Adele won six prizes at the Grammy awards this week, which was wonderful. It was also great to see a person comfortable with who she  is and wearing clothes that she enjoys. They reflected her wardrobe personality – romantic and classic but with a modern twist.

From the style and fabric of her clothes to her hairstyle, jewellery and shoes they gave out a message of who she is, her personality and most importantly they helped her to feel great and confident in front of a massive audience of famous musicians.

The clothes you wear give out messages about who your are – your “inner self.” When you happy with your appearance and you understand what style , fabrics and accessories make you feel happy you can  have a wardrobe of clothes you feel great in.

My book “Being Truly You – Discovering your Own Unique Wardrobe Personality” for Men and for Women  has a questionnaire to help you find out your personality types . Included is information on each personality and the type of brands of clothes you will enjoy.

Manners Matter!

Etiquette and Manners are included as part of Appearance Management personal image workshops. Good manners are invisible, subtle, silent and effortless and what is important is knowing what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.  It is about putting other people at ease, about being friendly and using them every day.

Instead of “Casual Friday” I think we should have ” Etiquette Friday.”

Points to think of:

1. Respect other people’s space, time, privacy and priorities.
2. Always return telephone calls, if necessary leave a message on voicemail. Speak slowly and clearly. How good is your voicemail message?
3. Where possible avoid loud rings or conversation on mobiles in public places.
4. Remember to be courteous to people at all times, including colleagues and visitors e.g. offer a drink, take a coat.
5. Keep your promises or at least go back and update people.
6. Introductions, general rule of thumb – juniors to seniors.
7. Table manners can ruin your image, make sure you look and act the part.

Why not pass this message on to your friends and colleagues and start “Etiquette Friday” this week as being polite is good for everyone.

As an image consultant I help people with their personal image, this includes their body langauge.

Body language is a way in which we show what we are thinking and feeling through conscious and subconscious gestures, bodily movements and facial expressions. We can say one thing but mean another and our body language will show this, as it is largely controlled by the subconscious.

Body Language is part of our personal image and we need to ensure we are giving out the right message. We need to appear confident, trustworthy and, in the right situation, powerful. We also need to recognise other people’s body language, so, we can adapt our body language in given situations e.g. if a person feels threatened we can put them at ease.

The meanings can vary from culture to culture, so when you travel abroad you need to understand the various cultures, study them and observe their various behaviours.  This is a subject that cannot be covered fully in this session, but to give you some ideas of how to demonstrate a positive attitude you need to have: good facial expressions, good posture, eye contact, smile, good handshake, enthusiasm and show you are actively listening.

Learn to understand both yours and other people’s body language. Ask for feedback from friends or colleagues or review any videotapes of you making a presentation. You may see things you would never have believed or realised you did before.

It is amazing how much information we can give out to another person with our body language. Actions, as they say, speak louder than words. A clear indication of this is the new film “The Artist”, a silent black-and-white movie set in Hollywood during the age of flappers and fedoras, which has won a prize at the Globes and could well win more at the Oscars. Its leading actor, the Frenchman Jean Dujardin, won the award for best comedy actor at the Globes, without saying a word!

Whether you are having a date with someone you don’t know very well, a long term partner or dinner in with your husband of 30 years it is an ideal time to spend some romantic time talking and eating over dinner and having some personal time together.

What you wear will very much depend on:

• How you want to come across – trendy, sexy, romantic or classic
• Where you are going – eating in an expensive restaurant, low-key dinner,  cinema/theatre and dinner,  at home or local bistro
• If you don’t know, then wear something that you feel fits in with several options. e.g. woman – favourite dress, favourite smart jeans or trousers/skirt and top with a nice jacket/cardigan. Man -  a  colourful /pattern shirt with smart jeans or trousers with a smart jacket

As an image consultant I would say it is key to look like you have made some effort e.g. women well applied makeup and hair. Men - neat hair, a special shirt and some smart shoes. Pink is the most loving of colours and red is exciting and emotional and has the maximum visual impact, blue is calming, green is relaxing and restful.

Ensure you look happy, shoulders and neck relaxed and smile and enjoy the evening. Remember your manners, be polite. It is generally appropriate for the man to pay, but in the modern world it may be you share or if you are a woman who has asked the man out you may wish to pay, but whatever, the person treated needs to ensure they thank on the evening plus telephone, send a text, note or email next day to say a thank you and something about the evening .

My husband always cooks and often includes some blini and caviar and I supply a bottle of champagne, as he cooks and I study wine! So cheers to a great evening!

