I’ve noticed that some women are afraid to wear color. They hide behind neutrals, blacks and browns because they feel color can and may draw unwanted attention. Color can be magical. Seeing a flash of color emerge from a largely monochromatic crowd is energizing, like a breath of fresh air. Your clothes should work in harmony and balance with your skin, hair, and eyes.

Wearing the right color has so many benefits

You’ll look younger: When you wear color near your face, the light reflects it upwards. When you wear the right colors, people will see more of you than the clothes you are wearing.

A well-coordinated closet: Most women wear only 20 percent of thier wardrobe 80 percent of the time. Understanding your own coloring will ensure a wardrobe with always the right color combinations to wear.

Shopping will be easier: Once you know what colors suit you, you will buy only the right colors to wear.

Control over your message: There are psychological aspects to color. You can communicate clearly how you feel and what your dominant thoughts are with the use of color.

By knowing what colors flatter and compliment you, you will gain confidence, the choice of colors become second nature and you will be on an exciting path to a new you.

“A badly dressed woman, you remember the clothes. A well dressed woman, you remember the woman.”

Coco Chanel

A Career Choice

 I looked at all of my skills, strengths and talents as I mapped out the next 5 to 10 years of my life. I desired a career that would allow me to integrate all of my special talents and skills into a laser beam and defined focal point. I had just graduated with a B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in public relations, I enjoyed my corporate stint in marketing, my skills in being a makeup artist had funded my college expenses throughout previous years and I enjoyed complete freedom of creative expression behind the scenes at fashion shows after experiencing life myself on the runway. I loved my graphic design and advertising classes. I learned line, design, color, texture, and understanding how to use particular media to grab attention. I was torn. I could do fashion PR I thought. I could help position fashion designers in front of editors and get them the attention and recognition they deserved for their work of art. Or I could continue on as a makeup artist, making my way into the agency world of advertising execs, models, photographers and designers. I could do graphic design. I loved seeing my ideas turn into something tangible. I was stuck. Or maybe I could finagle my way back into the corporate scene and see what wall my ladder would finally rest against. Oh! None of those felt quite right. I did not want to be a jack of all trades, but a master of one. I had to think. I had to dream. What did I truly want? Where were all of these experiences leading me? What path was calling out to me that I had not for once stepped back and looked at? I loved fashion, style, beauty, communications, public relations, marketing, advertising, global and international relations, creative expression, and business. Where could I be and provide the most value?

As I studied the trends and forecasts of the marketplace (special skills of P.R. people…trend spotting), it occurred to me that I would soon see a wave of women in the corporate sector finding their way out to pursue a lifestyle that resonated with their purpose, mission, goals and dreams. More and more women would start small businesses of their own. They would take their skills from landing that first corporate job in the 80s and share their special knowledge; to dos and not to dos, to the generations coming behind them. Hmmmm. My thoughts raced.  I understood that communicating a clear and distinct and defined message is the most, if not the important tool in marketing a small business. A defined and distinct message is as special and as unique as the individual spreading the message. I kept thinking. My brain wheels continued to turn.  In order to communicate this message, one must grab attention; the first rule in advertising and in marketing. Putting forth a positive first impression is an offensive strategy in the field of public relations. Using all the visual elements of color, line, design, and creating something tangible is the joy of the graphic designer. Feeling confident, have strength and personal power, making memorable and lasting impressions are the benefits of a well put together fashion style.

I asked myself. How does all this apply to the small business owner with a very limited budget? Is it cost-effective or even necessary at first to spend money on billboards, commercials, promotional pens, press releases, online and print ads, or even invest the time in setting up a blog? How can a small business owner cost-effectively make a positive impression, grab attention, have great packaging, consciously use the visual elements in color, line and design, project strength and personal power and communicate her message all in one? How can she sell her ideas in the most cost-effective way? Where is she already spending the money?

My Aha! Moment

I had an aha! Moment. I decided in the field of image consulting. After careful analysis of the field of image consulting, it occurred to me how I could be and provide the most value to women and men who desired to accomplish their purpose-driven goals and dreams. Image consulting would allow me to focus all the areas that meant the most to me and that I had special skills and talents in and most importantly to the small business owner in spreading a clear and distinct message in a memorable way. Image consulting includes all the areas of communications, public relations, marketing, advertising, graphic design, creative expression, and business.

