Kay Hunter - Imagine . . . The Possibilities

Emergency Kits: Being prepared without taking up a lot of space.

There are a few items that would be handy to have at home for "dash out the door" emergencies, last minute meetings, or social events.  I recommend keeping them all in one bag or drawer so you are not frantically searching for them, causing you to break into a sweat, rip something more – making you start all over!  Some of these items should be kept in your glove compartment and women - have them in your evening bag, if you can without making it look chunky and bulky.

Double-stick (Hollywood fashion tape) is good for those well-endowed at the chest, or a little reinforcement for those places the holiday pounds might settle.  It is also good for hems that needs to be stitched but you didn't notice till you were out the door.   The clear tape doesn’t t cover up the skin’s natural color and is more discreet and fabric-friendly than safety pins. Safety pins are also handy for these purposes - but the Hollywood Fashion Tape is more discreet.
 
Tide-To-Go eraser pen is great for getting little spills out fast, such as the wine spill that inevitably happens when you are wearing light colors!
 
Lint roller for the pet hair that has migrated into the front seat of your car and stick to your rear end, or the white napkin lint from the restaurant napkin or tissue fuzz.

Handkerchief is handier for quick touch up wipes than tissue - no fuzz left on your face or clothes.

Gal pal sponges for removing those white deodorant marks or general dirt that often gets us when we brush up against our car.
 
Cuticle oil or cream for the dry cuticles that the cooler weather causes.   Another alternative is the anti-aging and eye creams that are given as gifts with most cosmetic purchases. Clinique even gives it with the men's shaving gift packs - VERY handy for winter hands and cuticles. 
 
Ballet slippers for those aching feet from your high heels.  Dr. Schools is selling portable shoes, but you can get a thin pair of ballet slippers anywhere.  This option is far better than walking around a party with your shoes off!  You can choose from a few well-known shoe sites: ShoeBuy, Zappos, Nordstrom, Capezio.

Tweezers - men this includes you as well.  Sometimes you catch a glimpse of yourself in the rearview mirror or feel that tickle.  Having a pair of tweezers in the glove compartment helps you get that stray Yoda hair from your ears or nose or the one eyebrow hair getting tangled in your eyelashes.  Women, you know what I'm talking about with the stray chin or upper lip hair that eluded waxing or plucking earlier in the day.  Keep them tucked in the car or home.  This is not a "do in public" type of thing. No need to stash the tweezers in your purse.

Breath mints, breathstrips especially after a long stressful day.  A glass of water can get rid of the dry mouth and the breath mints and breath strips can freshen up your mouth - assuming you are brushing and using mouthwash before you ever leave your house.  This is just for "touch up."

Spare pair of hose for evening events. Sometimes you can't stop by to pick them up if you arrive at an event and then there it is - a run from here until Tuesday.  Clear nail polish still can stop it, but if it's too late and you need to replace them, have a pair handy in your most common colors - nude and black.  No need to ruin the entire look of your outfit because of a snaggy mishap.

	Home	Car	Purse	Office
Double Stick Hollywood Fashion Tape	x	x
Safety Pins	x	x	x	x
Tide-To-Go	x	x	x	x
Lint Roller	x
Hankerchief			x	x
Gal Pal Sponges	x
Cuticle Cream	x	x		x
Ballet Slippers	x	x		x
Tweezers	x	x
Breath mints, Breath strips		x	x	x
Spare pantyhose	x	x		x

 

 

Sometimes a Headshot is the First Way You Meet Someone.

There are instances when you may be invited to speak at an event, participate on a panel, guest author an article or be promoted via media.  These events have one thing in common; they all require a good headshot of you.  A headshot is a photo, not an avatar or cartoon but a photograph of yourself from the shoulders up dressed professionally.  Many times this is the first way your audience or potential clients get to know you before you see them in person.  You want to make a great first impression.

If you have ever been asked to speak and don't have a high resolution headshot to provide, it is almost guaranteed that the people posting the information will turn to the popular online photo resource, "GOOGLE," to find what photos they can of you. It may not even be you, it may of you dancing on tables.  Go to Google and type in your name if you don't believe me. Then, click on the "images" category in the left of the results.  Any of these could be used for your headshot if you don't provide one – which could be pretty scary!

Choosing a photographer: 

I highly recommend hiring a professional photographer, as you don’t change your headshot every year. If this is cost prohibitive, consider going to the photo services stores in the mall or even Sears where they take the photos of children.  The lighting is the key to it all.  If you don't have good lighting, no amount of PhotoShop will help you.

If you go with a local source, try to resist the urge to use your smartphone as your camera; or worse using your smartphone that you hold out in front of you as you would at a bar or baseball game mugging for Facebook.  If you're going to bother with a photo, have a high resolution photo taken that can also be used in print for press releases or magazines for editorials.  Ask yourself this question, "Would I want this photo on the cover of Time Magazine?"  Dramatic, I know, but you get the point.

What to wear:

Solid colors are safe as are large patterns that are subtle. The focus should be drawn to your eyes and smile.  Stay away from tiny patterns or stripes.  Brown and gray can be tricky depending on your personal coloring, so proceed with caution. It is always best to wear a strong color from your color palette.  Stay away from hues that match your own skin tone.  You want to give some contrast and depth to your photo.

Hair, make up and glasses:

How current are your glasses?  Will they be in style for the next few years while you are using this photo?  Make sure your hair is tidy and not in your eyes or with that one unruly cowlick.  Make up should be polished and natural.

The pose:

Believe it or not, there is a better pose than that of the DMV - straight on facing forward as if you are in a line-up.  Please, no hands in your pockets.

You will take 10 pounds or more off yourself if you follow these suggestions:

• Stand with your feet one forward, the other at a 45 degree angle two feet behind your front forward-facing foot.
• Lean back on your back leg.
• Turn your torso to the corner formed by your feet with your shoulders down and straight.
• Turn your head straight ahead to match the angle of your front foot. 
• Chin level so as not to show off a fuller neck or turkey neck.
• Push your head forward ever so slightly to tighten up your chin and neck even more.
• Smile a clear smile with your teeth and a slight tilt of your head to the outside of your front leg. If your right leg is forward, tilt your head slightly to the right.
• *CLICK* - review the photo and take a few more slightly shifting your weight to see which is the most flattering. Remember to keep those eyes open, but not with the look of shock - relax.  When you smile EXHALE to truly show "relax" on your face.

Backgrounds: 

This is not the DMV or a passport office, give it some personality, some depth.  Consider what background color makes YOU look good.  It is doubtful that white, Navajo white or stucco is flattering to anyone.  Avoid the shots in the hallway, the side of the building in the sun or any other blank, stark wall without color.  Glass is also a bad idea.

 

 

 

 

Hone competitive edge in bad economic times

You create a first impression every day, and you must know how to present a professional and consistent image in order to outclass your competition.

Why You Didn't Get The Job - the intricate dance of the corporate interview

Maybe it was the purple suit with the matching eye shadow or the creative use of four-letter words. Answering a phone call from a friend during the interview likely didn’t help either, nor did bringing in a water bottle filled with vodka. In each case (all of which actually happened), the hopeful candidate was rejected with a generic, “We found someone else with better qualifications,” leaving the job seeker unaware of what they may have done that rubbed the hiring manager the wrong way.

Personal Image Quiz

This quick quiz will give you an idea if you would benefit from a personal image consultation.  If you would like help with your image, please take this quiz, print to PDF and E-mail it to me.