Dallas Fashion Consultant

Dallas Fashion Consultant, Julie Bartlett, reviews an article by Jodi Helmer.

According to the Moneywatch.com article ‘Drink, Go Blonde, and 5 Other Ways to Make More Money’, by Jodi Helmer on July 27, 2010, paying to look good may increase your overall pay and offers several ways to invest in your looks.  None of the ideas are new.  They do, however, affirm the value in looking attractive.

“Attractive men and women are often seen as more talented, kind, and intelligent and that can lead to promotions and raises,” says Gordon Patzer, author of Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined. Unattractive men, meanwhile, earned 15 percent less than their attractive coworkers in a London Guildhall University survey of 33-year-olds. Unattractive women earned 11 percent less.’

Physical attraction may not be something you’re born with, but it can be created or enhanced by attending to details such as an updated hair style and color, as well as makeup techniques;  replace missing teeth, have them straightened or whitened.  In addition, your clothes should be clean, well-fitted, and pressed.

Ladies, while you may not be able to permanently increase your physical height, your shoe heel height can provide you with a temporary solution.  While you men may not be interested in wearing 3″ heels, making sure the shoes have a nice heel, are the same color or darker than your slacks, and are kept in excellent condition will make a positive impact.  In addition, hem the slacks to break on the top of the shoe to create the illusion of long legs.

“Height is equated to power and authority,” says Patzer. “We literally look up to people who are taller.” Every extra inch in height adds another $789 in annual income, according to psychologist Timothy Judge and researcher Daniel M. Cable at the University of Florida. Someone who is 6 feet tall earns nearly $166,000 more during a 30-year career, on average, than someone 5’5”, say Judge and Cable

Facial hair is always fodder for discussion.  In general, if the hair on your head is a different color then your beard or mustache, lose the facial hair.  It’s a distraction.  Otherwise…consider the mustache…an asset.

“OK, maybe these guys aren’t completely objective, but a group called the American Mustache Institute says its survey found that men with mustaches earned 8.2 percent more than men with beards and 4.3 percent more than clean-shaven men.”

Investing yourself in church attendance may be good for business, but please leave the sweats, shorts, sneakers, and flip flops at home.  One of the biggest complaints I hear about the church market is the sloppy church attire.  It’s, church, a place of reverence and introspection, not the gym.  While you’re there…

“You might want to pray for a bigger paycheck. Using Census figures, MIT economist Jonathan Gruber found that doubling church attendance increased income by 9.1 percent. Among Gruber’s theories: Going to religious services helps you build social networks and shed the stress of everyday life.”

Looking attractive allows others to easily access your space and will help you proceed in the direction you want to go in life.  We’ve mentioned a few ideas to consider here, but we can’t leave without mentioning some of the most important keys to attraction.  These include how you talk to yourself, how you feel about yourself, your willingness to smile often, and your speaking kindly to others.  What is in the heart, shows up on the face, and overall in our attire.  Invest wisely and BE fabulous, always!

As your Dallas Personal Shopper and Fashion Consultant, it is my mission to help my clients always look fabulous, without being a slave to the whimsical ways of fashion trends.  I am passionately committed to making sure my clients always look their very best in order to help them achieve their personal and business goals.  If you have any questions or are interested in a personal consultation, please give me a call at 214-223-2200.

Hey, IQutees!  This is your Dallas Personal Shopper and I found a couple of items I want to share with you!

Location:

• Dillard’s at the Shops at Willow Bend Mall

Dallas Fashion Consultant, Julie Bartlett, asks what do your shoes say about you?

T-strap Pump

Dressing well begins with the shoes, and wearing a different pair of shoes each day will lengthen the life of the shoe as you allow it to ‘breath’ while it rests.  You also give your feet a break by having an assortment of heels to wear during the week, perhaps even during the day depending on your foot activity.

Each season you will find a variety of trendy shapes and colors which can add a sense of fun to your shoe collection.  While a closed-toe shoe is the foremost professional choice, during summer temps a peep-toe will also do the job.  Just make sure there is no toe cleavage to distract our eyes from how beautifully the shoe adorns your foot!

• The perfect shoe?  The T-strap.  The vertical line will narrow even the widest foot.

• The perfect color?  It should match or be a shade darker than your hemline if you are wanting to create height.  This year there is a great selection of nude shoes that will coordinate with almost any outfit.  While it will not create the appearance of height, it will allow for more attention to your outfit.

• The perfect shape?  All your shoes should be polished and in mint condition.  No gouges, rips, or broken heels.  Your shoe is your portable financial statement.  It tells us if you like yourself, if you are attentive to details, and where you are headed in life.  The condition and style of your shoes can help you attract an ideal business client or make you appear out of touch with the current marketplace.

• The perfect heel?  Your heel height should be proportionate to your skirt length.  A good rule of thumb:  the shorter the skirt, the lower the heel.  If you’re wearing slacks, make sure the hemline rests on the top of your foot.  Ankle length slacks tend to be casual so your shoe can be a low heel, unless you are attending an evening event in which case you could wear a higher heel, depending on the fabric of the slack.

