Ready to embrace the best years of your life?
and if not now, when??
What is The Vivienne Project?
It’s a self-paced program to refresh your sense of self and style after you’ve left a formal workplace. It’s delivered in a hybrid online and in person format.
Using a combination of videos, real life activities, a workbook and one-on-one consultations (in-person or via zoom) The Vivienne Project is packed full of info on how to:
transition from formal work to living life on your own terms
avoid the post-career slump
always look radiant because you know what colours to choose
feel confident because you can easily identify clothes to suit you
reignite your passion
present yourself for potentially the most exciting chapter of your life
be visible, vibrant and vivacious
Includes videos in every chapter and a comprehensive workbook
Who’s it for?
Women who have left their corporate careers behind and are ready to embrace life with a vengeance while becoming vibrant, vivacious and most importantly, visible!
If you feel the world’s moved on some since you put in the hard corporate yards, and you’re still adjusting to your new reality, this program is for you. It’s time to re/discover your passions, establish new criteria for living life on your own terms and present yourself as fresh, contemporary and relevant.
Broken up with your career?
Now the project is YOU!
Why is this important?
Regardless of how you GOT here…
Whether you were made redundant, opted for a redundancy package, decided to retire or found yourself unemployed (and suspect it’s age related) things can feel unsettled once you’ve done the things you longed to, if only you’d had the time.
If you’ve had big responsibilities and respect from peers and direct reports but that’s suddenly gone, you can feel adrift, a loss of identity, or relevance deprivation syndrome.
If you no longer bring home the big salary then get caught up in the youth centred social media world, you might feel all your good years are behind you. Yet nothing could be further from the truth!
In mid-LIFE
You have experience and wisdom on your side, combined with opportunity lying ahead. You now have time to be the person you’ve been waiting to become!
I'll show you how to throw off the shackles of a conservative workplace and reveal how you can travel forward into what has the potential to be the best part of your life.
I’ve been there
I worked for a long time in corporate, managing large projects and feeling like a square peg in a round hole. But I left there more than 10 years ago and, despite a couple of major setbacks I could never have predicted, I have now embraced who I am and I’m happier than I’ve ever been.
You’ve worked hard for this front row seat, so don’t squander the opportunity. Let’s be visible and vibrant together!
Because if not now, when?
Why invest in yourself?
Where redundancy can trigger a loss of confidence and professional identity, The Vivienne Project offers a structured way to regain a sense of self. Personal style can be a powerful way to restore agency during a period that feels disorienting. And although it’s not the whole story, a style refresh can make your transition visible and intentional, in alignment with the woman you are becoming, not the worker you were.
Sometimes we need to reconstruct self-image as much as update outfits. As an identity-led approach to style, this program helps you author a new narrative about your future self, rather than fading from view.
You owe it to yourself and those you love to live this next chapter well. Don’t believe you’re done just because you and your career broke up. Guard against the slightest hint of relevance deprivation syndrome by setting yourself up for a successful transition with The Vivienne Project.
Been made redundant?
Even if you exited work on your own terms, years sacrificed for a career can leave you feeling depleted, regretful or adrift. Any bitterness felt can signal grief, fatigue and unmet expectations. The Vivienne Project helps you move from “what I sacrificed” to “who I am now,” using style as a practical entry point into confidence and self-definition.
This is meaningful when it reflects an internal decision to cope intentionally, reassert agency, and rebuild confidence. A style refresh is a visible expression of inner strength during a time when you may be reassessing energy, meaning, and what you want the next chapter to look like.
If you feel you gave your best years to work, The Vivienne Project can provide a structured space to rebuild self-worth, re-establish identity outside of work, and decide how you want to be seen. The world is your oyster now so there’s no need to compromise; but likewise, feel no regret for the years you did work. Key is to find value in what you’ve done and use it in a whole new way. Discover how to channel that into refreshing the way you show up and show the world you’ve got this!
Regret working so long?
A title is not the only thing women lose when they stop working. Many lose routine, identity, and an intrinsic reason to get dressed, get out, and feel they’re contributing to something. A future-focused project, when daily life has become quiet, can help you reconnect with who you are beyond work, routines, and other people’s needs.
Refreshing your style is a practical starting point that’s immediate and tangible, while the deeper work is about identity and direction. Changing how you present can help you feel more aligned with the woman you are becoming. It might include refining your personal style to re-enter social or public life with a clearer sense of self; but whether you pick up a former hobby, rekindle a passion from long ago or create a whole new lifestyle, let’s prepare you for that opportunity.
Don’t settle for mundane or focus on loss. The next decades have the potential to be your very best so start preparing! Equipped with insight and free from accountability, the timing couldn’t be better. This program shows you how to become visible, vibrant and vivacious in a way that works for you. Invest in yourself to make your next chapter sparkle.
Not sure what’s next?
Because if not now, when?
