Look good, feel great...your image is our business!
What is your image saying about YOU?
Visual impression: Confident and commandingPsychological impression: Independent, influential, strong, aggressive or exciting
Dramatics are likely to love hats, sunglasses when the sun's only just shining, flamboyant colours, large jewellery and full make-up. Vibrant colours and up-to-the-minute fashion just say it all!
Dramatics love to shop – for what you desperately want! Forget the budget and practicality, you need high fashion, state-of-the-art everything, and want items that command attention. You don’t seek attention for yourself; Dramatics are just lively people who want to have fun and experiment with everything to do with colour and styles of clothes.
Physically Dramatics are typically tall with striking features and colouring.
Shopping PrioritiesPracticality is not high on your list of priorities. Your priorities will be:
You need to know the latest fashion trends, fabrics, designers and how to co-ordinate colours. Shopping for you has been, and needs to continue to be, an enjoyable and fun experience.
ClothesTake a look at the more flamboyant colours of the season. Consider the latest trends in lengths and shapes of jackets. Quality is important but not so much as the overall look. You need to stand out in a crowd. Your wardrobe will already have designer or one-off type clothes in them. Choose new items to complement a lively and interesting collection of clothes and accessories. From smart through to casual - remember the keyword is 'dramatic'.
Dramatics will enjoy wearing sharp suits in bold contrasting colours.
If you feel a bit too noticeable, then learn how to tone your look down towards Classic, or veer towards the European look.
Existing Europeans and Classics should aim for a more Dramatic look when they wish to convey authority in the workplace, i.e. darkest neutral suit with sharpest, lightest neutral blouse.
Cher, Anjelica Houston, Naomi Campbell, Sharon Osbourne, Donatella Versace, Madonna
Next Blog: The European/Elegant Style Personality
Posted by Prue Bartels on: Fri May 18th at 04:37:08 PM
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Psychological impression: Gentle, caring, romantic and captivating
Romantic or feminine ladies often have a soft, feminine non-threatening appearance, and are most often blonde with an hour glass figure. Your clothes are designed to appeal to men in particular and to show off your shape and your femininity.
Natural and synthetic blends will appeal to you, especially those which are soft to touch, are smooth and light in texture, in gentle pretty colours, and drape beautifully. You love wearing dresses and skirts rather than trousers. Footwear will invariably be pretty and often not very practical, often with extra detailing like bows, or in suede, velvet or other tactile fabrics. You are likely to wear suits which are designed to look like a two-piece dress. Trousers do not feature highly in your wardrobe.
You love wearing make-up and enjoy trying out new looks. Small to medium-sized jewellery in a smooth design, perhaps with a touch of sparkle; you love diamonds! You will love soft, swirling curls which either frame your face or fall over one eye.
Shopping Priorities
You are most likely to feel more comfortable in dresses, or clothes with soft or curved lines. You look good in jackets which are fitted or nipped in at the waist. Coats and non-matching jackets may be worn as an accessory rather than for practicality. If you choose trousers (which won’t be often), the fabric will be fluid and soft, although you may choose tight leggings or capri pants with kitten heels to show off your shape.
· Fabrics... smooth and light, soft to touch, e.g. cashmere, angora, silk and satin
· Patterns... delicate floral prints, spots or squiggles
· Make-up... soft and feminine, you spend time over your look
· Jewellery... dangly, pretty items with lots of intricate detail
· Colours for clothes... soft, pretty pastels
Romantic clothes are not appropriate for the business arena. If you follow your natural clothing instincts, you will be seen as too fluffy and unprofessional. Man-made fibres, or blends with natural fibres, are your best choice for business wear. You will always feel more comfortable in a dress and matching jacket or should go for a fitted and matching suit, to help your show off your figure. You should aim to tone down your make-up a little and avoid too much shimmer (or should that be ‘shimmy’?) in the office. Hair accessories need to be removed for business.
Barbara Cartland, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Dolly Parton, Melanie Griffiths, Scarlett Johansson
Next Blog: The Dramatic/High Fashion Style Personality
Posted by Prue Bartels on: Wed May 2nd at 01:24:35 PM
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Visual impression: Tailored and business-like
Psychological impression: Credible, conservative, practical and trustworthy
Your appearance is usually neat and tidy. You will enjoy a formal look and even casual clothes will have a 'tailored' appearance. Jeans (if you wear them) will have been washed, dried... and ironed. Your hair will be neat and tidy and you will wear a small amount of make-up. Jewellery will often be 'understated' including pearl earrings and necklaces along with small items of costume jewellery.
Classics avoid any fabric that creases easily, like linen, sticking to outfits that retain their crisp appearance throughout many hours of wear. Your shoes will usually be well cared for and polished.
Classics usually enjoy shopping for clothes and enjoy purchasing quality items that are timeless in terms of fashion. Your priorities will be:
· Good quality
· Clean lines
· Items to be an investment for the future, i.e. not necessarily high fashion
· Retaining a smart appearance even if some care is necessary
Clothes· Fabrics... best quality silks, cashmere, wool
· Patterns... solids mostly; an occasional pinstripe
· Make-up... subtle, polished appearance
· Jewellery... pearls or a fine gold chain
· Colours for clothes... blended colours, not bold contrast
Classics were born to dress for the office; you love suits and the formal look. You should feel ‘at home’ in professional clothes.
