A lot has been said about the image of Hillary Clinton, and there are some recommendations I’d make if I were to meet with her. Color makes the difference. Hillary is a Summer in terms of a color category, so she looks best in bright cool colors, often called jewel tones. She doesn’t look her best grey-toned Winter colors or Autumn colors like brown and orange. Brown is a matronly color for most women, and it’s not a power color. Brown is Mother Earth, so it suggests baking cookies instead of changing the world. In addition, most women think that they should wear warm makeup in peach and tawny colors, including brown-toned  lipstick, when they wear brown. These colors are highly unflattering and not the least bit feminine.

Hillary’s best color, by far, is True Red – not burgundy, and definitely not orange-red. In the brown suit and orange-toned makeup, she looks harsh. In the beautiful red jacket, her makeup looks natural and is very flattering. Orange and red-orange wash Hillary out, as it does most fair-skinned people, and it also magnifies imperfections. Look at the photo below of Hillary in the bright orange suit and you’ll notice that when the background is blue, her advisors put her in orange. Now that’s a nice concept for decorating, but it’s a big price to pay when you WEAR orange, because if it weren’t for the blue background, Hillary would blend into her suit and look orange all over.  It’s far better for Hillary to wear blue rather than having it as a background. For one thing, it makes the face the focal point, not the background.

It’s an asset for a politician to look attractive, and Autumn colors like the moss green suit above make Hillary look weary and tired. They dull her complexion and her hair, and they make “marionette” lines pop out; but far worse, they dull her persona.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has adopted the pantsuit as part of her brand. Were we to meet, I would  show her how to wear a skirted suit successfully – just as Evita Person did. She had the same “sturdy” legs as Ms. Clinton. But when you do it right, all they remember is the impact you make with your overall feminine but powerful look. Next step for Hillary:  brand yourself with YOUR colors, all the beautiful jewel tones and their derivatives, plus black, white and  navy blue.

Most countries have three major power centers and subsequent influencers. In the United States they are New York financiers, Washington, DC politicians, and Hollywood actors. Also included with the influencers of Hollywood are celebrity athletes and rock stars.

The only group that can afford to dress overtly sexy and outrageous is the Hollywood group, along with the two other celebrity groups. Financiers in any city require the most formal attire, because they need to exude the utmost trust, since they handle your money.

Politicians can appear covertly sexy any time they like, and it’s also good for them to have an abundance of charm, charisma and attractiveness. The line is drawn when it comes to suggestive attire or photos, however.

Were President Putin of Russia the president of almost any other country, he wouldn’t be able to get away with appearing in print in such an overtly sexy pose. It’s nearly impossible to think of JFK posing for a similar picture; however, photos of him bare-chested at the beach, playing touch football with his brothers, or in his famous PT109 are in a different league. They are sexy but not suggestive, as is Putin’s pose.

While not sexy, the above photo of Putin is definitely suggestive and confrontational. It is not appropriate for a head of state – nor for a serious professional. Is it possible that Putin is one of the few men who know that a man’s tie is a phallic symbol? If men were aware of this fact, they wouldn’t be so quick to get rid of their ties. Just don’t strike this pose, fellows!

Actress Susan Strasburg recounted that she and Marilyn Monroe were walking on a busy street one day and she remarked to Marilyn that she was surprised that no one had recognized her. “Oh, you mean her,” Marilyn responded. Then she changed her body language, facial expression and walk, and within seconds everyone was clamoring to meet her and get her autograph.

When you have supreme confidence your attitude and demeanor is not the same as that of a person who is insecure deep down inside. Norma Jean Baker, Marilyn’s real name, suffered from insecurities most of her life, and it is only when she slipped into the persona of Marilyn Monroe that her attitude and demeanor changed.

Marilyn Monroe’s fans were drawn to the sexy film star, but part of her charm was the innocence and naiveté she always exuded. Obviously, her fans didn’t recognize her unless she had her pouty lips, come-hither eyes and slinky walk. That’s branding. When Marilyn didn’t represent her public brand, she wasn’t “Marilyn” to passers-by.

I learned when I was 17 years old and got The Red Dress that when you change the way you are on the outside, people treat you differently. Then you change on the inside. However, when the “new you” isn’t authentic, then there’s a disconnect; and the confidence is only outward – not inward. You must transform you image as well as your attitude about yourself.

Most of my clients are business professionals, authors and speakers – not film stars. A total image transformation can’t make them an expert overnight, so it can’t make them a success overnight. What it will do is keep an outdated or poor-quality image from lowering their credibility dramatically.

Ideally, your image needs to match the caliber of your products and services, and the sad truth is, the image of most people doesn’t keep up with their résumé. Your image needs to be so dynamic that heads literally turn when you enter a room!

