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Image consultants place a great deal of weight on hairstyle, and this is definitely an improvement for Justin. The shaggy dog style is reminiscent of Rod Blagojevich's hair, and it never looks good on anyone. The new style is much better. It lets us see his face, plus it doesn't look like "your mother cut it with the help of a kitchen bowl."

Next step, a style that is a bit longer in the back - no bowl cut there either!

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Jennifer has a very common face shape  that I call the "heraldic shield" - think of a family coat of arms. Her upper jaw juts out a little, causing her chin to look a bit pointy at times. Her previous hairdo (photo left) camouflaged this perfectly - and it was really flattering to her entire persona.

The new hairdo (center and right) is a blunt coat and forms a straight line. Straight lines are rigid and less feminine. She would look more feminine with a bit of pointy layering just around the face - similar to her previous style. As you can see from the photo on the right, she originally went golden blonde, and it didn't suit her. It also looks as if she changed her makeup from cool to warm to match her yellow hair. Never a good idea, even though that's what most makeup artists do. Skin trumps hair, and you must never put warm foundation on cool skin because it will look thick and cakey. I'd skip the dark eyeliner also, because it only makes the eyes appear smaller.

The middle photo is the best in terms of hair and makeup color. See how luminous her skin looks compared to the photo on the right. She looks extraordinary in terms of both hair and skin color.  Just tweak the hair alongside the face with a bit of pointy layering and you'll be your usual "10" self!

Continue reading »]]> Original article by Joanna Douglas of "Shine" from YAHOO!®  You'll love this gallery of stars and their dresses. This list was compiled by Joanne Douglas after seeing a "Top Ten" list compiled by a British online fashion retailer.

Tell me what you think about her choices - my comments are below.

Audrey Hepburn

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The is the most exquisite of all the photos, and it's no wonder it's iconic, because Audrey creates an irresistible "S" curve with her sleek body and elegant body language. Audrey was dressed exclusively by Givenchy. This is one of two dresses that made both the US and British list.

Photos by IMDB, Getty Images, ADV and AP.

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Simon hated the butterflies--he thought they were leaves--but as part of her "costume", American Idol contestant Siobhan Magnus chose to wear the whimsical accessories on her shoulder and hand while singing "When You Believe" last night.

Really, the choice was perfect.  Her entire image--whimsical and dramatic--reflected her spoken message, the words she sung.  Perhaps a daring choice of accessories at this stage in the competition, but I think that's what believing in herself was all about.  And if her image reflects a belief in herself it's sure to evoke that belief from others.

Your thoughts?

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A conversation at Vibrant Nation (http://www.vibrantnation.com/our-blog-circle/menologues/clothing---it-could-be-the-biggest-single-menopausal-issue-/#replied-74012) prompted my response to the plus-size wardrobe dilemmas shared by so many:

“Isn't it nice to see that none of us is alone?  In 30 years at the forefront of the image consulting industry, I've learned (and teach) that color and line are the cornerstones of image and the keys to a dynamic overall look.

"The lines of an outfit must fall correctly and enhance your shape--whatever your shape--rather than distort it. The right lines honor a woman's curves. Great lines have to do with cut, stitching, details and the substantiality of the fabric . . .

"Two things I can tell you simply, right off the bat: the right colors will make your skin look beautiful, and framing your face with the right collar, jewelry and colors in fabric and makeup will keep the attention on your face rather than on your hips, legs, etc.  They say the eyes are the windows to the soul.  I've never heard it was the waistline.”

Heading into spring, a  season that typically evokes  sense of vitality and newness, I want my clients and readers to feel good about their overall images and I thought a little Plus-Size Primer might be useful to many.

Notice the differences between the two outfits above (Stein Mart).  The one on the left looks rather boxy, though, to be fair, we cannot tell from this photo whether or not the blouse is cut for a tailored look.  A tailored look is what we want; the cuts respect and enhance feminine curves.  I admit that I like the collar on the left, but the pattern is a bit overwhelming and creates an overall focal point of the torso, maximizing its size visually.