Queen Elizabeth, Governor General Quentin Bryce, Janette Howard, Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis
Next Blog: The Romantic/Feminine Style Personality
Posted by Prue Bartels on: Thu Mar 15th at 12:54:55 AM
Visual impression: Informal and unpretentious
Psychological impression: Friendly, relaxed, athletic and practical
It must be stressed that this is not 'scruffy'. The overall look is purely relaxed and allows ease of movement. You do not particularly enjoy the 'dressed up' look. You will often turn up wearing jeans, trousers, simple tops, little or no jewellery and little or no make-up. You need a look which allows you to be you, even in business. You will often wear classic clothes to work, taking them off the minute you get home. You do not take an iron on holiday with you!
Clothes made out of natural fabrics like leather, suede, wool or cotton will be suitable. You love wearing jeans, chinos, trousers, shorts, sweatshirts, sweaters, T-shirts, stone-washed cotton shirts, fleeces, anoraks. Footwear will invariably be boots, stout shoes and trainers. You are unlikely to enjoy wearing suits or formal clothes. Naturals are unlikely to enjoy wearing make-up so just use a minimal amount. Choose natural jewellery made from dull metals or wear little or no jewellery. You will feel much more comfortable sporting an easy-to-manage hairstyle.
Naturals are really practical people. Shopping is unlikely to be high on your list of priorities and is more probably seen as a necessary chore. Naturals are often sporty and outdoor types. To make your shopping experience as trouble-free as possible, look for items which are:
· Practical
· Hard wearing
· Non fussy
· Fabrics... denim, cotton, natural fibres
· Patterns... plaids, checks, jungle prints
· Make-up... minimal, natural, healthy glow
· Jewellery... not much; simple studs, or natural beads or stones at the most
· Colours for clothes... natural dyes, nothing bright
Business clothes need to give freedom of movement and need little or no laundering. Avoid man-made fibres and go for 100% natural fibres wherever practical. You will feel more comfortable in trouser suits, or trousers with a co-ordinating jacket. Jackets with simple lines and little in the way of detailing are preferable to highly structured and fitted ones. Natural ladies should, at least, wear a bronzing powder and a neutral lipstick in the workplace.
Elle McPherson, Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, Jane Fonda
Next blog The Classic/Traditional Style Personality
Posted by Prue Bartels on: Sun Feb 5th at 01:32:11 PM
Style Personality is the way you express who you are via the clothing, accessories, hair and makeup you wear.
Many women have established a certain “style” to the way they dress by their forties. However, even if you are on the right track, you can get in a RUT.
Your personal style may also be constantly evolving to meet changes in your work, home and social life.
7 Style Personalities
You may have one definite style, or a combination of two, or even three – especially if the environments in which you live and work vary substantially.
I'll be covering each Style Personality in future blogs, starting with the Natural/Sporty and the Classic/Traditional so watch this space!
Posted by Prue Bartels on: Sat Jan 7th at 07:39:28 PM
Empty the contents of your closet onto your bed (so you can't go to bed that night until you finish!). Assess each garment critically and place in appropriate group.Do this exercise each season to avoid a constipated wardrobe!
Posted by Prue Bartels on: Fri Sep 30th at 03:11:24 PM
Most of us have a desire to fit into a certain size of clothing but to be honest, it's how it looks on you, not the size on the label.
In Australian sizing, I'm a size 10 on average but my wardrobe ranges from XS to XL. In cheaper labels (e.g. TEMT) I'll often go up a size as they tend to be skimpier cuts (plus my upper arms are larger than average for my size!) and looser fits are often more flattering. Or sometimes my ideal size is sold out and the next size up looks fine.
I'm not precious about sizing but if clients I'm shopping with are...I threaten to cut off the labels!
Sizing varies around the globe. In Thailand the average woman is quite petite so I start with the larger sizes there. Occasionally even the largest doesn't fit me and I stomp out feeling like an elephant. Whereas in the US...I can fit into size 2 pants and feel as light as a feather.
Hmmm...I guess those labels do affect my psyche after all...
Posted by Prue Bartels on: Wed Jul 13th at 11:03:40 PM
Did you know there are certain colours that everyone can wear successfully?
We refer to them as "safe" or "universal" colours and are especially good to use when selecting bridesmaids' dresses or corporate wardrobes (staff uniforms). Rather than have some looking great and the others awful...it's best to use colours that flatter everyone.
Here are some examples:
Off-White (also known as "Winter White" or sometimes even "Cream") 
Jade (the point at which blue and green meet) 
Teal Blue (dark turquoise) 
Periwinkle (a purplish blue or blueish purple) 
Medium Violet (most mid tone purples are safe) 
Deep Coral Pink (warm dark pink) 
Soft Cherry (light pinkish red) 
Soft Navy (especially in a textured fabric) 
Charcoal (much more flattering than black on most as a neutral) 
Posted by Prue Bartels on: Mon May 30th at 09:32:47 PM
Why is it that so many women persist in having fringeless hairstyles that don't suit them? I see them everywhere...in the social pages, at networking events...
Fringes are great for a variety of reasons...
- shorten long faces so they don't look so "horsey" (even worse with centre part & long fine hair)
- hide unattractive foreheads i.e. too narrow, too deep, too short
- hide forehead & brow lines
- hide attractive hairlines
- look youthful
Who should avoid them, especially full fringes?
- "short" face shapes i.e. round, square as they make them look squat
And if you have one of the above (or an oval) and have an attractive hairline, then flaunt it by pulling your hair right back off your face!
Posted by Prue Bartels on: Sat Apr 2nd at 06:07:20 PM
All too often I hear that a new client has a wardrobe full of clothes but nothing to wear.
A successful wardrobe consists of the right balance of clothes for your lifestyle. Consider how you spend your waking hours over the course of a week.
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Example: And remember....spend the most on the clothes you wear the most!
Posted by Prue Bartels on: Wed Mar 16th at 04:45:03 PM
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