Tag Archives: personal branding

TOP TIPS ON HOW TO LOOK GOOD ON VALENTINE’S DAY

Danny and Sandy from Grease

Here are my TOP TIPS ON HOW TO LOOK GOOD ON VALENTINE’S DAY.  With VALENTINE’S DAY just around the corner, it’s time to start prepping the ultimate outfit for your date.  First impressions are everything!

Ensure the outfit fits the purpose of the date

Select an outfit that suits the occasion.  If you are going out in the day that is less formal, then wear an outfit that is smart/casual.  If you are going out for an evening meal, then the outfit needs to step up to a more smarter outfit.

Be yourself

Wear clothes that show off your personality.  Image is a form of communication – let your date see who you truly are.  Do not choose an outfit because it looks good on the mannequin, or seen on someone else, the outfit needs to reflect you.

Make sure the outfit fits well

To look good; the fit is key.  The garments need to skim the body – not too tight or too baggy.  You don’t want to look a sloppy joe.

Be modern and up to date

Your date will sum you up in seconds.  Ensure that your overall look, including your hair and accessories are modern and up to date.  Examples are: a current hair cut, (not loads of product in your hair) modern clothes (not from the 80’s) not forgetting the shoes.

Don’t over do it

There is nothing worse than trying to over do it.  Wearing a white suit, shiny tie, short red dress, showing lots of cleavage, lots of make-up, and covered in perfume is not a good idea.  Your date will be concentrating on what you are wearing (in the wrong way) instead of listening to what you are saying.

Go for softer colours

Choosing the correct colours for the date is key.  If you want to impress your date, it is not a good idea wearing overall black or wearing harsh, serious colours like black, white and red.  You want to come across as kind, approachable and trustworthy – so wearing softer colours like pink, lilac and grey (if you are cool) and off white, aqua and natural colours (if you are warm) will make a massive difference.

Make an effort

Impress your date and think of the basics.  I know it sounds silly, but not a lot of people think of little basic things like: washing your hair, blow drying and putting some product in to finish off your style.  Clean clothes and clean you.  Smooth skin with applying a moisturiser and light perfume.

Smile and be confident

Stand up tall, look confident and smile.  Look at your date in the eye and give them a big happy smile; it’s easy and makes a massive difference.  You might be shaking inside, but learning how to calm your body down, breathe and relax will help.  Most of all, enjoy your time together and have fun!

If you would like to learn more please contact Maggi email info@maggigreen.co.uk

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for yesterday.
I really enjoyed the day (much to my surprise!) and found it really interesting and helpful.  It has given me a whole new awareness about how my style, colours, shape and image. 
I am excited now to go shopping and fill the gap in my wardrobe! The colour wallet was really useful to have in my pocket, it gave me a lot more confidence that I was picking the right colours. I love it!
I am already starting to look at people differently and try to figure out their colour and style. I’ve been telling my friends all about it and can’t believe how enthusiastic I am about it all.
I think everyone should have a “Maggi” in their life!
Val Walsh  Manager, Construction Industry    Somerset

10 basic style tips to clear and organise your wardrobe

A New Year wardrobe – a fantastic time to be motivated and have a big clear out, resulting in a beautiful, organised, minimalistic capsule wardrobe.

The question is where to begin!  I can hear you screaming and panicking, not knowing what to keep, what to get rid of, what works for my body and style and finally, not knowing how to put it all together.  Well, if it makes you feel better, we all feel this way.  It is so overwhelming building the perfect capsule wardrobe; it takes time and knowledge, to get it right.

So many of us, hate shopping.  Not knowing what to choose, what suits us and what colours work together.  Nothing tends to fit us properly, so we either go home with nothing or buy some random piece which doesn’t work with anything else or sits in the wardrobe with the label on; sound familiar? Hardly any of us are happy with our bodies; our confidence being affected massively.

Well, I am here to help!  Below, are some fab tips on what you need to do, before creating a perfect capsule wardrobe.  I have provided some basics to help you shift your mind set into positive thoughts.

So, are you ready to begin again?!  Let’s go!

  1. Organisation

The first thing to do, is to put all your clothes into piles on the bed.  Knitwear, trousers, skirts, t-shirts, dresses etc.

Bring all your shoes out, and put them into neat sections with flats, heels and trainers.

2. Condition

To have a good look, you need to have clothes that are in good condition.  Wearing tatty, beaten up clothes is not the answer.  Look at your garments carefully.  If they have holes or are worn, faded, stained in anyway, then put into a pile to throw or charity.

This includes going through your shoes.  If they have turned up toes, totally soleless, scratched or full of mud, get rid of them!

The garments that are right, use good quality wooden hangers and shoe trees in shoes and boots, to keep the shape and take out the moisture, keeping them fresh and good condition.