Let me explain. One thing I had to ask myself was where is the money already being spent? And once discovered how can it be looked at in a fresh way to help a small business owner achieve her business goals and objectives? Let’s admit it…we girls love to shop. We find that “cute” top or “cute” skirt that “grabs our attention” and then we purchase it. I realized that an opportunity existed to use our clothes strategically to help us accomplish our marketing and public relations strategy. The opportunity is to use our clothes to communicate a clear and distinct message. The opportunity is to use our clothes as advertising by taken advantage of the visual elements of color, line and design to “grab attention.” Yet, I think so many women miss out on this special opportunity when it is practically every day staring at them in their faces.

Last night, I attended a poetry reading with a girlfriend of mine and a woman complimented my dress. I had apparently “grabbed her attention.” I said to her, “My rule is that anyone that compliments me on any article of clothing I am wearing…I made a promise to use that as an opportunity to share what I do.” She inquired my profession and I shared that I was an image consultant and helped small business owners create a distinct signature fashion style and cultivate their edge. We then had a conversation about how her daughter was actually working on a music career and could see how that would be beneficial to her as she progressed in her career. I gave her my card and we agreed to touch base at a later date.

Your Ad

Don’t take it for granted when you are complimented on what you are wearing. Someone has just said they liked your “Ad” so to speak. Someone has just picked up your message in the visual. The goal is to maximize that opportunity. Growing your business is not going to happen outside of you. Growing your business is going to happen to you. I know marketing execs and advertising execs and pr execs might hate me for saying this, but external outside media doesn’t matter if you have not addressed the “media” you wear on a daily basis. You cannot leave your success up to chance or up to a magazine you advertise in or your website. Although these are all helpful and valuable tools, they’re null and void if you don’t look like what you expect your graphic designer to accomplish on your website.

Everywhere you go, whether it be to Starbucks®, your local bank, a dinner party, meeting a client for lunch, joining friends for tea, believe it or not, you are wearing in that moment, advertising, public relations, marketing and branding. If spreading your message is important to you and you are not seeing the results that you would like to see, I ask that you first look in your closet. Its one thing to have a classic suit that is current in cut, color, line, fabric and design and it’s another thing to have a classic suit that you bought in the 80’s. Classics do expire by the way. If your clothes are outdated, out of style and out of order…that is your message. You are saying in a nutshell that whatever message you are selling is outdated, out of style and out of order and that it does not apply to these times. If your clothes do not fit, if the colors you wear do not complement your skin tone, if your glasses are old lady, your hair color is overdone, your jacket stops mid thigh emphasizing your hips, that is your message. You are communicating…”I do not get it.” The goal is to separate your self from your competitors by using your unique assets (physical, personality, unique history and background) to get your message across and position yourself as the best possible choice and resource against your direct and indirect competitors.

The great thing about the tools that relate to “grabbing attention” in the areas of marketing, advertising, public relations, and branding, visual and graphic design is that if it’s not working, you can change it. There is no need to have an emotional attachment to your clothes no different than you would have an emotional attachment to a flyer promoting your product that just isn’t working and generating the results you would like. If you are not getting compliments or being commented on on a daily basis, your “advertising”, whether in workout clothes or a formal gown, isn’t working.

Image consulting allows me to help you maximize the opportunities in your current wardrobe. Are there pieces in your closet right now as we speak that can add to your bottom line? I call these your investment pieces. Are their pieces in your wardrobe that with just the right creative expression can maximize the number of compliments or comments you receive on a daily basis, compliments and positive comments that can turn into opportunities to share your message? Do you have a look that is totally you, yet distinguishes you from everyone else? In a sea of financial advisors and real estate agents, or any other passionate profession you engage in, how can you visually communicate your story? The clothes you wear, your shoes, your belt, any accessories, your makeup, or lack thereof can say a lot. Is it projecting your best image? Is it conveying a distinct point of view? It’s not about having a lot of stuff to wear; it’s about always having the right stuff to wear.

You are already spending the money on clothes, use it to your advantage instead of just using it to cover your body. If you are not spending money on clothes or on learning how to buy the right clothes, it means you are not spending any money on advertising, marketing, branding and communications. If you are not doing that, it means you are not spending any money on generating new business or keeping the current business that you have, and if you are not spending any money on marketing, you are not making any money. Whether you like it or not…YOU ARE THE MESSAGE and what you wear can loudly, deliberately, boldly, consciously, and proudly express it.

