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
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 | 35 Comments »
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
International Women’s Day on the 8th of March was a day for all women across the world to rejoice! (Particularly if you live in a country where International Women’s Day is actually recognised as a national holiday such as in the Ukraine, Bulgaria, Russia, China or Vietnam.)
Women have made leaps and bounds in their pursuit of equal rights and treatment in the economic, political and social realms. With greater legislative rights, less social biases, the freedom to work in almost any industry and position, the world is seeing an increasing presence of women in high powered leadership positions and more women being recognised for their outstanding abilities and achievements.
This year’s celebration of women’s achievements marks the centenary of International Women’s Day. Organisations across the world have been getting involved to commemorate this special occasion. In Australia, premier fashion magazine Vogue, has teamed up with channel SBS to bring everyone a thrilling season of special screenings, celebrating exceptional women.
EGAMI also joined in on International Women’s Day celebrations with a presentation to the National Australia Bank in Perth that empowered their female team to create a confident and powerful image that reflected their unique style within the boundaries of their industry and enhanced their visibility. EGAMI was proud to partner with the Ready to Work team, which assists disadvantaged women in the community to secure a job through their employment preparation services.
At a parliamentary level, the world’s leading ladies, Julia Gillard, Michelle Obama, and Hillary Clinton gathered at a gala function in Washington to award women of outstanding courage from around the world who had fought to empower women. Julia Gillard has also expressed her desire to push the boundaries for a greater presence and visibility of women on company boards and is prepared to address this through legislation.
EGAMI thinks that this encouragement for Australian corporate companies to increase the admittance of women to their boards is great progress, however it is important to recognise that career advancement and visibility extends beyond exceptional skills and education. In order for women to achieve rapid career advancement, they should consider enhancing their relationship skills and be more active in networking and self-promotion. One woman in particular, from the mining industry, that EGAMI has had the wonderful opportunity of working with and alongside, who has experienced outstanding success and who has been inducted to the WA Women’s Hall of Fame, is Kate Sommerville. Congratulations Kate on your commendable achievement!
Tags: career advancement, EGAMI STYLE, Hillary Clinton, Image, Image Consultant, Image Consultants, International Women's Day, Julia Gillard, Kate Sommerville, Michelle Obama, NAB, National Australia Bank, Networking, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, SBS, Self-Confidence, self-promotion, Success, visibility, vogue, WA Women's Hall of Fame, women of courage
Posted in Uncategorized | 138 Comments »
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 | 85 Comments »
Thursday, December 9th, 2010
“Though I am grateful for the blessings of wealth, it hasn’t changed who I am. My feet are still on the ground. I’m just wearing better shoes.” Oprah Winfrey
Oprah is coming to Australia! No doubt we are all excited about this famous icon paying our continent a special visit.
As a figure, she is as iconic as the Sydney Opera House or a red soled Louboutin heel. Forbes 3rd most powerful woman is about to touch down in the country, and it’s causing a stir. I mean who doesn’t love Oprah? She has the most vivacious personality, is so down to earth and is well-known for her incredible generosity.
But it hasn’t all been easy for Oprah. Throughout the years, Oprah has endured a constant battle with her image. We’ve watched her transition through the decades with many a makeover and make under. She was often overly conscious of her body type, and selected styles to conceal her body. Oprah’s clothing choice was reflective of where she was physically.
But now, in the last five years, Oprah’s self perception towards her image has changed. She has progressed as an individual and has established her own unique style; a clean silhouette with classic colours, ranging from neutrals to deep, rich hues that convey elegance and sophistication. Oprah has become more confident in herself as a person, both mentally and physically and this clearly reflects in her new approach to image and styling. We at EGAMI can see that she has embraced and embodied a spirit and style that is all her own.
Take a look below at a timeline of Oprah through the ages, from present to past.
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Tags: Body Image, Confidence, EGAMI STYLE, Icon, Image, Image Consultant, Image Consultants, Oprah, Oprah Australia, Oprah house, Oprah past, Oprah present, Oprah Sydney, Oprah weight, Oprah Winfrey, Personal Brand, Professional Image, Self-Confidence, Style
Posted in Topics of Interest | 46 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 | 18 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 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 | 182 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, 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 | 22 Comments »
Friday, October 22nd, 2010
Gail Kelly, Chief Executive of Westpac, is a woman who encompasses the essences of power and success. Recently ranked eighth in Forbes’ illustrious list of the world’s most powerful women, Kelly’s recognition highlights the importance of image and perception in a professional environment. Her reputation as a born leader is evident in her accomplishments; however it is Kelly’s commanding presence that has ultimately established her successful career.
