As their name suggests, image consultants work with people’s image or appearance. The appearance, in this case, should be regarded not only as the visual representation of a person but also as his or her inner appearance to the world. An image consultant can basically help improve your visual and inner self as well as representation in the society to help you gain confidence and reach goals.
Most often, these are public personas who call on the help of an image consultant, however today more and more people understand the importance of self-acceptance and self-representation so the market grows in this niche. As a result, here are people who most often work with image consultants:
- People in the public eye (public speakers, CEOs, and heads of large companies, celebrities, etc.)
- People from high society
- People looking for a change or a complete makeover in their life
- People who feel they deserve more but don’t know how to reach those goals (ambitious office workers)
Tips for choosing image consultants
- Passion for fashion and a keen eye for detail. Image consultants will help you rediscover your inner voice and change its visual representation. But to make you look fabulous they have to know everything about the latest fashion trends and understand the rules of clothes and colors compatibility. Sometimes a simple accessory can change the whole ensemble of your outfit. Furthermore, these experts should see what style you love and what suits you to create a new you, and not just a new wardrobe with uncomfortable clothing items.Both of these qualities can be spotted during the first meeting with your potential image consultant. They should look stylish but subtle and without the “shouting” and shocking elements. It’s always clear right from the first glance if a person understands what fashion is, or he or she is just pretending to know it.
- Understanding of your goals. Before offering their services and a plan of action professional image consultants will listen to your desires and current situation. After considering what you’re aiming at, an expert will be able to offer several makeover plans. However, beware of the fashionistas who understand the world of trends, but cannot match it to the daily life of their clients and only try to propagate their vision. An expert will help you find the best clothes and style based on what you already have (all your curves and forms, hair and eye color as well as the form of the face) or like, and not what they see in you. Your desires and comfort should go first at all times.
- Ability to match the present with the future. Even though this point sounds ambiguous, it is just right. A reputable image consultant won’t try to make a new you; they always work with your personality, occupation, and fashion preferences to refresh them and not “remodel” them completely. For example, if you’re the head of the company and don’t feel comfortable wearing pumps, they won’t offer you a pencil skirt and classy pumps; they will go for spectators with slacks.Moreover, an expert won’t require you to throw away everything you have in your wardrobe now. On the contrary, he or she will explain to you what clothing items look beneficial and what they can be matched with in the future. Their goal should be not just to buy you a new wardrobe, but to teach you fashion: how it works and how to apply its tendencies in your daily life.
- Professionalism. This is a quality that you will feel during the first interview: whether the expert comes on time and well-prepared; whether he or she is working on a schedule and talks professionally or prefers to chat about unrelated things. While the discussion of your transformation plan doesn’t have to look like a business meeting, it still is one and it should come to a logical ending and conclusions. After the interview, you need to clearly understand the plan of action and the final point of it. Don’t also neglect the importance of general ability to win your favor because you will spend a lot of time with this person in the future.
Of course, it’s highly advised to look for an image consultant on professional websites or in reputable directories and always double-check their references and comments. If a person knows the craft, you will definitely find positive feedback about his or her work; if there are no responses from the previous clients, then the service was not that great.
What can an image consultant offer?
Now, as you know how to choose the right expert for you, here are some improvements that image consultants will be able to help you with:
- Understanding of the compatibility rules for clothing items (among themselves, with your body, appearance, and general style preferences);
- Improving your shape by means of cooperation with personal trainers, hairstylists, nail artists, etc. (an image consultant usually has a wide arsenal of health and beauty industry professionals who can help you improve body shape and condition as well as the visual appearance of your natural beauty);
- Learning to know and accept yourself (you can learn to see your advantages over other people and self-confidence as a result. Very often close cooperation with an image consultant helps people land a job or find a partner for life);
- Choosing clothes that suits you and cover your flaws while highlighting your advantages (hiding a belly and showing off your slim legs);
Accepting who you are (an image consultant takes your personality and frames it into nice clothes and beautiful appearance to help you accept your beauty and begin loving every little bit of yourself).
Besides these standard skills, some image consultants can also help you with communication abilities (verbal, non-verbal, pitch, tone, accents, grammar, voice, body language, etc.) An image consultant is a multiskilled expert whose aim is to make you look and feel better by all existing and available means!
