11.10.08
Posted in Corporate Image, Style and Image Information
at 10:46 pm
Most women wear many hats each day. They have their mom hat, wife hat, work hat, play hat, chef hat, chauffeur hat, and countless others. They muddle through each hat change with limited success and have problems crossing the wardrobe boarders between hats. It is possible to develop a wardrobe that easily crosses between the many different roles that we play each day. There’s no need for a full costume change, simply adding or subtracting a few key pieces is all that’s needed.
Reorganize Your Mind and Your Closet
Stop thinking that just because it’s a suit that you have to wear it together and that it has to be worn to work. Organize your closest so your work and play clothes are mixed together. You want all your jackets together…from jean jackets to suit jackets…all hanging together. This will help ensure that you get the most possible use out of them. This is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself. Often times you don’t even need to go shopping. You just need to reorganize your mind and closet and create new outfits that cross pollinate your wardrobe with work and casual clothes.
Permalink
10.27.08
Posted in Shopping Tips, Body Type Tips, Style and Image Information
at 11:49 am
Jewelry is a balancing act. It’s all about size, scale, and proportion. If you’re wearing huge earrings, skip the necklace and go for a fabulous bracelet or ring instead. If you’ve got an exquisite necklace on, go small with the earrings and maybe just do a cocktail ring. If an arm full of bracelets is your thing, counter balance them with fabulous earrings. You get the idea. You’re better off having one focal point, and one or two important pieces of jewelry than a smattering of small, meaningless pieces.
You also want to keep scale in mind when choosing accessories. If you are a very petite, small boned, 5 foot tall woman, you don’t want to over power yourself in a super wide cuff bracelet, or a very large, chunky necklace. Your delicate features are going to need more delicate pieces. Same goes with a very tall or large woman. You will need accessories that are more substantial to look in proportion to your body. If you put a very thin, delicate bracelet on your wrist, it will look ridiculously small compared to your larger limbs. This is one of the most basic tips, but I’m telling you, most people don’t know it.
Permalink
10.19.08
Posted in Shopping Tips, Style and Image Information, Fashion Tips
at 9:14 am
Excessive Detailing – The more detail you find on an inexpensive item, the cheaper it will look. Most top designers are very subtle with their detailing on their ready to wear garments. Obviously they go nuts with their couture lines, but their day to day items are normally very sleek. For some reason, when you enter the inexpensive stores, they have gone overboard with their detailing. Keep the details simple and no one will know that it’s Forever 21.
Bad Seams – Pay careful attention to the construction of the garment. If the seams are uneven or busting, the garment will never fit properly. One of the quickest ways to tell how well a garment is made is to look at the seams, buttons, and zippers. You will be able to instantly tell if the garment is even worth trying on. Don’t bother buying an item with bad seams, it will never look right and it’s not worth the price of redoing the seams.
Permalink
10.02.08
Posted in Shopping Tips, Style and Image Information, Fashion Tips
at 5:44 pm
In this economy, we are all watching every penny very carefully. Although the wealthy are probably able to continue their healthy shopping habits, most of us are seriously reigning in our spending habits, especially on non-essentials like clothing. Yes, Of course we all need some clothes, but you know as well as I do, that we don’t need ALL the clothes in our closets.
Our economy is in the tank, and our pocket books are tighter, but our image is still a very important piece of our personal and professional image. Over the next week I am going to be talking about a few things to avoid when dressing on a dime.
Shiny Fabrics
Shiny, inexpensive fabrics always looks cheaper than shiny, expensive fabrics. So if you are shopping at inexpensive stores, steer clear of shiny fabrics. As you can see in the images above, the picture on the left looks cheap, cheap, cheap. The picture on the right, however, looks beautiful and luxurious. The cheaper the fabric, the more matte it should be. Keep this in mind at all times when shopping on a dime.
Permalink
09.24.08
Posted in Corporate Image, Style and Image Information
at 9:12 pm
Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, IndyMac, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, and Washington Mutual are just a few of the financial institutions that have gone under or are on the verge of bankruptcy. It is no secret that the United States housing and mortgage crisis is having a significant impact on the lives of millions of people. As a professional in this ever changing, competitive financial world, your image is more important than ever. The slightest increase in your credibility, intelligence, success, and confidence can often be the deciding factor in landing a new client. With the training and help of an AICI (Association of Image Consultants International) certified image consultant, it is possible to take your image to the next level, to ensure that you have every advantage in this do or die market.
The recent government buyouts, bankruptcies, and overall downward spiral of some of the world’s largest banks, have left consumers feeling unsure of their investments and skeptical about where they should invest. For financial professionals, your image is one of the few things that you can control, and now is the perfect time to make sure it is not letting you down. It is essential that you and your team are sending the right message to your existing and potential clients. Investors need to feel confident that you and your team are professional, experienced, successful, and knowledgeable about the changing market. They want to know that you will pay attention to every detail of their account to make sure their money is invested wisely. The current market leaves no room for error. Thus, your image is a key part of your success.