Kelly’s overall image reflects her position as a leader. The use of primary colours in her wardrobe, such as a dominating red, sets apart from the uniformity of grey. Simply wearing red will dramatically enhance positive attributes such as confidence, strength and energy, in comparison to grey which is a psychological neutral and evokes a limited response.
Kelly’s image is complemented by her body language and powerful gestures, as you can see in the image contained within this recent article. This not only allows for effective communication but conveys confidence and leadership.
By self-packaging her positive attributes, Kelly demonstrates a strong holistic image of confidence and success. As you can see, investing in your professional image and personal brand and influencing how you want to be perceived are powerful steps in creating your own success. Congratulations Gail, what a great achievement for an Australian Executive!
Tags: Australian Executive, Chief Executive of Westpac, colour analysis, Colour consultation, Confidence, EGAMI STYLE, female leader, financial markets, Forbes, Gail Kelly, Image Consultant, Image Consultants, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, powerful women, Self-Confidence, Style, Style and confidence, Style Consultants, Success, Westpac, World's most powerful women
Posted in Professional, Topics of Interest | 8 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, 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 | 86 Comments »
Friday, October 15th, 2010
Men, keep your image current this season by incorporate a different trend into your style. Perhaps introduce a nautical element by opting for a navy suit over black. When it comes to selecting a shirt, choose dark blue stripes or a simple blue shirt to add more emphasis to your image.
Tags: EGAMI STYLE, Fashion, Image, Image Consultant, Image Consultants, men, nautical, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, Personal Shopping, Presentation, Professional Image, Style, Style and confidence, Stylist, suits, Wardrobe Styling
Posted in Corporate, Professional, Topics of Interest | 18 Comments »
Friday, October 15th, 2010
It has been an interesting month all round, particularly in relation to this year’s AFL. Although many sporting seasons are coming to an end, the team at EGAMI are becoming even busier creating awareness about the power of investing in your image to be remembered. And the team at EGAMI has been expanding! With our focus being on holistic image and image from the inside out, we have recently acquired new talent to refine and diversify our capabilities in order to provide a more unique service. Check out our team here
Tags: Body Image, EGAMI STYLE, Holistic Image, Image, Image Consultant, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, Professional, Professional Image, Style, Style Consultants, Stylist
Posted in Corporate | 7 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 | 31 Comments »
Thursday, July 15th, 2010
Colour is the foundation of personal styling. When you understand your unique colour palette based on your characteristics and personality, and balance this both intuitively and intellectually, you will know how to create a look and style that is made just for you.
I use colour to communicate my individuality and when I wear the right colours it gives me the image of style and confidence. It plays an important part in my life not only because I am in the field of providing image advice but also because it is how I express my creativity and love of fashion.
Use colour to communicate your individuality by adding it to your life!
Tags: Colour consultation, Colour psychology, Confidence, EGAMI STYLE, Fashion, fashion trends, Image, Image Consultant, Image Consultants, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, Personal colours, Personal Shopping, Style, Style Consultants, Stylist, Wardrobe Styling
Posted in Personal | 35 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 | 28 Comments »
Thursday, July 8th, 2010
Since November 2009 EGAMI has been working exclusively with the WA Miss Universe contestants on the key elements of personal image, presentation and preparing for their final answers. Congratulations to the Miss Universe WA Finalists who came in second and third at the National Competition: Renae Wauhop, from Perth, who was the runner-up and Lia Tapper, from Perth, coming in third. That’s an amazing effort!
Tags: EGAMI STYLE, Image coaching, Image Consultant, Image Consultants, Miss Universe, Personal Brand, Personal Branding, Personal image, Presentation
Posted in Topics of Interest | 16 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 | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
What is your new year’s resolution this year? ‘Image’ is the forgotten science of success. It’s the first impression you make and the lasting memory you leave. So what image did you portray in 2009? With 2010 just around the corner, now is the perfect time to re-define how YOU want to be perceived; memorable, authentic, confident, stylish?
Combining style with the principles of influence, EGAMI, invites you to express a more powerful and persuasive professional image this new year. Keep your eyes peeled on our upcoming style and confidence series of events or see our tailored image packages designed to put you ahead of the game so you feel empowered to Step Out With Confidence In 2010!
Tags: Confidence, Corporate Image, Image, Image Consultant, Personal Branding, Professional Image, Style, Success
Posted in Personal | 8 Comments »
