Posts Tagged ‘corporate image consulting’

(Pics) Not Mad At Men’s Fall 2011 Fashion – Loving It!

Thursday, January 27th, 2011


Hermès Fall 2011

Although the airing date for the fifth season of the television series “Man Men” is questionable, what’s certain is the show’s continued veritable sartorial influence on fashion. Since its 2007 premier, menswear has moved from uber-casual and overly relaxed to a more gentlemanly approach to dressing. For Fall 2010 we witnessed the minimalism trend highlighting classic shapes; timeless neutral colors; and exquisite fabrics, mixed together with a chic, modern edge. Paris runways indicated this powerful approach to dressing for men will continue through Fall 2011. Designers revealed status-raising styles, which proselytized the theory of less being more. While the sartorial trademarks of the men from the Sterling Cooper advertising agency may not soon be visible from our living rooms, one thing is certain. Stylish men have the option to continue bringing that touch of madness into their closets.

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Posted in Body Analysis, Color / Colour Analysis, Corporate, Personal | 1 Comment »

(Video) Lawyers Need to Get Back to Dressing Like Lawyers

Monday, January 24th, 2011

Photo Credit ZZegnaOfficial

I’ve worked in the legal industry for more than 15 years and have seen a number of changes. The most obvious change surrounds business attire. Lawyers, particularly those new to the field, seem to have forgotten that their profession is one of the highest paying and most prestigious careers on Earth. Why else would those working in an industry where “smart” dressing is the uniform of a powerful and successful lawyer dumb down to a more slovenly approach to dressing?  I remember a time when aspiring professionals could learn a lot about dressing professionally from attorneys. Today, it’s hard to differentiate who’s the attorney and who’s staff. Clearly, dress codes for today’s lawyers are much different than they were 15 years ago.  Still, looking crisp, polished, authoritative and professional, even when wearing business casual attire, rules.  Whether choosing to sport a power suit or a relaxed look, lawyers should always dress to impress.

  • Take Pride in Your Look and Your Profession
    Take pride in your image as an attorney.  You’ve worked hard to earn that J.D.  Look the part.
  • Buy the Highest Quality Clothing You Can Afford
    Invest in a high-quality suits.  Avoid less expensive, trendier outfits. Classics will stand the test of time. You can always spice things up with accessories.
  • Ladies, Make Sure You’re Wearing the Right Foundations
    Consider the quintessential items that should go underneath; Undergarments. That includes everything from Bras and Camisoles to Control Tops and Body Shapers.  These often forgotten pieces can truly make or break your look.
  • Wear Colors that Flatter You
    Based on your hair color, eye color and skin tone, some colors will naturally look better on you than others. Take the time to find out which colors flatter you most and build your wardrobe accordingly.
  • Find a Really Great Tailor
    Fit is paramount.  Ill-fitted clothes look cheap no matter how much they cost. Get referrals from the well-dressed people at your firm.
  • Find a Good Dry Cleaners, Too
    Ask your fashionable friends who they use and try different ones before making a decision.
  • Wear Jewelry Judiciously
    Tasteful accessories and jewelry can add interest to any outfit. A classic, but understated watch is a most. 
  • Stay Light on Perfume and Cologne
    Like jewelry, too much of a good thing is not a good thing at all. Think about how you reacted the last time you were trapped in an elevator with someone wearing way too much cheap perfume. Don’t let that be you!
  • It’s Better to Overdress than Underdress
    Nobody will fault you if you dress too nicely. And you can always “dress down” if you feel overdressed in a particular situation.

Check out these videos to help you put together a powerful look.

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Posted in Body Analysis, Color / Colour Analysis, Corporate, Personal | 3 Comments »

Top Five Reasons Men Need Color Consultations

Saturday, January 15th, 2011

Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Contrary to what many men believe, a color consultation is not not a girly, “fru-fru” thing. To the contrary, having an image consultant analyzed your colors for maximum effect is one of the best investments on yourself you can make.  In a world where first impressions matter more than ever, wearing the wrong colors can be personally, professionally, physically and financially crippling.  Don’t believe it?  Keep reading.  We’ve listed five damaging affects associated with wearing the wrong colors.