Your party shoe collection need not match your hemline - and definitely not your shirt.  Rather, they should coordinate with or compliment the rest of the outfit.  Think metallic to work with prints, patterns or a printed fabric for a solid color ensemble,  and patents will add a little ‘tude to any color scheme.

So, what do your shoes say about you?  Not sure?  Email me a photo of you wearing your shoes (ankle and shoe photo only) and I’ll tell you what your shoes are telling others about you!

As your Dallas Fashion Consultant and Personal Shopper, it is my mission to help my clients always look fabulous, without being a slave to the whimsical ways of fashion trends.  I am passionately committed to making sure my clients always look their very best in order to help them achieve their personal and business goals.  If you have any questions or are interested in a personal consultation, please give me a call at 214-223-2200.

Dallas Image Consultant: Shopping Alert 062010

Hey, IQutees - I just found something that I want to share with you

Location:

• Peddler’s Shoppe

Item:

• Black Handbag
• Quantity: 1

Cost:

• $38.95 plus tax and shipping (local Dallas delivery available)

Perfect For:

• A Natural/Dramatic style
• A Winter colour palette

Description:

• This black leather bag zips open at the top and has a single shoulder strap.  There is one exterior pocket and multiple interior pockets.

In Conclusion:

• As your Dallas Fashion Consultant and Personal Shopper, it is my mission to help my clients always look fabulous, without being a slave to the whimsical ways of fashion trends.
• The Peddlers Shoppe is owned by Carole Vaughan (my fabulous mom).
• You may contact Carole at 417-538-2777 or jcvaughan@centurytel.net for more questions or to purchase the handbag.
• Do you know your Dress Style?
• Contact me for a Dress Style Analysis at 214-223-2200.

Dallas Fashion Consultant, Julie Bartlett with Colour IQ, answers the question, ‘Is My Dress Too Short?’

With summer temps rising, it’s normal to want to wear less fabric in hopes of staying cool, but there is such a thing as being too short, especially in the workplace.  By definition, proper business attire covers more skin than it reveals.  So, if more than two inches above the knee is exposed, then it is not appropriate in a business environment. Naturally, that depends on the business she wants to conduct.

Consider these guidelines:

1. In a social setting such as a party, a girl’s night out, a first date?  She should be able to sit, bend down to pick something up off the floor, or lean over a counter without the world visually accessing what should be kept private.  This is too much information.  Add a pair of leggings and she can be actively involved in whatever fun event is planned.
2. At a pool party or on the beach?  Definitely!  Over a swimming suit, it’s adorable.  The short skirt becomes a cover-up, worn before or after getting into the water.  As long as the swimsuit is on, there shouldn’t be a concern of too much exposure.  Also great with a cute pair of flip-flops.
3. And, those other public places?  Not such a good choice for a wedding, too hard to dance in at the reception.  The mall.  Remember the possibility for escalator or stair exposure.  Church?  Banish the thought.

A young woman who knows how to wear a short skirt in an appropriate way and an appropriate place will always be welcomed as she’s emotionally secure enough to establish visual boundaries.   If she has to ask if her dress is too short, it probably is.  Encourage her to listen to her internal voice of self-respect.

As your Dallas Fashion Consultant and Personal Shopper, it is my mission to help my clients always look fabulous, without being a slave to the whimsical ways of fashion trends.  I am passionately committed to making sure my clients always look their very best in order to help them achieve their personal and business goals.  If you have any questions or are interested in a personal consultation, please give me a call at 214-223-2200

Dallas Fashion Consultant Julie Bartlett with Colour IQ says “Put Your Best Socks Forward”

Gentlemen, what about your sock collection?  Are there really ‘rules’ when it comes to socks?  Yes!

First, it is important to understand that your shoes should match or be a shade darker than your hemline.  As to sock options, there are two schools of thought.

• One option is to match your hemline.
• The other is to match your shoes.

In business, as in formal attire, it is best to match your socks to your shoes.  This is easy to do when a man wears a black shoe with a black slack.

• But what if he’s wearing a black shoe with a navy slack? Match the shoe.

Even more difficult, are those ‘business casual’ ensembles.  While I would never encourage my clients to buy in to this fashion misnomer, I realize that there are industries which do not maintain a high business attire standard.   As a result, it can get confusing and frustrating over having to give so much thought to…of all things…socks.

Keep it easy by keeping it consistent with the highest standard.  Even in ‘business casual’ attire, a man should match his socks to his shoes.  His socks should also cover his calf as leg hair is too much information for the public.

White socks are great with athletic shoes, cowboy boots, or hiking boots, but not with a white collar wardrobe.

As your Dallas Fashion Consultant and Personal Shopper, it is my mission to help my clients always look fabulous, without being a slave to the whimsical ways of fashion trends.  I am passionately committed to making sure my clients always look their very best in order to help them achieve their personal and business goals.  If you have any questions or are interested in a personal consultation, please give me a call at 214-223-2200.

Dallas Fashion Consultant Julie Bartlett with Colour IQ offers some thoughts on how to honor our veterans.