As the film “The Iron Lady” with Meryl Streep opens this week, much is talked about Margaret Thatcher and her style of clothes.  Whether you admire her or not, as the first woman to become the leader of a political party and then to go on to be the first woman Prime Minister in the UK there are some things us women can learn from her “signature look”.

Margaret Thatcher changed her style over the years and learnt to understand what suited her and what she felt comfortable in. Her wardrobe personality type was very much a classic – romantic. She enjoyed her power dressing skirt style suits but softened them with romantic pretty blouses. As a woman who worked in a man’s environment she learnt to have clothes to suit her and her position.

What are the things we can learn from Lady Thatcher’s style and approach to clothes:

1. She knew what styles complimented her shape and that she felt comfortable in
2. She was always well presented, neat and tidy
3. She bought quality, value for money, with very good tailoring
4. She chose a few classic items as her key pieces that would last and added several blouses that would mix and match with her classic suits and add variety
5. She wore dresses and coats when travelling so that her outer coat looked fresh and pristine when she stepped off the plane to meet other foreign leaders
6. Her evening wear was simple and elegant and skirts could be mixed with a variety of tops
7. Ensured she always looked her best 7 days a week, as she worked 7 days a week, and she was aware that she never knew who would see her
8. She chose block colours and wide shoulders to compliment her shape, only changing the details of sleeves and nothing exaggerated in her styles.
9. Her accessories (shoes, bags and jewellery) were good quality, classic style to reflect her wardrobe personality and always went with all her outfits.
10. She was conscious to always have a budget. Lady Thatcher’s style may not be our own wardrobe personality or suited to the business we are in, but we can all learn how to use the principles for a good basic wardrobe that will be the foundation of looking simple and elegant as a professional woman.

During cold weather it is important to ensure you wrap up and keep warm. Wear layers so you can easily add or take off the items too suit the environment. Make sure your wardrobe has the right items of clothes.

10 items to keep you warm:

1. Chunky Knits – this season’s fashionable chunky knits are ideal to keep you warm e.g. Fair Isle,  roll neck to crew neck, wool shawl collar cardigans, cricket sweaters.

2. Skinny knits – ideal for warmth in frosty weather to wear under chunky cardigans and sweaters.

3. Coats – several styles and colours are available and are ideal for keeping you warm in all weathers, including duffle and parkas for less formal wear.

4. Boots and wellies – ideal for snow and walking in muddy woods. My suggestion for women would be to have flat boots to avoid falling or slipping on the ice.  Rubber soles are better for ice and snow to avoid sliding, but ensure your rubber soles are not worn.

5. Hats & Gloves – it is important to keep your head and hands warm.  Wear a hat and gloves that fit to keep you warm. Avoid them being too tight as this reduces your circulation and they will cool faster than if you have some wiggle room. Mittens are warmer than gloves because the heat generated from your fingers is shared. There are many colours and styles on the market. Fingerless gloves offer practicality. Consider what you want them for and what materials you like e.g. wool, leather or Gor-tex for use in the snow and wet.

6. Thermal underwear – ideal to keep you warm, yet you can still wear your favourite items on the top.

7. Scarves – great for keeping you warm indoors and out;  adds colour and style to any outfit. Choose one that reflects your wardrobe personality.

8. Pyjamas, nightdress, bed socks – if you feel the cold at night, these are a must-have.

9. Cashmere- a fine texture, light, soft and strong. Looks great, can be worn with anything and keeps you extremely warm.

10.  Warm socks to keep your feet warm – avoid too tight and too many, like gloves your feet need room. Suggest you avoid cotton as it holds water and perspiration, wear only one pair of synthetic or wool liner socks.

Remember to Drink Water even if it is an ice-cold one as it helps you stay warm. You can become dehydrated, even in the cold, and water helps to keep your blood pumping.  

New Year should be about what we want to achieve in the New Year, filled with positive thoughts. This means wearing colours that uplift us. Unfortunately David Cameron was looking very depressing in his dark colours on BBC, not the most inspiring or uplifting.

New Year is a new beginning and a chance to think about what we want to positively achieve in the New Year.  Wearing colours that uplift us can make a big difference to how well we achieve this.  Unfortunately David Cameron’s dark colours on the BBC, made him look rather depressing and neither inspiring nor uplifting for his New Year message.

I think he receives advice from PR consultants not image consultants and he seems to have a small selection of plain colour ties.

With the current economic climate being so distressing I would suggest he thinks of wearing:

Yellow with navy – this is an uplifting colour, the closest to sunshine. It also stimulates the brain helping you to be decisive, clear-headed and alert.

Purple or violet –  a colour closely linked to creativity and arousing us into activity.

I would suggest he changes his shirt to a light blue or a stripe with green and blue in the evening.  Blue is a quiet, calming and relaxing colour, whilst green creates comfort and relaxation.

