The body type is based on the natural shape of the body. It is formed by the bone structure of the hips and the shoulders. This is what determines the body type or body shape. By dressing in clothes that follow the natural lines of the body the best features will be accentuated.
Tag Archives: certified image consultant
Change Your Body Proportions with Clothing
Clothes can help give the illusion of how we want to appear. If we know how to choose the right silhouettes, lines, fabrics and colours, we will appear more evenly balanced and proportioned. The proportion and line of our clothing must work with proportion of our bodies. The key is to understand our own specific proportions in order to be able to find clothing with the lines and shapes that will enhance our individual body type.
What is a Balanced Women’s Figure?
In the real world we see the female figure in many shapes and sizes. Yet, unfortunately our perception of perfection is usually based on what female celebrities look like or what we see in fashion magazines like Vogue, InStyle and Harpers Bazaar. This can cause confusion and lead women to feel that they are too tall, too short, too thin or too heavy.
Often my clients ask me what the ideal balanced figure would look like. This is what I tell them…
A women’s figure is considered balanced when the shoulders and hips are approximately equal width and the waist is proportionately smaller. The legs are approximately the same length as the rest of the body above the top of the leg. And your weight is average in proportion to the height. Believe it or not, the average height for a woman is between 5’5” to 5’7”.
Since most of women don’t have all of these attributes, we need to learn to make the most of what we have. As certified professional image consultants we show our clients how to use camouflage and illusion to bring out their personal best.
Your Best Foundation Colour
Choose your foundation as close as possible to your skin colour. The best place to test this is at the jaw line. The reason we test the colour her
e instead of the wrist, cheek or forehead is because the skin colour will be different on every area. The colour of your neck will be different than the colour of the skin on various parts of your face.
Your best colour will blend into your skin tone at the jaw line and look natural next to the skin tone of your neck. Happy testing…
Choosing Your Foundation
The right foundation will last on the skin, be comfortable to wear and give you the right amount of coverage that suits your personality and needs. Choose foundation based on four things:
- Your skin type – knowing your skin type before you buy will save you a lot of head aches. It will make your foundation last longer and be more comfortable. For example a dry skin would likely want a foundation that adds nourishment and moisture to the skin. An oily skin would likely want something oil free.
- These days there are so many choices for foundation formulas. Although liquid is still the most popular, consider cream, wet-dry or mineral powder. Each foundation has different qualities.
- Coverage is something you should consider before buying your foundation. Do you want a natural look, a flawless complexion or something in between?
- After you have determined your preferences based on skin type, formula and coverage it is time to decide on finish. Finish is like the finishing touch. This is also where fashion and personal preference come into play. Do you want a matte finish, satin finish, velvety finish? There are lots of options. Choose the one you like the best or go for fashion.
Once you have narrowed this down then it is time to choose the colour. I will tell you all about it in my next blog post.
Make Your Make-up Last
Clients always ask me how I get my foundation to last all day. The secret – finish your foundation with a light dusting of translucent powder. With a powder brush, press the powder into the skin. Then dust off the excess in a downward outward motion.
Prepare Your Face for Make-up
A flawless make-up application requires a bit of prep. Start with a clean face using products designed for your skin type. If your skin is flakey, exfoliate as part of the skincare process. Finish with a moisturizer designed for your skin type. Let the moisturizer absorb for about 15 minutes prior to your foundation application. Moisturizer will create the perfect canvas for your make-up masterpiece.
How Much Cleavage is Too Much Cleavage?
As an image consultant, companies often hire me to speak to their employees about professional dress. One of the top areas of concern for companies is cleavage.
How much cleavage is too much cleavage?
Because we are all built differently it’s difficult to give exact measurements. However, the general rule for a professional look is that your neckline should be no lower than 2 finger widths above where your cleavage starts.
In a social setting with friends, choose the depth of your neckline based on your level of confidence, the impression you are trying to make and where you want attention focused.
The Wrong Underwear
You know, we have all seen it… the sagging or bumpy breasts, jiggling rear ends and the underwear straps that show. These are all examples of the wrong underwear. Although, the wrong undergarments will sabotage your image in any situation, it is even more of an issue at work. Why? If the desired focus is your product or service and you want to appear credible in your presentation of that product or service, then the focus should be on that product or service. The wrong underwear is not only distracting, it can make others uncomfortable. In other words, when at work, do you want people to be thinking about your underwear or what a great job you and your company can do for them? The right underwear will keep everything in place and help keep attention focused on what’s important at the time. Your silhouette will appear smoother and you will look slimmer.
The Canadian Way to Exchange Business Cards
As Canadians, we tend to adopt the customs of other cultures. And when it comes to the business card exchange it is no different. There are two ways that we Canadians exchange business cards the Japanese way and the European way.
The Japanese / Asian business exchange is universally considered to be the most formal. The business card is held with both hands on the top corners of the card. Thumbs on top. The card is received the same way holding the business card on the bottom corners.
The European business card exchange formula is considered a little less formal from a global perspective. However, it is still considered correct and many Canadians prefer it over the Japanese method. The business card is held in your right hand with your thumb on the top left corner of the card. Receive the business card with the right hand on the bottom right corner of the card.
Either way, take a moment to look at the card before putting it away.
