10 Steps to Accessing the Power of Your Personal and Professional Image
The moment we see people, we make judgments about them. Our initial, split-second contact with a person is eye-to-body. We look at their face and clothes first, and evaluate them on a scale of attractiveness and whether we consider them friendly or threatening but it doesn't stop there. Immediately after that, we start making evaluations about their character, temperament and professional abilities. Whether we like it or not, our appearance speaks volumes about us before we say a word. Hence, your image needs to say that you are professional, credible, trustworthy and likeable. Here are 10 tips to help achieve this:
1. Your verbal and non-verbal communication styles must be consistent. Your appearance is your most powerful non-verbal communication tool. Consistency breeds trust make sure that your body language and appearance are consistent with your message. Unless the language of the body synchronizes with your words, you will convey a hollow message at best, and an uncomfortable, dishonest one at worst.
2. A pantsuit adds instant authority and easy elegance to every woman's wardrobe. Pair it with a classic white shirt and pumps for the boardroom or with a tank top and heels for a more relaxed look.
3. Don't wear clothes that are uncomfortable or do not reflect your personal style. Regardless of your personality and lifestyle, there are options available in building a professional wardrobe. Fashion-411 has an easy to use fashion personality quiz to help you make these choices.
4. As a businesswoman, you should project an image of professionalism while maintaining an updated and modern appearance. Purchase Trend or Trend-Classic combination garments that have been around long enough not to look faddish, yet create a current and fashionable image. If you wear all classics, you run the risk of appearing old fashioned. If you wear nothing but the latest fads, you appear to be victim to the whim of fashion. Trend or Trend-Classic styles will stand the test of time and are worth the investment.
5. Adding trendy accessories to an outfit is an inexpensive and simple way to convert a traditional classic look into a conservatively fashionable one.
6. Use the 8-count rule when choosing accessories. If you count the number of points of interest you have on your total outfit, the number should not exceed 8. Include belts, decorative buttons, rings, earrings, watches, glasses, pins, necklaces, embroidery, bracelets and shoe ornaments.
7. Invest in the right jacket. Every woman needs at least one great jacket that she can wear with jeans, slacks or a skirt. Even in a more casual work atmosphere, a high-quality casual jacket looks professional and works well for that last minute meeting when worn with a nice pair of trousers or over a dress.
8. Your hairstyle is the most important accessory you wear each day. Invest in an attractive, basic design and weight distribution, a professional color and cutting technique. A good haircut will pay off in easy maintenance and a polished appearance.
9. When available, purchase all three pieces to a suit – jacket, skirt and pants. This interchangeable set will make packing for a business trip much easier.
10. When visiting a company, find out what their dress code is so that you can dress accordingly. If the company has a casual dress environment, and your dress style is too corporate, you may be judged as formal or stuffy. If, on the other hand, they have a more traditional dress environment and you come dressed too casually, you stand the risk of not being taken seriously.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
What separates the girls from the Divas? Well you've come to the right place, and Diva Do's and Don'ts is the one-spot-stop to Divaness. Maybe you're a diva already, and want to share your ''expertise'' with others, then please submit some Diva Do's and Don'ts.
Do Put on sexy lip gloss.
Don't Get the gloss all over your face!
Do Spend time looking for the right makeup.
Don't Put on the wrong color of foundation!
Do Wear cute hair clips.
Don't Wear grandma hair clips!
Do Dress like a rock star.
Don't Dress like your teacher!
Do Wear a different color of shirt and pants.
Don't Look unmatched because you're too matched!
Do Do workout, play sports and have fun.
Don't Devote yourself to be ultra-thin (you're not a pad girl)!
Do Become familiar with the hottest new pop stars.
Don't Forgo your own individuality and try to be like them!
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Try on all of your favorite clothes. Take notes on how they fit and flatter you.
Then shop for similar colors, fabrics, shapes and lengths.
A great fit can make an outfit, just as a poor fit can break it!
A well-cut suit is one of the most flattering outfits you can own.
