Category Archives: Image Consulting

Presidential debate 2012: Style Trumps Substance?

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As an image consultant who often works with professionals, I strongly believe in the coupling of image and branding as part and parcel of an effective ‘presence’. An important aspect of personal branding is one’s communication style. This includes areas like body language, gestures, demeanor, eye contact, poise, perceived level of command and more. A great example of how this can play out in a professional context is last week’s presidential debate between Governor Romney and President Obama.

I think this particular debate was particularly interesting in terms of  the candidates’ respective styles and I think it played a more significant role accordingly. The President’s demeanor was cautious, safe and not as commanding as he is capable of. I had the privilege of appearing on a TV segment the day after the debate on WUSA 9 (clip to come!) to comment on the topic of Presidential debate style.

In my opinion, Romney won.

One of the points I made was that the President did not show a lot of ‘presence’. In fact he had a diminished presence. Governor Romney by contrast came on swinging hard: lots of energy, “spirited”, often facing the President with strong eye contact, making more deliberate hand gestures, and on the offensive with his arguments.

I did not care for Romney’s forced attempt at humor or the strange “smirk” he seemed to have on his face, but it’s hard to deny that he did convey strength, passion and command. His eye contact when countering the President’s arguments was aggressive but effective and served to highlight Obama’s lack of eye contact. In fact, the President  looked down at his notes quite a bit which in effect broke eye contact with viewers and his opponent. This is not an effective use of body language in this format and only served to make him appear passive and/or nervous. To be frank, at times he looked plain tired.

In terms of attire, Governor Romney’s red diagonal striped tie worked really well for him and reinforced his persona that night. Obama’s mostly solid blue tie was a safe choice which actually reinforced his much lower energy that evening. I wish he had opted for some red in his tie.

The President is normally very engaging, commanding and well, Presidential. He did not effectively convey these traits last Wednesday.

For the next debate, if the President can bring his natural charm and wit, coupled with the passion, command and cool  he typically has and his gift of gab, grounded in strong arguments, he will trump on style and substance as he is well capable of doing.

Read my posts last election on campaign style: Presidential Campaign 2008: First Lady Style, Style of Women on the Presidential Campaign Trail 2008,  Our New President, Michelle Obama and her Red Victory Dress.

 

Coming Soon: Step Into Your Style E-Course. It’s Free!

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I am pleased to announce the upcoming launch of my FREE 30-day Step Into Your Style E-course! This e-course will provide you with simple but effective ways to refine your style and polish your look right away.  Subscribers will receive a total of 12 lessons over the course of 4 weeks in their inbox. In other words, in this complimentary e-course, you will be receiving one new style lesson every three days for 30 days.

I developed this E-course as a way to provide women with a resource that is informative in a format that keeps them accountable.  It’s so easy to get off track from the goals we set for ourselves, image or otherwise.  So I wanted to offer subscribers to the course information in that is easily accessible and in digestible bits, so that over a month, they can get closer to their image goals, regardless of their starting point.

I have made this as effortless and easy as possible. Once you sign up (and again it is FREE), all you have to do is sit back and wait for your new lesson to arrive in your inbox every few days. Your “work” will be to take the information, tips and homework from the lesson and implement them step by step. If you do this, I guarantee you will start to notice a change in how you think about your image, and the way you approach getting dressed each day.

Within the lessons, I share various resources and links to help keep you motivated, inspired and informed.  My intention is that you will have time to absorb the information from the lessons and take the necessary action. THIS is the catalyst for change.

Lastly, if you stay with me throughout your month long journey, I will reveal a very special offer that will only be available to subscribers of this e-course. It is a Fabulous offer and I don’t want you to miss out on it!

Once my Step Into Your Style E-course is live next week, I will be announcing the link where you can access it.

Stay tuned my Fabulous Friend!

Natalie

Elan Service Spotlight: Wardrobe Makeover

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Are you one of those women who has a closet full of clothes but still feel like you have nothing to wear? Do you buy clothing and leave them hanging in your closet with the tags on? Are you a binge shopper? Do you keep clothing for a long time in the hope that one day it will come back in style or that you can fit into it? If any of these questions make you nod in agreement then my wardrobe makeover service might be just what the image consultant orders.

