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Angelina Jolie is stunning in this two-tone gown by Versace.

Every year we reach back into our fantasy Cinderella dreams as we watch Hollywood’s hottest stars strut the Red Carpet in beautiful, couture gowns, bedazzled by Harry Winston jewels, coiffed hair and pristine makeup.  You know they spent hours in the salons getting ready, but just once, wouldn’t you like to be lavished with such attention?

Whether you really do fantasize this glamorous night or not, the truth is these moments on the Red Carpet are big in the fashion world.  Once these famous designer dresses by the likes of Dior, Gucci, Versace, Vera Wang, etc., sashay past the paparazzi, those styles are being copied, duplicated and tweaked so you, the consumer, can have a bit of that runway presence.  So look for the following trends coming your way soon …

According to InStyle Magazine, these are the top trends from the Red Carpet last night:

1. Two-tone
2. Mermaid
3. Not-so-basic-black
4. Pale pastels
5. Deep blues
6. Cutout backs

Just add color!

As I was sautéing my vegetables last night, I was admiring the abundance of color from the variety of veggies in my pan. I remembered hearing the more color you have on your plate, the healthier it is for you … and although colorful, I don’t think they meant M&M’s. With that said, I added as much variety of fresh vegetables as I could. As I stood at the stove stirring, strange as it seems, it reminded me of my obsession with wardrobe color. I am forever trying to get my clients out of their comfort zone in terms of adding more color to their wardrobes.

What could be more uplifting than sporting a bright red or dramatic purple top to start off your day? We all have at least 40 colors that are our very best, so why do I see so many wardrobes of black and white? Create excitement and interest by adding one or two colors to your typical work “uniform.” You may even feel like you have a totally new outfit on just by pairing a blue, green or even, gasp, a yellow top with your black pant. It’s OK if your sense of adventure is a colorful necklace, bracelet or earrings. It’s a start, right?

I encourage all of you reading this to get creative with what you have in your closet. Start by organizing it so you can see what you have in each category of pants, tops, skirts, etc. Then pull a basic piece like a pant and try several different tops with it to create a unique combination. Do this with all of your “uniform” pieces. You’ll feel like you’ve just been shopping in your own closet when you see these potentially great looks. Know what the best part of this experience will be? As you begin creating new looks with the pieces you own, you’ll start to get a sense of your own personal style. How great is that? Don’t forget to make note of missing pieces that might inspire yet another creative outfit. That list will serve as your shopping list for the next time you hit the mall. (Shopping with a focus saves time and money!)

Didn’t know you had the potential to look great in 40 different colors? Don’t spend another dime on your wardrobe until a professional does your color analysis. Wow, what a difference the right yellow can make! (Can you see where I’m going with all of this yellow talk? Everyone has a good yellow. You just need to wear your best one to appreciate this magnificent color.) Looking fabulous in your best colors every day will definitely give you confidence and make you feel like a million bucks, I guarantee. Like colorful vegetables, looking healthy and vibrant is easy with a wardrobe loaded with your best colors. Join me on this journey to healthy living, won’t you?

Want to know how to look and feel great, have more but spend less?

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What if you acquired 40 “new” outfits without ever leaving your closet? Wouldn’t that make you like your closet a little bit more? Sure it would! This is exactly what happened to a recent client of mine. She had the basics, pants, skirts and jackets, in her best basic colors, and the accessories and shoes, but she just wasn’t sure just how to put looks together. Wearing a uniform of khakis and white tops was comfortable, easy and required little thought but became boring quickly. Boring leads to frustration. Frustration leads to a closet full of nothing to wear! What do you think that does to your attitude? Being frustrated and bored is no way to start your morning! Good grief! Get rid of those feelings. Embrace your style and your wardrobe NOW.

Most of us have had a love/hate relationship with our clothes at one time or another. It’s probably more about our body and how the clothes fit, but that’s a whole other article! What sticking points are you experiencing? Do you have the main pieces but it’s those finishing touches that bring on the frustration? How do you complete a look to make it look like an outfit?

