So what’s the deal with capris? Are you really afraid of wearing one?

From what I’ve noticed, capris tend to make one look shorter, which is why the not-so-tall ladies avoid it at all costs. But there are effective ways of dressing up in capris without looking short and totally rocking the style!

First, make sure the bottom of your capris is narrow. Think skinny! The tapered look can make your legs look complete, instead of “cut-off”.

Next, avoid embellishments of all sorts! If you focus on any type of decorative detail on your capris, the onlooker’s eyes will be on that, making you look extra short than usual. So create a focal point above your waist so that you don’t look like you’re walking on your knees. Maybe a nice embellished top highlighting your shoulders, etc.

Another way to rock capris is by wearing a color closer to your skin tone. Less the contrast, better are your options to avoid looking short and frumpy.

And finally, choose the right shoes. Light colored shoes in nude, beige, brown, etc. (closer to the wearer’s skin tone) can always make you look taller, though keep in mind that there should be at least a half-inch heel in your shoes to have the desired effect.

After all said and done, it is a fact that people with long legs will wear capris much better than others. But if you fear you look shorter than usual in capris, try my tips above to look taller with capris and rock the style.

I’ll wrap up with a “capris for your workplace” tip – wear mild-colored capris with a contrasting top in bright hues. This contrast will keep the focus above your waist and make you look as tall as you really are. Combine this with a pair of closed-toed shoes in a color matching your capris, and you’re ready to rock your workplace!

For more tips on dressing casually and/or for your workplace, contact me right now. Visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com

Being an Image Consultant, I get to meet scores of people every day for work or through my work. Amazing personalities from whom I learn invaluable lessons of life.

One such powerful personality is Santhosh Babu, whom I met today through my work with NGO Khushii. An articulate speaker, he talked about leadership qualities in organizations. Read more to find out what leadership is all about.

Santhosh Babu is an Organization Leadership Development Consultant and has been a Keynote Speaker for large number of conferences. He focuses on Transformations related projects, Leadership development and CEO coaching. And he has this unique way of looking at organizations as ecological systems.

He spoke to us about Leadership Qualities. According to him, there are 3 qualities universal in all leaders:

Sense of Self-Awareness

Do you know why you do what you do? A leader does. A leader is someone who understands why she is following a certain direction in her life, and how she should progress on it, and definitely not get swayed by life.

Ability to Create Other Leaders

Everyone is scared of change management. It’s that era of your professional life where you grieve over the one who’s left the organization and scared silly over who’s taking over and how she’s going to deal with you going forward.

A good leader has the ability to create other leaders, most preferably mentoring a successor in the same organization. Through her interpersonal skills and leadership qualities, she is able to determine who can be a leader tomorrow, and how to use that future leader for the betterment of the organization.

Add Value and Growth to the Organization They Serve

Good leaders add value to the organization they serve through the skills and talents they have. They have wonderful people skills due to which they maintain a great professional image, and can direct others to grow the organization.

A great example encompassing these 3 leadership qualities is Infosys. It was started by a great leader, Mr. N. R. Narayana Murthy. Mr. Nandan Nilekani, one of the world’s most respected business leaders, took over from Murthy in 2002. And currently, Mr.S. Gopalakrishnan is the Co-Chairman of Infosys, who is recognized as a global business and technology thought leader, and recipient of the Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian honor.

Leaders are MADE – we are all aware of that. So do you have what it takes to be a leader? I certainly hope so. Drop me a line on how you can become a leader too. Visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com

Well, I was a staunch supporter until a few months ago when a good friend of mine insisted I stop using any face-wash completely. Feeling adventurous at that time, I took up the challenge and so far, I must say I love NOT using any face-wash. I use a cleansing milk instead.

Some of the changes I’ve noticed using a cleansing milk, instead of a face-wash are:

Skin Feels More Supple

Over the years I have used all kinds of face-wash. Budget ones. Really expensive ones. Since it’s unfair to make a comparison of these products at this time, all I can say is using a face-wash always left my skin a little bit taut. Right after each wash, I would make a beeline for the toner to feel “normal” again.

Comparatively, when I started using the cleansing milk, I was pleasantly surprised to find my skin feeling more supple. No dryness. No tautness. Just supple skin. Of course I use a toner right after, but at least I don’t have to rush for it.

Skin Looks Brighter

Maybe it was the dryness associated with using a face wash, or maybe the products I earlier used were just not good enough. But the cleansing milk I’m using right now is certainly making my skin look brighter.

In fact, I did proper research on this actually. I was using a cream-based face wash, which made my skin go dark due to dehydration issues. One day my skin therapist recommended a foam-based face wash to control my pigmentation. I did see results. And now that I am using a cleansing milk, I can definitely see the progress.

So my recommendation for face wash vs cleansing milk is definitely cleansing milk. It’s not too harsh to dry out your skin, and definitely will make your skin more supple and more brighter than before.

Contact me now to understand how you can take better care of your skin. Visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com to learn how image consulting can help you look fabulous, boost your confidence, and become more successful in life.

Yes, there are now officially 12 color seasons.

Whew!

If you are an avid follower of Color Analysis, or you practice it yourself, then you would understand how some people tend to belong to more than one color season in the 4-color-season system. So to avoid those doubts altogether, there’s now the 12-color-season system.

So what exactly is the 12-color-season system?

