Exude confidence through a personal brand
The Today Show proved a point last week by masterminding an experiment to see if they could draw a crowd around a fake celebrity. Not only was the experiment successful, but they’ve demonstrated the power of developing a personal brand.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
A great tip from Martin Lindstrom, branding expert: Plan your first 5 – 10 seconds of presence to make that first impression count. Own the room, exude confidence and become what you want to be.
In a fast-paced world, those first 5 – 10 seconds are sometimes all you have to get the job, connect with another person or intrigue a potential client. Building a personal brand allows you to take control and build a positive perception in the minds of those around you.
-Shauna
Charleston, SC
Clean out your closet in support of Haiti
Have clothes or shoes you never wear that are taking up space in your closet? Well now is a great time to go through it and purge! Why now? Because the devastating earthquake in Haiti has left so many people without clothes and shoes. This is a great way to help out, if you don’t have extra money in your pocket to donate. Some great organizations that are collecting these desperately needed items are FASHION DELIVERS, FOOT SOLUTIONS, and SHOES2SHARE.
If you would like to donate to Fashion Delivers, they are asking for a broad assortment (in all sizes) of lightweight apparel for men and women, such as t-shirts, tops, shirts, jeans, shorts, slacks, sportswear, active wear, etc. Basic items such as underwear, socks, sheets and throws or lightweight blankets as well as baseball caps, sneakers, sandals and sleepwear are also needed. Please call 212-629-6700 or email carla@fashiondelivers.org for drop-off information.
Foot Solutions is asking for gently used shoes to be donated to any of their 240 locations, worldwide. You can call 1-888-FIT-FOOT or visit their website, www.FootSolutions.com, to find a location near you.
Shoes to Share has launched The Haitian Earthquake Relief Effort to attempt to collect 10,000 pairs of shoes. They particularly want work-boot and sneaker donations, as well as dress shoes. They are also collecting medical supplies, toiletries, blankets, flashlights, and infant clothes. Check out their website for more information, www.shoes2share.com.
This is an easy way to help those in need, so check out all the organizations near you to donate any extra items you may have stored away.
-Megan
Charleston, SC
How to Layer, without adding pounds to your figure
Spring styles are popping up in boutiques, leaving our mouths watering for all things romantic, blooming, vibrant and embellished. But before we get too consumed with the new looks of 2010, we need to remember that winter is still very much upon us. And looking at the weather report – it will stay that way for a bit longer!
The best thing about winter is an excuse to get creative with layering your wardrobe. The key to being a layering expert is to keep balance between your body shape and your clothes. You don’t want to look like a blob of fabric with no real lines or shape; be aware of what normally enhances your figure.
When layering with multiple fabrics — bulky, thin, stretchy, loose — you must consider where the weight will fall in regards to your body shape. A triangle shaped figure should not wear a large amount of bulk that falls around the waist and bottom. This adds emphasis to the bottom half of the body. So instead, layer the top half of your body. Visualize: a cowl neck top, with a bustier peeping out underneath and a wool cardigan that falls to your thighs. Finish the look off with a belt that sits loosely on the hips and a thin patterned scarf around your neck. Wear leggings with pointed heels or boots, weather permitting. This is a great warm, layering look that still gives shape and emphasis to your top half.
For an inverted triangle figure, the opposite is needed. More emphasis is placed on the bottom half of the body. Visualize: a cute bubble skirt with slightly striped tights paired with some boots to create a balance to the bottom half. For the top, a shiny silver tank over a black camisole matched with a grey open cardigan that will fall below the hips. Sport a coat and add a long scarf for warmth, comfort and extra layering!
How do you know if you are layering correctly? If you can look in the mirror and still recognize your body shape. For example, the hourglass body shape can really wear many different volumes and lengths, but attention must be given to the details after the layering, such as wearing a belt over a coat to emphasize the waist. This in turn enhances many other body shape features.
Also be careful to not shorten your height by wearing a long thigh-length cardigan, when really a short jacket would suit your frame and enhance your height more proportionally.
When choosing a scarf to wear, understand that a long thin scarf would be better for round and inverted triangle body types, where as a thick, embellished scarf would be great for rectangle and triangle shaped bodies. Leggings, patterned tights and even leg-warmers are great for rectangular, hour-glass and inverted triangle figures. Leggings and plain tights would be better for round and triangle shaped bodies
Layering works when you understand your appropriate body type and can further accent your assets. From there, the simple act of dressing becomes an exciting adventure as you discover what you can wear in a confident way.
Anna Stewart
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