The interview advantage

Let's Talk About Your Style...

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 18:34:05 GMT

You know, how you start the morning is how you deal with your whole day. It effects your mindset in everything you have to do. When you get dressed you are setting your intentions for the day. Setting the mood and setting yourself up to take care of the business of life.

Do you choose clothes styles and shapes out of habit?

When you get dressed in the morning do you looooove how you look when you walk out the door?

Or is it more of what’s first to hand “will do” or that old nothing to wear routine?”

Is opening your wardrobe more a source of stress before the day even begins?

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE LIKE THAT.

Simply getting dressed could be a source of calm, confidence building and super charging your positive thoughts for whatever the day brings

Style isn’t about following fashion or imitating others.

It’s about dressing in a way that makes you feel genuinely your best self.

YOU DESERVE TO FEEL GOOD FEEL CONFIDENT AND COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT YOU ARE WEARING, EVERY DAY.

We can create a plan that is so easy to follow, giving you a multi-functional wardrobe that is easy to maintain, easy to shop for, fits with your lifestyle and never leaves you wondering what to wear. A plan that saves you time, money and expensive mistakes.

THIS IS MY PROMISE TO YOU.

I've Got Nothing to Wear...!

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:49:15 GMT

I’VE GOT NOTHING TO WEAR……!!!

Do you really mean I can’t find what I want to wear? Has your wardrobe become so packed with impulse buys, oh no I can’t get rid of that one outfits, I just need to get something to go with it tops, why did I buy that item?

Swiftly followed by the cry….

WHAT SHALL I WEAR …?

And you’ve got 20 minutes to get out to that interview, business meeting, lunch with friends, a special party or event.

Next thought being…

I REALLY NEED TO HAVE A SORT OUT!

Therein lies the problem, you need to action that thought and not keep putting it off. Worrying about what to wear each day for whatever reason, should not be the most important thing you need to worry about.

THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE.

Here’s the plan. Follows these steps.

1. Where are you in life now? Professionally and personally. Be honest with yourself.

Still working, aiming for career progression, employed/self-employed, major life changes happening? Be clear on what the situation is.

2. Commit to setting aside time to go through your wardrobe – ruthlessly. Put a date in your diary and STICK TO IT. Clear out what doesn’t fit, what is past its best, what doesn’t work anymore, items you haven’t worn in a year or more. Get rid of them immediately, no second thoughts.

3. BOOK MY REFRESH AND REVITALISE PACKAGE!

THIS WILL SAVE YOU TIME, MONEY AND EXPENSIVE MISTAKES – I PROMISE!

You will have a wardrobe that works, you will look and feel great always, you will never be stuck in the morning wondering what to wear and you will definitely have a clear, uncluttered wardrobe. A wardrobe that works for every occasion, is mix and match and multi-functional.

NOW HOW ABOUT A LITTLE 10% OFF ALL MY PACKAGES UNTIL END OFF MARCH…THAT WORK FOR YOU?

www.barbaracosgrave.co.uk

https://www.barbaracosgrave.co.uk/refresh-and-revitalise-style-package

TRANSFORM YOUR MID-YEARS

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 19:44:03 GMT

Life changing events in our mid-years can make us stop in our tracks, such as, career changes, approaching retirement, divorce, bereavement, caring for elderly family or children leaving home.

It is a time when we need to open-up new possibilities for the years ahead and redefine who we are.

Gerry, Leonie and Barbara have all experienced similar life changes and are 100% on your side to guide you into a future you can enjoy to the fullest at this stage of your life.

Join us for an energising afternoon to equip you with insights, tools, and strategies for you to make a meaningful difference to your mid-years – to live the life you love

LEONIE WRIGHT an Experienced Nutrition Advisor will REVIEW YOUR NUTRITION to optimise good health, with foods that will give you the vitality to enjoy life.

BARBARA COSGRAVE is a Stylist guiding you to RESTYLE YOUR WARDROBE , so you feel confident and comfortable every day, whatever age or stage in life.

GERRY MULVIHILL a Life and Fitness Coach will motivate you to REFOCUS YOUR THINKING to take action to create the life you want.

A HALF DAY WORKSHOP TO LIVE, LOOK AND FEEL AMAZING – INSIDE AND OUT.

Venue :
Pyrford Lakes Golf Club
Warren Lane
Pyrford, Woking
GU22 8XR

The afternoon includes :
Lunch, tea/coffee/healthy snacks
Several discounts on individual coaching
and consultations available.
£99 EARLY BIRD until end Jan THEN £119

BOOK via Eventbrite by clicking the link below :
Transform your mid-years

Eliminate the negative accentuate the positive! - Midlife chic for Women and Men

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 20:38:47 GMT

It seems to happen suddenly doesn’t it? You look in the mirror one day and don’t recognise the person looking back at you.

Your body has changed shape, the contours of your face have changed, maybe a little grey is creeping into your hair. The styles that once suited you don’t seem to work anymore.

Maybe you are divorced, bereaved, empty nest when children leave home, retired. All life changing events.

This person in the mirror has lost some confidence and wonders, “Who am I now?”

Hold that thought! Let me tell you who you are now!

You are a survivor
You have years of life experience
You are wiser, stronger and are in your prime

Now we need to find the woman or man you are today and show the world who you are now. Through your attitude, style and presence.

Dressing the way you did 20 years ago is not going to work or be flattering to the person you are now.

My Refresh and Revitalise programme will help you dress in a way that reflects the current you, your personality, your shape, your lifestyle, your personal values. Finding the styles, shapes and colours that fit, flatter and make you feel confident, comfortable and look amazing …. always.

Learn how to accentuate your best parts and disguise the ones you don’t love so much. We all have them. With all the tips and tricks of a professional stylist with 30 years’ experience I will guide you every step of the way.

Be the authentic you. Be the you that has lived, loved and learned from life. Time for you to shine and show the world who you are now.

How's your Self-image and Confidence

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 10:55:06 GMT

Do you ever open your wardrobe and see clothes for a person that is not you anymore?

Do you look at old pictures of yourself and wonder where that confident person went?

Do you see pictures of a person who knew their own style, looked great and didn’t doubt themselves.

We change. That is a fact. Life changes us, we survive, we grow, we have experiences that leave their mark, some good, some not so good. For women, our bodies change, but through all that it still keeps working hard for us.

Time, then, to celebrate the person you are today, find your confidence and self-esteem, acknowledge all the life experience you have and find a style that embraces the person you are now!

Time to step into the present you. Refreshed, revitalised, confident in how you look and feel.

My Refresh and Revitalise Style Class , my most popular class, will show you the confident, stylish person you want to be going forward. It includes discovering who you want to be and how you want to be seen going forward with:

COLOUR ANALYSIS to find the colours that suit your skin, eye and hair tones that make you feel and look great, bringing the sparkle back to your eyes. Plus, your most striking and glamorous colours, those I call your “WOW!” colours for when you have a special occasion or presentation to give. Tips on colour psychology and how to use colour to your advantage in different situations.

SIGNATURE STYLE ANALYSIS to identify the shapes and cuts of clothing that suit you, your body shape, your personality, lifestyle and career. Styles that fit well, hang well and are comfortable to wear as well as looking stylish. How to co-ordinate and choose mutli-functional items using your new knowledge of colour in your wardrobe.

ACCESSORIES how to fine tune that look with the right accessories to match your style.

PRIORITY SHOPPING LIST a review of what you have in your wardrobe and what you need to shop for.

TIPS FOR WHERE TO SHOP online suggestions of where to buy.

SKINCARE AND MAKE-UP TIPS – With 30 years of experience looking after all skin types and advising on make-up to suit each individual that is quick and easy to do. Skincare and make-up is part of our image.

YOU WILL KNOW EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO DRESS THE PERSON YOU WANT THE WORLD TO SEE NOW. YOU WILL SAVE TIME, MONEY AND EXPENSIVE MISTAKES.

