KOCHI: The first thing Praseetha asks her client is to remove her makeup and tie her hair in a tight chignon. What follows is a long fact-finding session, where each aspect of the person’s physique is scrutinised and jotted down. She concludes with a personal interview finding out the client’s concerns and requirements. “The first step of an image makeover is identifying the problem areas and implementing corrective measures. After that you can go for a step-by-step action plan to enhance your appearance and personality,” says the city-based image consultant.
What an image consultant does is help you create your personal style file based on your physical attributes and profession. “Very few people have a clear idea of what garment, haircut or makeup suits them. It’s very crucial when it comes to corporate circles because you need to look confident and authoritative on many an occasion,” she says. It often starts with a wardrobe revamp where you are advised to add a few essential pieces and create clusters using existing ones.
“Many of us own clothing that clash with our body type, face shape, proportions and scale. The first step is to avoid all such prints, cuts and fabrics,” she adds. Praseetha says you can start with a three-step wardrobe plan – donate the unflattering ones, buy a couple of must-haves and create new looks with what you already have. “Clustering is an interesting concept where you can create a handful of different looks with just a couple of essentials,” she says.
Finding your personal colour profile using a colour wheel is the next task. “We take into consideration a lot of aspects including skin undertone and eye colour before determining this. There are colours that blend well with your physique and personality, but very often you will have no clue what they are. If you identify those colours and their combinations from the spectrum it will make your shopping easy,” she says.
Following your customised style file doesn’t mean that you go for an abrupt and inconsistent transformation. It’s all about adding subtle touches that boost your personality and confidence level.
“If your shoulders are small you switch to boat-necks and certain other cuts that give an illusion of broader shoulders.
There are many ways to camouflage a tummy and even the right accessories can divert attention from problem areas,” she says. Face shape is another important factor, something most of us overlook.
“If your face is square stay away from chandelier earrings and chokers. And your overall image is never proper without the right hairstyle. Your unique style template should cover all these aspects,” she adds.
Your job profile and career goals are also important in creating a style file. “It’s all about creating a better version of yourself, something totally in sync with your personal and professional lives,” she winds up.