Why?  Here is a definition of ‘rebranding’ from the Cambridge Dictionaries to give you an idea :  “If a company rebrands itself or a product or service that it provides, it creates a new name or image for it, often to try to change the way that people think about it”.

A company’s image will influence the way people think about it. Your personal image will influence how people see and think about you.  In the work place you want people to think about you in a particular way so that you can achieve the right responses. So you need to ask yourself, are you projecting the right image or is it time to change your look?

Here are some basic rules you should stick to:

*   Don’t let your hair, make-up or nails let you down. Grooming is key to a successful business look.
*   Wear make-up, it will enhance your looks and convey that you are in control of your life outside of work as well as at work, but keep it minimal.
*  Absolutely no threadbare clothes, missing buttons, down at the heel shoes allowed.
*  Your clothes should fit well and suit you and be properly laundered or dry cleaned.
*  Don’t forget your own personal look.

So, taking the points above you need to look at yourself and consider each one. Is your hair colour and style making the most of you or do you need an update?   Have you mastered good make-up skills and a daily routine so that you always look good whether you have 5 or 25 minutes?   Do your clothes flatter you or should you change your style? Are your garments looking a bit uncared for and could you do more to keep them looking good for longer?

The Sun’s ‘Fabulous’ magazine did a great article in January about Victoria Beckham’s image transformation in the last 6 years.  They showed two photos of her, one was circa 2005 with hair extensions, blonde highlights and fake tan and the other a current photo in which she looks, as she always does these days, the epitome of a well dressed, sophisticated woman. Now that’s rebranding.

Hope you have all enjoyed the wonderful sunshine today. I certainly have. I finally feel today, writing a blog/newsletter today which will help as all spring into Spring – I hope you enjoy reading it, any feedback will be greatly appreciated. Now where’s that large glass of wine? Please ‘like’ feron clark style and read the newsletter on http://www.facebook.com/feronclarkstyle

Most men and women need a bit of style advice at some time(s) in our lives.  Our bodies change, our lifestyles change and fashions change. So, men are not alone in going for the easy option past a certain age when they simply don’t know what to wear anymore.  He can’t dress like a twenty-something at forty-something, he probably feels he doesn’t have a style ‘identity’ (classic, creative, sporty etc.) and quite honestly, he just don’t know what looks good on him anymore.

Generally, women enjoy clothes and ‘dressing up’ more than men. We like to take time to shop, browse and find the right piece at the right price. From our experience, both as women and as consultants, we find that men don’t enjoy shopping that much, they want to find the item they need, buy it and go home.  Also, let’s not forget that there is more style advice available to women, it may not all be suitable, but we absorb it and take it into consideration.

Most women are prepared to put the effort in to look good and, most importantly, we are prepared to go and take advice if we feel we have completely lost our way in fashion. Men don’t like to ask for help. It is much like the “no, of course we don’t need to ask for directions, I can work it out” approach.

So, wives and girlfriends take on the styling mantle, which isn’t necessarily wrong, but it does take up your time. Plus, isn’t it nice to see your man dress well by himself? With a bit of knowledge and confidence, men can enjoy their wardrobe and express themselves through their clothes too.  They deserve to look good and find their style ‘identity’ just as much as we do.  And, once they get advice on how to dress to fit their shape, colouring, lifestyle, age and personality, it will make clothes shopping even easier and quicker than usual.  Suits him sir!

Margaret Thatcher never failed in her grooming, despite a heavy work schedule. Her dresscode remained feminine, enough though she was often the only woman around. Like HM The Queen, Margaret Thatcher discovered what worked for her, which in her case was the tailored skirt suit, a silk shirt with a bow, a mid-heel pump shoe and that characteristic handbag. None of her clothes were ‘mumsy’, nor dated, nor were they mutton-dressed-as-lamb. She communicated with her clothes too, and we all respected her for it. She was the role model for many women who embarked on what used to be male-only careers. She broke the mold. RIP.

If company dress codes allow it, bring some colour into your work wardrobe.  Wearing colours that look good on you will

*  Make you look more vibrant.
*  Allow you to express a bit of your personality.
*  Make your work outfits more interesting.

When you look good, you feel good and when you feel good you will feel more motivated and present yourself at your best.  Black and other neutral shades like grey or navy can look great on some colourings but generally, they are not ‘feel good’ colours. They work well as work staples but you don’t want to fall into the ‘neutral’ wardrobe trap when you can achieve so much more with even a small injection of colour.

How much colour you can incorporate into your work clothes will depend on where you work.  Tops and accessories are the safest options, you might get away with a colourful, smart skirt but colourful trousers could be a step too far in some work environments.  It will also depend on your personality,  but even the more conservative types can learn how to use colour to their advantage.

Certain colours send certain messages, so for particular work situations it is worth choosing your shades carefully.  For example, red is an energising and empowering colour which can make you feel ready to take on anything (tricky client/presentation/request for a promotion) but wearing red head-to-toe can come across as overconfident and even intimidating.  A top or even a splash of red in your outfit will do the trick. On the other hand, sometimes a red dress might be exactly what is required – you need to decide!   Fuchsia is also a good energy boosting shade for work and it is more feminine than red.  Bringing some femininity to your work wear is not a bad thing, but too much pink may come across a tad too girly, you still want to be taken seriously. If they suit you, the citrus shades (yellow, orange, lime) which are in abundance this season will instantly brighten up your look.  Bold blues and emerald are also big this season and are safer colour options for work. Don’t overdo pastels in a formal environment, they don’t look professional enough. It should go without saying but, do avoid short-term fashion trends such as neon!

