What Skills Do You Need to Be an Image Consultant?
Image consulting is an umbrella term that includes a variety of fascinating topics. If you want to have a successful image career it’s well worth your while to learn all aspects of the profession. There are various levels of training and as you advance you will be able to expand your reach, work with both individuals and organizations and command higher fees to be an image consultant. Fortunately, the skills can be added and built upon over time. Many consultants for example add coaching to their services as they grow and develop. Many others coming from the corporate world can bring all their experience, skills, and talents into their image company.
Foundation Level topics are on all aspects of appearance for men and women, including the fundamental technical aspects of color, style and body analysis. Consultants also need to know the details of accessories, wardrobe organization, menswear and if needed, shopping services. Some add makeup and skincare to their portfolios. If you are new to the entrepreneurial world, you will also need the skills and knowledge to manage and market your company, package your services, add products when appropriate and learn how to expand to the next level.
A more advanced level will be on seminar and workshop creation and design. Organizations of all types seek the help of image consultants for their employees. For example, colleges, schools, and universities need help training their final year students in basic business image, etiquette, and workplace protocols. Students about to graduate need help with interview dressing and communication skills. Popular with corporations are topics we can provide such as Presentation Skills, Dining and Tech Etiquette, along with Grooming and Levels of Dress. Women in transition request help to prepare for the next level in their lives such as a new image, and young girls love modeling skills, makeup, and dress sense. There is no end to the people who see a need to hire us.
The top level is Personal Branding and Executive Presence. Both of these topics draw from the other two levels. An experienced image consultant can help you design a personal brand, even if you consider it a daunting task yourself.
In addition, Personal Branding analyzes the power of having a singular distinction, or what makes you different. Consultants help their clients on appearance, verbal and nonverbal communication skills to craft and clarify the brand messages they want to project. Image consultants are not therapists or psychologists, but they are trained to see clients for the authentic people they are and who they aspire to be. They help people reach their goals and become the best version of themselves.
The elegance that an image consultant has to offer is also crucial. Elegance is defined as polish and refinement, grace, and excellence, rarely qualities that most people associate themselves with. Yet, with the help of an image consultant, elegance can become second nature! It’s all part of getting people to step outside preconceived notions of themselves and create a new future.
Helping Clients Save Time and Money
To many people, the process of purchasing clothing and coordinating the right pieces can be very time-consuming. Yet, when they do shop, it doesn’t always yield the best results. Judging from the tags hanging on clothes years later, the amount of money and time that clients are wasting on clothing in unflattering colors and styles is staggering.
With the help of an image consultation, this is money and time that can be reinvested in other aspects of the client’s personal brand. If they are no longer squandering vast amounts of money on items that are not right for them or not being worn, the reinvestment power increases dramatically.
The same goes for time. Time is a less tangible resource and when this type of resource is drained, the client is often stressed and unproductive. It is not until they have the ability to redirect this time more effectively that they are able to see the benefits. With more time to spare a client can devote a little time and money on grooming-related services such as skincare, makeup and an updated hairstyle which can make a big difference to her image. That’s one of the many assets of working with a specialized consultant.
When clients know their color palette, their style stories and their body type, shopping becomes a joy. Clients can save time and money, shop wisely and avoid those mistakes! An image consultant can shop for a client in about two to three hours for a new wardrobe or grouping of clothes for the season.
Helping Male Clients
Image consultants are not a one size fits all proposition. Experienced image consultants tend to hone in on one particular area of specialization and they have mastered their corner of the universe. The male market is full of potential. Men don’t always consider themselves in need of an image consultant but are always a delight to work with. Their primary aim in hiring us is to know the relevance of the information in their lives. They want to know the purpose and the messages projected of wearing the most flattering colors and styles. How can that help them professionally or socially, they want to know. Men typically go to one menswear store or boutique to buy clothes, but as independent operators, image consultants can take advantage of the best buys everywhere, rather than be tied to one department store.
Clothing and body language project loud and clear messages in a matter of seconds. This is an important distinction for men to be aware of. For example, men tend to hang onto their clothes longer than women and there could be an image risk right there. In the business world, a dated appearance can indicate dated ideas. On the other hand, an attention to detail in personal appearance often gives the impression that the person is detail-oriented in other areas.
Appearance and nonverbal messages speak louder than words so something as simple as indistinct diction and bad posture, sloppy grooming and poor fit can cause a man to lose credibility. An image consultant can coach her client in all these aspects to transform the image from top to toe.
Contact London Image Institute
Do you want to learn more about becoming an image consultant? You can learn everything you need to know about being an image consultant through London Image Institute. Contact London Image Institute today to learn more about beginning your training as an image consultant.
London Image Institute is one of the oldest and most respected image consulting training companies worldwide. We specialize not only in the Foundation modules, but also in Advanced training modules, equally relevant for a professional image consulting business and to be able to work with individuals and all types of groups. These are Professional Etiquette, Business Practices, Body Language, Presentation, Communication and Personal Branding.