To create new looks, start with one of your favorite jackets or pair of pants, preferably something with texture, details or fits you as though it were made for you. And because your clothes are sorted by categories like pants, skirts, jackets, tops (from sleeveless to long), scarves, belts, etc., comparing that piece to those hanging will be easy. (I’m assuming you have already sorted, purged and rearranged your clothes into a manageable system. If you haven’t already, do so TODAY. If you don’t know where to begin, contact me so I can help you get over that hump.) Comparing your favorite jacket to your different pants and skirts is like shopping in a store made for you! It can be fun, exciting and quite liberating! Try different color combinations, mixing patterns and creating interest with textures. Add a set of pearls to an outfit for a more formal or dressier feel. Then try an inspirational or fun necklace to that same outfit for yet another look – a less formal look. Shoes work the same way. A closed-toe pump will look more formal while a metallic, flat sandal will create a more casual, but elegant, feel.

Once you start creating new outfits from within your own closet, without knowing it, you are beginning to create your own “personal style.” What? I am? Yes you are! Your style will become more individualized and “put together,” and you will be saving money because instead of buying more of the same, you are shopping from within your closet to get those new looks … Now that feels good! And you look fabulous too!

Your attitude should not be affected by what you see in your closet, but most often it does. Now is the time to say “enough is enough!” Begin shopping from within the confines of your own closet with pieces that you love. Take note of the missing items that would really make an outfit speak to your personal style, making a promise to purchase those specific items before buying anything else. Before you know it, you’ll have more to wear but own less. I can assure you that this will bring you peace, a newfound joy of dressing and more time to enjoy the things that really matter to you.

Side note: Do you own a color palette? You should! Creating new and individualized looks is much easier with your color palette because the 40 colors within your palette are made to work together and work for YOU. Make an appointment with me to get your colors done today.

Wear RED!

Start your day off with intentional dressing.  Why?  Sending calculated image messages, those non-verbal messages, can make a significant difference in your day. Wear RED combined with other specific colors to create a powerful message.

For men, your most important TIE COLOR is red.

 
Redsays ENERGETIC and ACTIVE but can be considered conservative in it’s darker, more sublte tones like burgundy or brick red. The brighter the red, the more assertive it becomes.

Try these color combinations to make your wardrobe work for you:

• COMMAND ATTENTION: Charcoal suiting with a white, pale yellow or pale pink shirt and a RED tie.
• EFFICIENT & INTELLIGENT: Charcoal suiting with a pale yellow shirt and a RED tie.
• COMPETITIVE, GREGARIOUS: Navy or charcoal suit with a white or pale yellow shirt and a RED tie.
• AUTHORITATIVE, POWERFUL, SUCCESSFUL: Pinstripe or solid dark navy suit or charcoal suit with a white or pale blue shirt, bright or deep red tie.

For women, red commands action and energy.

 
Wear red to create DRAMA or ASSERTIVENESS.  The deeper or richer the red, the more conservative it becomes.

Make a conscious decision about your outfit each day.  Make your red work for you with these color combinations:

• COMPETITIVE, GREGARIOUS: Combine your best navy with white and bright red.
• ENERGETIC: Choose your navy, and add light yellow and red.
• AUTHORITATIVE: Combine navy with white and red.
• COMMANDING ATTENTION: Try your navy with light yellow and red.

The psychology of color can go a long way in helping you reach your goals, whether professional or personal.  Success begins with a purposeful wardrobe, starting with your best, personalized colors and deliberate color combinations.

To learn more about YOUR BEST RED and your other 39 BEST COLORS, contact Kate or check out our color analysis page.

(919) 624-2294
kate@adistinctiveimage.com.

Are you ready to rock a RED?

