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Because I think style and image go way beyond clothes, accessories, and makeup. As an Indianapolis Image Consultant, I sometimes delve into ancillary areas that have to do with our image. It may be posture, how we pronounce words, and attitudes. It is interesting to note that sometimes when clients contact me, I can tell so much about them by the message they send me. While looking through their photos and even their emails, and social media sites I can determine by their voice and how clearly they speak or describe to me what they are thinking. All of these factors are part of your image. If someone’s verily timid or just the opposite this is easy to see as well, even before we have a chance to meet face-to-face. How Your Smile Can Improve Your Image Today, I am going to talk about an area we don’t often think about: our teeth and mouth, and how they look and impact on your overall image. When you think about how much we are online platforms such as Zoom where people can only see our faces for long periods of time. Of course, on my Indianapolis Image Consultant tip sheets for men and women, clean teeth and breath are a must for making a positive impression, hands down. You don’t want to have a meeting with someone with food in your teeth, really bad breath, or stained teeth. That is a given.  I suggest having a mirror somewhere in your office/cube. Give yourself a good last-minute check on your appearance before running off to a meeting. (My very first boss did this – and he was a guy!) While you may have looked good before you left for [...]

During COVID-19, I had some time on my hands, as did many of my fellow image consultants. We had a couple of Zoom meetings to discuss business, whether we were doing it, how we were doing it, and how we were possibly working in the future. It was fascinating and a great time of inflection. Anyway, after this, I decided to add more Indianapolis Corporate Styling virtual services in addition to some offerings I already had. Has COVID Changed Your Professional Image? I can say that my time during COVID-19 was productive, stimulating, and really a sweet retreat from the normal business of life. Was it that way for you? It was quiet around our busy city neighborhood, I relished our evening walks and eating at home. Yes, I missed certain things, but after a while, I didn't even notice it. What does this have to do with the business of styling? It is a business, believe me. What you wear on the outside and reflect the person you are on the inside. That is why most image consultants I know talk about how they really explore a client's goals, present outlook, and willingness to venture out and try new things. Really when a stylist does an outstanding job in working with a client, there will be a change in appearance, for the better. Only when a client truly shares their thoughts and feelings and how they want to become. That's when the image can move forward.  Let's talk about making outfits. In my experience, I have found some clients really struggle with making outfits and selecting items for certain looks or events. This is where I find my expertise is needed. First, as an Indianapolis [...]

Color Trends From An Indianapolis Image Consultant Even though I don’t embrace all trends for all clients, as ab Indianapolis Image Consultant I do like stay up to date on what's trending.  I like to read "Who, What and Wear’s" blog and see what they talk about. One of those big trends you can read about is pistachio green. It’s soft and beautiful. Orange and red and some purple were on the runway as well, and I even favor these combos: pink and red, and red and burgundy. I actually mentioned this at a corporate retreat where I spoke, and I received a somewhat surprising response from my audience. They were appalled and could not see it at all. Like most colors, it all depends on the shade of the color and how bright it is. I will never forget the bridal colors of my co-workers' daughter: burgundy, red and plum. This graphic designer knew her colors well because It was absolutely beautiful and very unexpected. I also remember last fall, about this time, when I attended a well-known etiquette expert’s seminar. The last part of it was hosted by a local personal stylist. Her clothes were absolutely beautiful, mostly designer and lovely. But – it was what she wore that caught my eye: she had on a medium pink pair of pants; a red, burgundy, and pink silk blouse; and bright red pumps. She looked fabulous. Oh, it was so stunning. She was very, very tall and blonde and could pull it off. Ever since then, I have had my eye out for possible red and pink combinations. I think it’s so fresh, and since one of the runway trends is sporting very bright colors, [...]

Last weekend, I had the rare opportunity to leave my home and travel to another state and enjoy restaurants, a beach, and highway excursions. I thoroughly enjoyed it; although it was very short. These are the times we live in. I still have not flown on a plane in more than six months, and my husband and I avoid eating indoors at restaurants. We have already talked about how we'll get out during the winter. We decided we'll try neighborhood and trail hiking, and I have even been checking out which winter boots would be good for this. This research I will include in a future blog! Anyway, one evening as I sat outdoors near a busy street what joy it was to watch people walk by in their Saturday night fashions. That's what I want to talk about here: my favorites and my not so favorites. What A Personal Stylist Notices While People Watching on Vacation Vacation style will never go out of style. All over the country, people are looking for ways to get away even in trying times. Escaping to a little vacation, no matter how far, might be what you need to boost your wardrobe. A new outfit for vacation could get you out of that quarantine slump. People watching on vacation is a great exercise for a Personal Stylist to see what's trending in the real world. I've found some common vacation pieces that I loved, and some I didn't. Favorite Styles: Guys in cotton, patterned short-sleeve shirts, shorts, and sandals. This is a very summery look, and I am always impressed when guys don't have even one athleisure piece on such as sneakers that are for some sport. Guys wearing [...]

