I didn’t know I would become a style consultant. Up until a year ago, I was immersing myself in art marketing. This was after spending 25 years in the computer industry. I have always been in the “helping people” business -- so why not be in the business of helping people look and feel good! The following story explains how it all came about – which may only be interesting to me – but it goes to prove that you just never know where your brilliance and joy will come from.
As a young woman, I was attractive and sexy enough, and adept at getting attention. This wonder woman-like power enabled me to confidently walk into a room and own it. Somewhere between the ages of 40 and 45 I started feeling my super powers fading – I was becoming invisible – and it was shocking. I was no longer commanding attention when I walked into a room – there were younger, more exciting women to draw peoples’ eyes away from me. My solution was to sigh, resign myself to invisibility, and chalk it up to growing older.
Some years later, I attended an art marketing class where one woman, quietly minding her own business in a corner of the room, drew everyone's eye. Some combination of her outfit, her jewelry, her hairstyle, her aura made her "pop" so she was the focal point of the entire room. I was intrigued.
When I complimented her on her outfit, she told me about a program she had just attended where she learned about her colors and style, and she said it changed her life. She encouraged me to attend the same program. I did.
It changed my life.
I learned that I was wearing the wrong colors and styles for my “energy” - which consists of my coloring, body type, the way I talk, the way I walk, and my personality. Instead of enhancing my energy and personality, I was watering it down with clothes that did not highlight my best assets. After learning this, did I immediately change the way I was dressing? Heck no! I fought it for almost a year – after all, I was comfortable in the outfits that filled my closet, but slowly I started buying new clothes that reflected my energy. Then something amazing began to happen. Friends, family - and complete strangers - started complimenting me. The most surprising compliment came from a gentleman in Trader Joe's grocery store -- he came up to me and said, "...I'm not trying to pick you up, but I had to come over and tell you how fantastic you look."
There IS something to dressing in the right colors and style. It gave me the courage to make major changes in my wardrobe and hair style, and that’s when life became really interesting!
I felt so much better about myself – I wasn’t invisible anymore. That’s when the light bulb came on for me – if I’m going through this dramatic transformation, maybe I can help other people do the same. And that’s how True Colors by Linda was born.
The Premise of True Colors by Linda
True Colors by Linda is based upon the fact that you can walk into a room and OWN it when you dress in the right colors and style. Anyone can “own a room” at ANY age. Why? Because when you dress in a way that enhances your body and your personality, people will notice and they’ll want to get to know you – they won’t even know why, they are just drawn to you. You are unique and have many gifts to offer – and you, too, can easily learn how to “own a room”.
Many of us walk around invisible because we’re dressing in a way that confuses people. I used to be invisible, but didn’t realize it could be any other way. How about you? Think of your energy like a radio signal – when you dress in a way that is in harmony with your energy, your radio signal is clear and strong. When you dress in the wrong colors and style, the radio signal becomes weak and full of static. If you’re like me, you can tell when people aren’t really noticing you – their gaze travels quickly past you and settles on someone else.
On the other hand, have you ever experienced this? You put on an outfit that makes you smile, and you feel especially confident, and all day you get compliments from friends and colleagues at work. Maybe you’re not exactly sure what it is about the outfit that works, but you know that whenever you wear it, you have a great day. Wouldn’t life be grand if every outfit you wear made you feel great – and that positive energy was reflected back at you over and over, all day long, by everyone around you?
I noticed that once my wardrobe got organized with all the right colors and styles, getting dressed became a piece of cake, a joy. I know that I can mix and match almost anything in my closet. Now I have an exponential number of outfits I can create, and every one of them makes me look and feel fantastic. You can organize your wardrobe, too.
Shopping is easier and faster – I zero in on the colors that look good on me, and then I zero in on the right style. Yes, it’s rare to find both the right color and style together, but when I do, I buy it! And what I’ve learned is that I don’t need as many clothes as I used to – because everything I buy works for me, I don’t waste my money on clothes that hang in my closet unworn. You can shop faster and save money, too.
How to save money and own beautiful clothes
My favorite discovery in the last few years has been consignment clothing stores and thrift stores. I never shopped for used clothing before – yes, I used to donate my gently, and sometimes never-worn, clothes to worthy organizations such as Goodwill and Salvation Army, but it never occurred to me to shop in their stores for my clothing. Well, that has changed. What I discovered is a world of hidden gems and what I call "other peoples' mistakes." Imagine how many other people do exactly what I used to do -- buying clothes that turned out to be a mistake. All those compliments I’m getting these days? “Recycled” clothing, shoes, and jewelry!
How do you find your local consignment and thrift stores? First, ask your friends who may or may not be willing to share their closely guarded secrets. Then, if that fails, just Google consignment and thrift stores in your local city.
The biggest bonus - consignment and thrift stores are not based on the fashion designers’ seasonal whims of colors and styles. You can find YOUR colors and styles almost any time of the year, in sections neatly arranged by color. Plus, the most obvious bonus is the price – it’s like buying a seldom driven car previously owned by a “little old lady” – the quality is still there, but the price tag is substantially reduced. Remember this: If the color and style is right for you, it will LOOK EXPENSIVE.
You, too, can look like a million bucks!
Next week's blog: Show Up In Your Most Beautiful Self! I'm going to talk about what's holding you back from showing up in your most beautiful self.
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