Here is homework for you

• 1. Go to your closet right now and pull out items that do not fit, do not flatter, and are realistically just plain ugly. If you do not love it, you will not wear it and you hurt twice. Not only do you have something in your closet you do not love, but it is also taking up valuable space; valuable space that could be used for something you do love and that can add to your bottom line.
• 2. What will hopefully remain are items you do love, that flatter and that make sense. Ask yourself, who are you now in your current closet? What words would you use to describe someone else wearing a similar outfit? Does the answer accurately reflect how you want to be perceived? Is the message on point? Does it communicate your distinct point of view? Or will it confuse someone that finally gets to know you? Do your clothes brand you as someone whimsical, playful and carefree, yet deep down you are really more organized, disciplined and focused? Do you genuinely want the contradiction, and if so why? If not, remove anything that contradicts with your true message.
• 3. Stop obsessing over your weight. Practice compassion with yourself. Love and dress the current body you are in and then get out there and do the work. No one really cares if you are size 2 or 24. Just look great! J

During a recession, the time to cut back on marketing you is never. You are the message. Spread it (you) like wildfire and watch you and your signature style succeed.

Sometimes it’s hard to notice Dallas Style. Since in Dallas we are always in our cars hoping from one location to the next, we don’t have the benefit like other large cities as New York, LA, Chicago, or Miami in capturing unique and interesting every day styles. Here I capture women who are not afraid to project their own unique style and twist, regardless of age, height, weight or the time of day.

Style is everywhere and it’s everyday. Don’t wait for a special occasion to dress out loud. Fashion may be in the clothes, but style is always in the wearer.

The economy and the weather is no reason to let your personal style and image flounder. Loving who you are and what you see in the mirror is a great confidence-booster. Regardless of external circumstances, you know you’ve got the inner strength, grace and fortitude to handle any challenges that come your way. Practice self-care and you’ll add to your panache to accomplish your goals. You may be holding back on buying more clothes, but there is no need to hold back on style.

Who says you need a wardrobe full of clothes to look great? If you’ve got an ounce of imagination and a shot of creativity, you are well on your way to using your current wardrobe to take you places. Go from the bedroom to the boardroom without skipping a beat. You may have any of the season’s newest trends lurking in the back of your closet. Now is the time to project through your image that your ideas are current, modern and always up to date. Pull them out and i’ll shed some light on how you can use them.

Today in this post, I’ll show you how you can take one dress and create 3 different amazing looks.

Off to Work

There is a new look for the office place. It’s called “Be Yourself.” Unless you have to wear a uniform, why would you? Life’s too short for you not to inject a little fun into your 40 hour work week. I couldn’t imagine not being able to express myself for so many hours. The goal is personal style, but the catch is, it has to be done with respect for yourself and others. Follow that simple guideline and you’ll always be appropriate for the office space. What i’ve done here is taken a cotton Vero Wrap Dress from Forever 21 (only $27.50) in a satin sheen navy blue, paired with a black lacy camisole and a plaid blazer. Plaid is the trend this fall and we are not talking grandpa’s flannel print either. Wrap dresses by themselves of this sort tend to cut low and alone can be inappropriate for the office. What i’ve suggested here is to add the camisole (shown right) underneath the dress. Lace is also a big trend for fall so the camisole adds a hint of femininity in a professional way. With the camisole underneath the dress, you can keep your tatas underwrap. If it’s cold, or the boss’s boss is in town, you can add the blazer as an additional layer. The berry-colored bag also ties into our fall trend and picks up the berry lines in the plaid blazer quite nicely. Your pumps have a textured leather feel to contrast with the heavy sheen, yet works in alignment with the leather berry bag. It gives us a ”take me seriously”edge. Add gold hoops and gold bracelets to pick up the gold hardware on the bag and off you go. Meeting friends after work…leave the blazer in the car and you’ll fit right into happy hour. 

