Below is an excerpt of my interview with Leandra Roscoe DC’s Home Based Business Examiner columnist.

<<Image consultant Natalie Jobity is on fire. After many years as a marketing research executive, she decided to step out of her comfort zone and become her own boss, and she did it with a passion. For the past 3.5 years, she has run her business, Elan Image Management, from the comfort of her home in Columbia, MD, and is loving every minute of it.  She is now making inroads and more with her successful image consulting business all throughout the Washington region and beyond. How exactly did she get to where she is today? I sat down with Natalie to find out just what makes her tick, and why she loves making people feel good about themselves.

What she does:   She provides one-on-one image coaching, personal shopping services, closet audits/makeovers, frequent workshops on how to look and feel your best, and styling services at photo shoots.  She is also gearing up to do more speaking engagements to groups around the community: "I want to share my passion and what I know and love with everyone I can." She primarily focuses on women’s wardrobe assessments, but also services men’s wardrobe needs as well.

Goals for her clientele:  Her services are custom-tailored for each client, and knows that her clients have their own personal reasons for wanting to change their image.  "There are so many reasons why people want an image consultant, and I try my best to understand the needs of each client and transform their lives in the way they want. I really want to make sure my clients get value, feel good about what they learn in how they can achieve their goals inside and out. I want to get to the inner core of their essence as a woman or man.">>

To read the rest of the story visit: Business Spotlight: Elan Image Management

Like the other award shows this month, the Grammy’s red carpet is a platform to showcase the trends that are sure to flourish in spring. One trend I am really digging is the bold  pop of color. At the Globes we saw a lot of purple (Sandra Bullock) and cobalt blue (Maggie G). We also saw some stunning white gowns—no one looked better than Kate Hudson at the Globes! At the Grammy’s, Fergie gives us a taste of color in her Pucci colbalt blue mini. She looks stunning and stands out from the pack because there really wasn’t a whole lot of color on the Grammy red carpet. But there was plenty white, black and other neutrals.

Steve Granitz/ Wire Images

White: Lada Gaga made her entrance in a white Armani Prive dress. Read my critique on Lady Gaga at the Grammys.

Stunner Rihanna, mixed it up and wore a long Elie Saab gown that pretty much covered her up head to toe. This gown is overly worked and not flattering on the singer. Feathers, chiffon armored looking cap sleeves—we can’t see her youthful frame and it’s just TOO much. Sorry Rihanna not a winner.

Steve Granitz/Wire Images

Carrie Underwood also strutted on the red carpet in a white gown. This one I loved for her. Simple yet elegant. Fresh and fashion forward. Ethereal and angular at the same time with its one shoulder design. All in all a lovely balance of aesthetics. This is a feminine look with an edgy side, which pretty much describes Carrie.  Her accessories add a beautiful finishing touch. Carrie looks like she can float away on a cloud—so easy and effortless. Kudos!

Larry Busacca/Wire Images

Black was also a theme at the Grammy’s just like the Globes. Singer Ciara probably wore the most risqué design with her lacy peek a boo black Givenchy haute couture ensemble. I loved how she kept her makeup clean and simple and accessories minimal—the outfit had enough going on!

Larry Busacca/Wire Images

Jennifer Hudson wore head to toe black (literally) in a Victoria Beckham design. I don’t mind the dress, really. I like that as a curvier, larger size girl, Jhud goes for it. She shows appropriate cleavage and dresses to enhance her assets. But I think the dark black hose, shoes and hair with the straight long black bangs makes her look too somber though. Its all too serious—in stark contrast to Carrie. Jhud I love you in color—embrace it girlfriend!

Larry Busacca/Wire Images

Dark blue was also a hit at the 52nd Grammy awards. Taylor Swifts looks so glamorous and sophisticated in her off the shoulder, glittery navy gown designed by Kaufman Franco. Her dress fits her impeccable. Hair and makeup perfection. Authentic as usual. Wavy hair her signature . Love her long dropped diamond earrings. She looks so beautiful.

Steve Kranitz/Wire Images

Glee actress Lea Michele made her Grammys debut in a navy minidress from Romona Keveza  that was both sexy, stylish and fun. Accented with a full shredded chiffon skirt, one shoulder design and cinched waist she looked gorgeous.

Kevin Mazur/Wire Images

Neutral shades were also popular on this red carpet. Beyonce wore a blush colored gown. Read my article on Beyonce’s look . Singer  Katy Perry looked exotic in an Indian inspired,  nude, floor-skimming. flower-embellished Zac Posen dress. I like the idea of the dress but I’m not crazy about it on her. The color doesn’t work, the styling does not enhance and its forgettable. Snooze.

Larry Busacca/Getty

Pink whose performance was the hit of the night won my award for best neutral toned dress and contender for best dressed period. I love the scalloped tiers, the ombre color design from silver to blush to gray to black. Her body never looked better and this dress flaunts it. Way to go Pink!

  Steve Granitz / Wire Images

The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards live  Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, on CBS.