No more wandering around getting more and more frustrated. No more looking at the clothes in your wardrobe that just don’t represent you anymore.

YOU WILL HAVE A PLAN TO FOLLOW – YOU WILL LOOK AND FEEL AMAZING! From £395

What's involved in a wardrobe that works?

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 14:55:15 GMT

Does this sound familiar?

You get up in the morning, have an hour to get out dressed and ready for the day. You have an interview, important meeting, special social event, networking meeting, lunch with friends.

You didn’t plan the night before and now the morning is a nightmare! What on earth am I going to wear? Wardrobe is disorganised, nothing seems to go together, some things don’t fit, others need repairing, there are items you bought on impulse and haven’t worn because they don’t go with anything else, your favourite outfit is in the wash...…...you know what I mean! What a waste of time and who has time to waste?

Here’s the plan – Ladies and Gentlemen!

6 STEPS TO A WARDROBE THAT WORKS

1. ANALYSIS – OF YOU Who are you now? Take a step back and look at where you are in life now. How have you changed? How do you need to present yourself for your career or business? Do your current work clothes do this justice. Do they represent the business you are in and your professionalism and personality.

What is your social life now, do you need more formal outfits or less?
What proportion of your wardrobe do each of these categories represent?
Have life changing events changed your outlook and the way you see yourself and your values? Can you recognise your authentic self?

2. INVENTORY Set some time aside to go through your wardrobe – ruthlessly! Clear out everything that doesn’t fit, is out of date, you haven’t worn over the last 2 years and is past it’s best. Then get those items out of your house, either to charity or recycling. Then clear or sell items you bought on impulse but never wear.

Only keep what looks good on you, fits well, is still useful. Items that fit the life you have now and the you that you are now.

The aim from here is to build a wardrobe that all works together, multi-functional items, that mean you save time in the morning. Get up, get dressed, ready for whatever the day holds for you, appropriately dressed for every occasion, knowing you look your confident best – always.

3. INVEST IN YOURSELF Save time money and expensive mistakes with professional styling advice. Make dressing effortless, with a detailed plan of what really suits you.

4. COLOUR Having your colours analysed will give you the starting point for that multi-functional wardrobe. Understanding what colours suit your natural skin, eye and hair tones makes a huge difference to how you look, how you are perceived and your confidence. The wrong colours can and will make you look tired, dull, unprofessional. The right colours that work for you make you look energised, confident, and together. A person people want to listen to spend time with trust or employ.

5. BODY SHAPE It doesn’t matter your height, dress, or suit size, what matters is finding what styles and shapes fit and flatter your body. Your body shape, proportion, and scale will indicate what styles will work for you best. Fitting well and making you feel comfortable and confident all day.

6. SIGNATURE STYLE Having a signature style that perfectly reflects who you are in work and socially doesn’t mean boring or wearing the same things day after day. It’s used by many prominent men and women the world over. Less decisions to make in the morning about what to wear because you have so many more important things to do each day. Think of Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson, Daniel Craig, Nicola Sturgeon, Anna Wintour, the Princess of Wales. All have a signature style that makes them recognisable and is a powerful visual communication of who they are and their personal brand. It makes them memorable. It also means one less thing to worry about freeing up your headspace to focus on more important business of the day. Work with a professional stylist to create together a signature style that suits you.

Now you know what colours, what shapes and have a signature style, shopping is easy with a plan to follow building that multi-functional wardrobe that works! You have a wardrobe that completely represents who you are now, for work and life. It sends silent signals to all the most important people in your day, about your professionalism, your business, your personality. Signals that are used to judge you on first impressions. Take control, make them the signals you want.

Contact me for a complimentary evaluation to get you started.

We convince by our presence

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 18:47:46 GMT

When I was growing up, I had a great-aunt who was an actress. She always gave tips to a nervous, shy, teenager, me, if you can believe that now! Aunty Mimi was a great one for presenting yourself well and having a “presence.”

So, what is “Presence”, and why is it important?

Of course, my aunt was initially referring to Stage Presence, how an actor walked on stage, their aura, how they captivated an audience, the silent signals they sent with their appearance, and their body language. How they convinced the audience of the authenticity of the character they were playing, made them credible and believable, encouraging us with that presence to “buy into” believing the character. For that shy teenager that was me, she was, however, teaching me to walk into a room with my head held high, appropriately dressed for the occasion, a way that gave me confidence in myself, and allowed others to “see” the real me and not just a nervous girl who hid in the corner. She taught me valuable life skills that I still use to this day.

How we look, how we present ourselves, and our day-to-day presence is so important in business especially. We have to look like confident person our “audience” can connect with, be those new clients, new employers, or colleagues. Do you look like somebody they feel they could connect with, trust, do business with or employ? Do you look like the expert in your field, well groomed, dressed appropriately for the business you are in, or the audience you will be addressing? Is your body language mirroring that?

There are some interesting facts and statistics about “Perception”, how we see others when we meet them for the first time. It’s recognised that over 50% of communication is non-verbal, so for example, when you first enter a meeting, greet a new client, enter an interview situation, or join a zoom meeting, first impressions count.

How you look, how you dress, how you behave and your body language.

People, your “audience”, will instantly and subconsciously decide whether or not they will pay attention and listen to you - or not. It could mean the difference between gaining that new contract, or client, winning at interview – or failure.

Here’s the problem, once they have decided they are not going to listen, you don’t look like the professional in your business, it is very hard, if not impossible, to change their minds. Simply because, as human beings, we like to be right, and we convince ourselves that we are. Just based on the fact that that person’s whole-body language and appearance is not congruent with their message, they don’t look like the real deal.

The way you look, behave, and your body language when you walk into a meeting will influence how others perceive you and can, ultimately, influence how successful you are in business. Your personal impact needs to be strong, memorable, and professional to remain at the forefront of the minds of clients and employers as the right person to get the job done.

Key to this is the way you dress. We are judged on the way we look, always. Do you look the part? Does your image signal success?

The answer to the opening question, “What is Presence?

”Presence is the image, perception, and memory you leave with people you engage with everyday in person and online meetings. Take control of this and make the silent signals you are sending the ones that are the authentic, professional leader you are, creating the right impression at the right time – always.

Take time to plan. Just a quick call to me can help; I promise it’s easy to achieve!

Above is the famous Great Aunt Mimi!

How can colour help in our every day lives

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 12:21:08 GMT

Colour is not just an item of clothing we choose to wear. Colour has an energy, and we can learn to use it to helps us in our everyday lives. By wearing it, surrounding ourselves with it in our homes or offices.

Below is a guide of the energy associated with each colour. Try it you may be surprised!

RED Vitality, courage, self-confidence

Use when you have a demanding day ahead or when you lack energy. Red is associated with our physical body. The colour of courage, vitality, strong will, love of life, people and the planet.

Also the colour of confidence, so use when giving a presentation, or needing to feel confident.

ORANGE Joy, confidence, resourcefulness, powerful communications

The colour that is an anti-depressant, stimulates interest and curiosity. If you are feeling low or have to stimulate interest or curiosity for your business, try using it in your branding colours.

YELLOW Wisdom, clarity, self-esteem, intellect

The colour for clarity of thought, for studying, detached judgement and self-worth.

GREEN The colour of approachability, being grounded, balance

Use green for calming, for your home or office, or when dealing with people in a group, for example team meetings, being understanding. Also relaxes the nerves, creates peace and harmony.

TURQUOISE The colour of immunity and protection

Turquoise is a good colour for nervous tension, calming. Defusing tense situations. A colour of wellness so if appropriate use in business branding in the wellness and healthcare sector.

BLUE A good colour for communication, wisdom, and health

This is a traditional business colour, enhancing communication and speech, giving gravitas to the speaker and the business. It is also a mentally relaxing colour, good for sleep problems.