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, why not show your romantic (but budget-conscious) side with bold, red lips? It’s easy, the cost is minimum, and your lipstick can be worn throughout this spring when bold colors abound. Did you know that historically speaking, in a struggling economy, women have traditionally purchased lipsticks in place of a new outfit?

Red lips can be daring, sexy and exciting, but not everyone enjoys the attention,sofinding your best red is so important. 90% of my clients complain that they cannot find the right shade of red. Life shouldn’t be this difficult. You’ve probably seen firsthand how the wrong shade of red can quickly drain color from your face or worse yet, look like clown makeup. The right red is magical and face-brightening! Because lip tones are as individualized as your own natural coloring, you must try on several shades of red to find your best. Without warning, that beautiful Red Tango you’re admiring can suddenly turn Overtly Orange on your lips! To save time, money and energy, I first suggest you understand two key points about yourself: value and hue (color).

Your value is individualized so don’t look to your BFF for help. Look at yourself in a black and white photo.

True	Contrasting

Do you have a contrasting look with dark hair and light skin and light or medium eyes? Choose a red that is brighter or darker. Do you seem light overall? If so, your red should be less intense. What if your hair, skin and eyes all seem medium to dark, with little contrast? A brighter red lipstick would create a nice balance with your own natural coloring. Stick with lipsticks that create the same kind of intensity as your own natural light-to-dark values. Without harmony and balance, your lips will be the only thing people see.

Note: Knowing your values (Contrasting, Vivid, True or Light) is so important and helpful when wearing color in both makeup and wardrobe!

OK, so you have an idea about choosing the intensity of a red, but what about the color/shade of red? To understand the science behind your best color, also known as hue, read my blog, Make Your Lips Sizzle This Spring. Do you look best in a red-orange or a true red? This concept is priceless and can be used for more than just lipstick. Shopping just got a little more fun!

Be ahead of your fashion savvy friends by starting off this spring season with beautifully bold red lips in February! Trust me, you can find a flattering red shade just suited for you. And when you do, you’ll feel empowered!

Be daring! Be bold! Go for the RED! You’ll want to wear it with this season’s colorful spring looks, I guarantee!

Certified in color analysis, Kate Leser, fashion stylist and owner of A Distinctive Image, quickly and easily identifies a person’s best coloring using a scientific method called Color Alliance. Her individualized image programs are the most advanced because of the masterful mix of science, art and technology. For more information, you can contact Kate Leser at (919) 624-2294 or kate@adistinctiveimage.com.

Creating a great first impression every day can be empowering. It sets a standard by which you live and how others treat you. When you are an employee, your first impression is not only a reflection of yourself but of the company you represent as well. How do you think that makes your boss feel? What about an entrepreneur? Success follows the entrepreneur that understands and utilizes a great first impression – every day.

What happens when we know our first impression is the best that it can be?  Our confidence soars and we develop the courage to do the things that we want to do.  It’s like WYSIWYG.  What you see is really what you get and that feels good!

Creating a great first impression every day can be empowering.  It sets a standard by which you live and how others treat you.  When you are an employee, your first impression is not only a reflection of yourself but of the company you represent as well.  How do you think that makes your boss feel? What about an entrepreneur?  Success follows the entrepreneur that understands and utilizes a great first impression – every day.

How do you make a great first impression?  It’s easy once you learn the subtle details.  I have listed (5) ways in which to improve your personal image:

1. Work with, not against, your face shape.  To mimic and to balance your face shape are the keys to facial harmony which in turn creates a positive image.
2. Work with, not against, your body shape.  Know how to play up your assets.  A well-fitting outfit speaks volumes for your great first impression!
3. Choosing your most flattering colors can significantly improve your entire image.  Know what colors favor and enhance your own individualized coloring.  For example, if you have green eyes, play them up with its complement, purple.  Soft, gray-blue eyes look great paired with a lemon yellow (its complement).  Use color to enhance and empower yourself.
4. Do you have a great haircut?  A haircut that flatters your face, works with your own hair’s texture and is manageable for you will be well worth its weight in gold.
5. A well-proportioned tie pattern or blouse pattern that repeats the angles or contours of your face create harmony and strength in your appearance.

