Diane von Furstenberg on Style and Confidence

So excited to share with you what Diane von Furstenberg thinks about style and confidence, I think you're going to be surprised.

This is an interview with Julia Louis Dreyfus and Diane von Furstenberg. Her first question, “Diane, tell us what are some staples that every woman should have in her wardrobe?”

Julia Louis Dreyfus Podcast

 And the first thing that Diane said was, I believe that you need to be true to who you are.  You need to add pieces to your wardrobe that represent you.

 Don’t think that is what Julia wanted to hear. So, if you've been following me for a while, you know that my personal philosophy is that style begins with the woman. And not the clothes. And that is exactly what Diane, iconic Diane von Furstenberg was sharing.

Julia asked, “does every woman need a great white blouse?".

Diane said, no, I don't even have one. Does every woman need a black turtleneck? She said, not really, but I love a great black turtleneck. It's all about honoring you.

It's about the relationship that you have with yourself and understanding that.

What is it you love? What are your strengths? What are your attributes?

What is it you love about you that you want other people to know?

An excerpt from her book, the Woman I Wanted to Be. I want to transition now into the iconic wrap dress.

The famous wrap dress made her the woman who she is today.

She did not go out to design the most amazing dress and the idea of selling millions. Her thought was, I'm going to design a dress. That has ease and confidence.

It doesn't have any zippers. It doesn't have any buttons. It's a jersey fabric. It moves with the body. It fits different body types, and that's what her thought was, as she was thinking about the woman.

Her brand is all about the relationship she has with women.

“It's about understanding women and understanding their likes and what is it women want in clothes, says Diane von Furstenberg".”

I absolutely resonate with her philosophy 100%.

How do women want to feel in their clothes? What is it women want to express?

And that's exactly how I work with you. My first style lesson when I work with clients, is called The Power of You, and it's helping you to articulate who is that woman you want to project? What is it you want others to know about you?

Is it an edginess? Is it classic and traditional? Is it creative and fun and sparkly? It begins with you.

It's not me telling you what you should wear. And that's exactly what Diane does as she is designing styles.

“The style may speak through the style or color. Patterns or prints, whether it's the fabrication, whether it's the silhouette, that is how you can express you, says Diane.”

Is, is it very quiet? Is it sophisticated? Is it loud? Is it bright? And then the fabrication, the fabric, how the fabric moves and flows on your body and the silhouette makes the sentence.

Through her clothing and it all started for her with the wrap dress. She says the wrap dress made her. The wrap dress debuted in 1974. She was 27 years old. She was just beginning her business. In fact, I want to share this excerpt from her book, and she says, “As I was watching women become more confident and beautiful, thanks to the new dress, the wrap dress, I was personally becoming more, more and more confident and their feeling more beautiful myself.”

Diane was projecting what she was selling. Ease and confidence. She was becoming one with the dress and what they stood for. She didn’t know it then, but I had become a brand.

She said that every woman had a story about the wrap dress.

Five-six years ago, I walked into one of my favorite consignment stores, and what I loved about this consignment store is that she had two racks right in front of the register, and they were designer pieces and that were brand new consignments.

I walked in and I saw this dress. It was my size. It was the perfect color. The price, oh my gosh. I knew it was a $600 dress and it was sitting on the rack for a hundred dollars. It was like brand new, no one had worn it. I knew I had to have it. And so, you know, it's so interesting how a dress can make you feel.

As Julia says, “It's how you feel inside of an outfit, I don't care if I am walking on the red carpet at the Oscars or if I am taking a hike, when everything is working, you know it.”

I agree 100%.

What does she have to say about confidence? They're one and the same. When you have that confidence and ease in your clothes, when you are honoring you and representing you and understanding who you are. That's when personal style is at its best.

That is when you know that you are rocking your look and there is confidence oozing all over when you walk into a room.

Sign up to receive my FREE Style Guide: FREE Get Style Confident NOW Style Guide

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Going Back to Work: Style Tips to Simplify the Great Return

Are you a corporate professional who is going back to the office and you need to transition from your zoom tops to professional in-person outfits?  

And you've looked in your closet, wondering, is what you have hanging in your closet even in style? 

And the next question you're probably asking yourself is, oh my gosh, what fits?

Of course, you are, you haven’t worn a large portion of your pants in 24 months. 

Maybe you've gained a little weight, maybe you've lost a little weight?

And you're feeling a little bit hesitant, a little bit nervous about what are you going to wear? 