VIOLET The colour of creativity, inspiration and dignity

This is good colour to give us inspiration in everything we do. It is also visionary and creative so if that’s the message for your business it’s a good colour to use in branding.

MAGENTA The colour for letting go, release

Let go of old thoughts and patterns. Promote change and release old habits. Good colour for meditation.

Are You Ready for some Style Therapy Ladies and Gentlemen?

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 08:50:06 GMT

Yes, style therapy! I’m not your average stylist you see, I am not going to fit you into pre-planned categories and “tell you” you have to do this or that.

I am going to listen to you tell me about yourself, your life and your work

I am going to listen to you tell me about your interests and hobbies

I am going to listen to you tell me who you are, who you want to be

I am going to listen to your aspirations and career plans

Then I am going to guide you through an epic style journey, developing a style that is unique to you and your personality.

I will guide you to a style that is for the you now, the person you are now, the life you have now and the career you have now or aspire to.

It is time to look like the person you are, only better. That does, of course mean choosing the right clothes, but here’s the therapy. It means choosing new words to describe yourself, how you want to be perceived and what you want to accomplish. That way we get to the essence of your style going forward.

Do any of these sound familiar:

Stuck in a rut, want to change your style, don’t know where to start?

Lost the plot with your wardrobe after lockdown and endless zooms?

Reached an age where what you used to wear isn’t appropriate?

Want to stay up to date without looking “trendy” rather stylish and classy

Want to move on in your career

Socially, life has changed and you need to move on

Make no mistake, the style you project is powerful and can change your life. It may involve you stepping out of your comfort zone but the rewards will be great.

I will be there every step of the way, we’ll do the work, get the results.

Contact me for a chat, let’s explore.

** Images Pinterest Lightinthebox, Graca White, Veronica Elena Mora, Custom Suits, Nukty

THE BUSINESS OF STYLE BRANDING YOURSELF

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 14:47:55 GMT

Maybe you are looking for a new job, promotion, new clients or as a sole trader to supercharge your business success. Just for one minute, think of yourself as a product.

I know, I can hear you saying you are not a product, you’re a person! However, think about it for a moment. The most successful brands have a clear, recognizable identity, we know what to expect, we know the values of the brand, we can bring an image to mind immediately.

Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Virgin, Nike, Apple, Haagen Dazs, Armani, we know immediately what to expect, what will be delivered and how and to what standard. Strong, powerful brand messaging.

What is the message you send out, visually, verbally and with your personal presence?

How do you look, sound, and behave your way to success?

When thinking about yourself as a brand, do you know what your reputation is and how others perceive you? The people you most want to impress, employers, new clients, colleagues.

Are you clear on your IMPACT when you are in a meeting or walk into a room? Your IMPACT is everything that seen, remembered, and perceived about you. Perhaps what you think people notice and believe about you, is not what they actually believe and act on.

Your reputation and “bankability” are linked to your personal branding. Time to do some research?

You’ve got 30 seconds to transmit to somebody who you are, what you are about, what your values are, whether they trust you, believe in you and either want to employ you or do business with you.

It is really hard, if not impossible, to change someone’s negative opinion and perception of you. It can and will result in you losing out on the job, the sale, the new opportunity.

Why leave it to chance? Take control of the IMPACT you make and consciously plan how you want to impress.

This includes:

Your style of dress

Your voice and tone

Your manners and etiquette

Your communication skills, verbal and non-verbal

Your personal presence, are you a good listener, do you remember people, are you seen as knowledgeable and the expert in your field

Is your opinion valued

Are you trustworthy, trusted to deliver without fail and on time, whatever your business is?

Can you deliver an elevator pitch, clearly, succinctly and on time, usually 60 seconds.

Define your personal brand and make sure it delivers what you want it to.

WHAT TO WEAR FOR INTERVIEW – TOP TIPS

Fri, 13 May 2022 15:50:24 GMT

Even the most experienced interviewees sometimes hesitate when selecting that most important of outfits – the interview attire. Everyone is aware that “first impressions” count but it’s not quite that simple. Every job, every business, every company, every interviewer has different ideas.

Navigating this minefield can literally mean success or failure. In a world wide survey 65% of employers said that appropriate dress could be the deciding factor between two similar candidates.

Some top tips for dressing for interview:

1. Confidence is key. If you don’t feel confident in your choice of dress please don’t wear it! The lack of confidence will show in your manner and will be picked up by the interviewer. Translating into, “Is this person confident enough to do this job?”, “do I have confidence in them>”.

2. Invest in yourself and learn what suits you colour wise, style wise and works for you and the business you are in.

3. Buy the best you can afford, one or two suits or outfits that fit you well.

4. When you look good, well groomed and professional, you feel good. You interview better, project your unique qualities better and look like a candidate that is absolutely the person they want.

5. Dress the part. You only have one chance, make sure you understand the company image and dress code. Do your research, without fail.

What to avoid:

1. Jeans

2. Revealing clothing

3. Heavy perfume or aftershave

4. Shoes that have not been cleaned or polished

5. Lack of personal grooming

If you need help, or just to chat, please do contact me to find out about my Interview Advantage Programme as seen on the services page of my website.

www.barbaracosgrave.co.uk

How to Develop a Style File

Wed, 04 May 2022 12:53:23 GMT

So why do we want or need a style file?

Well, apart from knowing what colours suit you and how to use them, the next basic step to a great working wardrobe is knowing your own signature style. By that I mean exactly what works for you, your body shape and your personality. On top of that there is the style you aspire to.

Here’s where I usually start, before I meet clients for their first programme with me. Identify images of styles you like, collect them online or on Pinterest. When you have collected a fair few, just review them. You will begin to see a pattern in the things you like and in the style of the people you would like to emulate.

That, along with knowing your best colour range to suit your skin, eye and hair tones, is how you begin to create that great, multi-functional wardrobe. Then life gets easier and easier when you get up in the morning and must dress and get out to that meeting in a hurry!

When you have your Style File together, show me and I’ll review it with you.

Reinvent Your Working Wardrobe

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 09:50:10 GMT

7 tips for getting it right!

Your choice of business dress telegraphs important messages

When you wear appropriate business dress every day, you give the instant impression that you are professional, expert, efficient and reliable. Your choice of clothes makes a statement about you and your business.

How you look determines how you are judged

Fair and accurate or not, we all make snap judgements about people based on how they look – their clothes, accessories and grooming. Image research says that 55% of the opinion people form about others is based on their appearance.

Selecting the right business dress isn’t as simple as “one size fits all”. So, when you are standing in front of your wardrobe wondering what to wear, on any day, how do you decide?

What influences your choice of business dress?

Your business dress should be influenced by the following: the type of business you are in, the corporate culture, your audience.

Your business types

Traditional businesses like law, banking, finance for example, require traditional business attire, authoritative, conservative, competent.

People businesses, like sales, teaching, coaching, training, social work for example, call for business attire that both conveys expertise but is non-threatening. This look says you are trustworthy, approachable and knowledgeable.

Creative businesses, like advertising, fashion, writing, décor etc. need a more expressive mode of business attire. This look says you are creative, unique, contemporary.

Your corporate culture

Different companies in the same business may have very different dress codes anywhere along the spectrum from very strict to very relaxed. When employed or dealing with these companies, check the dress code before meetings and select your business attire so you “fit in”.

Your audience

Your audience is comprised of the people who most influence your earnings: your clients, potential clients, management, colleagues, staff etc. Appropriate attire enables you to:

relate to them and enables them to relate to you

fit their perceived image of someone in your role

Think about who you will be interacting with on any given day.

If you are self-employed

Very often you will be dressing in one, or all the above roles. It is vital to create a signature style that works for you and the clients you see on a regular basis. Build a multi-functional wardrobe that allows you flexibility whilst still demonstrating your unique qualities and skills.

