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Are You Trendy? Spring 2012 Fashion Trends & Your Personal Brand 2

In personal branding, your visual brand (attire, clothing, etc) is a part of your personal brand.  Therefore, we do spend time making sure your attire and clothing options reflect the personal brand and business brand you want to project. We do this so you stand out, are memorable and feel good and look like you are “owning” your profession and service/product.  In a world full of sameness, your visual brand and attire are a very easy and effective way of being unique and showing us what value you can bring to us- without ever saying a word.

Last week I had the privilege of being invited to Neiman Marcus for a Spring Trend preview given by their style adviser, Alex.  Twelve of us were treated to a personal fashion show of the Spring trends in a way only Neiman Marcus does- Mimosas, gourmet breakfast and class.

The Spring trends include:

  • Various shades of the color pink- from hot pink to pale pink
  • Colorful clutches
  • Various shades of yellow (my favorite!)
  • Neon!
  • Dramatic earrings
  • Colorful pants, including pajama pants (yikes!)
  • Mixing prints
  • Scuba influences (minus the water)
  • Tribal influences
  • Strong eyebrows

Now, here’s the deal.  The list above is not the “Truth”.  I don’t think any of us should be wearing something just because it is “in” or trendy.  I see so many people clamoring to wear the latest trends or style to fit in.  But what are you fitting into exactly?  Are you losing yourself and who you are to fashion and trends or are you incorporating trends into who you are to accent you and make you memorable and unique?  Believe it or not, it is possible to wear trends AND stay true to who you are.

We should be wearing clothes because: 1) they make us look good and therefore, feel good 2) they reflect who we are as a person and a business brand and 3) they are comfortable.

The most important from my experience with clients  is comfort.  As part of our personal branding process, we dress clients.  The first question I always ask is “does this outfit/attire make you feel comfortable?”  If the answer is anything less than, “yes!”, we go back to the drawing board.  If you feel uncomfortable in your clothing, then you come across that way to others- stiff, uptight, fidgety and unsure of who you are. In other words, it does nothing for your personal brand.

So go ahead and wear neon and scuba-influences attire.  Wear hot pink and tribal influenced clothing.  Go crazy with hot prints!  However, only do so if these trends lend to your personal brand, enhancing who you are and how unique you are while making you look good and being comfortable.

What trends do you love?  Email us and let us know.

Posted on: 01-23-2012
Posted in: attire, Personal branding, self-confidence, Self-image, Uncategorized, visual

EASY TIPS FOR POWER DRESSING FOR SUCCESS THIS FALL 0

1.   Clothing is about being your best self for work and personally.  You are a walking billboard for whatever you do for a living.  Think of attire as creating a visual scenery that gets our attention so we can decide we want to talk to you more and get to know you better.  There is power behind your attire!

2.   Don’t go with all trends.  Not all trends flatter every person nor will they convey your optimal brand for success.  Plus, trends can get expensive.  Instead infuse one or two things into your wardrobe that are trendy.

3.  The main goal is to be yourself and convey a genuine personal brand:  have high self-confidence and be comfortable.

a) Pick clothing that you are comfortable wearing and provide for ease of moment.     If you feel uncomfortable in your clothes, then you will come across as stiff, uncomfortable and edgy.  Not the ideal personal brand for success.

b)  Pick colors that accentuate and add color to your skin tone.

c)  Pick colors that attract and engage others while making you feel good.

d) Wear low-maintenance garments that don’t fade, ball-up or attract stains. If your clothes look worn out, so will you.

4.  Pick your accessories wisely.  One or two accessories can bring your entire outfit to life and give the appearance that you know what you are doing and have a mission of success.  Plus, people now have more to talk to you about- accessories are conversation starters!

5.  No matter what your weight, you can look well-put together and dressed for success.  Create length in your silhouette by elongating your body line- wearing v-neck collars and shoes that have more of a pointed toe-box.

 

Posted on: 10-10-2011
Posted in: Being Memorable, body weight, Business Brand, Clothing, Personal branding, Poor Image, self-confidence, Self-image

Need A Job? Develop The Missing Link To That New Job: Your Personal Brand. 0

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The more I work with individuals, either within a company looking to get promoted or those having lost their jobs looking for a new one, the more I realize a huge missing link for job seekers.

It seems people don’t realize that people buy people.  We don’t initially buy your credentials or fabulous resume.  We buy YOU, as the person!!  The statistics are indisputable.  75% of all buying decisions (that includes buying people) are based on what emotions are stirred up for us, not so much about the content of the product or service.

What does that mean?  This means that as a potential employee or current employee looking for a promotion, you need to be keenly aware that your personal brand and unique selling proposition is what sells you.

As an employer, I’m looking for that well-rounded individual that fits the job description completely:  you must have a polished and well-thought out appearance, behavior and have the communication skills to effectively communicate with staff, prospects, clients and network optimally.  In short, you must have that self-confidence in your physical and mental abilities.

I totally realize that when you have lost your job or don’t like your current job, you don’t necessarily have and display high self-confidence.  But that high self-confidence is exactly what you need to develop.  This self-confidence is easily recognizable by and attractive to employers. We all want to be around self-confident people.  High self-confidence translates into being memorable and effective as a human being.

Have you reflected on and refined your personal brand lately?

Posted on: 08-15-2011
Posted in: Behavior, Being Memorable, Clothing, Communication, Job Search, Networking, Personal branding, self-confidence, Self-image
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