Thursday, October 20th, 2011
Gentlemen, did you know that the watch you are wearing right now, was originally designed for women? Wristlets as they were called, were regarded with such contempt, that men would sooner wear a skirt than a wristwatch!
It was in fact the pocket watch – that can now be seen fashionably accessorized around the necks of young girls – that was actually the social protocol for a gentleman’s time keeping.
It wasn’t until the 19th century during the Anglo-Boer War (South Africa 1899 -1902) that soldiers discovered the wristwatch’s prized utility. Fitting the pocket-watch into leather straps on their wrists (rather than letting them rattle and ultimately reveal their location to the enemy), British soldiers were able to launch attacks against Boer forces with tactical precision and gain victory.
Although in today’s age, with the advent of mobile phones, ipads and itouches all featuring time displays, less emphasis is placed on the wristwatch’s time function and more on its symbolism, we can all come to respect the evolution of the wristwatch through the years. Far, from being just an accessory, the wristwatch has its own story – it is a status symbol; a symbol of victory and success.
Where lies the future of the wristwatch? Only time will tell…
Tags: EGAMI STYLE, Image Consultant, Professional Brand, Professional Image, symbolism of wristwatch, wristlet, wristwatch, wristwatch evolution
Posted in Topics of Interest, Uncategorized | Comments Off
Wednesday, July 27th, 2011
The strength or degree of a relationship is often determined by how well you know and understand someone.
Often you might be asked how well you know another person. But rarely would you ever be asked how well you know yourself, for of course it is assumed that you would be the person that understands yourself best.
But how well do you really know yourself and how much attention are you actually paying to YOU? What are you naturally good at, what do you love doing and what do you want to achieve?
According to Tom Rath, author of number one wall street journal bestseller, Strengths Finder, the primary goal of almost any learning program is to help us become who we are not. Think back to when you were in high school. Each subject that you didn’t like and were not good at, you were naturally encouraged to concentrate more on. This may have been effective in marginally raising your marks, but the sacrifice was greater time and labour on your part.
Now if instead, you had spent more of your time and effort in areas and subjects you were naturally strong at, think of how much better you could have performed. Understanding yourself and applying yourself appropriately is key to realising both success and your potential for greatness.
When your key strengths and abilities are honed and applied at the centre of your life, you will not only find that you achieve your goals with greater ease, but you will also be more eager, motivated and personally satisfied. According to Tom Rath, studies show that people who have the opportunity to focus on their strengths are “six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs and more than three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life in general.”
If you allow yourself to use your strengths and natural talents unreservedly, you will be in a position to truly offer the best you have to give and chances are that you will definitely succeed in whatever you are aiming to achieve.
Let yourself be who you were meant to be. Know and accept your limitations. Know and accept your strengths. Invest in your strengths, focus on your strengths and build on them. This is a core principle at EGAMI. We encourage you to focus on your best assets.
Knowing your unique strengths, making the most of them and projecting them through your image can make a world of difference in your career. By drawing on your key strengths and experiences, you can create a unique identity, one that speaks volumes about who you are and what you have to offer. At EGAMI, we seek to help people market their finest strengths and abilities, to build a strong brand and personal profile, and to most importantly fulfil their potential for greatness.
You have everything it takes. All you need to do is to be more of YOU.
Tags: achieve, career coaching, career development, Confidence, EGAMI STYLE, goals, job engagement, natural talent, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, potential for greatness, Professional Brand, Professional Image, Self-Confidence, strengths, Tom Rath
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Friday, May 27th, 2011
Have you ever heard of the term Personal Branding? It’s not something we have made up, it’s a positioning strategy frequently used by leaders and politicians across the globe, to enhance their personal impact and boost their careers. Our Prime Minister is no exception.
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.
Tags: career advancement, career development, Confidence, EGAMI STYLE, Gillard, Holistic Image, Image, Image Consultant, Image Consultants, image psychology, Julia Gillard, labour party, Lindsay Tanner, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, personal branding strategy, personal impact, positioning strategy, Presentation, Prime Minister, Prime Minister Australia, Professional Brand, Professional Image
Posted in Professional, Topics of Interest, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010
A common misconception people often have towards colour is that it is, just colour. But colour is not something to be taken lightly. It has the ability to affect your mood, influence your perception and even empower you.
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.
Tags: Body Image, colour analysis, Colour consultation, colour expressions, colour perception, colour perceptions, Colour psychology, Confidence, EGAMI STYLE, Holistic Image, Image, Image Consultant, Image Consultants, image perception, image psychology, isaac newton, light and colour, optical emotions, Personal Brand, Professional Brand, sir isaac newton, Style, Style and confidence, Style Consultants, Stylist, Wardrobe Styling
Posted in Professional, Topics of Interest | 3 Comments »
Thursday, November 25th, 2010
Individuals can be trained and slowly cultured into strong and powerful leaders. But imagine being suddenly thrust into a leadership position without any prior knowledge or training. Well this was how it all began for Sam Walsh, Chief Executive of Rio Tinto Iron Ore.