The Image Diva, image consultant and President of Elan Image Management

It’s red carpet awards season and one of my favorites is the Grammy Awards. This is one award show that holds my interest, especially on the fashion front. The styles on the red carpet tend to be more avant garde , bolder, more dramatic than the other shows and the outfits worn by the performers can be jaw dropping. I can’t wait to see what singers like Rihanna, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Fergie and Kate Perry will wear.

First Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga makes a statement—but do we expect anything less?  Practical, of course not! But it makes us all go ga ga that she dares to pull it off. And so she does. I’ve been writing about personal style and Lady Gaga is the quintessential Diva. What makes a Diva? The Diva seeks attention and that ‘star quality’ by being overly dramatic in her choice of cut, silhouette, color or design. The Diva is all about standing out so she will break rules and march by the beat of her own drum just to command attention and create shock value. 

Describes Lady Gaga to a ‘T’. Tonight she wears a white  Armani gown that looks like a pop up hamper was the inspiration. Ultra short in the front and completely impractical. Poker face (pun intended). Crazy heels, wires, sparkles, glitter all make up her ensemble. I’m not sure how she’s going to sit down in it but it’s all about making an entrance, right?

Beyonce: Beyonce looked more demure than usual  in a blush satin gown from Stephane Rolland. The neutral fishtail gown with train  showcases her bronze complexion. The dress features  contoured details and construction emphasizing her famous curves. True to style, she is rocking oversized earrings this time in bold gold to match her nail polish.

There is a lot going on in this dress; construction, design and texture are all competing for our attention. The seaming details, longer sleeve and plunging neckline are other accents. I like this dress but I don’t love it on her. It’s a little too much. I much preferred her in Ellie Saab at the 2006 Grammy’s. Beyonce’s sense of style is dramatic and in that sense the dress does not disappoint. But the earrings are overkill and jarring to me.

She may not have won my award for best dressed but the singer has already won song of the year for ‘Single Ladies’ tonight. Up for 10 awards she is sure to take home many more Grammy’s.  Congrats!

The Image Diva, image consultant and President of Elan Image Management,

This blog is about image and wardrobe. But it’s hard to write about clothing and not think about the hundreds of thousands of people needing to be clothed not to mention fed, and given medical attention in Haiti. The situation in Haiti is going to take every effort, every positive thought, every penny for them to begin to get back on their collective feet.

AP Photo: Jorge Cruz

Hope for Haiti Now Telethon,  is currently airing on almost every network tonight, January 22nd 2010. Artists have rallied together to help raise funds for those in Haiti in a moving telethon accompanied by live footage from Anderson Cooper. Yes the people need clothes. But perhaps more importantly, they need to continue to feel hope, to continue to be reminded that the rest of the world cares and is joining together in unprecedented ways to make a difference.

AP Photo/Matt Marek/American Red Cross

Sometimes it takes disaster to open our eyes. I think our eyes and hearts are open to the pain and suffering that the people of Haiti are enduring. Especially the children.

There are many ways to give tonight. You can call 1-877-99-HAITI, go to hopeforhaitinow.org or text the word give to 50555.

Give to clothe. Give to feed. Give to help them get medical care. Give to help the rebuilding process of the capital. Give for love of your fellow brothers and sisters.

The Image Diva, Elan Image Management

Happy New Year!

We’re in week two of the New Year and more significantly the new decade. How are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions? We all make them right?  My greatest wish for you this year is that you will not simply make New Year’s resolutions but New Year’s commitments. Making a commitment requires action and perseverance which are key to achieving your goals.  This applies for all your goals in addition to your image goals.

One of my goals is to invest in more unmemorable clothing. That may sound like a strange goal, but for an image consultant who loves color, prints and unconventional silhouettes, like I do, most of my clothing is very memorable. And memorable clothing is hard to recycle into different looks-not impossible, just harder. Believe it or not, I’ve only just started investing in a couple LBD’s. I never owned them before, now I have 3 for different types of occasions. I wore one twice over the holidays in two completely different ways–impossible to tell its the same dress. The first is in the photo below on New Years Eve where I wanted an edgier vibe:

The second occasion is when I  wore the dress on a recent TV interview for NewsChannel 8! Completely different context, same dress. Check out the link to my clip, you won’t believe the wonders of layering and a whole new set of accessories!

Back to you. Some of your goals could include buying fewer clothes, working with your wardrobe so 100% of the items are those you absolutely love, wearing and buying only clothing that flatters you, working on your professional presence or your personal brand, refining your signature style, getting comfortable accessorizing and adorning yourself in only your best colors. Need help with any, or all of these? My wardrobe consulting services can help you. I also invite you to read the article in my Examiner Column on  image resolutions for 2010.

I am truly excited about the wide open possibilities of a brand new year. Elan Image Management, has some surprises in store and what I know for sure is I’ll be on my toes! I’m getting my dancing shoes on. Will you join me?

The Image Diva, Elan Image Management