Before and After
BEFORE and AFTER Gallery
Here are some of the highlights of Diane’s work with her incredible clients. As you can imagine, changing one’s image can be threatening for some people… it takes courage to say, “I need to change some things about myself. Can you help me with this?” And then to agree to put their stories including their pictures on this website, well that is just plain FANTASTIC!
MEET BROOKE
Wife, mother and business owner who is very busy and physically active…
Brooke had a closet full of clothing that no longer worked for her…
I met Brooke in 2005 at a networking event. At the time she was the president of e-Woman Network in West Palm Beach and running her own internet marketing company. She decided to work with me on her image because as she put it, “nothing was working.” Brooke elaborated that she’s a “clotheshorse” and keeps her clothes forever. She wanted to know how to easily pick out the right style, colors and textures for her. More importantly, she had 4 business-related events coming up and she wanted to be dressed appropriately to create the right impression. I asked her what message she wanted to convey and she replied, “strength, confidence, attractiveness, outstanding and fun;” and then she added, “youthful and powerful energy” and that she “did not want to hide.” In short, she said, she wants to be approachable but still be perceived as “professional.”
Brooke chose the Targeted Makeover package which is perfect for the client who can take the information I share with them and run with it. She had a needs assessment in which she brought me samples of her clothes to see, color-by-color analysis, style analysis, the Fashion Fit Formula and bra fitting. We concluded that her style type was sporty, traditional and creative and that her coloring was slightly warm, rich, energized and earthy. She received her customized color palette, style type descriptions and FFF measurement chart as her
shopping guides.
I suggested to Brooke that her hair color might be weakening her appearance and making her skin appear red; and recommended that she change to a darker and richer hair color. (The right hair color will make your skin look healthy – not red, yellow, green, grey or pasty.) Because Brooke is fast in her thinking and actions, she immediately had her hair darkened. While this might not be the exact color that is perfect for her, it’s a start on which she can improve upon. Because she created more contrast between her hair and skin, she can now wear clothing that has more contrast. (When you wear what is equal to your head, your clothing will look like it “belongs” to you.) And because contrast is more dynamic, Brooke will automatically appear more youthful (and natural) and energetic.
I was fortunate enough to see Brooke on a number of occasions following our work together and she looked amazing. She was able to combine all the elements of her style and coloring into her new and existing wardrobe. As a result, she reported that she feels more confident, hopeful and in sync with what she needs to do and who she was meant to be.
Brooke Before Brooke After
MEET KEVIN
Divorced father of 3 teens; and manager of the accounting department with a team of 5 employees at an industrial manufacturing facility here in south Florida…
The wardrobe colors, patterns and combinations that the store salesman chose for Kevin were totally off the mark. Consequently, Kevin was uncertain of his
new appearance…
I met Kevin through his wife about 7 years ago. I had invited his wife Evelyn to have her colors done while my color teacher from Colorado was here in south Florida conducting a color training workshop for image consultants. Because this was a rare opportunity, each consultant was asked to invite their clients to participate by having their colors done. We scheduled clients by the hour all day long for three days. The clients who volunteered to “model” for the color training would each receive their personalized color-by-color fan. Naturally, we charged for this service. Evelyn scheduled her appointment and signed-up her husband Kevin to have his colors done as well.
Our color training was a big success and as a result, Evelyn asked if I would continue working with her husband on his image. She was busy with full-time work and family obligations and didn’t have the expertise to assist him in shopping and planning his wardrobe. Kevin was very busy too and hadn’t had the time or inclination to plan a wardrobe that flattered him. With three young children, there wasn’t the time to even give it a thought. I was more than pleased to help sort this out for Kevin.
Since Kevin had his color fan, we worked backwards by doing his needs assessment, style type and body proportions. This took an entire session lasting about 2 1/2 – 3 hours. Kevin told me that his weight goes up and down, his company was in the process of being sold, that he spends most of his free time with the children and that occasionally he goes boating and walks or bikes are his only forms of physical exercise. He went on to say that most of his clothing was over 5 years old and that he “only shops out of need.” He also mentioned that as an accountant, his position is conservative by nature.
After assessing Kevin’s needs, goals and preferences, I went to his home and conducted a closet evaluation. For hours and hours we went through his entire wardrobe; and at my request, Kevin tried-on most of his clothing as I explained why it worked, why it no longer suited him and what he should keep to wear now. As is so often the case with my clients, the majority of Kevin’s wardrobe didn’t work for him any longer and was donated to charity. He had been collecting clothing his entire adult life and very little of it fit or met his current needs. It was heartbreaking for him at first but once the reality sunk in, it was liberating for Kevin to break from the past and start over.
Our next step was to quickly and effectively shop for a wardrobe that flattered Kevin and met his needs. I could not leave Kevin without clothes! We made several successful trips to the mall and gradually acquired a wardrobe that he felt comfortable and competent in.
That was then. I had not heard from Kevin in years except for an occasional email joke or update – and then last year I received this written message:
“I’m working at a new place for about a year now. It’s owned by father /son Italians who dress very nicely. Anyway, when I had my annual review they told me they wanted me to dress nicer and gave me a $2,000 clothing allowance to do it. I spent $4,000 and I have to admit I look pretty good. I used your colors and the stores you suggested (mostly at the Nordstrom’s that just opened up here). My bosses were very impressed.” Regards, Kevin
I responded to Kevin’s email by congratulating him on a job well done and eventually asked Kevin if he wouldn’t mind sending me his picture. He complied and this is the picture he sent me…
Kevin Before
Kevin felt so proud of his new image that I had to tread slowly and carefully to find out more. The end result is that I asked if he wouldn’t mind stopping by my studio one day to show me his purchases. He complied again. He brought over jackets, shirts, ties, slacks, belts and shoes. He explained that he wasn’t really sure what went with what and that it was the salesman who put the outfits together for him. At my request, he tried on several of the shirts, ties and jackets; and we evaluated whether or not they matched his color palette, style type and the message he wanted to convey. What I discovered was that he wasn’t really comfortable with his new look and that he found it confusing and somewhat stressful to put the outfits together. What patterns and colors went with what? There was so much going on with the different patterns and colors in the shirts, ties, slacks and jackets that he couldn’t figure out; plus he had forgotten what the salesman suggested he do. I’m not sure if his email was a cry for help or not but as a result of this try-on session, Kevin concluded that his shopping trip was not as successful for him as he had originally thought.
I explained to Kevin that his new wardrobe didn’t quite work for him for the following reasons: the colors were too washed-out to support his coloring; the high-fashion look of mixing all the different patterns and pastel colors looked trendy and did not give him the credibility that he needed; the outfits didn’t accurately represent his elegant, traditional and sporty style type and therefore, were not believable on him; and the suits were formal business attire and not as approachable as business casual attire would be for him in his less formal business setting. That’s when Kevin decided to hire me again to go on shopping trip to the mall. These pictures (below) were taken in the dressing room at Nordstrom’s. Here’s just some of what we found that suited Kevin just fine…
Kevin After
Give yourself the Winning Image Edge.
Call to schedule your custom-designed program today!
Diane@WinningImageSeminars.com
561-733-0982
www.WinningImageSeminars.com
West Palm Beach, FL 33437