Remember: dark tones create a long line.
Choose a fingertip length jacket or one that falls mid-hip. Pants should be straight leg or boot cut and the hem should be worn slightly long.
Select flat knit, fine rib and jersey tops Choose pants with flapless pockets, flat fronts with just enough stretch for added comfort.
Know thyself - Know your proportions!
Skinny bottom half? Wear a full top over narrow pants
Short waisted? Wear a long top and short skirt
Petite torso? Wear a fitted top with full pants
Long waisted? Pair a short top with long bottoms
Show off the trimmest parts of your body by combining a tight fitting piece with a loose fitting one.
Any color worn head to toe in a clean, unbroken line will produce a dynamically slimming effect.
Don't worry if separates don't match exactly.
Tonal variations are a creative alternative.
Taller bodies can take larger prints and more contrast.
The darker a print's background, the slimmer the look.
Blouses: a collared shirt always gives a torso a few good inches and frames the face handsomely.
A slim v-neck makes the neck appear longer and is usually very flattering.
Boatnecks are great for minimizing waists and hips, while maximizing sexy shoulders. If your legs are fuller inside, try a side slit.
If your legs are fuller outside, a mid-front or back slit is a better choice. There is never an excuse for panty lines!
A thong is a girl's best friend - they even come with tummy control.
Bright colors bring attention to an area - make sure you wear them wisely and only on your most flattering body parts.
Dark hosiery is in this fall. While brightly colored turquoise and scarlet hose may look great in the store window, muted hues like teal and wine are much more flattering. Match the shoe and the hose color to tighten the look even more.
A shoulder bag tucked quietly under the arm is most flattering.
Stilettos are back and in spite of the discomfort at times - they make your legs look like a million dollars!
Then shop for similar colors, fabrics, shapes and lengths.
A great fit can make an outfit, just as a poor fit can break it!
A well-cut suit is one of the most flattering outfits you can own.
Remember: dark tones create a long line.
Choose a fingertip length jacket or one that falls mid-hip. Pants should be straight leg or boot cut and the hem should be worn slightly long.
Select flat knit, fine rib and jersey tops Choose pants with flapless pockets, flat fronts with just enough stretch for added comfort.
Know thyself - Know your proportions!
Skinny bottom half? Wear a full top over narrow pants
Short waisted? Wear a long top and short skirt
Petite torso? Wear a fitted top with full pants
Long waisted? Pair a short top with long bottoms
Show off the trimmest parts of your body by combining a tight fitting piece with a loose fitting one.
Any color worn head to toe in a clean, unbroken line will produce a dynamically slimming effect.
Don't worry if separates don't match exactly.
Tonal variations are a creative alternative.
Taller bodies can take larger prints and more contrast.
The darker a print's background, the slimmer the look.
Blouses: a collared shirt always gives a torso a few good inches and frames the face handsomely.
A slim v-neck makes the neck appear longer and is usually very flattering.
Boatnecks are great for minimizing waists and hips, while maximizing sexy shoulders. If your legs are fuller inside, try a side slit.
If your legs are fuller outside, a mid-front or back slit is a better choice. There is never an excuse for panty lines!
A thong is a girl's best friend - they even come with tummy control.
Bright colors bring attention to an area - make sure you wear them wisely and only on your most flattering body parts.
Dark hosiery is in this fall. While brightly colored turquoise and scarlet hose may look great in the store window, muted hues like teal and wine are much more flattering. Match the shoe and the hose color to tighten the look even more.
A shoulder bag tucked quietly under the arm is most flattering.
Stilettos are back and in spite of the discomfort at times - they make your legs look like a million dollars!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
The day of the wedding is perhaps the most-awaited day in the life of any woman and to look like a fairy queen is the dream of most of the brides. The bridal makeup is not only about makeup for the occasion but also about pre-bridal skin and facial care and treatments. It must be photography friendly too and thus, professional help is often desired to assist brides to look their best on this very special day of their lives. Correct use of colors and expert highlighting and contouring leave you looking as stunning and dazzling, as you want. Choose cosmetics that are long lasting, can be easily blended and have high pigmentation level for your wedding day and you are free to use shimmer and gloss to make you shine. Cosmetic colors should compliment your wedding attire yet you must also keep in mind that there will be lots of flash photography and blue-toned colors will make you appear darker.
