"IT takes less than seven seconds to make a first impression and it’s hard work to change that impression, so one should get it right the first time,” says Jocelyne Garana, a Personal Image Consultant based in Cairo. Image consultants are well known in the United States and Europe but the concept is still very new in the Arab World. An image consultant can help you create a new image and a new style. The way you look is your best business card since the first impression often counts more than your actual capacities or human qualities. Jocelyne explains that some of her clients are young women who want to learn how to dress and to do their make up but most of her clients are 35 to 50 year old women who are not happy with the way they look and who long for an image that will bring them joy, personal satisfaction and success. In the West, on the other hand, an increasing number of men are also interested in their image and consult Relooking Agencies.
“Image and appearance count far more than the clothes that one is wearing. The way you sit, the eye contact is equally important to present a professional image, “says Jocelyne.
A typical relooking session is achieved through six stages, beginning with a personality test. The image consultant will first gather personal information in order to create a style that will suit the client’s personality. That is followed by a color study. One of the most important factors in how we judge the outward appearance of things is color. It has been scientifically proven that colors have a dramatic psychological impact. And surveys have proven that we believe what we see before we accept what we hear. And this is particularly true with dark colors which reflect authority. Navy blue is a color often worn by policemen and pilots all over the world. “A color which doesn’t suit you makes you look sick and tired. It is important to wear a color which matches one’s complexion, eyes and hair color. Wearing the right color makes you look good even when you are tired,” explains Jocelyne.
During the next stage, the consultant will advise her customer on how to do her make up. Make-up is done according to the shape of the face and its complexion. Make-up can also conceal red patches, blotches, brown spots and pimples. The fourth session consists of a virtual investigation to determine a new hairstyle. The fifth step is all about clothing. The consultant analyzes a customer’s wardrobe to see what is working, what is missing and look for new ways of putting garments together. Finally, the client will be taken shopping. Shopping with a professional trained dresser is different from shopping with a friend or family member. The Image Consultant will help her client buy the right clothes and accessories according to the body shape, coloring, personality, job and budget. Jocelyne likes to remind her clients that the most expensive things in a wardrobe are the items that we don’t wear, things that we buy and never put on. She also advises that clothes should neither be loose or tight. Women who put on weight often wear loose-fitting garments but it is better to wear clothes that skim the body. She also feels that you should not follow fashion trends if they do not suit your body shape. You should rather modify the trends to suit you.
Having the right wardrobe and a hairstyle that suits your face boosts your confidence and if you are working, you can leave home with confidence, knowing you look good, and concentrate on doing your job.
“I enjoy what I am doing. My clients feel empowered when they have a new look and I am satisfied to see them happy with the result. I have met people who wish to change the way they look but lack the personal will. Such people generally suffer from mild to deep psychological problems and need to be treated first. Looking your best brings you confidence and it also gives you a competitive edge and a positive first impression” concludes Jocelyne Garana.
Grooming Tips for Men
• A well ironed shirt and a smart pair of trousers.
• Shoes are important for men; they should always be clean.
• Men should also pay attention to their fingernails and hair.