A closet ideally should be a reflection of the woman who owns it–however, this is often not the case. An important outcome of this service is seeing whether the clothes you do own are aligned with where you want to take your look and your image.

The ideal goal is for you to utilize and love ALL your clothes in your closet. After an initial consultation, I will review your current wardrobe for style, fit, color, relevance, coordination, and function. I take your preferences, priorities, lifestyle, tastes and goals into consideration so that the wardrobe makeover is customized to your needs. I will ensure you have key wardrobe essentials in place; purge items of clothing that are not in sync with your new image goals; and identify key gaps in your wardrobe. Continue reading →

The Truth about Style Transformations

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I want to talk to you for a moment about the transformation that results when a woman takes the time to refine, revamp or revitalize her image.

For some women, it just takes one style consultation session with me at the right time, when they are primed and ready to take action to achieve quick and life changing results.  This group is a lucky minority! For some women, transformation is slower, more paced, more trial and error, but successful nonetheless in the long run. I would say this is true for a third of my clients.

Still other women need multiple ‘sessions’ to make it ‘click’, for all the pieces to come together before they start to see the results they seek. This is probably true for the majority of women. For the rest it is a lifelong refinement, a continual tweaking, an ongoing quest and desire to shine as brightly as possible. I have a special passion for the ladies who recognize the value in investing in themselves this way and continually seek to up their style game.  Some of the most fabulous women I know fall into this category!

The point is the journey is unique and individual to each woman, pretty much like in life. I was a ‘late bloomer’ in most facets that give meaning to that phrase. I survived a very gawky teenage phase, endured a very self-conscious 20′s, and really only started to realize my brilliance physically and in totality much later in my life. Our journeys to self -acceptance and embracement are as unique as we all are and I wanted to take time to acknowledge and celebrate THAT!

Regardless of where you on your own journey, be present, be authentic and really go for it. Reach for the stars and push yourself to be as brilliant as you can. If we collectively take that approach, think of all the twinkling, shining, magnificence that we’ll manifest. Awesome!

Natalie Jobity, Elan Image Management, image consulting

Fashion Consultant: A Few Cool ways I Can Serve You- Styling & Skype

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I have had some really cool engagements with clients and it made me think this was a good time in the year to remind you of all the amazing ways I can serve you or your loved ones.  One of the offerings I have always had available is styling and wardrobe services for photo and video shoots. These can be for websites, book covers and book launches, professional photos or glamor shots.  So how exactly do I help you, you may be wondering? Well, I can help bring the team of experts together with a shared vision of making you look amazing. Typically, the dream team includes a photographer and/or videographer, makeup artist, hair stylist, and your very own personal image consultant–me.  I can help you select outfits in your best colors for the camera, which brings out exactly the essence you are trying to convey, in a way that flatters you and makes you feel at ease. I consult with you on how your hair and makeup should be styled and communicate the desired looks to those experts.

On the day of your shoot I am there as your advocate, making sure you feel at ease and of course look and feel fabulous. I loan accessories as needed as well.  In a time when our photos carry so much more weight because they are plastered everywhere-on social media sites like Facebook and Linked In, on your own website, as a representative of your company’s brand, and more often on the front or back of a book, you want to rest assured that your photo is representing you in the most favorable way. I would be delighted to be your fashion consultant.

I also want to remind you that I serve clients nationwide (and a few outside the US). In a world when we have so much fancy technology at our fingertips, it is really easy to be resourceful with a pc, phone and web cam. I have worked with many clients using Skype to critique their wardrobes, coach them on their image and even shop for them online. It’s amazing how much I can accomplish with neither of us ever physically meeting.  So distance is no longer an excuse for not investing in sprucing up your image. Neither is time, because tools like Skype make it really convenient for you to set your own schedule and relax in the comfort of your home while I refine and tweak your image.

Have questions? Give me a holla!

Natalie Jobity, Image Consultant, Elan Image Management.