My goal is to give you courage and to challenge you to create your very best first impression. Be consistent.  And make it count!

Call me today so we can begin creating your great first impression.  It’s not just for interviews.

kate@adistinctiveimage.com or (919) 624-2294

I Love My Colors

Some of life’s choices got real easy when I had my colors done.  Simple things like buying a pair of summer sandals or a new top are so much easier because I have a color palette.  It’s not just a color palette!  It’s a color palette scientifically and artistically made for ME.  Not you, not you either, but ME.  Unless you have exactly the same hair color as me and the same skin tone AND the same eye color (which I doubt), than this palette could not be yours.  It could be similar but not exact because this color analysis system is based on science and the Munsell color wheel (hence, the science and art).

It took me two seconds to choose this nail polish color and less than five seconds to choose this inexpensive pair of sandals from Target.  Do you have that much time?  Of course you do!  I didn’t have to agonize over whether these two items would be good purchases for me.  I have bigger fish to fry in my day!

The bonus?  These sandals are an even greater find because not only are they in my color family, but they are also of a striped pattern.  Perfect for my angled face.  I’ve scored 110% with this easy purchase by capturing my best colors and working with my inside line (face shape).  It just doesn’t get any easier.

If you would like to simplify your shopping or would like some help purging your closet, contact me today.  It’s just that easy.

My contact info:

kate@adistinctiveimage.com

919.624.2294

Carolina Silver Company

If keeping up with the trends is important to you but your budget is saying, “NO,” don’t worry. There are options out there for even the most budget-conscious fashionistas. Be daring with bold, earth-friendly looks or create a soft allure with the feminine touches of lace and silk. You can get the hottest looks for the season without breaking the bank.

Scaling back doesn’t mean giving up your quest for that perfect spring look. Accessories are going to be your best friend this season and hopefully for seasons going forward. Today more than ever, the accessory industry closely follows all of the clothing trends. According to Carolina Silver Company, located in Raleigh and Cary, “We strive to stay in step with current trends for women of all ages and lifestyles.”

Accessories are the easiest way to update your look and are generally less expensive than buying a whole new wardrobe. “Our customers know they can always count on us to keep them in style with fun, affordable accessories for every occasion,” says Terri Taylor, owner of Carolina Silver Company. You can find quality silver jewelry, such as the currently popular Pandora and Waxing Poetic lines, plus colorful beads and earth-friendly, bold pieces at her stores.

Shopping smart this spring season means taking last year’s look and updating it with some hot new accessories! Here are the 5 top trends from Raleigh’s leading silver company:

Top 5 trends from Carolina Silver Company

1. Floral cluster necklaces – colorful and feminine
2. Big, bold BANGLES and cuffs – Tribal inspired
3. Multi-strand necklaces – full of small beads for a chunky look
4. Hardware style earrings and necklaces – hoops and discs connected by long chains
5. Scarves – light, airy, patterned or embellished in lieu of jewelry

Take cues from this list to update your best looks from last year. To make a smart investment even smarter, buy one complete set (for example, the necklace, bracelet and earrings). Purchasing a set affords many more opportunities to mix and match the pieces, creating endless fresh looks. For example, wear the bracelet and earrings together. On the next day, pair the necklace with another necklace from your existing jewelry collection. (Layering pieces is very “in” this spring.) Wearing the earrings with the necklace, for example, creates an “outfit” out of separates. You get the idea. Have fun and don’t be afraid to mix up your old pieces with the new.

Does this look familiar?

What happens to your attitude when you gaze into your closet? Many attitudes are sabotaged by that “I-can’t-find-a-thing-to-wear” moment. Besides, most people wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time. Why is this? Closets get crammed full for many reasons, but you can stop the clutter by purging out-of-date, ill-fitting items. Increase your confidence today by getting organized because when you look good, you feel good.