Let’s chat about getting your wardrobe prepared so that you will look put-together, confident, and feel ready to rock your world as you reenter.

My #1 Style Tip for Going Back to Work: Begin Going Through Your Closet and Editing What Makes You Feel 100% Confident NOW!

Step One: Pants

• Begin with your pants because if you've gained weight, if you've lost weight, the first place that we really notice it is in a pair of pants. And so go through your pants and figure out what fits. 

• What do you feel confident in? 

• What do you want to keep moving forward? So preparing yourself before the you know, the weekend before and realizing oh my gosh, my pants don't fit. 

• So do you need another pair of trouser pants for all your beautiful jackets or your blouses that fit really well? 

• Look at a pair of jeans, maybe you're in a more casual setting. Maybe going back to the office, I have heard that many employers are saying that you can dress down, but maybe you want a nice pair of fitting jeans that fit well. 

• Why? Because they're polished, you can put them on with a beautiful blouse or wear a pair of white jeans, and possibly add a jacket. So get your pants in order that's really important.

Step Two: Jackets

• The next is maybe you do want to make sure that the jackets that you have, what are you going to keep?

• Are some of the jackets too traditional that maybe you need to go down a notch in a little bit more of a kind of dressy casual kind of feel?

• So I believe in having a handful of put-together polished outfits that you feel confident in, and having them ready to go at a moment's notice.

• This could be a couple of pairs of pants, one of your favorite blouses, a great jacket, and all those pieces can mix and match so that you aren't, you know, stressing out feeling overwhelmed thinking, oh my gosh, you know, I've been in front of zoom for 24 months, and now I need to go back to the office, and you need to get ready.

So I want to invite you if you are somebody who's listening and saying Annette, I am overwhelmed.

I am stressed.

I need help.

Because you're a different woman now than you were 24 months ago, right?

We evolve.

So I have a brand new offer that I'm so excited about.

It's called The Seven Day Signature Style Edit.

And what did you just design for exactly what I just talked about?

You are going back to the office, maybe you already have some great pieces. Maybe you have a lot of holes and you don't know how to put those pieces together so it's put together, polished confident, and I can help you with that.

So I invite you to go check out the Seven Day Signature Style Edit, and I would love to be your Personal Image Consultant and stylist so that you can show up oozing with confidence.

HERE ARE 3 WAYS I CAN HELP YOU DRESS WITH EASE, BE ON-BRAND, & GET NOTICED:

1. Capture my BEST style strategies and image advice that include secrets to honoring your inner beauty, to what style basics are a must, to creating a color wardrobe capsule – Get Your Ultimate Style Guide: 7 Ways to go from feeling ‘off’ to rocking a signature look that is uniquely YOU!

2. Work with me privately to take you from questioning your clothing and style choices to creating a signature wardrobe that is uniquely you. Schedule a 30-minute Get Dressed with Ease Breakthrough session to share a little about your image challenges and what you’re envisioning for yourself, and we’ll devise a strategy, so you are ‘stepping into your excellence’ and showing up as the powerful woman that you are and dressing with ease. https://www.annettebond.com/contact

3. Join other like-minded successful smart women in my Style with Significance Facebook Group! This is a place to share personal styling ideas, get advice from a professional stylist, and meet other powerful professional women who value looking as good as they feel

Essential Ingredients to Elevate Your Confidence, Part 4 of 5 Parts series: Self-Acceptance.

Have you caught your self being critical about your image, maybe more than you should?

Saying things like, “I don’t like my arms, I’m having a bad hair day, I hate my middle section?”

What if you began to focus on what you do like about yourself?

In business we talk say, “what you focus on, expands.”

Let’s chat about self-acceptance, I know it feels like a big emotional word.

In simple terms, it is, accepting you as you are.

Recognizing your strengths.

Self-acceptance is one of the most essential ingredients to elevating your confidence and letting your radiance be revealed.  

Love to invite you to be part of my private Facebook Group: Style with Significance where we can continue our conversation.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/stylewithsignificance

Do you ever question the fit or quality of your clothing style?

Wondering if you’re truly stepping into your excellence?

When looking at the way a garment fits, quality is an attribute you need to take into consideration.

Most times, the higher the quality the better the fit.

Have you ever bought a pair of workout leggings at Ross or Target and thought they were, OK?

Then you purchased a pair of workout leggings at Lululemon and thought OMG these are the best fitting leggings I’ve ever had.

I have. You don’t think there is going to be a difference even though the style looks exactly the same, but there is.