It was after the unexpected death of his father, that Walsh’s leadership skills came to surface. Despite being only a young teenager, Walsh took it upon himself to start managing all of his family’s affairs. Undoubtedly, this is a feat that only a natural born leader with great strength of will and character would be able to achieve.
With his strong leadership qualities, it is no surprise that Walsh is now in a high-powered management position in one of the world’s leading resource companies. Despite his incredible degree of authority and power, Walsh remains a very open and relatable character. He has been known to prefer a more open-door and informal style to leadership which encourages team involvement and empowerment.
Walsh’s individual style to leadership and high level of professionalism is well reinforced by his external image. His choice of blues and purples in shirts and ties, communicate a sense of formality and professionalism, but also reflect his approachability and openness. From a colour perspective, these colours are well suited for his image as blue is a colour which represents integrity, communication and trust and purple denotes vision and regality.
Walsh is also often seen wearing a handkerchief in his suit pocket, which communicates his gentlemanly characteristics as well as adding an interesting twist, which sets his style apart from the more simplistic and conventional style of other high level executives. The addition of cufflinks and a pin finishes his elegant look, completing the image of a refined, statesmanlike figure.
Overall, Walsh is truly an inspirational leader whom has successfully distinguished himself by cultivating an image which strongly aligns with his professional status, as well as his own personal characteristics and leadership style.
Tags: Body Image, Chief Executive Rio Tinto, Colour consultation, Confidence, EGAMI STYLE, Image, Image Consultant, Image Consultants, image psychology, inspirational leader, Leadership, Leadership Brand, leadership qualities, leadership style, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, Presentation, Professional Brand, Professional Image, Rio Tinto, Rio Tinto Iron Ore, Sam Walsh, strong leadership, Style, Style and confidence, Style Consultants, Stylist
Posted in Corporate, Personal, Professional | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, November 17th, 2010
If you have a dream, then you should chase after it. Sounds simple enough, right?
Well take a step into the shoes of a young woman who has low self-confidence and is struggling to step out of her shell. There is no denying she’s a smart woman, after all she’s excelling academically at university and has the potential to accomplish great things in life. But having potential can only get you so far if you’re shy and unsure of yourself. So it’s not surprising that the thought of attending an interview, which even a self-assured person can find nerve-racking, is petrifying. Not only that, but this lack of confidence can prevent someone from achieving their future goals.
Unfortunately, she’s not alone. This somewhat daunting and over-whelming feeling is a reality for many young people who are just starting their careers. Imagine the surprise of entering the big world of corporate and professional organisations after just having graduated university. Or having the potential and skill, but not being able to portray yourself visually in the way you want to be perceived.
We all have career goals and aspirations at some point in our lives but making them happen is another completely different story. And that’s why projecting a confident image is such an important and powerful tool. We also all have positive qualities, but what many people don’t realise is that confidence defines who you are and helps you in pursuing your career.
EGAMI STYLE recognises the importance of nurturing talent and working with young people to build their confidence, establish an influential image, help cultivate their leadership ability and develop life skills. For this reason, we are thrilled to be involved in helping young people achieve their career goals through our image programs and workshops as well as supporting the WA Miss Universe event.
From a holistic perspective, our approach enables young people to develop their own unique brand and create a memorable presence that goes beyond first impressions. For the WA Miss Universe participants, what’s really important is that this is a life skill they will be able to take with them beyond the competition and greatly assist them in their future endeavours.
Tags: career, career goals, career preparation, Colour consultation, communication, Confidence, dreams, EGAMI STYLE, Image, Image Consultant, Image Consultants, image psychology, interview preparation, leadership ability, Miss Universe, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, Presentation, Professional Brand, Professional Image, Self-Confidence, Style, Style and confidence, Success, talent, university graduates, WA Miss Universe, Wardrobe Styling, young people
Posted in Corporate, Personal, Professional, Topics of Interest | 39 Comments »
Friday, October 29th, 2010
Enjoying an exquisite meal at one of Perth’s finest restaurants or sipping cocktails with friends at a fabulous bar is usually an event saved for the weekend. But why? Wouldn’t it be fun to experience Perth’s midweek dining culture? Or perhaps enjoy a drink somewhere with a great atmosphere on a Tuesday night? This passion for socialising, as well as a desire to make a difference in the community was the beginning of a new and exciting idea.
That idea was Dine for Life – which is all about creating an opportunity for the people of Perth to share great food and great company for a great cause. At EGAMI STYLE, we are so proud to be a key part of this exciting and unique initiative in charity fundraising. We are committed and passionate about making a difference in the community to those who really need it.