Follow these steps to de-clutter:

1. Remove everything from your closet
2. Examine every item with brutal honesty
3. Sort each piece into one of three groups: keep, maybe and pass

When examining each of your items, be sure to ask yourself the following questions:

• Is it age appropriate?
• Is it in good condition? (No pills, rips or stains)
• Does it fit?
• Is it a good color for me?
• Do I wear it often? (Hint: If you have not worn it in a year, let it go.)
• Is it in style? (Hint: styles don’t come back around exactly the same as before.)
• Is it appropriate for my current lifestyle?

Your keep pile will most likely be that 20% that you wear all the time. You only want your favorites in your closet.

Your pass pile should be sorted into groups that are for charity, friends and trash. Why hang onto items that you don’t wear when someone else could be enjoying them?

Your maybe pile will be the hardest challenge but remain steadfast. Be brutal about each piece and revisit the questions above. Don’t keep an item just because it evokes romantic memories of a past date or a time when you were 20 pounds lighter. Let go of those excuses! You are on a totally liberating mission of increasing your daily confidence with a beautifully organized closet.

Like hangers keep clothes from tangling

Before you begin to refill your closet, think about its physical structure first. According to Raleigh’s leading professional organizer, Janice Russell of Minding Your Matters® Organizing, “Make your closet functional by creating a retrieval place rather than a storage space. Storage implies a crowded, unknown space. If your closet is a retrieval place then it is like going to a well-organized store each day.”

Janice offers these organizational tips:

• Use the same kind of hanger for uniformity (wooden, plastic or wire)
• Consider a double-rod system. There are hanging rods which attach to the existing rod, creating additional, flexible space which can be removed or changed when desired.
• Stack items using vertical dividers
• Remove rods not in use. Just because there is a rod doesn’t mean it has to stay there

Analyze what you have kept. Do you notice similar colors, similar patterns (stripes, flowers, geometric) or like-styles? Make note of the good, bad and ugly. Use these notes to shop smart. Congratulations, you are gaining confidence with organization!

Red lips are hot this season, and are one of spring’s “must-have” looks. Typically a fashion barometer for spring, the Oscar’s “Red Carpet” fashion show was not a disappointment as everyone seems to still be talking about Sandra Bullock’s red lips. Red lips are bold, striking, sexy, and can be quite glamorous if worn correctly.

Historically speaking, in a struggling economy, women have traditionally purchased lipsticks in place of a new outfit. During our last economic slowdown, The Wall Street Journal stated that lipstick sales at mass retailers rose 11% for 3rd quarter over the previous year. And if a woman’s budget this year is limited to lipstick purchases, than why not choose a daring, bold color like red? A red lipstick can make last year’s best outfits look like new! However, the problem with red lipstick is finding the right shade of red.

Sadly, the wrong red can detract from your look. Many will argue that Ms. Bullock’s fuschia shade, which is from the red-purple group, is not her best and that a true red would have been more in harmony with her own coloring.

A simple way to look at the different shades of red is to look at a color wheel. The picture here is a fun look at the scientific side of color. The top center is the true red pencil and just to the right of it is the orange pencil (red- yellow). To the left of the true red pencil are the pink and purple pencils, also known as the red-purple group. Now study the reds within your wardrobe. Do you see more burgundy (red-purple) or more brick red (red-yellow) in your closet? Perhaps your favorite red is a true red. These different shades of red within your own wardrobe are good indications of which red will be more flattering on your lips.

Finding Your Best Red

As with all items in your wardrobe, if that burgundy or brick red in your closet is not being worn, than you have a pretty good indication it is the wrong red for you! Your subconscious is at work when it comes to selecting your best colors. Listen to your own voice. But be daring! Be bold! Be one of the first in your circle of friends to try a hot, new red lipstick for spring.

Try our ColorFit demo to discover your best red (Warm v. Cool v. Neutral) today!