Naturally beautiful is the best look of all times and warm and neutral shades go a long way in helping you to achieve it. Fuschia and blue-red lipsticks may end up giving you a vampy look while frosted and highly reflective lipsticks are too old-fashioned these days. If you really want to shine and exude warmth, use sheer application of luminescent cosmetics instead. Remember, rightly applied concealers and foundations are your best friends on your bridal day. It is always a help to know your face well - your skin type, your facial features, undertone of your coloring and what you want to highlight and what you want to underplay. So determine these things, well before the wedding day. Rehearsals don't harm you anyway and are very useful in successfully achieving the desired look on the main day.
For weddings in summers, spray your face with sealer after doing makeup so that it lasts longer. For make your lip color last longer, define your lips using the lip liner and then apply the lip color. Tissue off the extra color and reapply it. Seal it too and then add the gloss or shimmer. Be sure to take good care of skin and cleanse, moisturize, tone and protect it months before wedding. Don't forget to use sunscreens and sun blocks with vitamins and nutrients good for skin too. Coordinate the color of your eyebrows with your hair and use a firm angled bristle brush to comb them properly. Gray ash blondes can use ash brown shade to cover their eyebrows while redheads can use reddish brown shades or orange or gold tones depending upon the undertone of your hair.
The beauty sleep before the wedding is absolutely essential so make sure that you are well rested and well fed on the day of your wedding despite all the excitement, fun and anxiety so that you do not look dull and sick at the time of the occasion. Keep one of your friends nearby with all the little things that you might need for that quick touchup such as powder, hair pins, safety pins, lip color and gloss, paper tissue, Qtips and even a mild pain killer, just in case. Keep a second pair of very comfortable shoes handy so you don't look as if you are going to try just because your feet are hurting so! It is always better to check what hairstyles suit you well before the wedding, so you don't mess up on the day of the occasion. Makeovers are thrilling but try them out much before the wedding so that you don't land up feeling strange and uncomfortable on the big day.
Naturally beautiful is the best look of all times and warm and neutral shades go a long way in helping you to achieve it. Fuschia and blue-red lipsticks may end up giving you a vampy look while frosted and highly reflective lipsticks are too old-fashioned these days. If you really want to shine and exude warmth, use sheer application of luminescent cosmetics instead. Remember, rightly applied concealers and foundations are your best friends on your bridal day. It is always a help to know your face well - your skin type, your facial features, undertone of your coloring and what you want to highlight and what you want to underplay. So determine these things, well before the wedding day. Rehearsals don't harm you anyway and are very useful in successfully achieving the desired look on the main day.
For weddings in summers, spray your face with sealer after doing makeup so that it lasts longer. For make your lip color last longer, define your lips using the lip liner and then apply the lip color. Tissue off the extra color and reapply it. Seal it too and then add the gloss or shimmer. Be sure to take good care of skin and cleanse, moisturize, tone and protect it months before wedding. Don't forget to use sunscreens and sun blocks with vitamins and nutrients good for skin too. Coordinate the color of your eyebrows with your hair and use a firm angled bristle brush to comb them properly. Gray ash blondes can use ash brown shade to cover their eyebrows while redheads can use reddish brown shades or orange or gold tones depending upon the undertone of your hair.
The beauty sleep before the wedding is absolutely essential so make sure that you are well rested and well fed on the day of your wedding despite all the excitement, fun and anxiety so that you do not look dull and sick at the time of the occasion. Keep one of your friends nearby with all the little things that you might need for that quick touchup such as powder, hair pins, safety pins, lip color and gloss, paper tissue, Qtips and even a mild pain killer, just in case. Keep a second pair of very comfortable shoes handy so you don't look as if you are going to try just because your feet are hurting so! It is always better to check what hairstyles suit you well before the wedding, so you don't mess up on the day of the occasion. Makeovers are thrilling but try them out much before the wedding so that you don't land up feeling strange and uncomfortable on the big day.
