Wishing you a very Happy New Year - and all the success you can handle in 2011.

I hope you have had a very happy Christmas and enjoyed the holidays.  

With 2011 just a few hours away, I wanted to share something special with you.  For all the dreams and aspirations we have whether achieved or not, we first have to IMAGINE them.

'Imagine' is one word that conjures up hope, possibilities and dreams. Imagine what you could achieve in 2011 once you get clear on your goals...and the legacy you could leave others with. Imagine the dreams you have that you could realise this coming year.  Imagine what you could do for others to have them feeling and looking their best.

I wanted to share with you John Assaraf's strategies for getting what you want in 2011 and beyond.  This is definitely worth viewing.  http://johnassaraf.com/dl/happy-year-circle

Further more, I wish you a very Happy New Year and great success in 2011.

Warm regards

Evelyn

Visually Impress

Are you a presenter?  Speaker?  Speechmaker?

You’re got the content? check.

Rehearsed the delivery? check.

But is your visual presentation supporting you?

Whether you’re delivering a speech at a wedding or a keynote address at a company conference, we have a few tips on presenting yourself to ensure you don’t distract your audience with ‘visual noise’.

Let your presentation shine …NOT your nose, forehead or the parts where hair once grew.  It's hard to look confident and credible when you're glowing like a beacon.  A light dusting with translucent powder works wonders.

The Ghost that speaks...  are your features disappearing?   Remember, what has impact in the mirror, maybe bland at a distance or under certain lighting.  Eyebrows which enhance facial expression, often need greater definition; your face may require shading to look 3D.  Lipsticks on women need to be darker or brighter, and eye makeup more pronounced, especially if you're wearing glasses. 

Both genders:  wear non-reflective lenses.

I'm planning a ‘sickie’… does what you're wearing near your face suit your skin tone?  Unflattering shades will give your skin a greenish or greyish tinge.  Learn what suits you by getting professional colour advice.

Where are you?  Is your outfit merging with the stage background or wall colour?  Know in advance the colour of the background, and make sure you can be seen!  Conversely, do not let your clothing speak louder than you!  Once it's on, you can't just turn the volume down on a garment that's upstaging you.

First Impressions Image offers specific advice and training to speakers, presenters and entertainers on all aspects of their visual presentation.

www.firstimpressions.com.au

What NOT to wear at the office.

One would think that the following information would be so common sense - however I have found that common sense ain't always that common. So here are a few questions with answers to address this topic of what NOT to wear to the office...  as if you wouldn't know already! 
Q + A’s
Q1  What are your top 3 banned items of clothing for office wear?
Because this relates specifically to items of clothing – it is not possible to generalise on this question.  I will give you three items for women, and three for men. 
Women:
(1)  any item that exposes too much flesh ie midriff tops, low cut blouses/shirts, very short skirts, and anything that exposes bum-crack when seated.
(2) flip-flops and insignificant strappy sandles.
(3) very casual apparel ie  jeans/cargos, tank tops, and anything that would easily fit in with relaxed weekend activities. For some unknown reason – there are women who don’t know this, or just don’t care enough about their positions at work to care. They are either not conventionally ambitious, or ignorant of the opportunities they've lost for their career development. They don’t last long in an organisation where visual communication is as important as other mediums of communication. Men:
(1) An obvious casual shirt worn with a suit and tie
(2)  too casual a shoe ie boat shoes/or relaxed loafers
(3) silly ‘party/cartoon’ ties and socks

Q. 2  What mistakes do people often make when dressing for work? 
Generic:
(1) Over-exposure – too much flesh showing. 
(2) As above for women.  
For men: 
(1) Short sleaved shirts &/or shirts not long enough (resulting in the hanging-out look)
(2) Pants worn half-mast (somebody die?) 
(3) Open neck shirts especially when undone past the first 2 buttons..... hmmmm
(4) Wearing ‘down-market’ clothes. This certainly won't communicate to those with plenty of   ‘clout’ in the organisation that they are ambitious and want to be taken seriously.
(5) Poor grooming e.g. the daily ‘bad-hair day’ syndrome; clothing that needs attention &/or cleaning; unpolished shoes and poorly groomed nails (Women: include nasty chipped polish). 
Basically not enough attention to detail – which tells those decision-makers that this person could cut corners in other areas as well.
(6)  Men:  Obvious gold neck chains, bracelets and even facial piercings are not seen as particularly pleasing in most professional organisations.  A person can limit their career   opportunities with superfluous adornment such as these.
Q. 3  What clothing advice can you offer someone who wants to make a good impression at the office?
Whatever a person wears – or carries in business, must be appropriate for their role and industry. Business apparel should also reflect current trends. 
Note: Trends when introduced stay current over a 4-5 year time-frame. Fashion by contrast is an ‘in this year - out the next’ situation and these fashion items are useful to add ‘life’ and interest to the basic wardrobe items.

