When I work with clients as an image consultant, it is very important for me to help them get clear on what it is they need their image to achieve. In other words, what are their image goals? Whether it is a conscious or subconscious choice, we each have goals we’d like to achieve with our image. Some of these can include:

•    Wearing more color and knowing the colors that work for you
•    Taking more risks with clothing
•    Having more variety in your closet
•    Looking more polished and pulled together
•    Having more options for social occasions
•    Attracting a mate
•    Being more commanding and having more presence
•    Loving more clothes in your closet
•    Having clothes that fit and flatter you
•    Having a defined personal style
•    Learning how to shop smarter and more effectively

Often we’re not aware that we even have these intentions or goals on a conscious level. Take a minute and think about what you’d like to do differently or present differently in the next few months with your look and style. Write it down. What is your plan of action to achieve it?

Many women and men need help in achieving these goals and like any goal, it helps to have accountability and a coach on the sidelines to keep you on track. That’s what I am here for! I invite you to look into my image coaching program that provides you with an affordable, stepwise, structured way to achieve your image goals over the course of a few months. I am very excited about this program and the endless possibilities it provides for personal growth, empowerment, education, collaborating and transformation.

Visit: Elan’s Image Coaching Program.

The Image Diva, image consultant extraordinaire

Yes ladies you CAN work with your body and enhance your assets and mitigate your challenging areas. It just takes a little insider secrets. Continuing my last post, here are a few more insider fashion consultant secrets to help minimize those more challenging body parts.

• Most flattering dress on all figures: An A line knee length dress with an inset waistband, V neckline and ¾ length sleeves. But generally. wear a dress that enhances your assets. If you have a narrow waist, show it off! Great shoulders, go strapless, A toned back, and small to average bust, go backless.
• Plus Size: It depends on her figure but generally this woman wants to avoid a dress with too much detailing or bulk which just makes her look bigger than she has to. She really wants a dress that contours gracefully over her body to enhance it. Round scoop necks and V necks are most flattering to her décolletage .
• Small busts: Look for details like ruching or ruffles near bustline. Look for dresses with padding in the busts. Wear a padded push up bra! Do not try to pull of the turtleneck look—it emphasizes your lack in that area. Also strapless styles aren’t flattering because they flatten out your chest.
• Petites: Dresses: mononchromatic (one color) dress will be most elongating. Also a dress with not too much fullness in the skirt is most flattering. Too much fullness will overwhelm a petite woman and make her look shorter. An empire waisted style can be very enhancing if the woman is average size. If a woman is very petite I would avoid a strapless design. A one shoulder deign can be very elegant however, and very appropriate. So would a higher neck line (boat neck/or jewel neck) which really would heighten a woman of shorter stature.

The Image Diva, Elan Image Management, image consultant

One of my goals when I work with women as an image consultant, is to help them embrace their body and learn how to work with it rather than fight with it. As my yoga teacher says, if you treat your own body like you did your best friend, you’d be much kinder to it. Think of it; would you call your best friend names? Treat her badly? Not show her compassion? Not love her for who she is? Help her work out her problems? It is the same with your body. Treat it kindly and compassionately and lovingly–even the parts you wished were different. And for the latter, here are a few insider stylist’s secrets to help minimize those more challenging body parts.

• Minimizing a tummy bulge– A dress or top with strategic ruching is great if the ruching is diagonal and near the tummy area. A surplice wrap top with a V neck is very flattering for women with tummy issues. Also embrace shapewear! Patterns can also distract from the tummy area if they are well spaced and placed

• Heavy thighs/full hips- A full leg trouser style pant WITHOUT side pockets is most flattering pant. If it has a vertical seam detail that is even better. A line skirts and dresses with vertical seaming also ‘break up’ the width and make her thighs disappear. A great secret to really disguise thighs is wearing a long topper jacket open –this essentially hides the whole hip/thigh area and makes the woman look taller and leaner. She can combine a topper in a bright fun col0r and print and go monochromatic inside for a really slimming, chic look.

• Wide shoulder—Avoid any details or accents near shoulders. Avoid boatneck or off shoulder styles. Do not embrace the shoulder pad trend whatsoever! Do try one shoulder designs or halters with wide straps that cut into the shoulder line making them appear narrower.