It's party time, ladies. So play with all that glitz, glamour and sparkle you have been craving for and give in to opulence and the fairy-like shimmer dreams. Here are some tips and ticks to use, next time you do makeup for the party:
- Light base, foundation and cover assists you in highlighting your lips and eyes and also keeps you fresh all through the sweaty dance numbers.
- For a good base, wash you face with warm water and massage it with a tinted oil-free moisturizer mixed with illuminating products such as highlighters or shimmer dust available in the market. Let it set by brushing loose powder lightly on it.
- Skin illuminators are great at hiding skin imperfections and dark circles and give you a radiant glow.
- Smokey eyes are great for evening parties and make you look sexy and sensual at the same time.
- For Christmas parties, choose sparkling red outfit or the right shade of red lipstick that makes you look hot and sophisticated at the same time.
- For more informal parties, you may use subtle play of colors daytime makeup looks and may add a little eye shimmer or minty green as an accent. Omit the luminous makeup and may try a blend of pale pink and green shades.
- Remember, your personality and confidence matters more than you looks, so try the makeup only if you are comfortable with it.
- Rubbing ice on your skin for 5 to 10 minutes before applying makeup helps your makeup to last longer.
- Golden, bronze and silver liners add festive touches to your makeup instantly.
- For office parties, sheer use of blush can make you look dressy and yet polished.
- Pearly brown, gray and pink lip colors look classy and subtle at the same time.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
The Secrets to Looking Slimmer
Everyone wants to have that slim, beautiful body, but unfortunately it doesn't always happen that way. Weather we don't have time for the gym, or we just basically get lazy, sometimes fitness isn't always at the top of our list (even if we think about it all the time!). So here are some secrets to not being slimmer, but at least looking slimmer!
Wear Monochromatic Colors
Staying away from patterns and an array of different colors is a good idea because you don't draw so much attention to your problem areas. So try wearing no more than two colors at a time.
Stay Away From Baggy Clothes
Baggy clothes don't hide your imperfections, they make them stand out! The best thing you can do is wear clothes that fit you. Not ones that are baggy, but not ones that are too tight either.
Wear Accessories
Again, accessories draw attention from any problem areas. So try stacking up somebangles on your arms, a long pair of necklaces, or just a sparkling brooch.
Wear a Lower Waistline
Choose pants that have lower waistlines. Make sure they have a flat front and no pleats, as that will make you look bigger. The lower waistline helps elongate your legs. Make sure the pants are long enough and they don’t cut off at the ankle.
Belt Mania
Wearing belts can give you longer legs, if you know how to wear them. Position it lower on your hips.
You Can Wear Skinny Jeans as Well as Bellbottoms
You can actually still wear skinny jeans as long as you pair them with a voluminous top or a long blazer. Make sure to add some sexy hells. Bellbottoms are best worn with a fitted top.
Everyone wants to have that slim, beautiful body, but unfortunately it doesn't always happen that way. Weather we don't have time for the gym, or we just basically get lazy, sometimes fitness isn't always at the top of our list (even if we think about it all the time!). So here are some secrets to not being slimmer, but at least looking slimmer!
Wear Monochromatic Colors
Staying away from patterns and an array of different colors is a good idea because you don't draw so much attention to your problem areas. So try wearing no more than two colors at a time.
Stay Away From Baggy Clothes
Baggy clothes don't hide your imperfections, they make them stand out! The best thing you can do is wear clothes that fit you. Not ones that are baggy, but not ones that are too tight either.
Wear Accessories
Again, accessories draw attention from any problem areas. So try stacking up somebangles on your arms, a long pair of necklaces, or just a sparkling brooch.
