If you still believe that hiring an image consultant is for other people, think again! To make peace with one’s image is no small matter. It’s a step toward building self-esteem in our professional and personal lives.

For this reason, more and more people are hiring the services of image consultants to take charge of updating their look. It is no longer enough to consult with sales associates at cosmetic counters or clothing stores.  They most often do not have the expertise necessary to address our needs at 50 and over.
How often do you feel ‘moche’ or that the image you see in the mirror makes you grimace? Does your skin seem grayish? Do you think you look tired and older than you really are? Do others glow?

Arrêt! If this is not just because of a bad hair day, then it is most probably because you lack confidence. Perhaps you feel insignificant and prefer to stay in the shadows rather than in the forefront. 

Let me ask you another question. Do you grab the first thing you can find in your wardrobe in the morning? This may work if you are simply meeting your gal pals for a drink but to be a team player in a professional environment is another story. How about your wardrobe?  Is it organized or is everything squished together or spilling out of the doors and drawers?

Perhaps you do not want to be part of a society that endorses a youth cult by promoting the use of Botox and fillers, so you choose to hold onto your old image. It’s understandable. Rare are the people who promote the merits of aging.

However, if you’ve been going to the same hairstylist and colorist for the last 15 years, or you are still wearing the same style clothes since Michael Jackson came out with Thriller, and you buy your clothes at the same shops you did when you were a college grad, it may be time for an update.
If you are worried that a makeover may be too dramatic, think of it more as becoming “An Updated Version” of yourself instead.

Think of The-New-You as being an ongoing journey, with no final destination. (DISCIPLINE is the secret.) Look at the stars that we so often admire and sometimes idolize; they are constantly freshening up their looks, so should you.

Taking care of yourself and cultivating your style will serve you personally and professionally as it will increase your confidence and make you feel really good about yourself. But always keep in mind the importance of adapting one’s style to one’s lifestyle.
The other day my client, Karen, said to me, “Thanks to you Michele, I feel beautiful again, I have not felt beautiful for a long time.”  Without knowing it, she gave me the best reward ever. 

Michèle

P.S.  Don’t forget to check out Pattie’s Makeover Diary. We are having a great time updating her look. Join us in the fun!