It is surprising how much colour can affect our emotions and influence people. Knowing the correct shades of colour to wear and how to combine them to compliment our skintone can make a great difference to how we look and feel.

During the holiday season is an opportunity to relax and chill out and wear relaxed style clothes. However, it is not the time to look scruffy and unkempt. Ensure you look good for your partner, family and friends.  It is an ideal time to have the right image and make an effort to look your best,  for the most important people in your life.

It is important you dress to suit your wardrobe personality so you are comfortable and feel good. When you look good you will also feel good and people will react to you in a more positive way.  Dress sloppy and you attitude will be more sloppy. Dress to suit the occasion whether it is relaxing at home, going for a walk, down the pub with friends or out for a nice meal.  It is key to have your clothes fitting you well and that you are clean, tidy and presentable. This includes your hair, nails and shoes.

Last of all smile, be happy, make the most of the break and have a great time!

For years I have done wardrobe makeovers for clients and now is a good time to refresh your wardrobe. As summer draws to an end and the new season starts it is the ideal time to check out your wardrobe and get it organised for what you need for the new season. It never ceases to amaze me how many people go shopping before they check what they have and need in their wardrobe. It doesn’t matter how many times I say it I always need to remind people. Before you shop check what you need for your lifestyle for the season. Otherwise, you will purchase the wrong items, have too much of the same, or you may have a panic when you need something for an occasion or for an important event at work. Know your wardrobe personality you will then understand what styles you like, what fabrics and accessories you enjoy wearing.

Think OPS - organise – plan – shop.

Organise the clothes you wear into groups, then colour and get rid of what you don’t wear . Either sell them, give them to charity or a clothes bin, or store them elsewhere. Do not put the items back in the wardrobe to clutter up this season’s items .

You should also put away your summer clothes.

Tips to store your summer wardrobe:

1. Wash all your summer items e.g. t-shirts, swimwear you only use on holiday, sarongs, kaftans, beach towels and store them.
2. Ensure all items are clean and that there are no hidden stains as they can leave a permanent mark as well as attract moths.
3. Fold all your holiday garments and pack them neatly into a case, a breathable box or hang them in storage bags.
4. Pack all of your sandals, summer shoes and flip flops into breathable shoe boxes. Take a photo and put it on the outside so you can easily locate the items.
5. Ensure you get rid of worn out and old clothes that you will not wear again.

Now plan what you need for the season and then shop!

There is a lot of talk in the news about the new book “Honey Money: The Power of Erotic Capital” by Dr Catherine Hakim. As a social scientist Dr Hakim believes that the most attractive with beauty, intelligence and potent charm are the most successful and have far fewer problems than the rest of us. I would disagree with some of this. You just have to look at our MPs, members of the Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet in the House of Commons and Prime Minister’s Question Time and see how attractive and charming they are.  Plus many famous film stars have big personal issues and deep down have low self-esteem. Dr Hakim thinks we all need to have a blend of beauty, sex appeal, liveliness, social skills, sexuality and skills of self-presentation, physical fitness and charm.

Many of Dr Catherine Hakim’s comments seem a bit feminist and quite controversial. However, I do believe that if we portray a good personal image we will look good, feel good and this in turn will help our confidence and self –esteem. Many stars are not naturally beautiful, but look very attractive as they have learnt to make the most of their beauty, social skills and charm. We mustn’t forget either that when magazines have done surveys asking people what they look for in a date or future partner a sense of humour is high on the list.

As an image consultant, who enjoys helping people make the most of their personal image, here are some suggestions for what you need to think about to make the most of yourself:

1. Learn to understand what styles of clothes compliment your shape.
2. Learn what your wardrobe personality types are. It will help you to understand what styles of clothes, fabrics and accessories makes you feel good as well as look good.
3. Wear colours of clothes that compliment your skin tone, eyes and hair, so you look healthy and glowing.
4. Always be well groomed.
5. Regularly sort, organise and plan your wardrobe to suit your lifestyle and the season.
6. Give yourself a budget for your clothes and plan what you need each season.
7. Ensure you have good social skills – good manners, communication skills.
8. Have Good Body Language – good posture, be friendly, approachable and smile!
9. Keep fit as possible and eat healthy.
10. Have a sense of humour, be enthusiastic and have fun. Life is too short not to enjoy it!

Basically, it comes down to making the most of what you’ve got, update yourself for your age and lifestyle, always be well groomed and regularly work on your social skills. Keep yourself fit and healthy as best you can. Finally, always be polite, considerate to your friends, colleagues and those you meet. You will then receive better service, people will like and trust you and therefore you will achieve more of what you want in life.