3. Comfort and Fit

One of the most important things on a day to day, is to feel comfortable. If you don’t feel this way, you won’t enjoy wearing your outfit, and it will seriously, affect your day.

You will know the garments that feel uncomfortable to wear as soon as you put them on. This could be the fabric being too stiff or itchy.  It could be the fit is too tight? It could be the other way, and the garment is too baggy, which bothers you. Go through and clear them.

If you have gained weight for whatever reason, what you need to ask yourself is, am I going to lose that stone?

If the answer is yes, then great.  When you have reached your target, then go out and purchase clothes.

Be honest with yourself!  If you are not going to lose the weight, that is fine.  Be happy with your new size and ensure that you have pieces in your wardrobe that fit you well and flatter your shape.

Don’t forget your shoes.  They are the hardest item to get right in your wardrobe.  If they feel uncomfortable, whether they are too high or they rub or cut in the wrong places, or just generally uncomfortable to wear, then give to friends, sell to a dress agency or give to charity.

You will never want to wear shoes, if they are uncomfortable.

4. Colour  

Colour is key.  Wearing the right colours, especially around your face will make you look younger, fresher and radiant!  Remove all the colours from the piles of clothes that do not work for you.  By doing this, you will notice that your outfits will work together more successfully.

Also, having colour in your wardrobe and wearing colour will make you feel so much better within yourself.  Be brave, and start introducing some colours that you haven’t worn before.

If you are thinking, what colours suit me, then a colour analysis would be the answer!

5. Up to date

One of the problems I see in people’s wardrobe, is there is always clothes, shoes and accessories, that have been in there since the 1980s.  My clients give me a great tale of when they wore it and get a little excited.

If you would like an up to date modern wardrobe, you have to move on!

  • You are not at uni anymore.
  • You are not in a corporate role anymore, so why have all those clothes in the closet?
  • The dallas look with the wide padded shoulder pads is no more!
  • Shapeless trousers with the large, low waistband is not going to look good on anyone.
  • Are you saying to yourself I have had that necklace since school?

Having modern, classic pieces in your wardrobe is going to make you look fresh, young and modern.  I am sure, we all want that!!

6. Fear

If you have been good and achieved numbers 1-5 WELL DONE!!

This is great, you have done so well.  Give yourself a pat on the back.

You might have experienced many emotions whilst clearing your clothes. Some of my clients feel a failure that they did not get it right or have spent so much money on clothes that were not right.  When I first started doing this exercise, I felt the same.

I need to say that this is very normal to feel this way.  You need to remember, that you did not know!  If you haven’t had the education of what to do, then you cannot achieve the perfect capsule wardrobe.

You can now turn this round to a positive and clear out the old and start with the new you!  It feels fabulous when you get it right.

7. Memories

There will be clothes that you have in your wardrobe that mean something.  Maybe, from a loved one, funeral or wedding.  This is not going to be part of your day to day wardrobe.  A suggestion is to put these clothes in a memory box or in another wardrobe with a suit cover so they will be protected.

8. Other

You will have other clothes that again do not take part in your main capsule wardrobe. This could be gym wear, walking gear, gardening or cleaning.  These clothes can be put somewhere nice and tidy away in a drawer or another part of the house.

9. Visible

The amount of wardrobes I have gone into that have 4 garments on one hanger or hidden shoes and scarves or areas that you cannot get to.

If you cannot see the items, you will not know that they are there so you won’t be wearing them.

When you put the pieces that are right, back into your wardrobe, ensure that they can be seen.

This will also make it easier when mixing and matching your garments.

10. Style

Probably, in your wardrobe you will have a collection of clothes that are different styles.  The reason why we find it hard to put an outfit together because of the mismatch of styles that do not work together.

This is one of the most important things to get right and will make a massive difference to your clothing choices in the future.

The basics I am going to help you with, is to ask yourself some questions:

  1. Do I like to look classic, tidy and smart?
  2. Do I like to feel comfortable, casual and unstructured?
  3. Do I like to look girlie, frilly and feminine?
  4. Do I like to choose things that are a little different?
  5. Do I like to look sporty?

Whatever the answers are to the above (you can have 2 choices), this needs to relate to your clothing choices that are going to be correct in your wardrobe.

  1. = Classic  2. = Natural  3. = Romantic  4. = Dramatic  e) = Sporty

Classic, Dramatic Style Preference

For example: I am Classic, Dramatic

I like to look tailored, smart but have a little drama in my outfit and my overall look. The clues are with the cashmere classic jumper, leather trousers and my hair style.

I now know that my choice of garments need to be smart and classic, as well as having a little drama in them.  This could be in my jewellery, shoes, styles, colour and prints.

