I recently attended a conference in Manila, Philippines. I was there for three days, during which I saw colleagues, attended numerous workshops, and learned a great deal. It’s always exciting to learn new things, and as a Personal Image Consultant, education is key!
I will be talking about some of the new tools I learned there, one of which was something that just occurred to me, and now the practice is part of my foundations style appointment.
This is the epiphany: Not every person can tell me what’s wrong with their wardrobe, style, or image. So I don’t just dive into the many tools I like to use such as style questionnaires or color analysis. I have learned the best way to discover why a person wants to work with a stylist is to simply have a conversation with them.
Conversing with Your Personal Image Consultant
I have asked questions such as:
- What would you like to learn today during our session?
- What goals do you have for our time together?
- What is it about your wardrobe that stumps you?
- Has your life changed? (retirement, major weight loss, etc.) This is a biggie!
These conversations are very important and key to a successful client experience.
A Recent Conversation
Recently at one of my client appointments, I asked, “What are your major goals or questions about your style?” She replied that she wanted to look less old and had never known how to add shoes to an outfit.
She thought cardigans were old so I explained that it depends on how you style them. I then elaborated on how everyone needs several types of jackets and some common styles include denim, denim, military (cinched), structured, linen, and statement.
Shoes can be a roadblock for many people. If fit or foot problems is an issue, clients often just have a couple of pairs of shoes that they wear frequently. To help her venture out with picking shoes for her outfits, I recommended some shoes in colors, prints, and textures.
Photo by Nida Kurt
This same client also asked how to put outfits together so we went over my style book. (Everyone gets one and it’s customized to each person.) This particular client says that she’ll see a clothing catalog page and just order exactly what’s there since she thinks everything coordinates nicely. She’s right, and that’s an easy way to buy an outfit. But to improve her knowledge, we looked at different types of outfits, including formal, business casual, and athletic. We then discussed the color wheel and different color combinations that could add some spice to her wardrobe. I encouraged her to start with a pop of color in the shoes, purse, or accessories.
Improve Your Wardrobe With a Personal Image Consultant
Do you need to have some discussions about your closet? Reach out for a style appointment by emailing me at beth@bethdivinestyle.com
Keep it sassy, Indy.
Beth Divine, MA, AICI-CIC, Personal Image Consultant