The quality of the fabric can reflect how your clothing fits, how it hangs on your body, and the way it feels.

If you’re like me, I love my clothing to feel like it was custom made for me.

Many times, there are two camps of women; the camp that says, it is good enough. And the second camp who values quality, luxury, and refinement in her clothing.

I believe, those who say this is good enough have never given themselves the permission to experience the kind of quality I’m talking about.

Let’s look at a pair of pants.

You purchase a $79 pair of pants and after a few machine washings they don’t fit as well, they lose their shape, they are baggy in the butt, and now the fit and quality is compromised.

The pant hangs in your closet. And you’re not sure why you don’t wear them.

What if you decided to raise your standards and invested in better quality clothing?

Let’s talk RIO.

For example, you purchase a $300 pair of pants, wear them 1X a week, 48X a year…turns out that every time you wear the higher quality, better fitting pant, you invested $6.25 every time you wore them.

Is it worth it?

Heck yes, the pants made you feel like a million bucks.

That is priceless in my opinion.

The next time you’re thinking about confidence or style confidence, think about the quality of the pieces you’re investing in.

If you’re new to this, begin by investing in ONE piece that allows you to feel like a million bucks.

This is about fit, how the fabric feels against your body, and the way the style adapts to your body type.

Something that may have never occurred to you; your non-verbal confidence oozes when you walk into a room.

You are experiencing your clothing supporting you to step into your excellence.

You are invited to my upcoming Style Strategy and Confidence Masterclass on Thursday, August 19th @ 1pm PST

Register at: https://www.annettebond.com/masterclass

Have you wondered if you could pull off a specific look?

But you stopped yourself because you were afraid of what others were going to think?

In Part 2 of the 5 Part series, we’re going to talk about Courage.

You may be thinking what does courage have to do with style and image?

More than you think.

The dictionary defines Courage as bravery, which is also the opposite of fear.

Thirty years ago, I learned a concept from the book, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyways.

The ‘bullseye’ of a target was a metaphor of staying inside your comfort zone.

When I learned that, it was a picture I wanted to change.

Are you someone who tends to wear the same styles and same few colors all the time?

If you knew that you would not be judged, what would you love to wear? What image would you like to project?

If you never go outside the ‘bullseye’ circle because you are afraid of what others are going to think, how long will you stay in your bullseye style comfort zone?

What if you took one small step towards a style that made you feel like a million bucks?

One small step to the next circle.

Observe your comfort zone of style growing as well as your Courage and Confidence.

You may be thinking, it’s time to be more visible online or when you enter a zoom room.

Try one NEW accessory piece. Maybe a statement necklace. How does it feel?

One baby step leads to the next big step of courage.

Instead of a head-to-toe red dress, maybe it’s a red shoe. A red necklace.

One step of courage leads to increased confidence which then leads to elevating your Style Confidence.

It’s time to look as good as you feel!

If you are feeling stuck in your style comfort zone and not sure how to get out of it or where to begin, I’m here to help.

Let’s Chat, https://www.annettebond.com/contact

My son Ryan introduced me to Deion Sanders favorite quote years ago.

 Look Good. Feel Good. Play Good.

 Then they Pay Good.

 I remember so clearly how Ryan memorized the quote and was buying into its truth.

 As a twenty-something young man at the time, of course he looked up to the professional football player.

 He was cool and successful.

 Being in the business of image and style for over 25 years, and working with 1000’s of women, it’s never really about the fashion but how the clothing makes one feel.

 It affects your self-image and self-esteem.  

When a piece of clothing is worn, it exerts an influence on the wearer’s psychological processes by activating associated abstract concepts through its symbolic meaning, Galinsky, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

The term coined by Galinsky, is “Enclothed Cognition.”

Dr. Adam Galinsky study found, "Clothes invade the body and brain, putting the wearer into a different psychological state. You have to wear the coat, see it on your body, and feel it on your skin for it to influence your psychological processes."

 The study featured undergraduate students who were either given a white doctors coat or told to wear street clothes and were administered a test for selective attention, such as spotting minor differences in similar pictures.

Those who wore the doctor’s coat made about half as many errors as those in street clothes.

When you are gearing up to put your best foot forward, what do you do?

As a businesswoman, you choose your most “confident look” in the closet.

Just like professional athlete Deion Sanders, it is gameday.

Expressing yourself and being confident in your self-image is one way to give yourself an edge whether you are powerful businesswoman or professional football player.

As a professional football has a brand with his uniform.