  1. The wrong colors age you.  Wearing the wrong colors ages you without the gracefulness..  In a world where being young, intelligent, and yes, attractive affect your bottom line, the last thing you should want is a color next to your face that has you looking like an old-timer.
  2. The wrong colors give an unhealthy and ill appearance. Have you ever had a person ask you “Are you feeling okay? You look tired.”?  Perhaps you felt fine, but your stark-white shirt made your eyes appear to have dark circles.  Wearing the wrong color close to your face not only washes you out but drains color from your skin. Colors that are in harmony with your inherent coloring boost skin tone, brighten eyes and provide an overall healthier and positive look.
  3. The wrong colors will assassinate your image. Unlike women, men tend to wear colors whether they’re flattering or not.  Their logic: Like it; wear it.  While you may be applauding such boldness, there’s all types of wrong associated with this manner of thinking.  Consistently wearing unflattering colors takes away from you and your image. Poor color selections reduce your presence and your words. A boss or a potential employer may be missing your brilliance thanks to the brilliance of your shirt. Don’t allow poor hue choices kill your image. Wearing the right colors demonstrates your detail-oriented nature and boasts a polished and refined look.
  4. Not knowing your colors makes shopping time-consuming.  You’ve heard that time is a precious commodity. So why spend hours shopping for the right colored shirt only to get it wrong?   You’re saying, “No problem. I only buy white shirts.” News flash: All whites are not created equal. Choosing the wrong color white will make your teeth appear yellow and your eyes appear to darker. Knowing what colors suit you will cut your shopping time in half.
  5. “But that’s not what I intended to say.” Colors are more than the visual spectrum we see. Colors non-verbally communicate messages, which can be interpreted in defined ways, based on how the eye and mind perceive them. Black, for example, can mean serious, conventional and sophisticated, or sexy and mysterious. Additionally, colors by themselves create definite physical, psychological and cultural reactions; colors combined are even more compelling. Wearing the wrong color or color combination to a job interview or sales meeting can project an overall image of weak or, conversely, over aggression. Getting colors right is crucial when a specific message needs to be delivered.

Incorporating the right colors into your wardrobe is a sure-fire way to command attention and communicate style and confidence.  For a small investment, you will receive a huge return.

Obtaining a color assessment is easier than you think.  Thanks to technology, many color experts offer virtual color analyses, which provide the same accurate results as one-on-one consultations.  To find a color expert in your area, Google “image consultant” or “color consultant”, remembering to add your city and state within the keywords. Remember, when a peacock spreads it’s beautifully colored feathers it gains attention and admiration. Be the peacocks you were meant to be.

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Posted in Color / Colour Analysis, Corporate, Personal | 3 Comments »

9 Tips To Developing a Solid Professional Wardrobe on a Budget

Friday, January 14th, 2011

Budget may not be a fashionable word, but with the state of the economy, it’s certainly a trend. Trend or not, your apparel should never scream sale. Professional women, particularly those working in the financial and legal industries, need clothes that articulate success. Wearing well-fitted, quality attire speaks volumes to current, and more importantly, future clients about your ability to handle their affairs. Unfortunately, quality clothes and alteration costs are not cheap. So what’s a girl to do when she’s working with limited funds? We’ve furnished nine excellent tips certain to give your wardrobe a million dollar look without breaking the bank.

1.  Browse Boutiques.  Shop Major Stores

Boutiques carry cute, unique and cutting edge pieces.  Just the same, there’s a reason most conceal their price tags.  Turn to boutiques to launch ideas, but shop the look at the bigger retail chains. Department stores experience high merchandise turnovers.  In most cases, merchandise remaining after six weeks get marked down, allowing you to find great deals that can be worn right away.  Boutique sale items usually  include out of season or out of vogue pieces.

2.  Sign up for eBates and Receive Cash Back

Although eBates began doing business in 1998, it’s still not widely used.   eBates, the pioneer and leader of online cash back shopping, rewards  “big fat checks” or direct deposits to your PayPal account, quarterly for clicking to a website through theirs.  By signing up – membership is always free – and clicking through to any of the 1200 plus eBates links to shop, you receive up to 25% cash back. Additionally, the website offers hundred of cut-rate coupons which can be layered, meaning huge savings and cash back.

3. Sign up for eBay Cash Back

Like eBates, four time a year, eBay Bucks Rewards Program members receive 2% back in eBay Bucks for eBay purchases.  Members have 30 days to redeem their Bucks on eBay and must buy from Sellers who accept PayPal.

4.  Combine eBates and eBay to Save Big

Shop eBay through eBates and get paid twice!

5.  Shop Online Sample Sales

If you truly have champagne taste but a wine budget, online sample sales are the way to go. Websites like Gilt Groupe, Beyond the Rack, and Rue La La, provide “invitation-only” access to highly coveted products at up to 70% off retail.  Sales last for a limited time and feature many of the world’s most sought-after designers.