I hope these tips help and if you are interested, I can send you details via email or meet to chat.

Thanks for listening!

Why well-fitting clothes are a must for true style

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 16:38:27 GMT

When you are buying clothing for your working wardrobe you are making an investment in yourself.

They become a considered part of your professional style and as we have previously discussed, your clothes send silent signals about you that others read and then make, consciously or subconsciously, decisions about you, your professionalism, attention to detail, status in work. The magic first impressions.

Your choice of colour and style of clothing suitable to the industry you are in, your body shape and how your style choices work for you, are all very important considerations. The one that is most overlooked, or the one to which less attention is paid, is the fit of the clothes.

How your clothes fit you matters.

Poor fitting clothing can impact your whole day , your confidence, your comfort, your efficiency. No matter how much you paid for an item, if it doesn’t fit well, it won’t look good on you. Consequently, you won’t feel good. Your confidence is lessened and your focus shifts from the work you need to excel at, to supercharge your career, to being self-conscious and fidgeting with jackets, tight waists, buttons.

Poor fitting clothing impacts on other people’s perception of you and is very distracting. At worst you are perceived to be a poor representative of the company image, which can slow down or end promotion, prevent interview success and stall your career. It sends silent signals about lack of attention to detail and grooming. Therefore, the message received is, will you have the same lack of attention to detail in your work? A that will do attitude, a don’t care signal. I know this for a fact from working with fast-track graduate recruits in a major corporate company. Only the people who represented the company well, in all areas, including personal image and style were promoted quickly.

Well fitting clothing lasts longer and wear and tear is less. There is less strain on the fabric and shape. So, it lasts longer and cost to wear ratio is better.

Buying off the peg. Please remember shops import clothing from all over the world. Sizing labels differ enormously according to the standard sizes in the country in which the items were made. Measure yourself, and buy the size that fits, regardless of the label.

Bespoke or made to measure. If you are buying what I call staples in your business wardrobe, suits for men or women, trousers, jackets it always pays to spend that extra money and have it made to measure. They will fit perfectly, look super professional, last a lifetime and always create a great first impression.

Body shape, proportion and scale.

Knowing and understanding your body shape is important for men and women, for example inverted triangle, straight, apple, pear shape. However, within those standardized guides, we always have our own adjustments to make, as we are all unique.

Equally important are the proportions and scale of your body. Proportions come from your bones, your skeleton. That can’t change unlike weight gain or loss. Knowing the length of your legs, arms, upper body, where the waist sits, high or low. Are you longer in the body than legs or vice versa? Are you legs longer in the thigh or from the knee down? Scale, are you large, medium or small boned? All these factors don’t change and paying attention to them when choosing clothes and styles fine tune the finished look. This knowledge informs jacket length, sleeve, waist detail, length or skirt or trouser style, for example. It also informs the type of accessories and size of them, watches, bags, jewellery.

Perfect all this and the overall look is professional and stylish but not distracting in anyway. Which is how your professional working wardrobe should be. Leaving you and your unique skills to shine in your business world.

Fast track your career, super charge your business and boost earnings with the right business image.

Colour Psychology and Your Business Clothing

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 09:09:31 GMT

Colour is one of the most important tools you can use in business, and this includes your choice of colours for the clothes you wear to work.

What you may not be so familiar with is the psychological impact your choice of colour can have on your clients and customers. This includes your choice of clothing when you meet with a client and customers. Colour has such a subconscious impact it is important to understand what it says to your client. It can and has proven to be the make-or-break factor in many business situations.

Others are six times more likely to be influenced by the colour you wear than by anything else about your appearance..

Business Branding Colour

Using Colour Psychology to Empower Your Business

Business colour is one of the most important considerations when establishing your business and its profile. It is important to choose colour for your branding, website, social media, business cards that is appropriate to your business and business personality.

These business colour messages are instinctive, subliminal and powerful and they can convey both positive and negative impressions about you and your business. Whether you understand people's responses to colour or whether your choice of colour is based on your own like or dislike of a colour, you need to understand the effect it has on your business.

Choose your colours appropriately and wisely. Colour is subliminal and it can help to establish your brand and your image without even saying a word.

Using Colour Psychology to Attract Your Target Markets

To develop a successful business, you need to identify the people or businesses you are aiming to sell your products or services to; it is therefore important that you identify and understand the colours that will attract your specific market.

There are colours, which may get a better response than others from your target market. Understand that there is a physiological and a psychological component to each colour as well as the subjective meanings attached by each individual.

Probably the most important question is:

What message do I wish to get across to my client?

Choose your colours appropriately to help establish your brand and your personal image, without even saying a word.

My passion is how to use colour and style as another business tool to influence successful outcomes and to create a multi-functional professional working wardrobe.

Some examples to think about are:

Blue - the colour of trust and credibility, professional

Green - the colour of nature, dependability, emotional balance

Red - the colour of confidence, assertiveness and action

Navy - efficient, authoritative, traditional

Grey - traditional, reliable, steady.

SAVE TIME, MONEY AND EXPENSIVE MISTAKES

By understanding the psychology of colour

Dress Codes

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 11:49:32 GMT

I recently went to an evening occasion where the dress code on the invitation was "smart casual. One of the least understood dress codes is smart casual. As a result, people turned up to a nice evening event wearing anything from jeans and a top/polo shirt to a suit and tie/cocktail dress. Most of the guests interpreted smart casual as casual. It is anything but!

Time, I thought, to clear this conundrum once and for all. Below is the definitive checklist for dress codes.

Let's explore the ones that relate to our day-to-day working life in more depth. Business and business casual (in your social life, this one also translates to smart casual). Casual and Ultra Casual should never be worn to work unless it is part of your profession, sports, for example. Not even on dress-down Friday – ever!

1. Business Dress

Business Dress is the look worn in professional environments. It's the uniform of lawyers, bankers, professors, and other business environments where decorum and professionalism are woven into the culture and fabric of the organization. The first and vital step to mastering this look is to know your environment. Most businesses expect employees to understand that the dress code is professional business attire.

When a person is dressed in professional business attire, they are silently communicating their professionalism and level of business skills. There is a high level of respect that comes with this look. Business dress is a formal dress code for many offices and corporate events. It denotes a professional style of dress that appears smart and sophisticated. Whereas for men, a suit is generally required. On the other hand, women can interpret business attire in a range of ways. While trouser suits and skirt suits are ideal, polished separates and business dresses can also work well.

2. Business Casual/Smart Casual

If you are unsure how to dress for a job in a creative industry, teaching or dress down Friday if your company endorses that, then this may well be what you're looking for. It is also the look for social engagements that specify smart casual.

Business casual is precisely what is implied in the name. It's a casual look made for the professional environment. Just because this look is more comfortable, it's still supposed to illustrate a high level of professionalism. Business casual still has to mean quality clothing, not weekend wear. The workplace environment is everything when it comes to professional attire so make sure that your version of business casual is in line with the office's culture.

It is a somewhat relaxed office wear style, but it must be appropriate. It is never revealing, strappy tops, too short or too tight, ladies. Never polo shirts or jeans, gentlemen. It is often called upon for contemporary places of work along with "casual Fridays" in more conservative offices.

If in doubt, always check the culture of the company or industry in which your work. The same goes for meetings in different venues; check the dress code, especially if you are presenting. Remember you are your own best advert and need to be appropriate every time.

Your Business clothes are your packaging, _so what do they say about you?

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 14:51:21 GMT

Companies spend well over £1,000,000 a year on packaging for their products - It’s a vital marketing strategy.

Every year, 95% of new products fail. The reason is simple: most customers use a shortcut in assessing a new product. That shortcut is the product’s packaging. Close your eyes and think of Tiffany & Co. For most people the iconic robin’s-egg blue box is more recognizable than the jewellery itself. Packaging is powerful because it tells consumers why the product and brand is different. Great packaging can have a dramatic, direct and positive impact on sales and a company’s overall appeal. Poor packaging can have an even more dramatic effect. The loss of sales and market share and even failure of the product completely.

