are in the business of making dreams come true…even if it’s for a short period of time. Some girls enter for the scholarship money or other prizes. Some enter with the hopes of launching a career in modeling or entertainment. Others do it for the title alone, to advance their platform, or simply for the opportunity to grow. Whatever your reasons, remember that you don’t have to actually win to achieve your goal. So, don’t just enter to win. Do it for the learning experience and the chance to meet new people. Life in general is filled with “wins’ and “losses.” Take each one in stride.

Pageants can typically have 5 elements of competitions:

1. Interview
2. Swimsuit
3. Talent
4. Evening Gown
5. Final Question

Many Barbizon grads have achieved their dreams in the pageant world. You can see more on our Success Stories page.

by Barbizon Student Stephanie Conley

Dear Barbizon Friends:

Though we have not known each other long,
I feel as if we have grown up together.
We have built friendships
That will last a lifetime
And memories to cherish.

I came to this school six months ago
Hoping I wouldn’t be embarrassed about myself.
My hardest struggle has always been
Taking off the mask and “being me.”

From the first day I walked in,
I had this comforting feeling
That I was going to be okay.
Everyone has placed a special moment in my heart
That I will carry with me forever.

Although we may lose touch,
I will never forget my time here at Barbizon
With you…

Now that the summer months are vastly approaching, you’ll need to start thinking about getting a pair of sunglasses to protect your precious peepers. Here are some tips to help you find the perfect sunglasses for your face shape:

If your face is HEART-SHAPED, opt for thinner frames that won’t overpower your chin.

If your face is LONG, choose oversized square frames for balance.

If your face is ROUND, opt for rectangular styles that will minimize curves and give you a more angular look.

If your face is SQUARE, opt for rounder, curvy styles that will help soften your jaw line.

If your face is OVAL, you are one of the lucky ones because you can wear any style!

Don’t take our word for it…Find out what other people are saying about Barbizon. Check out our on-line Video Vault

The term “The Model Look” can actually have two meanings. In the overall meaning, a female model can be a high-fashion look type, a junior look type, and commercial look type, even a tween-ingenue look type or character look type. Makeup, hairstyle, wardrobe, etc. are all chosen in accordance with what is considered appropriate for each look type. It is possible for a model’s look to change. Whether you want to be a model or just look like one, you will be able to develop your own unique style by understanding these different look types and by practicing them.

We also use the term “Model Look” to describe the total look of perfection. Barbizon can teach you how to achieve that look. The end result? Total confidence in yourself.