Monthly Archives: October 2008

My Five Fall Favs

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Dear Readers,

As the song goes, ‘Baby it’s cold outside’ and that means it’s time for Fall gear!  And what a great season for luscious colors, figure flattering silhouettes, and eye catching accents. No time complaining you have nothing to wear. This year you can stay warm, be comfortable and look fabulous. Just follow my lead.

1. These boots are made for walking!

The riding boot is super popular this year as are gladiator inspired booties. Boots are hot this season whether thigh high or ankle low, fringed, slouchy or buckled. Details are all the rage. The way to wear a tall boot is to tuck your jeans into them or to wear with fall’s skirts or sheath dresses.  Ankle booties look great with edgier looks like mini dresses or shorter length pencil skirts.


BcbGirl buckle boot

Steve madden pewter ankle bootie

2. Mad for Plaid

Yes I know, it sounds so staid to be falling over plaid. But this is not plaid as in school girl uniform or country favorite. This season’s plaid is fresh because it is used in unexpected silhouettes and color combinations. For example, a plaid vest or dress in a rust, green and red color combo is so fashion forward right now.

Bebe plaid belted dress

7 for Mankind vest

In the dress below, a plaid print meets a shapely sheath for a fashion forward look you can wear to work.

Banana Republic plaid dress

You can even find plaid in an evening dress—plaid can be creative and unexpected like this Thakoon designer dress highlights.

 Thakoon plaid designer dress

3. Have fun with Accessories

Multiple strands of metal chains is just the accessory to funk up a tailored look. The cocktail ring is all the rage now and the bigger the better.  Metallic leather gloves are an unexpected accent to dress up an evening look. The oversized clutch is also hot–check out L~Shandi’s floral embossed, bejeweled version below. The perfect hand candy to jazz up a simple ensemble. And if you’re really daring? You can wear a feather in your hair like Carrie in SATC—feathers are in for head gear. And let us not forget the cinch belt—definitely a must have in any woman’s closet.

Cara couture cocktail ring

Asos patent croc waist belt

L~Shandi Qui Qui clutch

4. Hello Corduroy

This fall fabric staple has an updated look because there are a host of very sexy jackets in this fabric everywhere. This is the perfect fall layer and in an hourglass silhouette? Smokin!  And yes you can still  get your corduroy slacks but in new cuts and finishes.

Victoria’s secret tailored corduroy jacket

J Crew peplum corduroy jacket

True Religion corduroys

5. Stand out in a bright/patterned coat

First impressions are everything, so makes sure yours is fabulous! A coat in a bold hue or pattern is a very loud statement and makes sure you command attention wherever you go. Remember the first thing people see is you and your coat when the temps drop so you need to really own one that makes you look and feel amazing. Cool colors for fall? Cobalt blue, purple, red, rust.  This  Hanii Y’s gorgeous purple plaid coat, is perfect outerwear piece that’s practical and chic.

Hanii Y plaid purple coat @ net-a-porter.com

The lipstick red sateen  trench coat from Bebe  is very flattering on almost any figure.

And this cobalt blue classic J Crew ‘Lady Day’ coat—always a winner.

The Image Diva, Elan Image Management

On Beauty

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Dear Readers,

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We have all heard that saying, right? But what does it really mean? What IS beauty, really? I took an informal poll and discovered the following. Some see beauty in the shape of someone’s body, whether thin, muscular, voluptuous or full-figured. Others see beauty only in the face. Others see beauty in more specific features such as great skin, long hair, dimples, freckles,  a certain color eyes, a thick mustache, long legs, or toned abs. Others see beauty in more intangible things such as a great smile, a twinkle in the eyes, an infectious laugh, a warm spirit, great poise or grace, or confidence.

What are your ideals about beauty? One of the things I’ve learned from working with my clients is that the way you judge beauty in others is the  way you will perceive they judge you. In other words, if you’re a person who only really values facial beauty, you will use the same standard on yourself. Consider how your beauty perceptions have shaped your own self image. Consider if you relaxed your rules about how you judged others how much more forgiving you would be toward yourself!

My clients are woman of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities and ages. And as an image consultant, I see it as my duty to tease out every iota of beauty within each of them so that they can then embrace those things for themselves. Women are especially hard on themselves. I encourage you to think of your beauty differently, and to cast a wider net around what it means to you. Look at yourself objectively—all of you: facial features, body shape, size, height, and all the little things that may make you unique and beautiful to someone else. If you have great teeth, then smile away! If you have great legs show them off! A strong shoulder line? On a woman this can be so sexy and yet powerful at the same time. Maybe you have beautiful hands like me (so I’ve been told) so they are always adorned with rings.

Whatever things (and please there will be many to pick from) are great about you, revel in them and embrace them and make those things stand out so brightly, that whatever inadequacies you feel about other aspects of your image will be moot. Make sense? Focus and enhance the positive. Present the best ‘you’ given all the attributes you have to work it. Come on, I know you can do it

We are all beautiful. Works of art really. When you look at the entire package that is you, it is wonder of creation!  Forget about what the media pushes as the standards. They aren’t real anyway. Create your own stamp, your own footprint and celebrate your unique beauty. Be the magnificent and beautiful being that you are!