What does your businesswoman wardrobe say about you?

Is it expressing your uniqueness?

Do you have a signature look that differentiates you?

Does it reflect your expertise and brand?

Maybe it’s time to try on your ‘look the part’ confident look and step into your excellence?

You are invited to join me at my upcoming Style Strategy and Confidence Masterclass on Thursday, June 24th @ 1pm PST

https://www.annettebond.com/masterclass

BE the CEO of Your Personal Brand

Show up feeling confident & credible

Are you aware of your professional presence when you walk into a room?

Do you know how others perceive you?

Do you waste a lot of mental energy trying to figure out what outfit is appropriate?

Would you like to feel more empowered and distinguish yourself from the crowd?

Did you know that when you walk into a room, your image speaks to who you are in a millisecond?

Join Annette Bond, AICI CIC, founder and CEO of Definitive Style. She is ONE of only 3 women  in Washington certified with Association of International Image Consultants.

She specializes in supporting the high-level professional who is ready to heighten career and client opportunities. Ultimately, skyrocketing their confidence as a leader.

Annette created the Reveal Your Radiance Signature System.  The 10-step process prepares leaders to develop an elevated professional presence, be confidently styled, empowering them to create a memorable and influential personal brand and most importantly influencing how others perceive them as a leader.

You’re Invited: Sunday, February 9th from 1-4pm / $249 early bird pricing (after January 27th $299)

Location: Annette’s home studio in Sammamish, WA / Includes handouts and snacks / Limited to 10 Women

Attention: Women ONLY Attorneys, Financial Advisors and Professional Entrepreneurs

BE The CEO Of Your Personal Brand

• Discover the mistakes that detract from a confident and credible professional image.

• Create a memorable and influential personal brand image that attracts more clients

• Discover how to purposefully use clothing styles, colors, patterns and textures to feel more empowered; exuding inner-confidence and success.

• Get inspired by a mini fashion show from area boutique

Create A Winning Strategy In 2020 - BE The CEO Of Your Personal Brand. Show up feeling confident & credible.

Register: https://www.annettebond.com/be-the-ceo-of-your-personal-brand-workshop
Limited to ONLY 10 Women

Have you ever thought, I'm ready to throw out everything in my closet and start over?

Because you're bored with your clothes?

It feels like nothing looks good on you?

When you need that "great outfit" for a special event, you never have it?

Or maybe your closet is just overcrowded and looks like this...

Did you know that Only 20% of the clothes in the average persons closet are worn on a regular basis according to chief design officer of California closets.

WHY?

It’s a question we ponder every time we stare into our wardrobes and have no clue what to wear. It doesn’t make sense. Your closet is full.

What's Wrong With My Closet?

Is it because you're a creature of habit who can’t be bothered to try new things?

You know it works, so you just keep wearing the same outfit over and over?

A couple of things could be going on.

Yes, we are creatures of habit.

You get a compliment on the outfit and you know it works. So why change.

Or do you have a lot of impulse buys?

It looked great in the store or you were at a clothing party and the sales person said, OMG you have to buy that!

Recently, I met with my new client Heather, who was the one who said, I'm OK with throwing EVERYTHING away and starting from scratch.

Before we do that, I told Heather, I always spend some time in the closet to see if there are any great pieces we can work with.

I come in with a "fresh pair of eyes"

Many of her purchases originated because her sister-in-law said, "you've got to buy that" as they were shopping.

Did you know that when others influence you to buy they are seeing themselves wearing the outfit, not necessarily if it looks good on you?

The day I entered Heather's closet, I helped her create 15 NEW outfits that she never knew existed. She was blown away!

She told me the clothes we threw out, cost her more than the fee she paid me. Had she known what didn't look good on her, she would have NEVER purchased those pieces.

Instead of wearing ONLY 20% of your clothes and feeling frustrated. Let's get your Closet feeling like this...

Imagine your closet filled with pieces that reflect your unique style all while ELEVATING YOUR IMAGE...

Annette, I'm ready to start LOVING my closet and want it filled with pieces that reflect my unique style.

Let's Talk (click to book a Style Strategy Session)

With Your Definitive Style in Mind,

Annette

Annette Bond works with accomplished, professional women to Elevate their Image. She inspires women to elevate and express the best of who they are Now, so they can go out into the world with greater confidence and ease.

Annette is a Certified Personal Image Consultant AICI CIC, Corporate Image Certified, More Alive With Color™ Certified, and Fashion Feng Shui Facilitator.