So, your colours for work need to do the following:

*  Look great on you
*  Send the right message
*  Look current

Fashion offers plenty of colour choices, so there is no excuse for not finding flattering shades to add to your work outfits.

Would you like a ‘style file’ dropped into your inbox, twice a year, to give you advice about those key pieces for spring/summer and autumn/winter?

The team at feron clark style is delighted and very excited about a new service being launched for current and new clients alike…

What is it?
This new service is called Inbox Outfit – designed for busy ladies who want to look good, yet don’t have the time to trawl around the shops. We will find exactly what you need for your chosen occasion, in the form of outfits, individual pieces and exciting accessories – all to suit your individual style.

The feron clark style team researches extensively – covering the high street, online and designer brands – so that we can gather a wide range of ideas and the best pieces for our clients’ forthcoming season.

So…

• Are you overwhelmed with the choice in the shops and don’t know where to begin?
• Do you have a special occasion looming, but daunted by the prospect of finding the perfect outfit?
• Is your occasion being attended by old friends, acquaintances or university pals whom you’ve not seen in ages – and you want to show off how good you look and how well you’ve aged?
• Because of family or work commitments, do you feel out of touch and slightly bewildered about where to shop and what for?
• Are you stuck in the same old shopping routine and just don’t know which other shops, retailers or boutiques to try?
• Do you need an expert to give you the confidence to know that the outfit you are wearing is right for you – for your colouring, body shape, personality, lifestyle and budget?

How it works…
First, at a mutually convenient time, we will give you a call or Skype (without Skype, simply e-mail us a recent photograph). During the call, we will complete a short style questionnaire and go through your requirements. We will agree on your timescales, so we know exactly when to e-mail you with your style file.

Second, let the experts do the leg work. Via the world of online retail and our extensive research and knowledge of what is available in the shops every season, we will e-mail you with your personal style file – with all of the details (picture, shop details, sizing and cost).

This is a wonderful service for our current clients who have already seen us for their colour, styling and shopping, as well as new clients – wishing to look right up to date.

Your investment: we will dedicate three hours to carefully compiling your style file, with the introductory price for this fabulous service being only £99 per season. So, why not book us to sort out your style file twice a year; that way, you’ll be guaranteed to look your best throughout the year.

Best wishes and we look forward to hearing from you.

Testimonial
“feron clark style’s Inbox Outfit service was a real help for me, when deciding what I should wear for my forthcoming ‘BIG’ birthday party. I was happy to splash out a bit on something fabulous, but really didn’t know where to start. Katy’s knowledge of the new season on the high street was great. We talked through the sort of thing I like and what suits me. She suggested a few stores on the phone, then went away and compiled a personalised comprehensive ‘style file’ for me, along with suggestions for accessories. I was then able to hit the shops with a much stronger sense of purpose. Buoyed by the suggestions, I happily walked right into shops which I’d have been nervous about beforehand. This has opened up avenues for future shopping trips too! Thanks again.” Tracey, managing director

has unveiled herRiver Island campaign, hiring Jourdan Dunn andCharlotte Free to showcase her debut collection. Other featured models include Tao Okamoto, Ataui Deng and Bambi Northwood Blyth. Today also marks the first time that the singer has unveiled cut-out images of the range in full.

Photographed by Mario Sorrenti, the shoot – as with the clothing itself – is inspired by the Nineties. Models lounge on a car – against a backdrop of vibrant colour – wearing a mixture of pieces from the collection, including a black floor-length dress with daring side split, a navy jumpsuit which is unbuttoned to the navel and a striped bra top and high-waisted shorts.

The Vogue cover girl debuted her long-awaited fashion offering for River Island on Saturday night during London Fashion Week. The range lands in stores on March 5.

If handbags are your passion then you will choose carefully and invest in a considerable collection. Your handbags are part of your signature style so you want them to show off your personality. A Creative personality might choose something like a Helen Rochfort bag above. A City Chic personality, for example, would enjoy a neat style from a brand like Radley or Osprey.

Final tips * Try out handbags as you do clothes, checking in a mirror whether the scale, shape and colour work for you. * Make sure the handbag is suitable for its purpose. You may be wowed by a great design or colour, but if you can’t get all your belongings in it, you will end up not using it. * Make it easy to find what you need (compartments) * Ideally you want ones with linings in a light colour to find your items easily. You want to make sure the light coloured lining is easy to clean too. * When you carry your handbag it will fall near your body so, if you have a large bust, carry your handbag at arm’s length by your leg or by your waist. If you are fuller around the waist and bottom area, avoid handbags dangling at that level and carry them up higher. Never seem to have the right handbags or shoes? Get in touch to find out how I can help you learn to make the right choices in all your accessories.

]]> http://www.feronclarkstyle.com/handbags-make-more-than-a-statement/feed/ 0 http://www.feronclarkstyle.com/whats-hot-in-handbags-now/ http://www.feronclarkstyle.com/whats-hot-in-handbags-now/#comments Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:00:30 +0000 Anita http://www.feronclarkstyle.com/?p=1984 What’s hot in handbags now?

There is so much choice for spring including pouch, clutch, on a chain, tote, boxy, soft, colourful, plain or printed. Two very good investments are the tote and the clutch. The tote is the perfect daytime bag whilst the clutch you can use for evening or daytime. Put the clutch in the tote and, hey presto, you’re ready for morning till night! For a designer touch, make it two-tone.