Great packaging allows companies to charge a premium price because of the promise implied about the product and the brand.

Good quality, finest ingredients, something special, delivers first class experience. All this we know from the packaging.

What does your packaging say about you?

Your packaging is your style and professional working wardrobe. The clothes you wear to work, your image and personal presentation. Had you ever thought that your packaging, your wrapper, that is your clothes and style, can send a message of professionalism, attention to detail and leadership, that could supercharge your career, boost your earnings and bring business success.

It is my business to “package” people.

I create with you, a style that showcases your unique personality and business skills, your leadership qualities.

How to Create a Style That Makes an Impact.

All businesses want to achieve the instantly recognizable status of Tiffany & Co., the type of brand power that starts with a product’s packaging.

How can you translate that to your signature style and ensure you stand out from your competition?

Know and understand your target market and customer, each and everyday. Understand their values and who they are and let them see you understand them as soon as they look at you. By the impression you give with your image.

Look stylish and professional and appropriate. Good styling doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s knowing how to put it together and use it that matters.

Know and understand what colours and style work for you. How it advertises your skills and business.

Is your grooming up to scratch? Hair, nails, make-up, personal care.

Is your voice and body language professional and in line with your target market or client. In their comfort zone and expectations of somebody they want to do business with.

You need to look professional and successful. It plants a seed of thought in your client’s mind. It says you are the one to do the job well. You are the one who will surpass expectations and deliver a great service.

Professional style and image leave a powerful memorable impression in people’s minds.

DON’T LET YOURS FAIL YOU!

Show up and shine your light brightly and be the first choice amongst all the other competition.

LOOKING BEYOND …..

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 15:41:00 GMT

5th March 2021. I can hardly believe how time has passed, and this is my first post since the beginning of December 2020.

On the 23rd March 2020, when the government announced a 12-week lockdown in response to a new virus threatening our world, did any of us think we would still be doing this nearly a year later? I marked out the 12 weeks on my calendar, thinking this was going to be hard. Isolated from friends and family, nowhere to go, nothing to do.

The new virus, Coronavirus, was an enemy threatening our lives in a way we could never have imagined but hard as it was, 12 weeks was a small price to pay to be safe, healthy and protect ourselves and our family and friends. We planned, we zoomed, we took our businesses online and looked for ways to try to carry on.

Never underestimate an enemy .

Here we are almost a year later; the loss of life unbearable, the fear and loneliness for some has been intolerable, dreams shattered, and businesses and livelihoods lost. Sometimes, with the continuing lockdowns, it seemed like hope was lost too.

Never forgetting those who lost their lives and thanks to scientists worldwide, we now have a vaccine.

We have hope again .

Looking beyond, have we learned anything? You may be asking why I am posting this, and how does it relate to my business as Barbara Cosgrave Stylist?

This pandemic has forced change upon us, and change is not always easy and not always wanted. It can be hard and traumatic. In a good way, though, it forces us to reassess, prioritize and zone in on how we want to go forward personally and in business.

That is definitely the case for me. I didn’t get COVID, thank God, but I was hospitalized for another fairly traumatic illness! It has been a rollercoaster, but I am on the road to fitness again. Ready to pick up where I left off – or am I?

There is a change in my perceptions. I was overwhelmed by the kindness, support and care I received. From wonderful family, friends, colleagues and from people I barely knew before. Now I want to forward that support on to people who perhaps can benefit from my help.

Many have lost jobs, businesses and livelihoods and are now having to seek employment and new careers in an extremely overcrowded market. Interviews are very competitive, and it is more important than ever to “put your best foot forward”,, as my Dad used to say! Not just in how you look and dress but in knowing what needs to change in the way you present your best self, visually and verbally. What are your values, what the unique qualities that make you special? We need to bring what is “inside” and make it visible on the “outside”. The internal you and the external you need to align as one to make you stand out in a crowd.

Difficult and challenging times teach us about our strengths and weaknesses, our resilience and resourcefulness. When we have that knowledge and are sure of ourselves, it leads to a change in how we dress and present ourselves to others. It can help you achieve your goals and that new job or career you deserve.

During the next two months, I would like to offer 2 people seeking new employment a complimentary practical session to help them succeed through the interview process, especially as most interviews are still on zoom. My Interview Advantage Programme is a step by step guide for preparing for an interview. If somebody you know is struggling to get back to work and needs help with the interview presentation, please nominate them and forward details. I will select the two candidates and will send the contact details and information on the programme. The deadline for nomination is Monday 15th March, 2021.

There is no charge involved; it is my way of repaying all the support and kindness I have received in the last 3 months .

Create A Visual CV

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 15:28:34 GMT

We all present our CV when going for interview, giving our career history, qualifications, goals, interests.

Our written CV. Important yes but not the whole story.

What about our Visual CV?

The Power of Visual Communication

It’s not enough to be good at something on paper, people need to “see” that you’re are good at it.
People “read” us all the time through the signals we send out and the way we look. It let’s people know who we are. They make assumptions about us, rightly or wrongly, that influence how they decide to interact with us – or not.

That decision may be positive and result in new business - or negative and lose you a sale, promotion, opportunity.

We all also have heard many times, about the power of first impressions. Most people would think I am referring only to how you dress. That is just a part of a great first impression. A big part but not the only part.

The visual impression we give, our Visual CV, includes body language, grooming, facial expressions, hand gestures, habits, eye contact, presence, charisma.

It’s not about rights and wrongs, it’s about sending the appropriate signals for the situation and the people involved.

Understanding these signals makes you more adaptable, professionally and personally. Our appearance and the way we behave constantly influences others.

Learn how to use those signals to your advantage to positively influence good results, the results you want.

Just as an example, watch the world news on TV a different way. Don’t get involved in the rhetoric and mud slinging that is going on
now in politics, here and in the USA.

Turn the sound off.

Watch the different players on the stage.

Look at the way they present themselves. Look at their Visual CV. Look at how are they dressed, does it fit well, is it smart,
appropriate? Look at how well-groomed they are? Neat, tidy looking like they care about detail?
Look at facial expressions, eye contact, hand gestures.
Look at posture and stance.
Look at personal presence, is it calm, composed and in control or irritating and erratic?

“Look” is the key word. When that person walks on to their platform or stage to “perform”, what do you see and before you even hear a word from them, what judgements have you made about them.

When an actor walks on to a stage in the theatre, before they have even spoken, we make a basic judgement don’t we? We think we
are going to like them, have sympathy, doubt them, be suspicious of them, want them to be great, cheer them on!

Every day we walk on to our own stage, in work, in the office, in virtual meetings. Are you aware of the signals you are sending?
Are you in control of them and do you understand what is appropriate in each situation?

Do you know how to use those signals to influence the results you want?

What does your Visual CV say about you?

Next time, “How to Communicate Success”

LET’S TALK ABOUT TALKING - FOR VIRTUAL MEETINGS

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 12:27:03 GMT

What has that got to do with my business of Executive Style you may ask?
Quite a lot. Our style is the way we communicate with the world in all forms.

Style is not just what you wear; it is in:

Your attitude
Your behaviour
Your presence
Your manners
Your body language

It is also in your voice, the way you speak, how you speak and the language you use.

All these forms of communication form the imprint you leave in the minds of people you meet every day, even virtually. They are what make you memorable – in a positive way and sometimes a negative way.

Like me, you have probably been doing a lot of talking lately as we work via online meetings and networking meetings!

For this article, let’s take for granted you know you still have to look and dress professionally and appropriately for your business and be well-groomed.

Let’s focus on what you say and the way you say it.
Here are six easy steps to practice and follow:

1. Plan what you are going to say. Winging it on the day, if you are not confident and accustomed to speaking to an audience and camera, will not work. Your listeners will lose interest and patience. Practise if you are nervous, shy or new to speaking to camera.