Follow me on LinkedIn / Wardrobe Wednesday or Fashion Friday on Facebook

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ELEVATE YOUR IMAGE WORKSHOP

Saturday, September 29th

10am-3pm / Sammamish,WA

Your Style Makes a Statement. What’s Your Style Type?

Is your wardrobe in a style rut?

Do you waste a lot of mental energy trying to figure out what to wear?

Are you feeling stuck and not sure where to begin?

Do You Fantasize about Having a Wardrobe That Reflects Your Unique Style?

The Elevate Your Image Workshop is For YOU If:

1. You want to create a wardrobe that makes you feel comfortable in your skin

2. Create a wardrobe that is aligned with the real you so others capture your authentic-ness

3. Understand what styles flatter your body type

4. Learn how to influence your dress with color

5. Desire to learn how your clothing can support you in business & life

6. Possess style confidence without worrying about age, shape or size

7. Hands on training using clothing from your closet

I believe that Style begins with the woman, not the clothes. ~Annette Bond

The Elevate Your Image Workshop will be guided by the Fashion Feng Shui Style System that Embodies:

1.      Your Essence – the core of who you are

2.      Your Appearance – your body type and natural coloring

3.      Your Intention – utilizing your style to support you in business & life

ONLY 8 SPOTS Available / Includes Workbook / Lunch / Community with AMAZING Women / 30-minute Follow up Consultation in addition to pre-work / Annette’s home in Sammamish / $295 / www.annettebond.com/elevate

Get Your Tickets Today & Receive Early Bird Pricing / Register NOW!

Annette Bond, works with accomplished, professional women to Elevate their Image.

She inspires women to elevate and express the best of who they are Now, so they can go out into the world with greater confidence and ease.

Annette is a Certified Personal Image Consultant AICI CIC, Corporate Image Certified, More Alive With Color™ Certified, and Fashion Feng Shui Facilitator (one of 30 women in the US)

I knew something wasn't quite right. I needed a professional opinion. 

She looked over my handout, called me and said, "some of it is good but much of this doesn't sound like you". You would never speak to me about my style like that. 

My heart sunk, I knew it was true. I was trying to please the event organizer and wasn't being 100% authentic to who Annette Bond was. 

Debby told me to "stand confident" in my content. 

Because when I do, I will speak from my heart about what I believe and teach.

What I love about Debby, is she knows me. She wants me to reveal the Annette Bond definitive writing & speaking Style. 

Debby also shared, that while the event organizer was well-intended with her guidelines and suggestions, I needed to discern if what she suggested was elevating or diminishing my style of speaking. 

What I realized, Debby was coaching me on what I literally share with my clients. I thought dahhhh. 

We can get consumed of what others think of us that we lose sight of who we really are. 

So the moral of the story is...you need to listen to yourself. Know your strengths and stand confidently and strong in who you are. Trust yourself.

Feeling that sense of comfort that you are in your element speaks volumes.

You can only then "Reveal Your Radiance" for others to see the beauty of who you really are.

As I tell my clients, I want you to feel sooo confident in your outfit that you forget about what you're wearing so you can go out and do what you do best. 

I'm your Debby when it comes to personal style.

We all need those special people around us that make us better.

When you get dressed in the morning is your mind going toward black pants, black skirt, black jacket, black shirt? It goes with everything right?

Did you know that relying on neutrals to be the foundation of your wardrobe is a good thing? But there are other options. Such as adding navy, taupe, light gray, charcoal gray, camel, khaki, brown, and burgundy to name a few. 

One of my favorite neutrals this season is navy. 

• What I like about navy is it is a nice alternative to black.

• It is a softer version of black.

• It goes with ALL the same colors that black coordinates with.

A Polished Jacket in Navy

TIP!  Navy blazer's are seasonless and always make you feel put together, even when you're wearing something simple.

TIP! Make sure the cut and style of the jacket are congruent with your body type.

Dark Wash Jeans in Navy

These could be black or navy. Everyone needs that one pair of jeans that makes them feel amazing. 

TIP! The darker the wash the more polished your jeans will look. 

I love the NYDJ - they help with concealing the tummy area while allowing you to move freely with the added lycra.

Going More Casual...A Navy Espadrille

TIP! Espadrilles are great option for dressing up a pair of jeans or shorts and dressing down a summer skirt or dress. 

TIP! Add them to your bright colors as your New Navy neutral. 

I find that changing ONE element in your wardrobe each season can provide the inspired refresh that you've been looking for.