As an image consultant and make-up artist, women are always asking me how to make their lipstick last longer. I tell them to start by applying a concealer on your natural lip line. Next, line the lips with a lip pencil and then thicken the line onto the lips. Take your lip brush and blend the lip-liner onto the lips to soften the liner. Then apply the lipstick with a lip brush. Blot the lip colour. This method will keep your lip colour looking great longer.
Tag Archives: image
Personality Style VS Image
As an image consultant a lot of people ask me to help them define their ‘personality style’. I find personality style really interesting because I think we all know inherently what we like and dislike. The label, ‘personal style’, helps us to communicate about our likes and dislikes easily to other people. It also can create a topic for conversation. In some ways I really like these labels because as an image consultant it creates an easy way for me to describe an identity to a client, in just a few words. One of the concerns I have with these labels though, is that the client is hoping for a magical way of demonstrating this identity. And although it can be demonstrated effectively, this is just one aspect we look at as image consultants. To do a good job for the client, we also need to consider the persons lifestyle, their body shape, their inherent look… Ok, you get the picture. The ideal reflection of you will incorporate all of these aspects, not just the personality. A good image consultant will consider all aspects of what makes you a person then determine how to bring out your best while helping you establish an identity or image that will reflect you while helping you accomplish your goals.
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.
Hosiery Tips for Longer Slimmer Legs
This season we are seeing every kind of hosiery. Have long slim legs? If this is you, anything goes. Take advantage of any type of hosiery that suits your personality and lifestyle.
However, if your legs are not your best asset, avoid texture, designs and bright colour. These will emphasize your legs and make them look heavier. To make your legs look slimmer and longer, opt for darker colours that are toned to your shoes and/ or your hemline. For natural looking legs, taupe is more slimming than tan. However, for a modern look your first choice should always be the tone closest to the natural skin-tone of your legs.
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.
Olympic Etiquette – Is Vancouver Going Overboard?
It is an exciting time to be living in Vancouver. With the Olympics less than two weeks away, there is a buzz of excitement in the air and a lot of controversy. Over this past week I had calls from Global TV news and CTV news asking my impression of a etiquette / protocol policy guide that the City of Vancouver, created for it’s staff members. The media wanted two questions answered. 1) Is a protocol policy manual a waste of tax payer’s money? 2) Does the policy manual go overboard with the amount of detail and some of the items it covers? Here is what I said on CTV.
Olympic Protocol – Are We Going Overboard? Kimberly Law’s Perspective
My only regret? I didn’t try harder to get tickets.
Fashion Tape Quick Fix for Hems
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.
Wardrobe Malfunctions – Stay-ups that Don’t Stay Up
Ever have one of those really embarrassing moments? Although many of us think wardrobe malfunctions and mishaps only happen to celebrities like Britney Spears and Janet Jackson, it happens to all of us at one time or another… And recently it happened to me.
I was wearing stay-up hosiery. The kind with the silicone at the top, which is supposed to keep the hosiery in place. I was being escorted to my car by someone that I didn’t know very well, when suddenly I could feel one of my stockings sliding down my leg. How embarrassing!!! Yes, even professional image consultants have their embarrassing moments.
Although there really are not guarantees, the stay-ups are in good condition, they are more likely to stay put. To keep them in good condition longer. Wash them in cold water with mild detergent and avoid the dryer.
Don’t try to extend their life. As soon as the silicone starts to peal off, it’s time for a new stocking. The nice thing about stay-ups though is that often only one is ready for the garbage. By buying the same brand in the same colour, you mix and match as needed.
Another thing to consider is what you have on you skin. They tend to stick better if they are clean, and worn on clean skin without any creams, lotions or powders.
If you have any other suggestions to keep your stay-ups from malfuncting, I would love to hear about them.
SUCCESS? Not with this Dress
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:
- Notice the ripples on the jacket. Either he is pulling down too hard on the pockets with his hands or the jacket is too big around.
- His tie is also crooked. (Okay, these things happen)
- Shirt sleeve should extend about ¼ to ½ inch below his jacket sleeve for a classic business look.
The woman to his right:
- The skirt is too short. For business it should never be shorter than 3 inches above the knee.
- A little too much cleavage for work.
- The shoes would do better at a night club than at the office.
- The hemline of her top worn below the jacket might be alright in a casual work environment, but in a formal office it comes across too casual.
The man with the elf shoes:
- Assuming he is wearing a shirt, his shirt cuffs also should be ¼ to ½ inch longer than the jacket sleeves.
- With those shoes, his pants are too long. There should be a slight break at the bottom of the leg, not the rumpled look we see.
The woman on the right
- The sleeves appear too long, although it is hard to know for sure, since they are buried in her pockets.
Advice for all…
- Putting hands in your pockets ruins the line of the garment
- Don’t draw attention to your legs when you want attention on your face
- Shirt cuffs add sophistication to tailored classic attire
- Crossed arms send a negative message – she looks angry
- Make sure the width of your pant legs coordinate with the style of your shoes.
- Elf shoes have no place in the workplace
TECHNOLOGY VS CIVILITY – BY KIMBERLY LAW AICI CIP
In the Toronto Sun today there is an article called Rules of dumb, has our high-tech evolution resulted in a lower standard of etiquette? It mentions a situation where a teacher took a cell phone away from a student and then read all of her saved text messages in front of the class. Obviously he did this out of frustration over the perceived lack of respect. However, were his actions more respectful? He obviously embarrassed the student.
Catherine Bell of Prime Impressions shares some great comments in this article on cell phones and technology from an etiquette perspective. When asked if the rules have changed, she says that the rules haven’t changed, but that people’s perceptions of them have changed and that is just as important. “The whole idea of civility and respect is wanting in all environments,” she says. “They’re throwing out the window the consideration for the people around them.”
So I guess the question is, whether consideration for the people around us is still important. Or has society evolved to a place where taking other people into consideration by using manners and etiquette is no longer important? And if so will this lead to a continuation of civilization as we know it or will it lead to chaos?
Catherine Bell of Prime Impressions shares some great comments in this article on cell phones and technology from an etiquette perspective. When asked if the rules have changed, she says that the rules haven’t changed, but that people’s perceptions of them have changed and that is just as important. “The whole idea of civility and respect is wanting in all environments,” she says. “They’re throwing out the window the consideration for the people around them.”
So I guess the question is, whether consideration for the people around us is still important. Or has society evolved to a place where taking other people into consideration by using manners and etiquette is no longer important? And if so will this lead to a continuation of civilization as we know it or will it lead to chaos?
From my perspective as a certified image consultant and etiquette expert, it would seem that a society lacking in civility would be taking a step backward. Civility evolved over time to create order and respect in the lives of others and ours. However, lately I have seen examples of incivility everywhere. It is my personal belief that we need to get back to basics and consider before hand how our actions might affect others. Then act appropriately.
