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

Have you been dreaming of a new you for 2010? Have you made a commitment to invest in yourself this year and to create the space for real transformation? Are you tired of being stuck in a wardrobe rut? Do you long to learn how to shop smarter and actually have fun doing it? Do you want to step up your presence on the job and ‘walk the talk’ of a woman who is truly dressed for success?

The ‘New Year, New Gear’™ Teleseminar Image Coaching Program was specifically designed for women, as an ongoing image coaching program providing wardrobe consulting, style refinement, empowerment, fun, accountability and image transformation…all from the comfort of your home! Each month, for an entire year (or 6 months) you will receive; a private one-on one image coaching session, a complimentary invitation to a coaching teleseminar, weekly e-mail exercises, insider access to resources and affiliates, discounted admission to wardrobe bootcamps and other events sponsored by Élan Image Management and much more! Get ready for a year full of education, empowerment, fun, fabulousness and most important, transformation!

Program Benefits:

•    Image Transformation: the more engaged you are the greater the transformation
•    The secrets of dressing to impress
•    Affordable and clever ways to optimize your wardrobe
•    Support banishing the negative self talk that keep you from looking fabulous
•    Learn the techniques to creating a wardrobe full of clothing you absolutely love
•    Tips and tricks to dress age appropriately
•    Access to tools and resources to aid your image transformation
•    Learn how to shop smarter not harder and find joy in shopping
•    Help with purging your own closet so you can make room for your new, ‘smarter’ clothing choices
•    Insider access to experts in image, fashion, beauty and design
•    Help goal setting with respect to your image. What are you trying to achieve this year?
•    Step by step guidance to keep you looking stunning throughout the year
•    The ongoing guidance and coaching from wardrobe/style expert and certified image consultant, Natalie Jobity

The program also includes:
•    Free audio (MP3) of all coaching teleseminars
•    Plenty of opportunities for Q&A
•    A new you, for a minimal monthly investment!
•    And SO much more!!

For more details and to register visit the Teleseminar page

What are you waiting for? Get your image in gear this year by signing up for this transformational, empowering and fun coaching program! REGISTER NOW .

The Image Diva, Elan Image Management