Girls Night Out

What I’ve done with our Vero blue satin dress is two-fold. Not only have I played with texture, but I’ve played with color as well. I’m a firm believer that less is more and working within a color palette and monochromatic range helps us achieve that. Here I am working with velvet against satin with a touch of metallic to keep our shine in line. It is true, you can combine satin and velvet or satin and suede. The lining of the jacket has a really cool “70’s Show” Retro feel. What i love most about this look is the shoe. Not only can one dress be worn in multiple ways but so can this shoe. Whether you choose to go with turquoise blazer, a royal purple sweater or cardigan or a combination of such in your accessories, you’ll never look tacky. It’s just a great way to get more bang for your buck. If you noticed as well, gone are the days when your shoes have to match your purse. Here i’ve maintained the consistency by allowing the accessories their moment in the spotlight. Compliments like “you look great” are definitley on the way. The message: Cool, Calm and Collected

Dinner with the boyfriend

What’s great about a wrap dress is that it flatters curves and creates curves where there are none. This satin blue color is entirely sensuous, so the goal is to keep it such by adding a dash of sophistication. A wrap dress is also a great way to play up your assets.  You can show off a hint of cleavage, decolletage, and your sexy legs but all in a tasteful way. He’s sure to go gaga over this look and why shouldn’t he? Every woman has a wee bit of a daring inner vixen inside of her and this blue dress is a certain way to express it while leaving alot to his imagination. Navy blue is also a great alternative to black. Only a confident woman can pull off the unexpected. I hope he brought his “A” game tonight. A cuff bracelet makes such a statement that i decided to keep the rest of the look toned down. Of course, with a jacket this bold…who needs the bracelet? The cuff bracelet is a great way to balance out the bold jacket. The red jacket is a feisty way to make an entrance, but once off…cuff takes center stage in a way that doesn’t distract form the entire look.  Our textured clutch gives this classic almost “Audrey Hepburn” look a subtle  and current edge.

Learning how to use more of what you have will save you time and money. No need to dash out to the department store everytime an event makes its way to your calendar.

In what different ways would you wear this dress? What are your thoughts on the ideas above?

Don’t be discouraged if these styles aren’t to your taste. Just apply the formula to your own fashion persona, color preference and body type.

When I am working with my clients, the very first thing we do is extract the gold in the closet.  What is gold exactly? I term gold to be your secure-making clothes.

Your secure-making clothes

• Cover the sensitive areas of your body well
• Flatter your skin color
• Always feel comfortable
• Look current
• Are easy to accessorize
• Never attract too much attention
• Are always appropriate
• Are always clean, pressed, and well cared for
• Allow you to move freely and to look good from all different angles
• You enjoy wearing and in some way relate to your personal style
• Always work for you-dependably
• Make you feel secure and confident
• Make you feel more yourself.
• They make you feel and look good regardless of your mood, body image, or environment

Your secure-making clothes represent the heart and soul of your wardrobe. Business clothing, social clothing and first-impression clothing will come out of this category. Now to determine which items are keepers to create secure-making clothes category, you’ll need to say Yesess to the following questions. Everything else should probably go-including items that are yessess but happen to reflect a long-dead and never-ending coming back trend or those that, for no reason you can put your finger on, just don’t work.

• 1. Does it flatter my shape?
• 2. Is the fit perfect or fixable?
• 3. Is the color right for me?
• 4. Have I worn it in the last two years
• 5. Do I feel great in it when I wear it?
• 6. Does it suit my lifestyle?
• 7. Does it make any connection to my Personal Style Statement?

You’ll separate your closet into four categories:

Keepers

You’ve answered yes to all the questions.  Your secure-making clothes will come out of this category.

Needs Alterations or Cleaning

Obvious alterations are lengthening, shortening, taking in, letting out, and repairing. Is the item worth repairing? A better-quality sweater with a bad snag or a hole or a good shirt with a small tear, can sometimes be made to look almost perfect.

It’s Out

Take pleasure in giving a gift to someone who needs it. Don’t give away stained or torn clothing-it’s tacky and belongs in the garbage. Try not to take on the attitude that you’re throwing money way-you’ve probably wasted more money on bad dinners that you will letting go of an expensive suit that no longer fits you.

The Undecided

Having trouble with a garment? Again, go through the list of questions. If you are still undecided, put the garment aside to rethink later.

Wardrobe Cleanout Rules

If an item is six months old and doesn’t work-then it doesn’t work! If it is three years old and still looks good on you and says something about your personal style-enjoy it, wear it! You are not just “cleaning out your closet.”

