How to Create Your Own Personal Brand

This morning while drinking my coffee I was watching Kathie Lee & Hoda on the Today Show (hey, they’re in my demographic!) and I saw this segment.  Psychiatrist, Dr. Ish Major, and image consultant, Mary Gluseffi, discussed how the way you dress, speak and act can impact all areas of your life.

They discussed how to create your personal brand by getting in touch with your authentic self.  Their advice was to follow a personal brand equation:  how you look + how you speak + how you act = your personal brand.  Be consistent with your authentic brand and you will send out a clear signal.  The way I express it to my clients is this way:  when you dress in a way that expresses who you are inside you will send a clear signal that attracts.  I work with clients to first, discover who they are inside, and second, to identify a signature style that expresses who they are.  It creates such an impact that I've seen it change peoples' lives!  They suddenly have the confidence to change careers, start new businesses, or get out of a negative relationship.  Powerful stuff.

The image consultant on the Today Show had this advice, "Dress for who you are, plus 10%."  Clever!  She also advised people to stop texting and start talking.  You can only really connect with people when you get your face out of your iPhone.  Her last piece of advice was, “Be the party, and the crowd will come to you.”  If you’re comfortable with who you are, people will be attracted to you.

Take a peak at this quick segment -- it's worth watching.

Today Show "How to create your own personal brand"

What to Wear on Camera

When it comes time to film your first video, or, if you're lucky enough to be interviewed on television, what you wear on camera is vitally important.  As I always say, "Your image is your brand!  This is your opportunity to connect with your audience and let them know who you really are. Color demands our attention, so pay special attention to the colors you wear on camera.

Wearing the right colors on camera will make your:

• Skin look radiant
• Eyes sparkle
• Body look fit and "put-together"
• Image look younger and more energetic

How do you know what colors look best on camera?

Here are some Do's and Don'ts:

DO's:

• Think about what colors look best on you off-camera.  What colors bring you the most compliments?  Is your skin tone warm or cool?  If you'd like help determining your best colors, I offer personal color and style consultations.  Click here.
• Wear colors that connect with your audience.  You don't want to appear harsh and stand-offish.  You want your skin and eyes to appear warm and inviting. 
• As you age, you might not be able to wear the bright colors you wore in your twenties.  Wear softer, more muted colors such as blue-gray, lavender, soft green, or rose.
• Wear solid colored fabrics, as fine patterns create a "Moire Effect" where the pattern appears to be moving on camera.  
• Bring three or four outfits to the studio.  Test the outfits on camera if time permits.
• Wear beautiful colors such as shades of green, lavendar, blue, royal blue, rose, and violet. 
• Wear a color that matches your eye color, and watch your eyes sparkle!  Pay attention to how your skin tone looks in a particular color.
• Pay attention to how your clothes look when you're sitting down.  Make sure it doesn't bunch up around your stomach area.  Does the garment pull?  Do the fabrics look rich?  
• Wear a scarf around your neck or a beautiful necklace to add color and sparkle around your face.

  
DON'Ts:

• Black is a dramatic color, yes, but it's also a harsh color.  If you want to appear warm and friendly, black is not the best choice.  It can make you look tired and older, as it draws in all the light.  It's better to wear a color that reflects light onto your face.
• White competes with your face for light balancing, so your skin may end up looking ghost-like or ashy.  
• Hot colors, such as bright red, hot pink, bright orange and yellow, can create a glowing effect, as the camera sensors have a problem reading them.  They may even make you look bigger than you want to!  Who wants that?  
• Fine patterns in clothing appear to be moving on camera.  Stick with solid colors.