The main thing to understand is YOU HAVE TO BE YOU!  Don’t copy anyone else’s look, (unless they are the same as you) which could be a celebrity.  I love the look of Olivia Palermo.  She has the same body shape as me and style, which then works.

Go through each item and put back in your wardrobe the garments that are your correct style.  You will then notice that there is a theme going on, that you will naturally feel pleased about and feel comfortable with.  Every item that is in there, you should look at it and love it!

The aim is to STICK TO IT!

I do hope you have enjoyed my tips on how to clear a wardrobe.

Here is an example, where I did all the above for a client.  She came to me to and had an in-depth training on colour and style, that was personal to her.

At a later date, I then blitzed her wardrobe a couple of times, took her shopping and completed a perfect capsule wardrobe that was right for her.

Here we have all the correct colours, a classic, natural style preference.  All the garments work for her in the day and evening and match perfectly.

This is what Clare had to say.…. “I used to despair when choosing clothes . . . Nothing really fitted me, so many were colours that were wrong and the styles were a bit of a mish mash.

Now, it is a pleasure to open the wardrobe and see beautiful clothes hanging on the rail. Now, I have colours that suit me, styles that make the very best of my figure and there are so many combinations from just a few well chosen clothes.

I have a confidence that I haven’t had in years.” 

If you would like to understand your body, colouring, and to find out where you are going right and wrong, then do look at my packages to see how I can help.

The above applies to men and women.

I work in #Cornwall, #Somerset #Devon #Plymouth #Bristol

Make 2019 the year of change – New Year New You

New Year New You – do you really want another year of dealing with those horrible, anxious feelings when you have to face the task to clear out your wardrobe, knowing what to wear and how to put it together?

Feeling sick, having to look at the shops online and in the high street trying to choose the perfect outfit that makes you feel good and confident but not knowing where to start or what to do?

To have the confidence to be able to do this, is very hard.  We all have too many clothes in our wardrobes and there is so much choice in the shops – without the knowledge, it is pretty impossible!  It also doesn’t help with how we feel about ourselves – how are we going to look good if we don’t feel confident with our bodies and who we are.

After listening to so many of my clients, I feel this stems from childhood.  I am sure you remember other children looking attractive, having the perfect hair, make-up and being the coolest kid on the block.  The older we get, this stays with us and niggles away at the back of our heads, coming back with vengeance in certain situations, making us feel that we want to crawl in a ball and disappear.

However, as a young child, we need to remember that we were never taught the basics in self-care, what hair style suits us, understanding our bodies or our unique colouring – nothing about our DNA!  We should not expect to know the knowledge of image.

 

To be able to project ourselves in a positive way for people to take us seriously, to like and trust us – we have to go out there and let others see that we look the business, but most importantly, feel confident inside!!

To be the best we can in our personal and professional life is knowing our talent and being unique inside and out.

To not let these niggly excuses get in the way of others seeing how wonderful we really are.  We all feel the same in wishing we could look better – but showing off our assets and looking amazing, opens up a huge exciting world.

Results from a few of my clients…

“Thank you for your consultation with me.  You were so sensitive and encouraging.  I think you have a real gift for the work you do, helping each of us re-kindle confidence and enthusiasm in what can be a vulnerable area of our lives, often kept very private.

Thank you for helping to re-awaken a more playful and engaged connection with my appearance !”  Anonymous client

After working with Maggi on simple rules for style and colour, I enjoyed a shopping trip for the first time in my adult life. Maggi politely and professionally put me back in control of how I look, and I’d recommend her services to anyone.    Emma, Plymouth

Below are some offers to help you begin your new journey..

FULL COLOUR CONSULTATION – Make things easier by finding out what colours look amazing on you.  Everything will go together so much better when you know your wonderful pallet of colours.                       1.5 hours – £130 (£10 off full price)

STYLE CONSULTATION – Haven’t you always wanted to know what to wear that suits your body shape, to feel confident and look amazing?  I can show you how.     2.5 hours – £170 (£10 off full price)

WARDROBE WEED – So many clothes…. where do I start.  Let me help weed out the wrong things and leave you with beautiful garments that fit and suit you well.       4 hours – £190 (£20 off full price)

SHOPPING TRIP – Let’s go shopping and find pieces that you need for that perfect capsule wardrobe that work together, fit you well and look fantastic on you.    5 hours – from £230 (£30 off full price)

GROUP PACKAGES

CLASSIC – colour and style £300 (£25 off full price)

ELITE – all packages (£50 off full price)

EXECUTIVE – package (£100 off full price)

GIFT VOUCHERS – are available

Offers end Monday 11th February 2019.  This for men and women.