Firstly, decide on a realistic budget for your most visible professional overhead - your business wardrobe.
Buy basics like suits, jackets, pants (women: + skirts) that are very good quality – so that they last and look good wear after wear -  thus making it possible to build a wardrobe that works.
There is nothing worse than ill-fitting clothing.  If the shoulder/hip/neck areas fit well – then with minimal alteration the wearer can get the fit perfect by using a recommended tailor/alteration centre for hems, sleeves and side seams.
Add inexpensive fashion items like business tops &/or shirts in new season colours, as well as fun yet appropriate jewellery pieces (Men: incl. cuff-links) to create interest and allow for self expression.
Always ensure that hair, shoes, jewellery items and shirts or tops are impeccably maintained and up-to-date.  These support otherwise ‘aging’ business basics that are scheduled to be ‘retired’ soon.
Get assistance if unsure about what works for you – engage the services of a respected image consultant.  They are worth their weight in gold.
If you’re wondering if it is worth the cost – try this..... Add up the cost of all the clothes in your wardrobe you don’t wear (for whatever reason). NOW do you think it worth it?
Just a thought....!

                     Before                    After                      Before                 After

Ten Cool Shopping Tips

To ensure you enjoy the experience of shopping - follow these tried and true tips from shopping expert Evelyn Lundstrom.  

Keep your objectives in mind to dodge the impulsive buys

Know what you already have, what you intend to get, and know the specifications.  The specifications?  you may ask.  If you don't know them,  you need to see us.  These involve knowing exactly what suits your body shape and proportions, and your colouring - essential for smart shopping.  

Set aside the time you need

A credit card and a lunch hour are usually insufficient for making a smart purchase.  Leaving it to the last moment is like buying an umbrella on a wet day. Diarise the time needed.

Be awake, aware and alive! 

Tuck away a bottle of mineral water - dehydration dulls the brain. 

Ensure you do not have distracting and competing needs arising from hunger, tiredness or the demands of a friend or children.

Have a light meal before the excursion and wear comfortable shoes for the walking part.

Check out the store/s

Certain stores should set off warning bells almost immediately.  They will usually be inadequately lit and have few or no mirrors until you get to the change room.  It goes almost without saying that sales assistants have a target to meet and that you need to keep the purpose of your shopping excursion firmly in mind.  Tell them what you are looking for, what you need it for and your (correct) size.  If they don't listen - then leave.

Know your budget

Our advice is always to go for the best quality you can afford at the time.  A high quality, practical item which lasts and doesn't date can be more cost-effective than one which seemed a bargain at the time but gets little wear over its short life span.

Questions to ask yourself if shopping for sales items

•     would I consider buying it if it were not on sale?

•     am I compromising quality, fit or appropriateness for price?

•     will I have to spend too much on alterations to make this fit?

•     will I be able to combine it with at least two other items I own?

Be realistic about weight gain and weight loss

If you are heavier than you would like to be, forget about buying too-small sizes that will fit once you 'lose the weight'.  You could be diverting your resources to a hope rather than benefiting in the immediate, practical present.

Put function before fashion

Avoid clothing which follows the latest fashion trend unless you have the means to renew your wardrobe frequently. 

Dress for the shopping experience - or risk the 'Pretty Woman' encounter.
You will be given the service and respect your deserve when you step into a store looking well turned out. 

Oh - and take with you.....

• your colour direction reference swatch

• the shoes you need for the outfit/s you intend to buy

• your wits!

.....and wear your best supportive underwear.

On the other hand - you might simply prefer to call us and let us do all the thinking and planning for your best summer wardrobe yet.  Call us if this appeals to you.

Your Image - An Indispensable Asset

There are those who will valiantly debate the issue of personal image and it’s effect on their career advancement. “It shouldn’t matter what I look like if I can do my job" etc (Oh I’ve heard it all before).  
So I thought I’d give you a few reasons why your image is vital in the world of business.

• We tend to believe what we see. So ensure your visual style says what you want it to say
•  If you want to influence people – look like someone they’d want to listen to
•  First Impressions are lasting – reason enough?
• You’ve got to ‘sell’ yourself before you can sell anything
• Everyone needs an edge to be successful.  One way is to look outstanding
• When you look good you feel good

       So go ahead, be generous of yourself and have a resplendent 2011.

Dress for Success - not Failure!

So you do your job well. The question is, do you look like you can do the job? To achieve any business goal you need to dress up the product – and that product is YOU.  It’s your personal image, management style and visibility that make the difference to how far you get in your organisation. Are you reinforcing or undermining who you are and what you do? Your personal image is an indispensable asset when working on your career and way forward.

Next blog post:  'Your Image..An Indispensable Asset'