I often hear people say they don’t have the time to focus on their image or that it is just too hard and too much effort. Sound familiar? Looking Good does not need to take up a lot of time, nor does it need to be a difficult task. In fact, I would argue that it takes just as long to look fabulous as it does to look ordinary. Putting on a pair of dress pants does not take any longer than putting on a pair of jeans and putting on a pump shoe takes about the same time as putting on a pair of thongs. You still have to slip your foot into the shoe. Why be ordinary when there is so much of you to feel great about? Everyone likes to look and feel good about themselves. If you don't believe me, next time you are wearing a colour or style that looks amazing on you, watch as the compliments flow and see how much better you feel. Often we just need a few tools and guidelines to help us look fabulous and to organize our wardrobes so that looking good becomes easy. Ideally, your clothing should be a natural extension of you. If you follow the clothing styles and colours that suit you, you will automatically look great. If your wardrobe is full of styles and colours that suit you, think how much easier it will be to get dressed every morning and how much time you will save. If you are not sure what these styles and colours are then seek professional advice. We all know it is important to seek professional advice for our finances so why should your image be any different? Your image, like your financial plan should be working with you to align with your values and goals. For an instant and easy image fix then try wearing a lipstick in your colour. This will give you an instant lift not to mention adding the ‘WOW' factor to your outfit. Alternatively try a new hairstyle. A change can be as refreshing as a holiday. Talk to your hairdresser about updating your hairstyle and getting a new look. Wear colours that look good on you. The right colours help to make you look taller and slimmer and bring attention to your face and eyes. If you always wear black and white, try wearing a few other colours for something different. It is also important to make sure the clothes fit you. Clothes that are too small for you only serve to make you look larger. For those of you interested in the slightly longer term then it is worth taking a bit of time to think about your current wardrobe. Does it work for or against you and is it giving you the credibility you need for your work environment? You want your image and wardrobe to take you where you want to go, not where you are now. Is it current or have your grown out of it? Does it cater to your lifestyle? If your wardrobe is not doing any of this then it is time to implement an action plan to update your image. Start by assessing your wardrobe and sort your clothes into a yes and a no pile. The yes pile goes back into your wardrobe and the no pile has done its dash. It is time to let these clothes go. Throw out any clothes that are old, tired, tattered or that no longer fit. Now you need to think about what it is you are missing and where you need to spend your money. Plan ahead for when you next go shopping. Make a list of what you need to buy, what your budget is and then stick to your plan. Most importantly, have fun with your image and wardrobe. You carry your image with you at all times so enjoy it. Anna Martin is the co-founder of Izziana Image Consultants and is a great believer that personal image is an important part of increasing people's confidence, self-esteem and wellbeing. Click HERE to comment on this article
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