All prices are based in Exeter.  Outside area, travelling expenses will be added.

I travel to help people in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Bath, Bristol and London.

style consultation

“Thank you for your consultation with me.  You were so sensitive and encouraging.  I think you have a real gift for the work you do, helping each of us re-kindle confidence and enthusiasm in what can be a vulnerable area of our lives, often kept very private.

Thank you for helping to re-awaken a more playful and engaged connection with my appearance !”

Anonymous client

Professional male before and after

 

Ashok before

Ashok after

 

Here we have an intelligent and phenomenal individual.

Ashok is a Doctor in Bath.

Our objective, was to improve his image both professionally and socially.

He wanted to wear clothing which represented his kind, charming and fun personality.

As you can see in his before photo, he was struggling with looking ordinary, unkempt and ill-matched.

Here we have changed him to a handsome, modern gentleman that looks younger, slimmer and definitely not boring!

A joy to work with.

This is what he had to say….

“I am extremely happy with all the items purchased and there have been many comments about my new image which are very positive so I’m extremely pleased.  Thank you once again for your kind help”.

Executive brand before and after

Here we have a wonderful couple, who are very busy with their successful
brand. This means that they need stylish, easy to co-ordinate clothing
that shows off their company during their public and TV appearances.

Will and Charlie on QVC – before photo

 

Charlie Bears is a luxury, collectable teddy bear company with a sense of fun and a classic British background.

We wanted to emulate and match that
reputation with the owners as well as honour their personal characters.

 

 

Will after

 

We succeed in creating a beautiful capsule wardrobe, filled with amazing quality items, that fit well, look appropriate and are easy to wear.

Will looks sensational.

They are now able to arrive at any event or challenging
situation ready for action.

This is what Will had to say….

“I am really enjoying my new look and have to say that I feel so much more confident, and also making my own choices.

When I am at work, I can walk into a room and own it, knowing that I look the part… it has made a huge difference.”

 

personal image and impact

As a business consultant and executive coach predominantly working with UK Board Directors, my appearance is important to me, both in making a good first impression, but also being an integral part of my personal brand.

I was not particularly knowledgeable or aware of what clothes I might look best in.  I came across Maggi and although I felt quite conscious as a man going to meet to her, I’m very glad I did.

It was clear from the start, that Maggi has an eye for what looks good, in a way that I was completely blind to.  She took the time to get an understanding of the type of look that I might be aspiring towards, as well as insightfully questioning to ascertain what preferences I might have and what was important about my attire in relation to the work I did.

I was blown away by the amount of preparation she had done beforehand in terms of what types of ‘cuts’ would best work with my body shape, what fabrics and finishes I should consider in my suits, the types of shirting pattern and colours.

6 months later… people now comment about how much younger I look and how much sharper I’m dressed.  I have a new suit which is both a better fit and a colour that better suits me as well as shirts, new glasses and brogues.

What I really notice about Maggi is her expertise and keen eye to provide insight and clarity over what would best work for me and her ability to see things that I just wasn’t able to see. I’m also really impressed with her ability to go the extra mile in terms of the level of commitment and investigation she was willing to undertake on my behalf, as an example, she found several affordable bespoke suit makers.

I definitely recommend having a consultation with Maggi.

Baz Hartnell, Business consultant and Executive coach        Chard, Devon

corporate/personal branding – make over

Working with Maggi has been a fantastimg_1128ic experience, her knowledge and expertise in her profession immediately put me at ease from our first meeting. I was looking for an image consultant to help me with defining a brand image for myself and also my business, something that would flow between the two instead of having two separate wardrobes.

I have been running my own business for several years and although I predominately work from home, on the days I do go networking or to a client office, I often felt awkward in the clothes I was wearing and young. That may sound strange, but when trying to sell and promote my business I need to look and feel confident and mature. People need to believe that I have enough years experience to deliver what I say I can.

Before working with Maggi I loathed shopping, I would leave feeling frustrated, disappointed and often with an even bigger body complex because clothes wouldn’t fit or would look odd. I often panic bought and the garment would then sit in my wardrobe for that elusive ‘one day’.

Yesterday I went to a meeting wearing the new clothes that I bought with Maggi during our shopping trip and I felt amazing even before I left the house. I felt confident and stylish, I definitely had a spring in my heels! I now have a greater awareness of colours, fabrics to avoid and cuts that would look flattering on my body shape. I am embracing my new found classic natural style and love how Maggi’s advice covers not just clothes, but also bags, shoes, jewellery, make-up and hair.

Working with Maggi has been an invaluable experience and I actually feel excited about shopping to finish getting my capsule wardrobe in place.

Alison Brydon, Freelance administrator/project assistant      Taunton, Somerset