How The Vivienne Project can help:
As well as teaching you about personal style, The Vivienne Project is a vehicle for reflection, self-recognition, and re-entry into life on your own terms. The Vivienne Project supports you to:
Reconnect with values and priorities after a major life shift
Build a new self-image after redundancy, retirement, or leaving formal work
Feel visible and current rather than invisible or outdated in midlife
Navigate the emotional side of change with more intention and confidence
One-on-one colour and style consultations are included and can be in person or via zoom
Links to optional resources if you’re inspired to delve deeper into various topics
A variety of diagrams, images, reading and activities to cater for different learning styles
Videos to introduce and establish the context for each new topic
A downloadable 80 page workbook to record your journey
What will I get from this program?
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Dressing to take your place in the contemporary world away from the workplace is exciting but may feel daunting at first.
You’ll receive creative direction and inspiration so you’ll never again be left wondering whether that item you like is right for you or not.
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Because you’ll have a file of clothing styles and silhouettes that work for your body shape, you’ll know what items to rework or cull from your wardrobe and what to acquire next.
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In your one-on-one full Colour Analysis you’ll receive a swatch of approximately 50 colours that all look great on you and an explanatory booklet. Learn how to combine them to best effect and how to identify any other colour that will work on you.
Learn what metal colours to invest in for jewellery and understand the direction your makeup and hair colour should take.
New colours change everything! -
You’ll gain an understanding of style way beyond basic body shape. Learn design principles so you can always put a great outfit together. Understand what jewellery, necklines, prints and patterns work for you.
You will be amazed at what a big difference these seemingly small considerations make to your look!
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Learn how to choose the right lingerie for your shape; the right underwear improves the look of every outfit and you will learn what works for you, unlike the estimated 80% of women who wear the wrong bra size and shape.
See some easy makeup techniques and skincare tips now that you no longer need to present ‘corporate face’.
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Some easy to follow but effective techniques will have you excited about why now has the potential to be the best years of your life (once you’ve removed the shackles of a conservative workplace).
This program guides you on a journey back to your core self, and that is the foundation for all great expressions of personal style.
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The Vivienne Project shows you how to avoid or move on from the slump of relevance deprivation and to retain the valuable aspects of your former career.
There are two OPTIONS for booking:
This is a comprehensive program to refresh your style after leaving a formal workplace and to eradicate any chance of becoming invisible. You have access to all online information in the program, an 80 page workbook and to THREE one-on-one consultations.
This is a comprehensive program to refresh your style after leaving a formal workplace and to eradicate any chance of becoming invisible. You have access to all online information in the program, an 80 page workbook and to SEVEN one-on-one consultations.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Absolutely not!
This program digs deeper to uncover the stories who make you who you are. Only once these are recognised and acknowledged can a personal style that is unique to you be developed sufficiently to feel authentic. Fashion psychology and fashion philosophy underpin this program.
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You’ll have renewed confidence in how you present yourself
You’ll feel liberated and less concerned with external judgement
You’ll be more comfortable with expressing your potential
You’ll feel excited to be beginning this new chapter
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The Vivienne Project is a hybrid program. There’s a significant online component that is self-paced and includes video, images, how-tos, a workbook and links to further things to inspire you.
Plus you have the opportunity for one-on-one consultations throughout the program as well. If you can get to me in Melbourne, I’d love to meet you in person for these one-on-one consultations. If we can’t meet in person, we can speak via zoom.
Regardless of whether we meet in person or online, I’ll be there to support you personally and inspire you throughout the program.
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Via email at any time, or by phone during business hours. I aim to respond quickly, usually the same day.
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Good question! There are numerous reviews on my website and numerous 5 star ones on Google, but if you’d like to see if we’re a good fit, I’d be very happy to chat with you before you sign up.
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Vivienne means ‘ALIVE’ - and this is an opportunity to feel more alive than ever!
Vivienne; visible, vital, vibrant, vivacious and visionary - these ‘V’ words are what we’re aiming for
Vivienne Westwood, whom I admired and who encapsulated vibrancy, vitality, vivaciousness and visibility, died near to the beginning of this project and I like the idea of this tribute
Why is Donna the right person to deliver this program?
A few things about me:
I trained as an image consultant, not a stylist. We dig deeper and acknowledge that the inner world is at least as important as physicality when creating personal style.
I’ve come from having a long career in formal workplaces where I felt like a square peg in a round hole (so I get it).
I’ve worked with and mentored countless people both in my former recruitment, training and project management roles and since, on their personal presentation.
The NGV invited me to present on wearing colour at their Colour: Educator Enrichment Program
I was President of the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI) Melbourne Chapter in 2015-17.
I was Associate Editor of AICI GLOBAL magazine for three years
I was a guest speaker at The Art of Getting Dressed event for The School of Life in both Melbourne and Sydney.
I was asked by Carly Findlay OAM to be lead stylist of Access to Fashion in 2018, her groundbreaking runway event for Melbourne Fashion Week, featuring models with disabilities exclusively.
I led a team to win two Prime Minister’s Awards in 2011 for our programs on developing people in the workplace.
I’m genuinely passionate about working with women to ensure they know they’re amazing.
I received an Australia Day Achievement Award (my second) in 2012 for my leadership and work in the community, both paid and voluntary, with marginalised and at risk people.
I’m a keen student of fashion psychology and fashion philosophy and incorporate these concepts in my work.
What people are saying…