If you want to make a statement with your next outfit, this Indianapolis Women's Styling intern suggests trying a  jumpsuit. The head-to-toe look is anything but boring, and it moves beyond your basic blouse and trousers. However, so many women still stray away from this all-in-one look. Although, when worn correctly jumpsuits can look extremely chic, they can also ruin your entire look. If you choose the wrong fit, length, or accessories you may start to drown in your jumpsuit. Luckily, I have created a go-to guide on how to wear a jumpsuit like a fashion superstar. Indianapolis Women's Styling Recommendations for Rocking A Jumpsuit Rule 1: Find the jumpsuit that one that works for you it's not one size fits all! Just like any other style of clothing, jumpsuits come in many shapes and styles. When shopping, start by picturing how you would wear this jumpsuit. This will help you determine if you need a jumpsuit with sleeves, lighter fabric, or formal design. Once you have an idea of what you are looking for, dig deeper into the details of the jumpsuit. Overall, the most flattering type of jumpsuit tends to be more fitted in the waist with a looser leg. If you are tall, don’t shy away from a bold wide-leg jumpsuit. You want the length to finish just above the ground. This will be the most flattering, and it makes your legs look the longest. However, if you are on the shorter side, it is important to not let your jumpsuit overwhelm you. Instead of a wider leg version, As an Indianapolis Women's Styling intern, I recommend a slimmer pant with a cropped hem. Rule 2: Jumpsuits Can Be A Formal Fit As mentioned above, it [...]

Hello Fashionistas! I was at the Nordstrom sale last night, shopping for a client, and I wanted to point out some cool pieces I saw there. Of course, what you like depends on many things: your style, age, weight, etc, but there is always something for everyone. I am going to include some pics, too. Even if you're not back in the office yet, I've always got Indianapolis Corporate Styling on my mind. These outfits are not only great for the workplace, but you might be awarded "best dressed in the zoom call" with some of these finds. Nordstrom Sale Picks For Women First, you know how I love a jacket. Even though no one is even thinking of jackets right now, it won't be the case forever. This jacket has the best of both: a color pop, knit for comfort and fit and flattering lines. It comes in several colors and is only $49! I would wear this jacket with jeans and a t-shirt, or over a blouse or a dress. Or with pants and a pencil skirt. So many options and perfect for your next Zoom meeting! Not every item on this list is for work styling. This camo knit jacket is only $39. Another really cool comfort piece with a  fitted waist, and the back and so flattering! Perfect for casual days at work (it that every day now?) or lazy weekends. Leather is back. I saw several leather jackets and leather leggings. I especially liked the BP leggings since you can try them without a huge investment. Wear these leggings with a fuzzy sweater and some booties for an instant outfit. You know I love a great dress, and there were some [...]

It just occurred to me that I have been trained as an Indianapolis Personal Stylist for nearly five years, and before that, I was a makeup artist. So I’ve now been in the beauty and image industry for eight years. It’s so hard to believe the time has gone so fast. If you haven't had the opportunity to talk with a personal stylist before, or you're a new visitor to my website, let me tell you a little about me so you feel comfortable when scheduling a personal consultation Before I was an Indianapolis Personal Stylist... I worked in corporate communications/marketing for about 25 years, including several internships. I thought I was in a creative field. Which I was, but I didn’t realize that fashion and styling is a much, more “creative” field. Designers prize being different and creating trends. It’s probably why I was attracted to it. I wanted to find a better way to use my creativity. Over the years, I've worked with a couple of hundred clients over the years, both women and men. I thought I’d talk about what I have learned about dressing clients, giving style advice, and creating wardrobes that work for them. It's More Than Your Wardrobe For starters, nearly always, clients want to talk about their wardrobe when something isn’t working. Why else would they want advice from an Indianapolis Personal Stylist? But it's not always your clothes that aren't working. For instance, someone’s life has changed drastically, it can cause a ripple effect into other areas of their life. How you feel can influence how you dress. When big changes occur such as job promotion or even a demotion, getting divorced or becoming a widower can lead to weight [...]

Fast fashion – Know Before You Buy, Advice from an Indianapolis Fashion Stylist Reader alert: This blog about “fast fashion” contains heavier content than my usual posts. So if you’re not feeling that, I understand; you might want to skip this one. But as an Indianapolis Fashion Stylist, I think its important to keep up with issues within the fashion community. I recently read Dana Thomas’ book, Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes. It provides a disturbing look at the human and environmental carnage caused by an industry that produces billions of cheap garments a year, most of which are discarded after only a season or two. She calls it “a complex and epic-sized mess.” A few examples of why she says this: While about half of the Los Angeles Garment District’s 45,000 workers are paid at least minimum wage, the other half are undocumented workers paid as little as $4 an hour, and they work in badly ventilated, rat-infested sweatshops. Poorly paid garment workers in poverty-stricken countries labor in dirty buildings that are often locked to prevent them from leaving. Workers have died in garment factory fires because they couldn’t escape a locked building. Americans sent nearly 10 tons of discarded clothing, much of it fast fashion, to landfills each year. Thomas calls out big-name brands like Zara, H&M, Gap, and others she says perpetuate the problem but says she finds hope from those who take a more responsible approach—like Zero + Maria Cornejo. The socially responsible and environmentally friendly Cornejo produces almost all of her ready-to-wear items within New York City, primarily does business with suppliers in the city’s Garment District, and pays her workers fair, living wages. My advice for my Indianapolis Fashion Stylist clients is [...]