Image makeovers can transform your life. However, you need to look beyond a change in dressing style and makeup tips, and be the best you can be inside-out
There is something so compelling about seeing how different someone can look — especially when it seems to happen by magic. Changing your image can change your life, because you change how you feel about yourself. Your self-esteem soars when you know you look good. You walk across the room and heads turn. Your confidence soars and you own the room. Here’s a lowdown on image makeovers and what they involve.
Color analysis: Certain colors are capable of emphasising or, conversely, de-emphasizing an individual’s attractiveness to others. Consultants identify colors of clothing to match your skin complexion, eye colour, and hair colour which will enhance your beauty further.
Style analysis: It’s fascinating to see how changing your dressing style can change your entire look. During your style analysis, the consultant will tell you about your body type and what kind of clothes will make you look more attractive.
Personal shopping: Just take a day off and go shopping with your consultant, who will help you identify outfits that will best suit your body shape and complexion. You will get help in not only picking the right clothes for yourself, but also on how you can accessorise and mix-and-match them.
Make-up consultation: Consultants tell you how to apply make-up, what colors to use with your skin type and complexion, what kind of brushes to use, and so on.
There are also consultants who take care of fitness, manners, speech, and so on. There are special consultants for image managements of celebrities and politicians. It’s not just clothes that make a person. There’s more to an image makeover than the right clothes and makeup.
Your demanour and body language have a lot to do with it, too. Here are some ways an image consultant can help you with:
Module 1: First impressions and introductions
- Six elements of proper introduction
- Posture, body language, and hand gestures
- Greeting others and introducing yourself to a group
- “Safety zone” and other critical elements of first impression
- Voice: pitch, tonality, volume and melody
- Powerful 30-second self-introduction
- Starting, advancing, and ending a conversation during any social function
Module 2: Power, style, elegance, and professionalism
- Personal style assessment
- Identifying your body shape
- Size, proportions, and visual challenges
- Ideal colors and shapes
- Dressing for a special social occasion
- Defining your social goals
- Styling, shopping, dressing, and accessorizing tips
- Hair, makeup, and personal grooming issues
- Hair/ makeup/ visual tips
- World-class styling tips and fashion advice for all social occasions
- Perfect final touch: jewelry and accessories
Module 3: Speaking, interacting, networking
- Asking opened-end questions
- Reading micro-expressions
- Engaging in active listening
- Starting and advancing any conversation
- Conversation “icebreakers” and “perfect phrases”
- Remembering names and details
- Getting your message across in verbal communication and body language
- Showing off your social skills when interacting with people from other cultures
- World-class etiquette skills and “social savvy secrets”
- Social tools for success
Module 4: European, Asian, American and other dining styles
- Defining and identifying all dining styles
- Difference and preference in European and American dining styles
- One-on-one dining session with the European dining expert
- Learning to be a gracious host/ hostess
- Reading any table chart: casual or formal dining
- Seating protocol and identifying your guests of honor
- Guiding guests while ordering food at a restaurant — French, Italian, Japanese, American
- Pairing food with wine
- Basic wine etiquette and wine-ordering tips
- Using silverware and chopsticks
- Handling dining blunders and difficult moments
- Paying bills, tipping and gratuity
Image makeovers are absolutely amazing experiences, but how do we decide how far is too far? Where do we stop? Sometimes we get trapped in our own image. If you are not pretentious, if you are not trapped in your own image that you have built around you or about you, if you are not a conformist to the standards set by the so called society, then you can be really happy. So first and foremost, stop pretending. The day you stop pretending, you will feel how free you become inside and outside. You will not have to prove anything to anyone. Not even to yourself.
Next step: Stop living in fear of what might happen, if you do something. Your actions should not be driven by fear of any kind. Do not fear rejection. Do not fear of what people might say or think about you.
Over the years, I have realised and experienced that the happiest people are those who live on their own terms, behave in the way that comes to them naturally, are full of joy and, most of all, are leading a meaningful life.