Note: We Transform Image and Attitude® at The Image Architect®

Would you trust this man, who is a former assistant principal of a high school? Trust him to supervise your children, manage your assets, or look after your daughter if she were married to him?

If this man were my client, I would advise him that he looks very “shady” due to his strong “five o’clock shadow.”  His off-white shirt makes it worse; a pure white shirt would have been better. White also suggests purity, hence innocence. His level of trustworthiness is very low. In addition, his tie is gaudy and shouts “going to Las Vegas” rather than to an office, for example. His shirt is ill-fitting and pulls away from his neck, creating a distraction. It can cause one to think that he is sloppy.

This is the photo of Wesley Earnest as he was convicted of killing his estranged wife, staging her death as a suicide. Earnest was very sloppy in the staged suicide. His wife was shot in the back of the head, an angle inconsistent with a suicide. The suicide note he left at his wife’s side was not from either of the computers in her home. He told people he would be out of town on the day of the murder, yet he said in court he was home all day due to seasonal allergies. Earnest borrowed the truck of a friend to drive three hours to his wife’s home, and he installed four new tires before returning it. The tires were bought under an assumed name, and it is assumed that he was concerned that his vehicle may have left tracks outside his wife’s house. Everything about this staged suicide was as sloppy as the man’s appearance.  At a glance, he looks like a shady character.

What do you think?

German Chancellor Angela Merkel stands out from the crowd with her bright red suit (left photo). She looks dynamic, even special. On the other hand, in her beige jacket (right photo), she appears washed out and ordinary. Branding for People© is the same as product branding; you must distinguish yourself from the competition. Men are taller than women, have broader shoulders and deeper voices, so in order to level the playing field, women need to look dynamic and resist the tendency to go for “understated” looks. Which woman looks the most dynamic and successful?

What are your thoughts?

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?

This is not her “Daddy’s jacket.”  Ladies, Pendleton has the right idea with this worsted wool suit. This fabric is sturdy and substantial, implying the same of the woman who wears it, yet drapes nicely along the lines of her body.  The top-stitching and cuff design add nice detail. And notice the lapel, which is the feature closest to the face and therefore sends one of the strongest messages of the whole ensemble. The curves in its cut and folds honor the femininity of a woman’s figure. This dark grey is a more “powerful” choice than light grey. Paired with the fuchsia blouse, the overall message is powerful and dynamic.

One thing I might change is the “buttoned-up” look. And you know I’d also add bolder earrings.

Your thoughts?

Charlie Sheen’s role as Charlie Harper on the show “Two and a Half Men” isn’t one to be emulated, unless you want to look like a dork or a geek. That bowling shirt is multiplying like rabbits, and it’s a pity. Get over it fellows, you’re making a big mistake to copy anything about Charlie Harper.

Sandy can’t stand Charlie Harper’s shirts. She loves Charlie Sheen’s blue shirt, and you will, too. Here’s why.

First of all, that “billowy” shape suggests you have love handles or a beer belly to hide. Secondly, soft fabrics cling to the body and reveal every bulge you have instead of hiding them.

Cotton shirts like the blue one above actually flatter a man’s figure. They are made of a substantial fabric, so they remain crisp, not limp like a bowing shirt. Lastly, the epaulet-like  shoulders of a cotton shirt in a business style will make the shoulders look squared and strong. Bowling shirts make the shoulders look droopy. In fact, everything about Charlie Harper’s shirt is droopy; the fabric, the line and the patterns. The pattern on Charlie Harper’s shirt takes the attention down and away from the face. Not a good idea.

Charlie Sheen, you look handsomer, slimmer and much more classy than Charlie Harper!

Recently, a number of experts weighed in on the issue of whether or not high heels help or hurt women in the workplace. Fashion experts agree that stilettos are tawdry and should be avoided. However, experts in other arenas thought all heels made women too sexy looking. Wrong.

When it comes to looking “sexy” you can’t be overt; however, you can be covertly sexy. Women’s legs are sexy simply because of their curvy shape. So, are women to be relegated to pants that hide the legs and good sturdy walking shoes that are matronly? The last thing women need is to go back to the “miniature man” look of the “dress for success” eighties where any hint of femininity was forbidden.

Which of the two women above (wearing the same heels) looks “too sexy” for the workplace?  My feeling? Both look covertly sexy! The woman on the right has a friendly and wholesome smile, while in the photo to the left, she has a bit of a “come hither” look, so she could be judged to be more sexy by some.

Ultimately, heels under 3 inches (7.5 cm) will look professional, unless the style is gaudy; and classic pumps (court shoes) always look polished and professional. The Chanel-style shoes in the photo above are also professional.