2. Speak, audibly, enunciate well and directly to the camera. Don’t look down reading a script. It looks unprofessional. You are the expert, and you need to look like you know what you are talking about. If you don’t, why should anybody listen? Project your voice well.

3. Be confident and passionate in the way you speak.
Your audience and listeners want you to inspire them! Enthusiasm about your product and service is catching. Everyone likes to listen to someone enthusiastic about what they do. Present like the professional you are.

4. Have one or maybe two, clear points you want to make. A long list starts to lose audience attention. Once that happens, you have lost your chance to make an impact.

5. Never, ever be dictatorial in your speaking style.
Aim to win people over with persuasion and information.

6. Say “thank you” to your audience for listening.
They have given you their time and attention, and that is valuable to all of us.

Remember these 4 P’s :

PLAN – PRACTISE – PROJECT - PRESENT

COMPANIES ASK WOMEN TO DRESS “SEXIER” FOR ZOOM CALLS...

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 17:16:54 GMT

To generate business according to a news item on ITV Good Morning
Britain!

The discussion covered what to wear for zoom meetings when working from home. One point of view was in favour of a very
relaxed approach t-shirt, even pyjamas were mentioned. The point being if working from home standard dress code doesn’t matter.

What do you think? Does it matter?

Here’s my view.

You are still a professional wherever you are working.
You are still representing the company you work for
You are still representing yourself in business and should be your
own best advert for the business you are in.
Sloppy dress on any business occasion, even virtually, sends the
message you don’t really care? Is that what you want?
Don’t let your standards drop. You will be judged on it. Smart
casual is best, so what does that mean?
For women or men, a smart top/well-pressed shirt, groomed hair,
and a pair of comfortable trousers or skirt.

Plus, please look like you are paying attention and not fiddling with

something offscreen.

To read more on the topic, please see my previous blog post titled ' 6 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR PRESENCE AT ONLINE MEETINGS! '

Going about town fashionably

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 14:53:04 GMT

WOMAN ABOUT TOWN……

From 24th July we all have to wear face masks when we go out to the supermarket and other stores. You may well have been already doing so but if not what masks have you tried?

Surgical, homemade, bought online? How do they fit how do they feel? I have tried various makes and styles. Some, like the surgical mask really irritated my skin, others were hard to breathe through, some uncomfortable and some, downright ugly!

I know! I can hear you saying the point is to stay safe and I totally agree but can’t we have both safety and style?

British Designer Emily Carter is doing a range of beautiful upcycled silk face masks in a variety of colours and designs. A percentage of all profits going to the NHS for COVID relief efforts. Reusable and washable.

Here are a few of my favourites from @emilycarterlondon. Available on her website www.emily-carter.co.uk .

So what about the……

MAN ABOUT TOWN…..

Bespoke Tailor and Stylist, Scott Souster of sousterandhicks.com , are making face masks for men which can also match your next tailored shirt. They come in a range of fabrics and are also reusable and washable. Donations also being made to charity for everyone sold, @sousterandhicks. www.sousterandhicks.com

Stay safe, obey the rules and be stylish!

Your Image – Your Brand

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 09:51:57 GMT

I have been a bit distracted lately, as some of you may have noticed on social media!

Lockdown gave me a chance to sidestep into another creative side of me, children’s author. The time afforded and the fact that there was no option but to conform to staying home, let my mind focus on a project out of my comfort zone somewhat. To push it forward and see where I could get.

Well, as someone who loves a challenge, I always welcome stepping out of my comfort zone, to see what I can learn about myself and how I can apply any skills and experience I have to another goal.

What has my book “Elmo The Cat Who Doesn’t Know He’s Orange” got to do with my business of Executive Stylist you may ask?

Actually, quite a lot!

As an Executive Stylist, when working with my clients, I always focus on image and personal brand. In today’s business world you have to have a strong personal brand or you will get lost in the crowd. Your professionalism, attention to detail and the way you present yourself, has to speak of your leadership and success. Even sometimes long before you have either of those things.

You have seconds to make a positive impact with:

1.    Your working wardrobe – style and colour
2.    Your self-presentation
3.    Your attention to detail

These attributes set you apart from the crowd, raise you up so you can be seen. You have to have the three C’s:

Clarity – be clear in what you want to communicate about yourself
Consistency – be consistent with that message
Communication – communicate well in all areas, verbal, visual, digital

Always, in whatever you do personally and professionally.

So starting a new venture writing children’s books was not that much different to my career as a stylist. I just had to practise what I preach!

To try to succeed in the very competitive world of children’s authors as a new author, I needed to create a strong message, strong visual brand and communicate all of that loudly and clearly. At the same time being true to my own personal brand, confirming what people already know about me and how I work. They may have had a surprise at what I was doing but my “style” of working and being creative, was consistent with what they already expect of me over the years of being Barbara Cosgrave Stylist.

Elmo has a bold visual image
Elmo has a strong verbal message
Elmo communicates clearly across all mediums

I can assure you that the real Elmo the cat fulfils all of those, he is a ginger tom and communicates loudly and clearly!

So my message is, whatever you do, be consistent in your personal brand and image. It goes before you and helps open doors – doors you may not have opened before.

Also if you haven’t before – take a step out of your comfort zone and see what you can do. You may surprise yourself!

Returning to work after lockdown?

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 12:51:30 GMT

After what seems like the longest time ever, the most worrying and anxious time for businesses of all sizes and the employed and self-employed, some are now returning to work in a very different way.

Have you been;
Made redundant?
Got a different role a work?
Working more from home?
Changed direction completely?

Many people, me included, have used some of the time during lockdown to get jobs done at home. One of them being for me, sorting out the wardrobe!
That includes the working wardrobe and for some that will be quite a change.

If you have been made redundant , you may find yourself having to go to interviews after many years in one job.

It’s quite daunting and with so many being made redundant, due to the devasting effect of lockdown on business, competition will be fierce. You will need to understand the dress code and culture of the company you are applying to. Why is this important? Not only to present yourself at your best but to be appropriate for the position. How many times have you heard that first impressions count? It will be even more important now with such competition for jobs. However, it’s not just about turning up in your best outfit but understanding what that says about you. Subconsciously interviewers will judge whether or not you look like you will “fit in” with the team, in dress, manners, attitude and confidence.
My Interview Advantage Programme will help you with all background research into the company, so you know exactly what they are looking for in these key areas – from the moment you walk through the door – or have a Zoom interview. It’s not just about your CV. That is a proven fact. I have done extensive research on this.

Maybe you have a different role at work now and different or less, customer/client contact. Or maybe more? A different role may require a different working wardrobe. One that is suited to the new job description, suited to you and comfortable and easy to wear all day. You will need to review your existing work clothes and discover how you can make them work in a different way. This does not necessarily mean a whole new working wardrobe, just wearing what you have in a different way with a couple of changes. My Zoom Wardrobe Programme will guide you and save you time and money.

Working from home now presents different challenges. Endless Zoom meetings and video conferencing. We have all seen so many in the last 3 months haven’t we? How do we best appear professional on video in our own homes? Wherever that may be. Colour particularly presents its own challenges on video. It is vital to get it right along with pattern of tops and shirts, so as not to dazzle – and not in a good way! You want people to be paying attention to what you are saying and not be distracted by what you are wearing or what is behind you. Pay attention to facial expressions and hand gestures too. In some ways it is easier, only the top half of you on view but I have seen people on business zoom meetings in sportswear, inappropriate tops, colours that make them fade into the background. Too distracting and not professional
My Professional Online Image Programme will give you all the top tips to suit you, your personality and business.