From my perspective, as the Director and one of the founder’s of Dine for Life, it’s all about promoting midweek dining and supporting local business while fundraising for an important cause. Perth has such a wonderful food and wine culture, so why not go to a high end restaurant mid week and enjoy fine dining food for a good cause?
Dine for Life also reminds us to think holistically in business. Simply focusing on profits and revenue takes too much from life, so having a sense of community is imperative in keeping a business grounded. It is important to take time to reflect on your achievements and how you can empower others – for that is real success.
Tags: Dine for Life, Dine for Life 2010, EGAMI STYLE, Image, Image Consultant, Image Consultants, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, Perth dining, Perth food, Perth restaurant, Perth's restaurants, Professional Brand, Professional Image, Samaritans, Samaritans Crisis Line, Style, Style Consultants, Stylist
Posted in Events, Topics of Interest | No Comments »
Friday, October 15th, 2010
Spring is in the air and has inspired a return of 1950’s fashion. This was an era that witnessed the emergence of prominent fashion houses such as Christian Dior, Coco Chanel and Hubert Givenchy. Men and women were fabulously dressed in a style that was glamorous, feminine and tailored.
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!
Tags: 1950, 1950's fashion, Body Image, Chanel, Christian Dior, Coco Chanel, Dior, EGAMI STYLE, Fashion, Givenchy, Holistic Image, Hubert Givenchy, Image, Image Consultant, Image Consultants, Personal Brand, Professional Brand, Professional Image, Style, Style Consultants, Stylist, vogue, Wardrobe Styling
Posted in Professional, Topics of Interest | 30 Comments »
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
It’s commonly understood that black is not a colour. So you can imagine how much I love Renoir’s recognition of black and the significance it holds in the colour world.
Black is one of my favourite colours. Black can be intriguing, sophisticated and elegant. When it comes to selecting black items for my wardrobe, I search for unique pieces and works of art. Such as my beautifully crafted wool blend textured jacket.
A timeless black silk shirt and stunning black lace structured dress add interest and an element of distinction to my professional wardrobe. Adorned with a pair of shiny black heels, they make great staples that can carry you from the office through to functions or events in the evening.
Le Moulin de la Galette (1876), Renoir
Tags: black, Colour consultation, Confidence, EGAMI STYLE, Fashion, fashion trends, Image, Image Consultant, Image Consultants, image psychology, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, Personal Shopping, Professional Brand, Professional Image, Renoir, Style, Style and confidence, Style Consultants, Stylist, Wardrobe Styling
Posted in Professional | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010
It’s all in the fit! If it fits the body its saying “I look powerful because everything I wear FITS my frame perfectly and is flawlessly tailored”.
Tags: EGAMI STYLE, Image, Image Consultant, Image Consultants, image psychology, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, Personal Shopping, Professional Brand, Professional Image, Style, Style and confidence, Stylist, Wardrobe Styling
Posted in Topics of Interest | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
Invest in a great watch; it will be your lowest cost per wear item. A watch can represent everything about being a man, your research, your masculinity and a snap shot of where you are at a point in time. Select a Swiss watch that is classic and holds its value such as the IWC, Ulysses Nardin or Panerai.
Tags: EGAMI STYLE, Image Consultant, Image Consultants, image psychology, Male image, Male style, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, Personal Shopping, Professional Brand, Professional Image, Style and confidence, Wardrobe Styling, Watch
Posted in Topics of Interest | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
Be inspired by the confidence and unique style of the women around us. Pay attention to the image they portray and take from it what you need to refine your own personal style to help you achieve what you desire. Look to the bold, bright and high contrast outfits of Michelle Obama for elegance and assertiveness, to the jeans and tailored white shirts of Elle Macpherson to project a quietly confident and self assured woman or the unique and Spanish chic of Penelope Cruz to create an intriguing image of a creative and successful woman. But it doesn’t need to be a celebrity, what about your best friend or work colleague? Who do you identify with?
Tags: Fashion, Image, Image Consultants, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, Professional Brand, Professional Image, Style, Style Consultants, Stylist, Wardrobe Styling
Posted in Topics of Interest | 3 Comments »
Sunday, May 9th, 2010
Are you the quiet type who finds it harder to naturally promote yourself at interviews or at work? Or perhaps an overly confident extrovert who is often challenged and misunderstood? Did you know that there are ways you can control what you communicate in the workplace through your image? The majority of this communication is through psychology.
Clothes and colour enhance the strength of your verbal message and can say a great deal about your personality and character as well as your position of influence. Consider fabric, colour and style. For instance, red can be worn by those who want to convey assertiveness, while black can be interpreted to mean sophistication and power. In terms of fabrics, silk conveys elegance while white cotton shirts say I’m easy going, approachable and relaxed.
What are you wearing today?
Tags: Colour consultants, Colour consultation, Image Consultants, image psychology, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, Professional Brand, Professional Image, Wardrobe Styling
Posted in Topics of Interest, Uncategorized | 5 Comments »
