Matte cosmetics appear flat on the skin. A dark matte product will absorb more light than a dark frosted colour, making the area appear more receded. A matte light colour will appear flat on the skin compared to a shiny, light colour.
Use medium to deep make-up colours with a matte finish on facial areas that you which to look pushed back. This application applied under the cheek bones, in the crease above the eye lid and other areas will add definition to your facial features.
As society becomes more and more global, the role of the handshake also becomes more and more confusing. Even though most cultures would agree that a handshake is the most universal greeting in a business setting, each individual culture has it’s local customs and it’s own interpretation of the ultimate handshake. Because of this it is important to take the time learn about the one thing that is agreed upon internationally, that the handshake is appropriate in any business setting upon and before leaving.
Darker shades of most colours are considered more formal. They help you appear authoritative, confident and mature. When you wear dark colours such as navy or charcoal grey people will assume you can handle t he job. Black is the most formal and authoritative colour. Too much black can be intimidating. When worn alone, dark shades are dramatic and unapproachable. For a confident, authoritative look a dark suit with a light dress shirt and a brightly coloured tie, a coloured scarf and/ or metal accessories make the most effective combination. For more on this topic see ‘Upwardly Mobile Clothing for Upwardly Mobile Women’
The taller and slimmer you are, the easier it is to maximize your look with the maxi. If you are under 5’7” or desire to look slimmer, minimize the maxi affect, by keeping it simple and close to the body. The Pencil silhouette will be your greatest ally. Make sure the fabric drapes well over the body and the hemline is narrow. The shorter your hemline and the more fluid the fabric, the more shape options you will have that flatter your figure.
Clothing should be evaluated and removed from your wardrobe if it isn’t worn within a reasonable period of time. However, even though you may not currently wear your accessories due to fashion trends, they can still have future value in your wardrobe.
Yes… accessory fashions evolve in cycles and what is now passé may again become the latest look. Before you discard your accessories consider your scale, personality style and most flattering colours. If these are attributes that your unworn accessories possess, you may want to store them separately from your current accessory wardrobe. Go through this accessory collection from time-to-time, to see if it will once again fit into your wardrobe. You never know…if you once loved it you may love it again.
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.
Jewellery such as a necklace or earrings can accentuate your positive features or your not so positive features. If you love the shape of your face and want to emphasize it, the easiest way is to wear jewellery in the same shape.
However, if you aren’t so happy with your face shape or a feature this strategy will only draw attention to it. For example: if you have a long face or neck (and are not happy with it) you may want to stay away from long dangly earrings; round earrings will emphasize a round face. To harmonize your jewellery with your features, repeat the personality of your features without repeating the shape exactly. Curves look great with curved shapes and soft lines; Angles look fabulous with angular shapes and sharp lines. They harmonize without emphasizing.
A workshop attendee recently asked me what the rule is for wearing different metals at the same time.
The rule for wearing gold and silver together used to be very strict – Don’t Do It!
The thought was that jewellery metal should match. Matching jewellery sets were very common because they made coordinating your outfit very easy.
These days many of the rules of dressing have relaxed, and so has the rule about mixing metals. Now, it is more about the overall look and personality of the outfit being coordinated rather than just one element. Although wearing the same metal will appear more classic than mixing metals, a more important question to ask would be, “Does the personality of the jewellery go with the personality of the outfit?” If the answer is, “yes”, then go for it.
Throughout history, clothing colour combinations have been made more complicated than they need to be because fashion has always dictated what we should wear. However one of the nicest things about being a certified image consultant is that I get the privilege of showing my clients what colours look great with their colouring and what they should wear based on their personality, body shape and goals. Instead of focusing strictly on fashion, they are shown how to dress to look their personal best with colour.
In general there are two types of colour schemes – related colour combinations and contrasted colour combinations.
Related combinations are colour schemes where the colours have something in common. An example of this is an analogous colour scheme, where colours are side by side on a colour wheel. Monochromatic colour combinations are another related colour scheme. These colour combinations refer to colours that are made from the same base colour. The colour is altered by toning with grey, adding black, white or a small amount of another colour. When these colours are worn together they appear tone on tone.
Contrasting colour schemes are colours that have nothing in common. They are on different sides of a colour wheel. When side by side they draw attention to each other and stand out. Complementary colour schemes are the most contrasting. Complimentary colour schemes are when the colours are exact opposite to each other on a colour wheel. For example: red and green; blue and orange; violet and yellow; another example of a contrasting scheme is using three colours all equal distance apart on a colour wheel. An example of this is would be wearing red, yellow and blue together in a combination.
To look more elegant, softer, more approachable or harmonious opt for related colour combinations. To appear more dynamic, fun or energetic dress in contrasting combinations.
I highly recommend playing with colour and creating your own colour schemes with a box of Crayola crayons or paints. Find the combinations that interest your personality and suit your colouring. Incorporate them into your wardrobe and the way you dress.
Association of Image Consultants International (AICI)
Institute of Image Training & Testing International (IITTI)