Changed direction completely? That’s amazing! This time in lockdown has given us all a chance to reflect. Is this what I really want to do? Do I have other aspirations? That certainly resonates with me. First I took my style business from face to face to online. Then I realised another dream of publishing my first children’s book. My lockdown project, which has proved a joy and a step in another direction, to run alongside my current business. A long held dream come true.

It’s a different side of me however and requires a different image for a different audience. Your business image or working wardrobe needs to make people, whoever your target client is, feel comfortable and relaxed with you and confident in your skills. So if you have branched out in a different direction it’s time to review how you are presenting yourself, to make sure you are a rip roaring success!
My New Direction New Image Programme will super charge that dream of yours.

Get in touch to see how these programmes could work for you – and I promise it will – 100%

After all this anxiety and uncertainty, I do hope you have stayed well and safe, let’s forge ahead with new optimism.

6 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR PRESENCE AT ONLINE MEETINGS!

Mon, 04 May 2020 14:28:44 GMT

How many Zoom meetings have you had lately?

If you are like me, the number has increased beyond anything you have known before, due to lockdown. I have always been a definite “face to face” kind of person. However, Zoom and similar platforms are a way of life now. Maybe it will continue to be a more significant part of our working life in the future.
Time to embrace it wholeheartedly – and polish our act!

Here are six tips that you may find helpful:

Of course, make sure you are dressed in a business-like manner.
No sloppy tops, gym kit, (as you go from exercise zoom to business zoom!), no weekend comfy casual. You are still at work and representing yourself and your business even if it is only from the waist up!

Colour.
Make sure it is not black, grey, white or something that makes you look ill! Choose the colour you receive most compliments with. The chances are that is the colour that suits your skin tone best.

Don’t fidget, wave your hands around when speaking, sort your hair out, scratch your nose – you know what I mean. You can be seen even if you are not speaking. Don’t start looking around your office, casting your eyes elsewhere. Stay focused as you would at a face to face meeting. When you are the one speaking, those things are a distraction and don’t look professional.

Check the background.

What’s behind you on screen? Hasn’t it been fascinating taking a look around people’s offices at home, or their lounge? However, it means you’re not paying attention to what they are saying. Make sure viewers are paying attention to you, no distractions.

Keep the background clear, no clutter, choose a blank space, wall, or somewhere with minimal “stuff”!

Don’t slurp!

If the meeting is a long one and you have a coffee or drink to hand, make sure that the microphone doesn’t pick up slurping or eating noises. Not attractive! I was in a meeting where the guest had the microphone close to their mouth while drinking a coffee. The slurping sound was very off-putting.

Check the lighting.

If you are sitting near a window, make sure the light from the window is not creating a hazy view of you.

Can colour help our mood and spirit?

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 09:19:38 GMT

Colour healing is a pearl of ancient wisdom. It was taught and put into practice in the magnificent Temples of Greece and China, Tibet and India. North American Indians used it in their tribal lore, and it was part of the Mayan culture in Central America. Pythagoras and Plato understood colour healing, but it was all lost in time. It was not until the 19th century that interest was revived in the properties of light and colour by Newton, Goethe and others.

It is used beautifully in stained glass windows in the great churches of the world. It brings depth, richness, storytelling and peace. Natural healing with colour is practised in many therapies; you even do it yourself every day, subconsciously. How? The everyday use of colour in clothes, cosmetics and your homes. Light and the colours that are a component of light have a substantial effect on mind and body. At all levels, physical, mental and emotional, we respond to colour whether we realise it or not.

With me, you can learn not just what colour suits you and why but how colour affects your mood and spirit. Helping clients to understand the meaning of colours and how you can use them for the whole of you, body, mind and spirit, is what I love about informing my clients and this most fascinating of subjects. We are born into a world of colour. Colour dominates our senses and all through our lives; we use colour to interpret what we see. For example, traffic lights, red, amber and green, the ripeness or not of fruit, electrical wiring and maps.

At another level, we make statements about our mood, consciously or subconsciously, with the colours we wear and we read how our friends and colleagues feel through their own choices in the colours they wear. Colour is very strongly linked with emotions, yellow with cowardice, green with envy, seeing red! Often when I have been advising clients who travel the world to different cultures, I make sure they are aware of what colours are acceptable or not in those different countries.

Learn to understand how colour works for you and you have a great tool at your fingertips. My colour sessions with clients are not a pre-packaged standard format but treat each person and their requirements as unique and individual.

Can the way we dress affect how we feel?

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 15:03:41 GMT

Of course, how you dress is not going to make any difference to the Coronovirus outbreak, that would be nonsense. Or would it? We have, quite rightly, been asked to self-isolate, distance ourselves socially, not be in the company of friends, family and colleagues.
Vital for our physical health.

What about our mental health?
Stuck at home, isolated, sometimes alone when family members are a long way away and friends can’t visit, it is hard to make that effort in the morning to get dressed, put on make-up if you use it and be ready to face the day. Even if it is just for yourself. We become low, maybe depressed with a negative mind set. Not good for our health!

The power of colour is part of the energy of the universe that affects us every day. Colour energy can bring us down, think of a dull day, or boost us up, think of the bright sunny days. Wearing the colours that are the very best for you, helps give you a positive mind set. Staying positive is vital for our health and our immune system.

So get up, dress up and feel better!

Your Professional Image

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 16:24:28 GMT

You have probably dedicated time and effort to becoming the best you can at what you do to earn a living. However, do you find yourself not successful at interview or not attracting the clients you are targeting? Or maybe in a presentation not holding the audience attention? Maybe, in the middle of all the hard work you have been doing. you have missed a very important aspect of your self-promotion?

Are you:

•    A professional taking the next career step
•    A small business owner building your client base
•    Returning to work after a break or redundancy
•    A graduate recruit entering the business world
•    Embarking on a public speaking career
•    Wanting to polish your presentation

• Or do you just want to make a move from the job you have to the job you’d love!

Do the silent signals you send out through your appearance, posture and body language – your personal impact and brand - reflect your inner abilities and values? Even your voice, your social media presence, your stationery and accessories, convey powerful messages to others. Are they the messages you want though? Or is your image holding you back? You need to be in control of the silent messages you are sending – always.
Today it is not enough just to be good at something. You have to “fit” the expectation of others in your chosen career or business, in the way you present yourself. Having spoken to numerous people in the position of interviewing candidates, and employing them, it almost always comes down to “do they look like they will fit in with our team?” “Are they giving the right signals about who they are and their values and personality?” “Do they look like they represent the values and corporate image of the company?” This is relevant to every area of business, employed or self-employed, working behind the scenes or in front of an audience.
It’s about interaction, conveying the appropriate signals for the situation and the other people involved. By learning how to understand and be aware of these signals, you can make yourself far more adaptable when you most need to, and one of the most stressful and important situations is at interview, with new clients or making a speech or presentation

Make sure:

•    You know the dress code for the company
•    Know your audience and their expectations
•    You know what suits you style wise, your business and personality
•    You have done your background research on the people you are going to meet

• You make good eye contact and have a good handshake

Everyone you meet for the first time will make an instant judgement on you and the silent signals you are sending out. The more confidence and control you have over these signals, the easier it is to succeed.

How to monetize your personal brand and image

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 15:26:20 GMT

Companies pay attention to brand recognition for one reason, to promote sales. Personal branding and image is important because you are the most important selling point of your product or service and as a potential employee. A great personal brand and image will fast track your career, speed up promotion, supercharge business success and boost earnings.

I mpact is the imprint you leave in the minds of everyone you meet, every day. In your business dealings, networking and social life.   It encompasses everything about you:

•    What is seen
•    What is heard
•    What is perceived
•    What is remembered

Your personal brand and image as a business owner or employee, sends a clear message to:

•    Potential clients
•    Employers
•    Colleagues
•    Networkers

about your values, your business ethics, your professionalism, your attention to detail and attitude to work and success.

People make first impressions about you but in 30 seconds they will have made their final decision.

