Visible perspiration is not only embarrassing for you and those around you, it can leave clothing stained and discoloured.
Disposable garment shields work well for both men and women and are widely available. They stick onto the inside of your clothing, protect your clothing and are virtually invisible on the outside of your clothing.
Leaving the house and just noticed your hem coming down? As a certified professional image consultant my first suggestion would be to change into another outfit. However, in some circumstances this just isn’t possible. Instead of pulling out the safety pins or the duct tape…
Fashion Tape again, is the better solution. It will be less visible and do a better job then a homemade remedy.
Bra clips (which are available under a number of different names) are a plastic clip which will clip the bra straps together, holding them in the center of your back. http://www.thestrapper.com
When your bra style has the option for changing the straps, clear plastic bra straps work well. They stay in place and generally aren’t noticeable even when you are moving around.
Fashion Tape can also work to keep your bra straps in place.
Fashion Tape is the answer. It is a two sided tape that can be used to hold two pieces of fabric together. It also sticks to the skin holding straps, plunging neckline or even hosiery… to your skin. Here is one resource: http://www.essentialbodywear.com
One of the things that I have learned as certified professional image consultant is that looking successful is not just about the garments that you wear. It is also about how they are coordinated, the garment details and your body language. At first glance these men and women look quite professional (okay, except for the elf shoes). They are all wearing what would be considered business attire. But look again, how many mistakes can you see??
The man on the left:
The woman to his right:
The man with the elf shoes:
The woman on the right
Advice for all…
Wardrobe capsules are a great way to optimize your wardrobe and build a wardrobe quickly. When choosing items for your capsule purchases keep in mind your lifestyle and image perception goals, your best colours and your silhouette goals. Although there are many strategies for building wardrobe capsules, the following formulas will simplify the process.
Wardrobe Capsules
Once established, your capsule can be expanded and pieces can be changed easily. When adding a new piece, be sure it can be worn with at least 3 other pieces in your wardrobe. Complete unfinished Wardrobes Capsules before beginning new ones. Wardrobe Capsule – video
Wardrobe Capsules save you time in the morning, Save space in your closet and leave money in your wallet.
As an image consultant, clients often ask me how to wear colour in a way that will help them look slimmer.
The most slimming colour combinations are when dressing in monochromatic colour schemes: This colour scheme is created by dressing in one colour and its own variations A simple way of achieving this is by tinting (adding white), toning (adding grey or the colour’s opposite in the colour wheel, its complement on the colour wheel), or shading (adding black). This creates different values and intensities of the same colour. When worn, it is commonly known as “tone-on-tone” dressing.
When used in a wardrobe, monochromatic colour schemes have a slimming effect and can make the wearer look taller.
They also create a harmonious effect and make the wearer come across as elegant and refined.
The unfortunate thing about dressing in monochromatic colour schemes is that sometimes they can look boring. One way to remedie this is by accessorizing with jewellery or with an accessory such as a scarf that adds a small splash of another colour. This will create a focal point and draw attention and add interest. When using a focal point in your wardrobe, be aware of where your focal point is drawing the attention. I always recommend focal points close to the face. This will draw attention to your face and away from less flattering areas of the body.
For business or pleasure travelling can be exciting and adventurous. However, packing to suit all possible situations can be tricky; especially now with weight and carry on restrictions. This can make packing and travel frustrating, even for the experienced traveller. As an Image Consultant, I have found that these packing tips help my clients lighten their load and maintain their style.
Choose a Color Palette
Pick two main wardrobe colors. At least one of your two main colors should be a neutral: black, brown, taupe, tan, or navy. While white is a great neutral, especially for summer, it may not be the best choice for travel because it gets dirty so quickly. All of your basic clothing pieces should be one of the two main colors. Next choose one accent colour that can be worn with either of the two main wardrobe colours. This way all of the clothing in your suitcase can be mixed and matched to look great together.