• Look taller and leaner by:

• Wearing a bra that lifts and supports. Takes off 10 pounds and 10 years. You essentially open up the torso area so the woman looks more elongated, and more poised.
• Stand up straight! Pretty basic but you’ll be surprised how many women slouch and add pounds to their mid section by so doing
• Monochromatic looks will always be elongating. This does not mean black but any dark color will have this effect—brown, charcoal grey, navy.
• Look for vertical details—like pinstripes, vertical seams, patterns that run vertically. Avoid any design element that chops your body up—this includes cropped or Capri pants, horizontal lines or prints in pants skirts, or overly wide belts at the waist

More tips to come in an upcoming post.

The Image Diva, Elan Image Management

Sunday is Valentines Day. And regardless, we all need a healthy dose of pampering and TLC now and then to make us feel beautiful. Sometimes it can be a quick fix and other times it is utter indulgence that has long lasting effects. But don’t wait for somebody else to take care of you – take matters into your own hands and indulge yourself. Try any or all of these suggestions:

1.    What’s more indulgent than a warm, aromatic bubble bath? Fill the tub with a moisturizing, scented bubble bath, light some candles, put on your favorite music and relax. And remember to breathe.

2.    Treat yourself once a month to your most indulgent dessert and make sure you enjoy every morsel. Life is too short not to have dessert in it.

3.    The ultimate pamper (for me at least) is giving your body the gift of touch. Schedule a massage routinely to relive stress, release ‘feel good’ hormones and to pamper yourself. Again it’s all about feeling good and every way counts.

4.    Do that thing you always say you’d do, ‘if only’. Just do it! Next week I’m going to join some local ladies and have fun learning how to belly dance. I think it’s so cool! Maybe for you it’s taking a swim class, doing yoga, learning how to speak another language. The point is to make the time to commit to doing the things that thrill your heart.

5.    Bling is the thing! Treat yourself to a luxury item that makes you look and feel fabulous. And luxury does not have to mean expensive. Every person should invest in  a signature watch at a certain point in their life. It’s a status symbol but one that’s not so much about flaunting it but about acknowledging your good taste. A signature handbag is another must. Or it can be something small like a tinydrop earring that makes you feel so pretty. Go ahead – you deserve it!

6.    Pamper yourself with a hair masque that not only feels wonderful, it will enrich and nourish your hair as well. Shampoo your hair and then add bucket loads of the hair masque that’s best suited to your hair type. I usually suggest a plastic shower cap or you can wrap your hair in a towel if you prefer. The heat helps the masque soak right through to the inner hair shaft. After the required time, rinse and condition as usual.

7.    Block at least an hour out of your diary and go buy all the latest style and fashion magazines. Then get comfortable in your fav sofa chair and indulge in some fantasy!

TheImageDiva, Elan Image Management

Below is an excerpt of my interview with Leandra Roscoe DC’s Home Based Business Examiner columnist.

<<Image consultant Natalie Jobity is on fire. After many years as a marketing research executive, she decided to step out of her comfort zone and become her own boss, and she did it with a passion. For the past 3.5 years, she has run her business, Elan Image Management, from the comfort of her home in Columbia, MD, and is loving every minute of it.  She is now making inroads and more with her successful image consulting business all throughout the Washington region and beyond. How exactly did she get to where she is today? I sat down with Natalie to find out just what makes her tick, and why she loves making people feel good about themselves.

What she does:   She provides one-on-one image coaching, personal shopping services, closet audits/makeovers, frequent workshops on how to look and feel your best, and styling services at photo shoots.  She is also gearing up to do more speaking engagements to groups around the community: "I want to share my passion and what I know and love with everyone I can." She primarily focuses on women’s wardrobe assessments, but also services men’s wardrobe needs as well.

Goals for her clientele:  Her services are custom-tailored for each client, and knows that her clients have their own personal reasons for wanting to change their image.  "There are so many reasons why people want an image consultant, and I try my best to understand the needs of each client and transform their lives in the way they want. I really want to make sure my clients get value, feel good about what they learn in how they can achieve their goals inside and out. I want to get to the inner core of their essence as a woman or man.">>

To read the rest of the story visit: Business Spotlight: Elan Image Management