As, a role model for aspiring female leaders, a representative of the Labour Party, the Prime Minister of Australia and an ambassador for all its people, Julia Gillard undoubtedly has a huge responsibility on her shoulders. Central to her performing each of these roles, is the cultivation of a strong personal brand and image that projects a confident, capable and statesman-like figure.

One of the most visible personal branding strategies employed by Gillard is the accentuation of her most identifiable characteristic, her hair colour. By intensifying her hair to a deeper and richer hue of red, the colour’s strengthened connotations of energy and confidence are transferred to Gillard’s persona, lifting her appearance and giving her a more striking and energetic presence.

According to former finance minister, Lindsay Tanner, ‘Gillard has dyed her hair red for years to help build her personal brand. It makes her more noticeable.’ The move also represents Gillard’s embracement of her unique colouring and the development of her assets into a personal trademark that makes her more memorable.

So if you want to advance your career, consider the use of personal branding strategies and how they can help you enhance your visibility, communicate all your skills and capabilities and really project you, at your finest.

In fact, I could even drive you out of your own house with nothing but a single colour. Do you think that’s too bold a claim? Well think about this. Picture the interior of your house. Now imagine, I went and painted it all in bright red.

What’s that? You say red is your favourite colour? Well, now take it even a step further and imagine if all the furniture, as well as all the other items in your house were also the same shade of red. How long do you think you’ll really be able to stay in the house? Let alone live in it… I know I wouldn’t last more than five minutes. That much red is far too loud and overwhelming.

Evidently, colour can be a truly powerful tool, so understanding colour and learning how to wear it, can really work to your advantage.

So what exactly is colour?

It all began during the 1700’s, when Sir Isaac Newton’s experiment of entrapping light in a prism, retracted seven main colours through the visible spectrum of white light. This discovery in the nature of light and colour initiated the first relationship between light and colour.  As you can see, there is a whole science behind light and colour.

In fact, the underlying meaning of colour is based around science and psychology. Which is why, as image and personal brand consultants, we delve deeper into the realm of colour to discover the myriad of meanings associated with colour and how this affects our state of mind.

Think about the colours you wear and how much your mood that day influences this choice.  Are you feeling bright and energetic and want to make a bold statement with a lively yellow? Or do you want to exude elegance and sophistication, and feel more powerful in a classic black?

See how these everyday choices reflect you as a person; from your emotions to influencing how others perceive you. It really is incredible how something so universal and simple allows us to be so creative and expressive.

In fact, you could even say that colours are our ‘optical emotions’.

Human-beings are amazing creatures.  We sense and interpret colours through our eyes, body and mind. Colours sensed through the eyes stimulate different regions that are sensitive to specific colours. For example the area sensitive to green light is located directly in the centre of the retina, which allows light to fall into the centre of the eye. This makes the colour green, the most relaxing colour for the eyes and, in turn, the mind.

So next time you are deciding on your outfit, visualise how people interpret colour through their senses and what your colour choice says about you.

Be aware however, that the previously discussed interpretations of colour only apply to Western culture. Next time, we will investigate how the symbolism and meaning of colour varies across different cultures.

At EGAMI STYLE, we are constantly observing how your image can reflect certain trends.  Optimism, as reflected in the 50’s, has inspired us to convey this influential time into our social mood.  For this season we are seeing that feminine styles, such as shapely full skirts and small waistlines, are making a return on the runways.  Hats are in vogue for men again, which during that era were worn not sometime – but all the time!

Everybody has a different way of unwinding; perusing the latest fashion at the stores or on-line with a glass of champagne (highly recommended!), working out at the gym, perhaps a little pampering or reading a great book. Wouldn’t you agree that it’s essential to make the time to do these things on a regular basis? Maintaining a ‘work-life balance’ can become a bit difficult if  like us, you really do enjoy what you do for a living.  It is us, however, who generally burn out the quickest as we never switch off, mentally or in the technological sense.

If there simply are not enough hours in the day to take time out for yourself, then how about scheduling that meeting over a game of golf or a walk around the river rather than in the boardroom? In most cases, your client or colleague is probably just as time-deprived as you are and would enjoy the break!

A healthy state of mind is the foundation for projecting a confident image.  Are you aligned?