•    Do they trust you
•    Do they want to do business with you
•    Do you look professional
•    Do you look like you are worth their time
•    Do they want to engage with you

and many other details as the brain gathers information about you from visual signals. Once that decision is made, we are auto wired to look for confirmation that we are right. It’s called confirmation bias. Social Scientists as far back as the 1950’s, have proved that we look for signals that confirm our original judgement and ignore the rest. Surveys done, even back then, by the University of Edinburgh Social Sciences Research Centre, proved that we seek to judge and evaluate a person based on their status, influence, authority, power, success and trust-worthiness, and on their personal presence, image and reputation.

Get it right and you are a step ahead of the competition.

Get it wrong and you could lose the client, the interview, the promotion, lose referrals and future business.

It is very difficult to change somebody’s first impression of you.

The initial seconds when meeting someone, they will judge on your professional working wardrobe, grooming and accessories, consciously or subconsciously.

Always be aware of your personal brand and image. You never know who you will meet who may influence your future success.

Good news – it’s easier than you think! My 6 step programme will help you, just contact me.

Just say thank you

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 12:59:00 GMT

Thank you, doesn’t take long to say does it? It can, however, have surprising results. Last week I received an email invitation to an event. The sender had clearly spent some time planning it, arranging an interesting morning for delegates, thought about what he wanted to achieve and how it would benefit the people attending. Plus, it looked like it would be fun. How nice to be on the list of people invited.

Sadly, I could not make the event already being pre-booked with clients. So, I sent a reply:
“Thank you so much for inviting me to your event, it looks interesting and fun! Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend but I hope it goes well and look forward to hearing more in the future.” Imagine my surprise when I received a reply thanking me for being so polite and replying to the invite. My first instinct was to be pleased to have this acknowledged but it was quickly followed by, how sad that good manners are not the norm.

Now you might be wondering why I am posting this. I am an Executive Stylist and in my IMPACT programme one of the key sections is courtesy, good manners and your attitude to people. A great first impression, a memorable image and professional business dress, is only part of your personal brand. It is the packaging that gets you noticed, for all the right reasons, by the people you most need to influence in your working day. However, If you don’t follow that up with integrity in your attitude to people that great first impression is worth nothing. Good manners and courtesy cost nothing. Without them your reputation can be ruined, who wants to deal with somebody who is not courteous, who’s manners leave a lot to be desired.

Just say thank you. Thank you that you were invited, thank you for choosing you, thank you for buying from you, thank you for listening, thank you for answering your email.

Reinvent Your Working Wardrobe

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 13:09:47 GMT

Tips for getting it right!

Your choice of business dress telegraphs important messages. When you wear appropriate business dress every day, you give the instant impression that you are professional, expert, efficient and reliable. Your choice of clothes makes a statement about you and your business.

Fair and accurate or not, we all make snap judgements about people based on how they look – their clothes, accessories and grooming. Image research says that 55% of the opinion people form about others is based on their appearance.
Selecting the right business dress isn’t as simple as “one size fits all”. So, when you are standing in front of your wardrobe wondering what to wear, on any particular day how do you decide? Your business dress should be influenced by the following: the type of business you are in, the corporate culture and your audience.

Your business type

Traditional businesses like law, banking, finance for example, require traditional business attire, authoritative, conservative, competent.
People businesses, like sales, teaching, coaching, training, social work for example, call for business attire that both conveys expertise but is non-threatening. This look says you are trustworthy, approachable and knowledgeable.
Creative businesses, like advertising, fashion, writing, décor etc. need a more expressive mode of business attire. This look says you are creative, unique, contemporary.

Your corporate culture

Your audience

Your audience is comprised of the people who most influence your earnings: your clients, potential clients, management, colleagues, staff etc. Appropriate attire enables you to:
. relate to them and enables them to relate to you
. fit their perceived image of someone in your role
Think about who you will be interacting with on any given day, then dress for the most important member of your audience! The ones who are going to pay you!

If you are self-employed

Very often you will be dressing in one, or all of the above roles. It is vital to create a signature style that works for you and the clients you see on a regular basis. Build a multi-functional wardrobe that allows you flexibility whilst still demonstrating your unique qualities and skills.

I hope these tips help and if you are interested I can send you details via email or meet to chat.

The Interview Advantage

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 20:17:43 GMT

WHAT YOU WISH YOU’D KNOWN BEFORE YOUR INTERVIEW:

Are you heading for an interview or promotion , returning to work after a break , applying for a graduate recruit training scheme, or entering a new work environment? if so, this is for you.

Have you found yourself wondering why you don’t succeed at an interview or promotion? Do you find it difficult to present yourself confidently after returning to work after a break or redundancy? Are you entering the working environment for the first time? Do you struggle with nerves and anxiety? Or perhaps you wonder why others succeed and you don’t? If you are the type of person that struggles with any of these issues here are some interesting facts for you.

Let's talk about the statistics and the impact when meeting a candidate:

7% is about what they say
38% on the quality of your voice and grammar
55% on the way you dress, act, body language and the way you walk through the door.
A surprising 65% of employers say that appropriate dress could be the deciding factor between two similar candidates.

The most common mistakes candidates make are:
47% have little or no background knowledge of the company
67% have poor body language
26% have a poor handshake
Understanding what an employer is looking for could possibly solve some your issues and concerns already.

If you want a quick and powerful way to give yourself a better chance at your next interview.
Let's talk about the momentous Impact that could make you the first choice!

In a one-to-one meeting with me, followed by an in depth report you will receive information on:

The culture of the organisation you are applying to and profile of their “perfect employee”
Background knowledge of the company to use in the interview
Analysis of the people who interview so you know what to expect
Tips on the dress code of the company and how to use it to your advantage
Personal advice on what to wear on the day

BOOST INTERVIEW SUCCESS WITH MY INTERVIEW ADVANTAGE PROGRAMME

The Subconcious Effect of Colour

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 15:00:19 GMT

Colour surrounds us and effects our lives every day, in a myriad of ways. However, do you really understand the power and impact of colour when branding your business and choosing a professional business wardrobe?

The interview advantage

Let's Talk About Your Style...

I've Got Nothing to Wear...!

TRANSFORM YOUR MID-YEARS

Eliminate the negative accentuate the positive! - Midlife chic for Women and Men

How's your Self-image and Confidence

What's involved in a wardrobe that works?

We convince by our presence

How can colour help in our every day lives

Are You Ready for some Style Therapy Ladies and Gentlemen?

THE BUSINESS OF STYLE BRANDING YOURSELF

WHAT TO WEAR FOR INTERVIEW – TOP TIPS

How to Develop a Style File

So why do we want or need a style file?

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Reinvent Your Working Wardrobe

Your choice of business dress telegraphs important messages

How you look determines how you are judged

What influences your choice of business dress?

Your business types

Your corporate culture

Your audience

If you are self-employed

Why well-fitting clothes are a must for true style

Colour Psychology and Your Business Clothing

Business Branding Colour

Using Colour Psychology to Attract Your Target Markets

Dress Codes

1. Business Dress

2. Business Casual/Smart Casual

Your Business clothes are your packaging, _so what do they say about you?

LOOKING BEYOND …..

Create A Visual CV

LET’S TALK ABOUT TALKING - FOR VIRTUAL MEETINGS

COMPANIES ASK WOMEN TO DRESS “SEXIER” FOR ZOOM CALLS...

Going about town fashionably

Your Image – Your Brand

Returning to work after lockdown?

6 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR PRESENCE AT ONLINE MEETINGS!

Can colour help our mood and spirit?

Can the way we dress affect how we feel?

Your Professional Image

How to monetize your personal brand and image

Just say thank you

Reinvent Your Working Wardrobe

Tips for getting it right!

The Interview Advantage

WHAT YOU WISH YOU’D KNOWN BEFORE YOUR INTERVIEW:

The Subconcious Effect of Colour