© The Image Diva, Élan Image Management

 

Transitions

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Dear Readers,

It’s October, and the beginning of fall, a transitional season that symbolizes change for many of us. In a few weeks we will know the outcome of the Presidential elections. I for one am literally holding my breath until I know my candidate wins. And even so there will be more tough times ahead.  But even amidst this troubled and somber economic climate, we all still have to conduct ‘business as usual’. And especially at times like these your image must be on target. Now is not the time to slump or fall into a rut because you’re too busy worrying about how many points the Dow will fall tomorrow to be bothered by your appearance.

Au contraire! This is the time to get proactive and start exploring ways to shift your perceptions about who you are and what messages you are projecting to others by your image. And to take the required action to get your goals and image in synch.

In truth, we’re all worried about the same things and we’re all going to be impacted in varying degrees by the collapse of the financial markets and its repercussions worldwide. Those who survive and thrive in this climate are those who are emboldened and driven to ride this turbulent wave and surf through on the other side still standing. Those who exude success, confidence and self possession in spite of what their reality is. Those who walk the walk and talk the talk by the way they look, communicate and what they say. Those who realize they can harness the power of their image and appearance to achieve their goals, regardless.

You do have this power, once you are armed with the proper tools and know how to use them. Want to look like a winner even when your bank account suggests you’re not? Want to step up your image game to stay competitive in these unstable times? Looking for a new job and need a new look? Need to tweak your chic? That’s what I am here for and more. If you’re ready for a change, or better yet a transformation, give me a call.

I am offering a new ‘’recession proof’ your image’ package for the next few months. Contact me for the details to find out how you can refine your look on a tight budget.

The Image Diva, Elan Image Management

You Gotta Love Tim! Tim Gunn of Course!

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Dear Readers,

It has been said that Tim Gunn is the only man that any woman would welcome into her closet. We love Tim! He is compassionate, sincere, informed, relatable, meticulous about detail and he makes every woman he works with feel special. I’d like to believe that I am that type of wardrobe consultant.

Of all the myriad makeover shows on television, Tim’s show, “Guide to Style”  is the gold standard. This season he’s even made improvements to his series, most notably the replacement of Veronica Webb for Gretta Monahan as his side kick. Gretta is a huge asset in a way Veronica the always picture perfect supermodel never was. Gretta is down to earth and personable compared to Veronica’s aloof and super polished persona. Whereas the guests and viewers may have had Veronica on a pedestal, Gretta is the BFF you wish you had. She is the ideal backdrop to Tim and I love how she has a role in each show to salvage one garment and make that over. The result? This show is dead on and a winner!

‘Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style’ delivers tough love and fashion guidance to style challenged women in need of a makeover. Image is SO personal and in each show there is an emotional journey each woman takes to emerge on the other side as a new and improved version of herself.

Tim has been quoted as saying, “I want every woman to achieve her style zenith.” Only Tim would use the word ‘zenith’ in that context. Gotta love him! His hope with the series is by the examples of the different women he profiles, that viewers will be inspired to achieve their own signature style. If you’ve watched the show, you know that to get there often involves hard work, dedication, and a real commitment to transformation. There is always a pivotal moment in each show where the woman, ‘gets it’. And ‘it’ can be anything from understanding the root cause of her negative body image issues to realizing that there are clothes that can make her look and feel fabulous if she just knows how to dress her body.

How does Tim get there? By using his amazing coaching skills, by listening to what the woman says and what she doesn’t, by examining how she describes how she feels in her current clothes. This is the hallmark of a great wardrobe consultant. We have to understand the “core” of a woman; what are her passions, her preferences, her aspirations, her needs, her challenges as they relate to image and clothing.  Only by getting her clear about those and freeing her from her mis-perceptions and mis-information can she truly transform. This is my goal with every woman I work with. Which is why Tim Gunn is the consummate role model for me.

I encourage all my readers to tune into ‘Tim Gunn’s Guide To Style’ on Bravo TV. It is the absolute best ‘real’ reality makeover show there is. And…you just gotta love Tim!

The Image Diva, Élan Image Management
 

Are You Stuck in a Style Rut?

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Dear Readers,

Working with women I often get asked what advice I can share to get them out of some type of fashion rut. A ‘rut’ in this case can be wearing a default or what I like to call a ‘uniform’—you know that ensemble you wear day in and out because it’s safe and you’re comfortable with it. But you know it’s boring and you’re tired of your look but don’t know how to improve it? Or a ‘rut’ can be that woman who is stuck (fashion wise) in a decade or phase of her life. She is out of date and out of touch with her style and may know it, but again, it’s familiar so she sticks with it because of her fear of venturing into unknown territory.

Women can get stuck in many variations of these ruts and the only way to transcend them is to get back in touch with who they really are. If that woman is you, you need to ask yourself some honest questions: What do you like? What makes you feel good? Whose style do you admire and why? What  image would you like to project if you could? And most importantly, what is keeping you stuck? The next step would be to take an honest inventory of your clothes. Examine each item and ask yourself these questions:
 

  1. Is this item of clothing serving me?
  2. Is it flattering?
  3. Does it fit properly?
  4. Is it up to date?
  5. When was the last time I wore this?
  6. Do I have other items in my closet it can coordinate with?
  7. Do I even like it?
  8. When I wear this how do I feel?
  9. Does it just need a minor alteration for it to work?
  10. Is it in synch with the style I’m moving towards?

 

After this assessment you then need to start weeding out all the questionable items in your closet and assess what is left. You’re probably going to need to augment your wardrobe with updated pieces based on what is missing.

As an image consultant I’m here to help at any of these stages. In a subsequent post I’ll discuss the different style personalities.

The Image Diva, Élan Image Management, an image consulting firm