Hang on to high-quality shoes in good condition that aren’t wildly trendy. Even if they’re out of rotation for now, they could easily cycle back. Apply the same policy to accessories like belts and bags: Purge the trendy, inexpensive ones as soon as you can, but keep somewhat classic, well-made pieces for a future round. Store them away from your active wardrobe to minimize clutter.

8 out of 10 women experience this dilemma every morning, researchers say. What will I wear today? To work? To that dinner party? To that wedding? You jump out of the shower with 20 minutes left before you have to arrive at the office. You storm into your walk-in closet and before you know it, 5 minutes was over a second ago. You look at the time, discover you’ll be late if you don’t make a decision now so you reach for what feels safe; black pants, a white shirt and a black blazer. So what if you wore this early last week? No one will remember and by the way you are going shopping for a wedding dress after work since you don’t really remember where you put the dress you bought at Saks a week ago. You comfort yourself; you’ll just look for a few more shirts and jackets for work while you shop for a dress. Does this describe your morning?

With an abundance of choices, it is easy to get overwhelmed by all the styles, colors and shapes that are out there. Shopping has gone from a past time to when was the last time? With women only wearing 20 percent of their closet 80 percent of the time, it can be overwhelming and difficult to face what is in your closet, let alone a shopping mall or a local boutique.

There is hope by the way but it will require a bit of work on your part to enjoy the fruits of your labor. The first and most important step is to adopt a change in perspective. Within one’s wardrobe a life history emerges; our personal strengths, weaknesses, insecurities, and our ability or inability to let go of past experiences. Unconscious decisions determine which clothes we hold on to, what we purchase, what we wear and what we avoid wearing. Your closet provides a treasure trove of personal information. It is often a direct insight into who you are and who you are striving to become. Your attitude is the foundation for what is and has taking place in your wardrobe. The first thing you’ll need to do is practice forgiveness. Forgive yourself for the weight you’ve gained, for wishful thinking, for unexpected splurges and for unconscious decisions. When we do not forgive ourselves, we secretly hold on to guilt. Our guilt allows us to wallow in the choices we’ve made and it keeps us from making a conscious choice to move forward in our decision making process. It prevents us from enjoying the spirit of every look, feel and area of our lives. Understand that social conditioning, doubt and the desire to please others has led to unwise buys and impulse purchases. Practice forgiveness. Also, forgive those who may have pressured, cajoled or seduced you to buy.

I believe everyone has jewels in their closet. Pieces that are amazing and striking and that truly capture the essence of the individual, items that you love, that make you feel special and that make sense. One thing for sure is that those items will be difficult to see when buried under a mass of outdated, out of style and out of order pieces. The next thing to do then is streamline your wardrobe.

It’s time to evaluate your wardrobe and pare down. You may find yourself getting rid of more than you keep. What’s exciting is that what you have remaining is actually all that you need. You’ll be left with really functional pieces that show you at your best and makes it easier to get dressed in the morning.

Getting started

Enlist the help of a fashion consultant, a good friend, or relative- Emotional memories may conjure up from the past as you try to edit each sweater, shoe, or tie. A friend or consultant can keep you on track, be supportive, and lighten up the atmosphere if you become too serious. The physical help will make the event pass by more quickly. You may ask your friend for an opinion, but unless you are working with a fashion consultant, your decisions have to be based on your own knowledge, your own personal style, and your intuition.

Choose a time of day when you are feeling bright and alert-Make an appointment with who is helping you. Best time do this is on a “day off” morning. Don’t procrastinate!!

Make sure you can see what you are doing-If your closet is overstuffed or otherwise hard to navigate, move everything onto the bed-along with contents of relevant drawers

Make sure you have everything you need- Being prepared will help you in the process. Bags, boxes, or containers of some kind to dispose of clothes, paper and pen to take notes and make lists, tapes and pins for attaching notes to clothing items and adjusting hemlines, Your Style Statement and your body style analysis

Keep These Things in Mind

For many of you, revisiting your clothing will bring up emotional events and lifestyle changes. You will see your history played out in your clothing choices. Here is a list of other things you will find in your closet in addition to your clothes!