Wear a Lower Waistline
Choose pants that have lower waistlines. Make sure they have a flat front and no pleats, as that will make you look bigger. The lower waistline helps elongate your legs. Make sure the pants are long enough and they don’t cut off at the ankle.
Belt Mania
Wearing belts can give you longer legs, if you know how to wear them. Position it lower on your hips.
You Can Wear Skinny Jeans as Well as Bellbottoms
You can actually still wear skinny jeans as long as you pair them with a voluminous top or a long blazer. Make sure to add some sexy hells. Bellbottoms are best worn with a fitted top.
Woman Fashion
Woman fashion is not just about wearing woman fashion clothing. It is something that you can associate yourself with. Your urban woman fashion style should go in consistency with fashion trend and your personality. Your body frame, skin tone, comfort level and personal attitude are some factors that determine your fashion statement.
Fashion tips for women: -
Body frame:
If you are plump, avoid sleeveless cuts. Wear dark colors rather than going in for lighter shades and if you wish to wear lighter shades then prefer dull colors like instead of sky blue go in for dull blue or dirty blue. Small prints and vertical line prints give a slimmer look. Heavy built should avoid cotton sarees and Kota sarees and should instead attire oneself in Chiffon and Georgette sarees.
If you have a medium structure, you should choose beige and fawn colors. With this kind of constitution, you can dress yourself in georgette saree or satin. In case of blouses, prefer nets, as they are a great help in disguising physical flaws. If you are thin, you can carry off well in all colors. The entire range of beautiful shades will suit you. Sleeveless, deep cuts and strapped blouses can also be worn.
Skin tone:
If your complexion is fair, gold with a blend of copper would look wonderful. If you are medium/ wheatish colored, go in for mixed shades of white, beige and bronzy golden. Dark skin toned should wrap up themselves with goldenish copper shades.
Comfort level and personal attitude
Your comfort level becomes an equally important determinant in deciding your style. If you do not feel very comfortable wearing western outfits but at the same time want to maintain a smart cosmopolitan look, Indo western style would add on charm to your personality. If you are shy introvert types, then you can carry yourself better in a sari with boat necked or square necked blouses. If you are bold and outspoken type, you can choose to pick up sleeveless, deep-necked blouses or may be with straps.
So, whether you go in for hip-hop style or classic style fashion, it should coincide with your personality.
Woman fashion is not just about wearing woman fashion clothing. It is something that you can associate yourself with. Your urban woman fashion style should go in consistency with fashion trend and your personality. Your body frame, skin tone, comfort level and personal attitude are some factors that determine your fashion statement.
Fashion tips for women: -
Body frame:
If you are plump, avoid sleeveless cuts. Wear dark colors rather than going in for lighter shades and if you wish to wear lighter shades then prefer dull colors like instead of sky blue go in for dull blue or dirty blue. Small prints and vertical line prints give a slimmer look. Heavy built should avoid cotton sarees and Kota sarees and should instead attire oneself in Chiffon and Georgette sarees.
If you have a medium structure, you should choose beige and fawn colors. With this kind of constitution, you can dress yourself in georgette saree or satin. In case of blouses, prefer nets, as they are a great help in disguising physical flaws. If you are thin, you can carry off well in all colors. The entire range of beautiful shades will suit you. Sleeveless, deep cuts and strapped blouses can also be worn.
Skin tone:
If your complexion is fair, gold with a blend of copper would look wonderful. If you are medium/ wheatish colored, go in for mixed shades of white, beige and bronzy golden. Dark skin toned should wrap up themselves with goldenish copper shades.
Comfort level and personal attitude
Your comfort level becomes an equally important determinant in deciding your style. If you do not feel very comfortable wearing western outfits but at the same time want to maintain a smart cosmopolitan look, Indo western style would add on charm to your personality. If you are shy introvert types, then you can carry yourself better in a sari with boat necked or square necked blouses. If you are bold and outspoken type, you can choose to pick up sleeveless, deep-necked blouses or may be with straps.
So, whether you go in for hip-hop style or classic style fashion, it should coincide with your personality.
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