6.  Break Out Those Old Gift Cards

You know those unwanted gift cards stashed in your dresser drawer?  Why not turn that stash into cold, hard cash?  Sites like PlasticJungle.com and Swapagift.com make it possible.  Take the money you receive and treat yourself a new LBD; compliments of Home Depot.  Return rates vary, but depend on getting at least 60% of the original card value.

7.   Keep Your Receipt

You’re happy with your recent clothing purchase and 100% certain it’s a keeper.  Great!  But don’t get rid of that receipt yet.  Holding on to the receipt could bring you a price adjustment if your purchase goes on sale.  Check the store’s website or call the store a week or two after making your purchase to inquire about possible markdowns.  Most stores are willing to make the adjustment within 14 days, provided you have your receipt.

8.   Cultivate a Relationship with a Salesperson
Most sales reps work on commission and work hard to build a client book. Agree to add your name to her book if she agrees to set aside a high-ticket item the moment it gets marked down.

9.  Hire an Image Consultant

There’s no savings in buying clothing that you never wear.  Not only can a certified image consultant instruct you how to view clothing differently, but she will teach you how to compliment your physical attributes, improve your dressing skills, and enhance your skin with the right color shades of clothing based on your shape, age, height and lifestyle. Think of all the money you can save by purchasing apparel that you will love and more importantly, wear.

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Posted in Body Analysis, Color / Colour Analysis, Corporate, Personal, Petite | 1 Comment »

(Video) The Ugly Truth About Beauty in the Workplace

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

Forget everything you’ve heard about beauty being only skin deep. Two recent Newsweek polls reveal that beauty may be pocket and career deep as well. Both surveys suggest dressing to impress today simply isn’t enough. Many managers evaluate the physical attractiveness of job candidates too.

The surveys reveal the following 8 ugly truths about beauty in the workplace:

1.  Looks Matter at Work

Fifty-seven percent of the managers polled feel an unattractive (but qualified) applicant will experience more difficulty getting hired.  Sixty-eight percent believe that once hired, looks continue to affect how managers evaluate an employee’s job performance.

2.  Aesthetics Trump Education

When asked to rate nine character attributes, looks rated third below experience and confidence, but above where a candidate went to school and a sense of humor. With that said, it’s probably a good ideal to leave for last, or not include at all, that line in your Facebook bio about having a great sense of humor.

3.  Resume Surgery or Cosmetic Surgery?

Fifty-nine percent of hiring managers recommend investing as much time and money doctoring your looks as you do doctoring your resume.

4.  Caution Women – Being too Hot can Leave you Cold

Don’t believe that? Ask Debrahlee Lorenzana, the Queens woman who filed suit last month against Citibank, alleging the corporation fired her because she was “too hot.” Regardless of the veracity of the allegations, many professional women know all too well the importance of mastering the ability of looking attractive without being attracting. Sixty-one percent of the hiring managers Newsweek surveyed – 60 percent of whom were men – responded they feel it is beneficial for a woman to display her figure at work.  Meanwhile, 47 percent of those same managers said they feel some women are at a disadvantage for being too attractive in the office. A winning case of “Damn if you do; damn if you don’t.”

5.  Fat or Skinny, We Hate Hiring Fat People

Sure 75 percent of the American population is overweight – according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control – but that doesn’t stop us from discriminating against overweight people at work and in life. Newsweek reports “[2/3] of business managers said they believe some managers would hesitate before hiring a qualified job candidate who was significantly overweight”.

6.  We Don’t Like Old People Either

Eighty-four percent of managers believe some bosses avoid hiring a qualified job applicant who looked much older than his or her cohorts.

7.  In Certain Situations, ‘Lookism’ is OK

Sixty-four percent of hiring managers said they believe when a job calls for an employee to be the “face” of a company, hiring people based on looks is acceptable. But there was an inconsistency here. 60 percent of those same respondents said they would favor a law making it illegal to discriminate in hiring based on looks. When researched further, 46 percent of the public said they would favor a law making hiring discrimination based on appearance illegal.

8.  Don’t Say FML Yet – Confidence is Imperative, Too!

You will recall that both confidence and experience ranked first and second on the list of the most important employee attributes. That said, lots of opportunities exists for the regular folks.

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Posted in Color / Colour Analysis, Corporate, Personal | 2 Comments »

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