Stick to Three Pairs of Shoes
A casual pair of shoes, such as sneakers that are comfortable for walking is a good idea if you plan to go sightseeing. Dress shoes in a basic style are ideal for business or a dinner out with friends or family. If you are near the beach or plan to enjoy some warm weather, sandals can look nice and still let your feet breathe. There really should be no need for more pairs of shoes. If you go with neutral colors that coordinate with your basic wardrobe colours, the three pairs that you bring will match anything in your travel wardrobe.
Pack Lots of Accessories
Ties, scarves, earrings, necklaces and belts take up very little room in your suitcase, yet can change your look in seconds. For women, a pair of dangly earrings will dress up a basic shirt or blouse for daytime. A set of pearl earrings and choker turn that same blouse into the perfect evening wear. Bring a couple of different belts and scarves as well, since these can dramatically change how an outfit looks on you. Men can instantly change the look of an outfit by adding, removing or changing a tie. Sunglasses are also an important accessory to pack, particularly if your eyes tend to look a little dark after a long trip.
Go Reversible
Reversible clothing is a great option for traveling. It gives you twice the look without taking up extra space. Jackets, skirts and shorts are ideal for this type of treatment. Using a reversible bag lets you have two looks in one, as well. When purchasing reversible clothes make sure both colors and, of course, the overall style is flattering to your colouring and body shape.
Bring Sample Sizes
Instead of bringing full sized toiletries and cosmetic items, transfer small amounts into travel containers. Travelling is also a great opportunity to use those ‘Gift with Purchases’ and cosmetic samples that may be accumulating in your bathroom vanity. This will save space in your luggage, and lighten your load while travelling.
Follow these tips before your next trip and you will be sure to look stylish wherever you travel.
In my last blog post I talked about how grooming, certain clothing styles, combinations or the condition of your clothing will have a strong impact on the perceptions others have about you and how they can damage your credibility for business. However everything we wear and the way we groom ourselves not only have an impact in a business setting, they also have an impact on anyone who sees us no matter what the setting. If the garment fits the activity or setting, the garment will harmonize and we will look like we belong. If it doesn’t fit the activity or setting, it and us will be distracting and out of place.
What settings do you think the following items harmonize in?
Many of us would think the answers are obvious. A ski suit would be worn for skiing. A wool suit would be worn for business or at a conservative event. But what if the ski suit was worn to the beach on a hot August day? Although after thinking about it for a minute, most of us would question the person’s sanity, initially, most of us would consider the oddity of a ski suit at the beach among others in bathing suits and shorts. Now I know this is an extreme case and quite unlikely… I hope. But there are other situations similar to this that we see all the time. Basket ball shoes and yoga pants in fancy restaurants; Wrinkled and stained clothing while out on a date; or thread worn clothing or clothing with a fallen hem at a job interview.
As I mentioned before there is a time and place for everything. However, clothing that isn’t in-sync with its environment draws attention to itself and you and creates questions about your personality and lifestyle. For Example: Dirty, stained or wrinkled clothing worn out on a date or at work, may imply that that you are lazy or don’t care about yourself. However, when worn while working in the garden they might imply that you have been working hard or that you don’t want to ruin your good clothes. Or it may imply that you are lazy and don’t care about yourself. Remember, perception is always in the eye of the beholder.
When times are tough economically, the impulse to let go of the little things becomes greater. We may get up in the morning and throw on the first thing that looks comfortable, without giving it much consideration. Or we disregard our concerns thinking, “Oh well nobody will notice.” Or, “I am just running to the grocery store, nobody will see me anyway.” And then it happens. You run into that most important client or what might have been a potential employer. Unfortunately you never know where you will bump into someone important to your career. And although I truly believe that we all deserve time to let our hair down and to demonstrate our personal style, be aware that the impression we make, even during our personal time, can add or take away from our business success. I am not saying that you need to spend your weekends in business clothing. Every outfit has it’s time and place and casual clothing is expected in casual environments. However, certain items can be distracting, diminish your credibility and create a strong impression about you. During tough economic times, looking well groomed, coordinated and appropriate for the setting can be your strongest business asset. For a great business impression leave the following at home:
In other words… Anything that might be Distracting!
Association of Image Consultants International (AICI)
Institute of Image Training & Testing International (IITTI)