Notice how slimming the outfit on the right appears--regardless of the fact that the model is wearing white pants.  It's a myth that larger women "shouldn't" wear white.  This is a great example of the power of "line."  The cut of the jacket is nice.  The detail at the collar helps to frame the face--though I think a bold necklace and some chunky earrings are also in order.  The long ruffle along only one side helps to elongate this woman's body visually.  The fact that the ruffle is the same color as the jacket means it doesn't detract from the face.  And of course, the jacket's opening furthers the "slimming" effect by creating a solid thin line that merges with her legs.  Hips and upper legs are minimized by the "V" of the jacket's bottom.

Overall, which look do you prefer, and why?

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This handsome rock group cleaned up beautifully--both at and for the 52nd Grammy Awards--but they look a little gloomy for just having won Record of the Year.  It's all that grey and black.  Nice suits, but no bold contrast, no dynamic colors to enhance their natural skin tones--though I will say that the man on the left is a step ahead with his French blue shirt.

A complimentary raspberry, royal blue or even bold yellow in the ties would have added some pop to these rockers.  Replacing the shirt in the tie-less black-on-black ensemble with yellow would have done the trick for that gentleman.

Gentlemen, when it comes to your own individual good looks, each one of you has "got it."  Don't be afraid to "flaunt it" by adding great color to your wardrobe!

By the way men, I'd love to hear it from you:  What holds you back when it comes to using color?

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Prior to the 52nd Grammy Awards, when asked how he felt about his six--count 'em, SIX--Grammy nominations, Maxwell let his eyes do some of the talking.  "It's an incredible experience," he said, and his eyes reflected a humble, sincere and hopeful spirit.  "It's an honor that I can't even express to you in words . . .

"If I won . . . I would be beyond joy . . ."

Then he won two Grammys!  And he seemed almost at a loss for words during his acceptance speech (who wouldn't?).  But I'm sure there was an expression worth a million behind those dark glasses!  Only wish he would have shared.

I wanted to see "beyond joy" in this man's eyes--the joy behind 13 years of hard work, integrity and determination having paid off in the bestowal of this great honor by those within his own industry.   Not only did Maxwell appear overwhelmed by the extraordinary moment, but he unfortunately appeared overwhelmed by his own attire--black suit, not much color or contrast in his shirt and tie combination, and a large pair of dark sunglasses--all working to further understate this handsome man's otherwise dynamic, creative and now deeply overjoyed persona.  What a missed opportunity for viewers.

Your thoughts?

Continue reading »]]> Gentlemen, I've been hard at work in my Norfolk, Virginia studio, finishing up my soon-to-be-released  e-book just for men.

I found this perfect example of what can go drastically wrong with a simple choice of collars  and had to pass it along to you with an insider's tip from the book:  Always choose a collar that fits!  Your collar and tie are worn closest to your face and must convey a look of neatness and attention to detail while ensuring that your face will be the focal point of your entire body.  This collar is too tight and too high for this man's neck.  Notice that it creates that double-chin look.  The fact that it's off-center and wrinkled also sends the silent message that "details don't really matter."  Like you, this man probably doesn't believe that message and would never verbalize such nonsense--so why does he let his collar shout it out?

Here's an example of a collar that fits well.  It's also crisp and wrinkle-free, sending a message that substance and details matter to the man behind the choice.  Here, the focus will be on this man's face, not on a distracting collar and tie.

By the way, notice the difference in tie colors.  In the men's book I delve deeper into color choices, but here's a quickie for you now:  Orange does not compliment the skin tones of about 80 percent of people in the world; most people should steer clear of the color.  Ties in the red family are almost always a perfect choice--especially those in the burgundy to raspberry range, which have a touch of black or blue to compliment most any suit/shirt combination.

So men, tell me, how much attention have you paid in the past to your collars' silent messages?

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Anderson,

You are such a man about town – all over the channels and keeping ‘em honest.  Bravo!

Love the fact that you can go from casual attire to suits and still not betray your persona.

My advice: stick to dark-colored suits like black and navy.  They show off your beautiful hair the best.  Forego the grey suits.  Grey is such a wish-washy color -- like a grey area or a grey lie.

I’d drop the solid blue ties that Bush favored.  Too "Deep South" country club!  Not powerful enough for you.  Go for power colors in the red family, including regal colors like raspberry.