As a woman I have often felt that society has put women into a generality that all women love to shop and have a natural fashion sense.

Agree or disagree?

From my experience, many women only shop because they “have to” not because it is enjoyable.

It can sometimes feel hard and stressful according to clients who I work with.

Well, I did some of my own digging to see where this paradigm began, and this is what I found according to Psychology Today.

According to the socio-biologists, women are linked to shopping in the same way that men are linked to sports. Often women's behavior is explained by something like the "shopping gene": men are the "hunters" (conquering stuff) and women are the "gatherers" (finding stuff).

Interestingly, it began historically, as an offshoot of advertising and commercialism, as a way to encourage women to feel in charge—deceptively inviting them to make choices and decisions of their own.

What if I told you that adopting a personal style was reflective of the real you?

Not what someone else told you to be.

What if I gave you permission to be try new styles that intrigued you?

Garments that made you feel joyful.

Like my client Mary, who wants to experiment with yellow.

Pieces that make you feel beautiful. Maybe a feminine color, like blush pink.  

An accessory that yells, BOLD.

Why not?

It all begins in the investigative process of discovering who are you?

What are your likes and dislikes?

What is your current lifestyle and what kind of pieces can you add that support your way of life?

This is how I work differently.  

We begin with the Power of You.

You are a woman in charge.

And you get to make choices that bring out the best of you and allow you to step into your excellence.

As a personal image consultant who empowers women to get dressed with ease and show up confidently, one thing I know for sure….

Many women question if they have a personal style, and are not sure where to begin.

Join me where we will be talking more about this at my upcoming Style Strategy and Confidence Masterclass on Thursday, June 24th @ 1pm PST.

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

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

You may think of the word strategy as business related or the serious stuff in life.

We’re talking style, right? Yes.

For some, you identify with the word strategic, that’s how you operate best, and others may think it feels so masculine to combine it with personal style.

You may feel style is presumed to be fun, fashionable and personal, certainly not strategic.

Have you ever had an experience that you couldn't stop looking at the presenters clothing and wondering, "what were they thinking”?

I believe most businesswomen have a closet full of clothes they never wear because they don’t have a style strategy.   

A strategy is your approach.

If you want a wardrobe that is aligned with your personal brand, you need to be strategic.

If you want to get noticed in 7 seconds or less as a powerful woman, you need to be strategic.  

If you want others to listen to you as a thought leader, you need to be strategic.

Agreed, choosing clothes for the next level version of YOU can be....

·        overwhelming

·        lots of second guessing

·        wasted mental energy

Is it time to ‘try on’ and create your personal Style Strategy?

Are you ready to take this to a deeper level and truly understand what it looks like to have a Style Strategy?

You are invited to the upcoming Style Strategy and Confidence Masterclass on Wednesday, May 26th @ 1pm PST

Sign up: https://www.annettebond.com/masterclass

A brand photo shoot’s sole purpose isn’t to just capture beautiful photos, there is strategy behind the visuals. And Yes, we want you to ultimately have beautiful photos.

A brave new look.

A brand photo shoot is to help your business STAND OUT and thrive in your niche, further developing your brand presence and communicating a story.

We want to make sure your clothing choices are complimenting your brand and telling the story you are intending – creating brand harmony with you as a business woman.

7 Questions to consider when choosing your clothing pieces:

1.       Branding colors – what are the 2-4 colors you want to emphasize?

2.       What are 2-3 words you want others to feel about you when they see your pictures?

3.       Do you feel ultra-confident in your clothing choices? Did you know that fitted clothing always looks better on camera vs. a non-fitted look?

4.       How many wardrobe changes will you have?

5.       Do you need to purchase new pieces? With virtual shopping, making sure they arrive in plenty of time to review.

6.       Accessories – think about your favorite pieces and how they show up on camera.

7.       Shoes – will they be seen?

Your photoshoot needs to be on purpose. It is your brand. It is representative of you; it is your business card and how others perceive you.

You want to make sure your photoshoot pictures are capturing you at your BEST all while telling your story.

Step into your Excellence. Confidence. Self-worth. Reveal Your Radiance.

If you want helpful fashion advice to feel more beautiful, more confident and 100% aligned with your personal brand, have a conversation with a professional stylist.

Thank you to my client Theresa Callahan, Executive Coach at Managing for Performance and Founder of Retreat to Tuscany for allowing me to be part of her branding photoshoot team. (these pictures are my snapshots, can’t wait to see the finished product from Pinto Portrait in Issaquah, Washington.

Brand photoshoot with Image Consultant Annette Bond

Love to meet you and share more on the subject of personal branding.

You are invited to join me at my upcoming Style Strategy and Confidence Masterclass, Wednesday, May 26th @ 1pm PST.

https://www.annettebond.com/masterclass

With Your Definitive Style in Mind,

Annette