develop personal style with the film factor
“Align your wardrobe to the color of your inner light.”
the foundation of personal style
How do you want to show up in the world? What is the language of impact and influence in your field? And what is the language that makes her heart sing? This is the detective work before you head out to the shops. It’s not about immediately doing client colors or wardrobe audit in order to rush out and buy more clothes. Because you most likely have enough clothes. Even more than enough. Overstuffed wardrobes happen when you aren’t really sure about how you want to show up in the world. So the promise of confidence and joy thru another clothing item lures you in. Only to disappoint. And lure you back another time, seeking more confidence and joy but you buy more disappointment. I know because I have been there. And I am grateful to know that more clothing doesn’t equal more joy. Rather clothing is an amazing and wonderful communication tool that can zero in on your beauty and strengths and bring them to life. Knowledge is the key…not compulsive or constant consumption. Where to start?
THE FILM FACTOR
Simply by looking at the three different Julianne Moore or Kerry Washington costumes we gain a sense of the story and setting around her character. That is the power and immediacy of visual imagery. The director chooses language to describe a character, providing the costume designer with a clear direction from which to create a sketch. Review and re'-alignment ensure the sketch is heading in the right direction. Then the clothing is created. This is the collaboration between myself and the client. I present the 12 brand archetypes. The client chooses their brand language. We analyse current selfies to understand how effectively the client’s outfits communicate their brand archetype language.
The film factor ensures your visual message is immediate and on brand.
THE STYLE CODES
Before the French Revolution, clothing changes were enforced from within royal courts. Marie Antoinette and her personal stylist, Rose Bertin dictated a fashionability determined by the wearer’s ability to occupy a space of power through physical distance and luxurious textures. The more space and texture the body absorbed, the more culture it conveyed. During The Roccoco extremely wide hoops and paniers achieved both goals: taking up space and keeping others at a distance. Heavy, decorated fabric texture occupied physical space increasing the wearer’s power. High decorated hair, occupied space, bestowing the wearer with power and fashionability. After the storming of the Bastille, a radical shift occured. The complex fashion system was born.
Cracking the style code is empowering!
After centuries royal court entered fashion dominance, fashion developed into a system of media, influencers and groups. Suddenly, style was created by revolutionaries, actresses, artists, magazine and individual influencers. The birth the fashion system, with multiple external sources bringing trends. Two hundred years later the fashion system underwent another radical shift. In the 90’s fashion fashion was developed through the idea of quick manufacturing response, confronting us with a staggering amount of clothing choices. All promising: the more you own the more beautiful, confident and happier you will be. We know this not to be true, but not succumbing to marketing ploys and staying true to your personal brand, goals and vision requires discipline. When it comes to making wise choices, knowledge is power. The better you understand the fashion system, the less you will need and the better you will express yourself. I will be writing about the the 12 brand language archetypes and 12 style tribes in the coming weeks because I’m passionate about helping women crack the style code. And passionate about helping women become empowered to follow and/or break the system successfully. Bringing their beauty and strengths to life thru wardrobe.