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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

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

What Message Is Your Appearance Sending? 0

Every time I travel through the airports from speaking engagement to speaking engagement, I am reminded of why our presence and appearance matters to our personal brand.  Specifically, I realize how much of a message we are sending with our visual appearance.

For instance- each time I travel in a business suit, I have a completely different experience going through airport security than when I am dressed in casual attire (jeans, khakis, etc).  Last week, I was on a red-eye flight to Florida.  Thus, I was wearing my coordinated travel gear (ie, sweats).  I literally felt like I got scrutinized by airport security- lots of direct looks and odd glances.  Contrast this to last month, when I traveled in a suit.  As I went through airport security, I noticed that no one even looked at me and I felt easily “floating” through the security checkpoints.

Now, I am NOT saying that security officials at airports discriminate and do their job incorrectly. I am saying, however, that you will be treated the way you look and feel. Security officials are human, too.  If you look well put together and like you care about yourself, then you will likely be treated as such.

This applies at the airport and everywhere else, too.  So next time you want to ensure optimal results, do the obvious- make sure your visual appearance is congruous with the way you want to be treated- well!

And if you don’t believe me, next time pay attention to your attire/presence and the way you are treated as you go through airport security.

Posted on: 04-19-2011
Posted in: Clothing, nonverbal communication, Personal branding, Uncategorized
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