The conversation of fashion is often focused on the particulars of clothing, accessories, hairstyle and makeup tips or ‘the what’.  Today, let’s take a moment to remember the rest of the story or ‘the why’.  The combination of these elements will help you identify your Stylattitude!

You’ve heard me say that our clothing choices make a visual statement which reflects how we feel about ourselves.  Those who want to dismiss the importance of personal appearance are merely trying to excuse their laziness.  Those who learn how to make a great visual statement know it’s a worthwhile investment.

The why matters and determines your Stylattitude.  One of my ‘why’s’ resides in having a sense of gratitude towards those who’ve given their lives to make this the greatest country in the world.  We honor our veterans by dressing appropriately.  We honor them by learning how to dress ourselves well.  We honor them by learning how to pursue excellence in all we are.  They’ve given their best for us so sloppiness is not an option.

What’s your ‘why’?

Memorial Day weekend is a great time to consider how we can show a sense of gratitude each day through all we say and do.  Let me know how you plan to show your Stylattitude this next year.

How do you plan to show your Stylattitude this year?

As your Dallas Fashion Consultant and Personal Shopper, it is my mission to help my clients always look fabulous, without being a slave to the whimsical ways of fashion trends.  I am passionately committed to making sure my clients always look their very best in order to help them achieve their personal and business goals.  If you have any questions or are interested in a personal consultation, please give me a call at 214-223-2200.

Dallas Fashion Consultant, Julie Bartlett, with ColourIQStyle.com, offers her perspective on an article in the Dallas Morning News.

As your Dallas Fashion Consultant, I hope you read the Sunday, May 2, Business Research article on page 8D, from McClatchy Newspapers, entitled ‘CEO’s Sharp Looks Pay Off, Study Shows’.  The study, though very limited in scope, linked a CEO’s looks to his paycheck.

The study was conducted using photo’s of white males only and found that those who “looked competent” were paid more than those who appeared to be “more likable, more warm, more trustworthy, but less competent”.  The professors were hoping to prove that corporate pay structures are not as influenced by looks, as say, political vote casting.  The article ended with a comment from a CEO who “doesn’t buy into the research findings because he’s not the most handsome CEO.”

Most of the comments in the article are targeted to facial features and not apparel, which is why I bring it to your attention.  Wearing the wrong colors can cause us to look unhealthy and tired.  Even a bad hairstyle can offset the attempt to have an attractive image.  It’s difficult to know what affect the study participants apparel had on the outcome.  In fact, the study failed to include this influence in its outcome.

In addition, our personal value system has an affect on our determining someone as attractive, handsome or competent.  If those being interviewed in the study were a cross-section of the American population, the results may have been different.  Every day we meet people we would consider competent because they’ve used all the elements available to them to help them look like they could help us accomplish our business or personal goals.

• Is wanting to work with competent looking people a sign of shallowness?

We are taught to wrap our gifts nicely because packaging is important.  Aren’t we the gift worth packaging well?  Or, should we show up for work with morning hair and pretend that that’s a sign of brilliance?

• Does your wardrobe convey your competence?

If the answer to the question above is not a resounding ‘YES’, then we should talk.

As your Dallas Fashion Consultant and Personal Shopper, it is my mission to help my clients always look fabulous, without being a slave to the whimsical ways of fashion trends.  I am passionately committed to making sure my clients always look their very best in order to help them achieve their personal and business goals.  If you have any questions or are interested in a personal consultation, please give me a call at 214-223-2200.

As your Dallas Fashion Consultant, I’m committed to teaching my clients how to always look fabulous.

Click to enlarge

The way we dress ourselves is a reflection of how we have first ‘addressed’ ourselves.  By this, I mean, that our attire is our emotional statement of our own self-perceived value that we show to those around us.  Those who dress themselves well show up as being more confident in themselves than those who do not.  The value of looking fabulous affects every relationship we have.  It is easier to be heard when we look fabulous because we have eliminated visual distractions.  Looking fabulous confirms what we say we know because it establishes visual credibility; and, it commands respect from others because we look respectable.

So, what does ‘looking fabulous’ look like?  In simple terms, it means that we dress ourselves appropriately and stylishly at all times.  By this, we acknowledge that we are not defined by our circumstances or by our current physical conditions.  Looking fabulous is an acknowledgement that our value to others is irreplaceable.  In fact, our value has increased since we were children and will continue to increase throughout our lives.  We are not who we were 7 years ago, and we value ourselves enough to allow this growth to show up in how we dress.

Every 7 - 10 years our lives change, thus allowing us to redefine ourselves.  When we give ourselves permission to allow this growth to show up, we will allow ourselves to dress fabulously every day.  It is a sign of healthy self-talk and helps us attract healthy experiences into our lives. Choosing garments which drape the body well so that every part is not overflowing creates a healthy visual boundary.  After all, we do not need to show all that lies beneath our clothes!

As your Dallas Fashion Consultant and Personal Shopper, it is my mission to help my clients always look fabulous, without being a slave to the whimsical ways of fashion trends.  I am passionately committed to making sure my clients always look their very best in order to help them achieve their personal and business goals.  If you have any questions or are interested in a personal consultation, please give me a call at 214-223-2200.