Does look good, feel good always apply?

Sadly the answer is no, but the Good News is that most of the time it does. What we wear in terms of colour and how it makes us look is proven to have a strong psychological impact on how we feel, and in most cases our self-esteem and mood is heightened when we look good. So what makes the answer ‘no’.

Well, firstly we can wear something lovely and designed to make us feel better, but if we are not addressing the underlying issue then it’s not necessarily going to have the desired effect. Even so, it’s worth dressing ‘happy’ even if all it does is stop everyone wondering/asking if you’re ok, and you having to explain why maybe you’re not.

The other reason struck me after I recently met a lady at an event - she said that since having an image consultation she is scared to shop as she doesn’t want to get it wrong, and this was supported by a style consultant who said she’d met people who could only shop with their colour wallet. In other words (what I call) 'perfection pressure'.

Is the person looking back, authentically you?

I hope my clients have never felt this way (I’ve always had positive feedback except from partners who are scared about the bank balance!) so both situations struck me as sad because, as I’ve said - I believe that if women, and men, understand what makes them look good it will lead to them feeling better; and so, I conduct a consultation with this in mind. As such the whole point of a consultation is to help people enjoy clothes, shopping and the person in the mirror. In one-to-ones and in my training courses I remind people that the only thing that really matters is that when you look in that mirror, you like the look of the person you see, and recognise that person as AUTHENTICALLY (AND STYLISHLY!) YOU. 

I see my role as helping people by offering advice and solutions, not rule setting. I give my clients guidance, but make it clear to them that they have a choice. In fact I share with them my rule breakers   for example I know that ankle straps make me look petite and ‘warm’ colours aren’t in my palette but I like them so...  wear them sparingly, I don’t break all my ‘rules’ at once and I know how to compensate so you won’t catch me in an orange top at the same time as mustard ankle strapped flats!

We all look better in some colours and styles than others, but whatever the style rules, the main one is ‘if it doesn’t make you feel good, don’t do it... and if you break a few ‘rules’ – well, so be it! As Donatella Versace said “Fashion is all about happiness. It's fun. It's important. But it's not medicine” – Now style may be more serious, but it’s still not medicine, so:

- Be colour confident – Get Style Savvy - Enjoy shopping - 

- Own your style - Embrace being you! -

You should be able to say "I am so pleased with my purchases!" after a consultation.