Enlisting the help of an AICI certified image consultant will help ensure that your image is immaculate and reflects your overall experience and expertise. An image consultant can help you understand:
· How your image can improve your company brand, increase your career advancement, credibility, and energy levels; · How to create visual authority to achieve better business results;· Understand your unique body type and coloring to find clothing that fits perfectly and establishes you as an expert;· How to look more credible and professional in any situation through body language and business etiquette;· How to identify the most common image blunders that financial professionals make and how to avoid them;· What your dress code actually means and how to dress with ease and confidence every day.
By enlisting the help of a professional image consultant that offers individual or group instruction, you will receive proven tips, guidelines, and practical examples to ensure that any financial professional will feel more self confident, up to date, put together, polished, and professional. In this imploding financial market, ignoring your image and letting it slip with your company will ultimately lead to your failure. Consumers need confidence and if your image does not project confidence and credibility, they will take their money elsewhere. More than any other time in recent years, this market requires a confident, credible image. An AICI certified image consultant can help you weather this financial storm with ease. Visit www.aici.org to find a certified image professional in your area.
Permalink
09.22.08
Posted in Style Training, Style and Image Information
at 10:01 am
Are you looking to get started in a career as a stylist, image consultant, or personal shopper? Well here’s your chance.
Erin Stafford, former celebrity stylist and Orange County’s top image consultant and personal shopper is offering a comprehensive two day training program for aspiring fashionistas.
You will learn:
The key components of styling:
How to build your portfolio, where to shop, how to shop strategically, building your contact base, how to work a photo shoot (how to set up, what to do, where to begin, and how to do it quickly), pulling clothes, returns, fittings, basic tailoring, and building your kit.
The key components of image consulting:
Basic color and style analysis, body type analysis, wardrobe planning, personal shopping, working with a variety of clients, creating product for increased sales, and developing strategic alliances.
General business components:
How to start your business from the ground up, learn how to market yourself and find a niche, learn about the different revenue streams available to stylists and image consultants.
Walk away with the tools and confidence to start your own successful personal styling business.
Upcoming Class Schedule:
October 18-19, Costa Mesa
January 16-17, Costa Mesa
More classes will be added soon!
Fee:
$1200 per two day training
Includes instruction and materials
Spots are filling up. Call today to sign up for this invaluable, small group training and get your career jumpstarted today. Email for full course description and more information.
I look forward to helping you discover this fabulous, rewarding, and profitable career.
Erin Stafford
erin@erinstafford.com
www.erinstafford.com
Permalink
08.31.08
Posted in Body Type Tips, Style and Image Information
at 9:13 am
Most of the time women with narrow shoulders are bigger down below. Therefore it’s all about balance! You will want to broaden your shoulders through wider necklines, square necklines, lighter colors, etc. Here are a few key tips to remember.
Narrow Shoulders
- Choose narrower bottoms over fuller bottoms
- Choose diagonal lines that angle outward at the shoulder
- Choose wider, square, or horizontally shaped necklines
Permalink
08.28.08
Posted in Body Type Tips, Style and Image Information
at 9:19 am
Short Neck
- Choose shorter earrings over longer ones
- Avoid turtlenecks
- Choose longer necklaces over chokers
- Choose deeper necklines
Long Neck
- Tie scarves in a choker fashion
- Wear higher necklines instead of deeper ones
- Choose shorter necklaces instead of longer ones
- Choose longer earrings over shorter ones
We all have figure variations, and over the next few weeks I am going to be providing tips for some of the most common and a few uncommon figure variations. Enjoy!
Permalink
08.06.08
Posted in Shopping Tips, Style and Image Information, Baby Boomer Fashion
at 2:30 pm
The key to a successful shopping trip is having direction. Know what you’re looking for in order to shop with precision. When working as a stylist, I always know what look I am trying to achieve for a photo shoot, movie premiere, or commercial. I get a brief from the art director or from a client’s publicist and that sets me in the right direction. The brief will help me figure out if the look should be sweet, edgy, funny, etc. Obviously different designers would be used for each look. For example, you’d never use out Dolce & Gabbana for a sweet look…only the most sexy.
The same can work for you when you’re out shopping on your own. What look are you trying to achieve? How do you want people to think of you? Remember you? Seek out those stores and designers that will help convey that image. If you ever need any guidance or specific stores/designers for a look, you can always call me, your personal stylist, and I will give you a list to work with. Happy shopping!
Permalink
07.15.08
Posted in Quick Fixes, Style and Image Information, Fashion Tips
at 10:40 pm
Do you ever have one of those moments where you’re already running late for an event, you’re standing in your underwear in your closet, you’ve already tried on five outfits, your heart is racing, and you’re starting to sweat. You feel like you’re never going to find something to wear, your makeup is running, and all you want to do is lay on your bed and cry? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.
I recently had an anxiety attack of a different sort, but wow, they are intense. I now know what my clients feel like when they tell me shopping or putting outfits together gives them anxiety. Isn’t it great that there are people out there, like myself and other AICI image consultants, that can relieve you from all the anxiety you face with your style, wardrobe, and clothing choices.
Getting dressed shouldn’t be an anxiety ridden event every day. If it is for you, do yourself a favor and hire an image consultant to help you put 5 foolproof outfits together. It will be worth every penny. That way, the next time you’re in a bind, you can just look at your cheat sheet of pictures and throw on one of your perfectly put together outfits!
Here’s to no more style anxiety! There are so many other things to worry about.
Permalink