• Weight gain
• Weight Loss
• Other changes in body shape (as from working out)
• Pregnancy
• Your Youth
• Divorce
• New Job
• Old Job
• Lack of Money
• Money
• An old friend
• An old lover
• Your health
• A loved one who has passed on
• Shopping mistakes
• Your former selves (fashion victim, trendy youth, conservative, power era, romantic, eccentric, attention grabbing, creative and theatrical, and thrift shop denizen)

Coming Next: How to Start

What to pack for a Three-Day Trip

 
The challenge of packing–no matter what length your trip–is to be prepared for multiple situations without bringing along everything you own. Whether leaving for three days or three weeks, you can travel light and still look great. All it takes is some simple packing policies.

1. Pack things you love to wear

A trip is no time to break in that sweater with the tags still on that you haven’t found a single use for yet. If you don’t wear it at home, you won’t want to wear it away. Bring your favorite clothes and you won’t mind having less with you.
 

2. Look at the big picture

 
All separates in your suitcase should combine well with each other–another argument for packing the things you wear most often. And always leave room for a purchase or two.
 

3. Bring knit pieces rather than wovens;

 
They’re wrinkle-resistant. Also, dark colors tend to look better upon a second-wear than light colors. And prints, although less versatile, hide wrinkles better than solids

 
4. Choose two thin items over one bulky one.

 
A chunky sweater takes up a huge amount of room in your travel bag, but two thin sweaters layer for just as much warmth and occupy a fraction of the real estate

 
5. Keep shoes down to a maximum of three pairs, no matter how long your trip

 
That’s two pairs in your luggage and one on your feet. This rule, brutal though it may seem, also forces you to think through potential outfits and carefully edit your choices of clothes.

source: Lucky

Being well-dressed should not only be a mantra for ” the Metrosexual” and those alike, but also a definite statement for those who respect relationships and desire to take (all things concerning) to the next level. Fashion need not be burdensome, haphazard, or flamboyant, but with a few key pieces, you’ll be prepared for any situation and occasion.

Classics every modern man should own

• An Overcoat that complements custom suits and makes jeans look elegant
• A Single-Breasted navy blue suit and a gray suit, both in a medium weight that you can wear year-round
• A Navy Blazer
• Two pairs of good shoes-one black, the other dark brown
• Two white shirts
• One blue shirt
• Two polo shirts
• A slim dark-colored tie
• A simple black belt
• A pair of basic straight-leg blue jeans
• Several pairs of black cotton socks

Before you go shopping for clothes in earnest you need to decide what shape your body is–whether it is triangular, rectangular or rounded.

Inverted Triangle

Your overall stature is impressive with your broad upper body and narrow hips. Your challenge is getting the correct fit is to avoid obscuring your silhoutte, which needs to remain uncluttered. Men, like American sportsman Michael Johnson, know how to dress to show off their physique, keeping the lines  of their clothes simple yet striking.

Rectangle

You can walk into a store and buy an off-the-peg suit without any problems. However, it is important to ensure that the scale and proportions are right for height and build. Your choice of fabrics and patterns will also depend on your scale. Golfer Tiger Woods, has retangular build and wears his clothes with style.

Rounded

You have a contoured and cuddly physique. Your shape may be predetermined by your genes, or the force of gravity may have taken its toll. Fabric is your main consideration when choosing clothes, as your silhoutte needs to be gently contoured. American actor Danny Devito achieves this comfortable look while remaining well dressed.

 Right: Tiger Woods. www.Askmen.com

Express Your Super Star Quality

Real Style is not about wearing the best pieces directly off the runway—although it is a start. Real style is how you wear them, putting your own stamp on the outfit you choose to wear. It’s the little twists on the trends, the nuances, and the added elan that make all the difference. You want to create an air of individuality and separate yourself from the fashion pack. Personal style should be your goal when it comes to dressing.

Here are tips from Bazaar Magazine to finding your own style:

• Don’t dress in a look straight off the runway or all in one trend.
• Feel free to mix and match
• Don’t be stuck in one style; experiment with new looks. Or, find a signature look and be true to it.
• If you like it, buy it and wear it—with confidence
• Have fun with trends, but don’t be a slave to them.
• Know that keeping it simple is often the best way to go
• Add your own touch to a look, whether it’s a bow, belt, or brooch
• Do the unexpected. Don’t always wear things in the traditional way.