Well, it takes into account that a person may have color characteristics from more than one single season. The trick is to find the dominant color season and then assign the secondary color season, so that the client has more options at hand.

Basically, if you are a Deep Winter with slight characteristics like a warm skin tone, you can consider Deep Autumn as a secondary color season. The same goes for Light Spring and Light Summer.

Now that you’re well confused with this explanation, let me say this to make you feel better – the 12-color-season system is not about the combination of your natural coloring, it’s about your dominant characteristic.

What I’m saying is, in a typical color consultation nowadays, we start with a warm-cool color system that is based on the combination of your natural colorings – your skin tone, eye color and hair color. Then we move on to the 4-color system – Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer. And finally to the 12-color system.

Take this example – if you are “cool” because of your ashy blonde hair color, but actually have a “warm” characteristic like golden brown eyes, then your dominant season is a Neutral/Soft season, which ultimately gives you the luxury of enjoying the color palettes from both Soft Autumn AND Soft Summer.

So what do you gain from the 12-color-season system?

The 12-color system exposes the frauds in the Color Analysis industry. It takes years of experience and knowledge to analyze and confirm the dominant and secondary color seasons as per the 12-color system. So if you’re undergoing color consultation with a seasoned Color Consultant, you’re good to go. If your color consultant is reluctant to follow the 12-color system, then RUN!

Contact me now to understand which color season you belong to, and dress to the best of these colors. Visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com to learn how image consulting can help you look fabulous, boost your confidence, and become more successful in life.

Here are a few reasons why networking is important:

For Your Personal Life

Your kid needs to get into a decent school. You need a good referral for an appointment with a renowned doctor. And the list can go on.

Networking is collecting friends who can help you in your time of need. So don’t hold back. Always manage to know someone new regularly. You never know who might be able to help you in which way.

For Your Career

This is easy. Of course you need people to refer you to good job postings, recommend you for high-paying jobs, increase your credibility and so on.

When you meet someone new, always try to get their business card because it’s not about who knows you, it’s always about whom you know.

For Your Work

Your work is different from your career, unless of course you are self-employed. If you don’t own your own business, networking with the right people can mean switching to better jobs, scouting for good business relationships to promote your work and so on.

I believe I’ve covered most of the reasons why networking should be an important aspect of your life. I would love to hear about your point of view, so drop me a line right here and I’ll publish what you have to say too.

Feel free to visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com for your image consulting needs.

Here are my tips on how to fulfill your new year’s resolutions:

Create Your Support Group

Your support group can be someone from your family or your friends. Choose wisely because when you become slack off, that person will be able to put you back on the right track.

Make A Plan

Yeah, you didn’t think planning is such an integral part of achieving your new year’s resolutions, did you? Actually, you can use my tips to achieve anything you want. So plan wisely. What do you want to do? Which are the steps needed to achieve your intentions? And such are the questions you need to answer and plan accordingly.

Design Milestones

Creating a plan is not enough. You have to set milestones too. But you have to choose your milestones realistically. A milestone is not the entire resolution.

For instance, if you’re trying to learn playing the guitar, then a milestone can be signing up for guitar classes.

Reward Yourself

You have to reward yourself every time you achieve any milestone in your plan. This will motivate you to move along on your own, without the extra push from your support group.

For instance, once you’ve signed up for the guitar classes, maybe you can reward yourself by buying tracks you want to learn yourself. It’ll help you learn what you want to learn, plus you’ll have good music to enjoy for yourself.

So, how about it? Do you think you can make it this time? I’ll be following these exact same tips to fulfill my new year resolution – spend more quality time with my family and friends. Whatever your resolutions are, follow my tips for extra support.

Good luck, and have a great year ahead!

Feel free to visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com for your image consulting needs. Drop me a line some time right here.

Some of the most common resolutions are:

Lose weight

Learn something new

Quality time with family and friends

and last but not the least..

Quit smoking/drinking (or both)

So what’s yours for 2012?

I definitely want to start with spending more quality time with family and friends, because in the past year, I’ve realized, has been a blur. I want to live every moment of my life and the best way to do that is spend it with my family and friends. So I’m up for that.

If you’re thinking of pledging for losing weight or getting more fit, then I strongly suggest designating a buddy for this. From my own personal experience and of those around me, I strongly believe a weight loss plan, or get-fit plan can only work when you have a buddy to push you along the plan. What do you think?

Many people like to pledge for learning something new like photography, adrenaline sports, swimming, playing the piano, and what not! Whichever skill you want to learn, try to stick to the plan. If your “something new” skill is not related to your work or family, it’s sometimes difficult to dedicate the time this skill might need from you. So pick wisely and stick to the plan.

And finally, if you are quitting smoking, or drinking, or preferably both, just accept that it’s going to be long and bumpy ride. You need a buddy. Family and friends can be a strong support in times of need when you’re about to have a relapse, so be sure to announce your intentions and ask them for support. You will need it.

Good luck with your new year resolutions!! And feel free to visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com for your image consulting needs. Drop me a line some time right here.

You don’t need to be a handwriting expert to understand someone’s personality through their handwriting. Of course, what you discover might not be as accurate or complete as that of an expert’s. But who cares?! As long as you are out to have some fun, let’s just keep the technicalities to the experts, and let’s just have some fun!

So, let’s get started.

Pick up the handwriting sample of someone close to you. A handwriting sample is something that consists of at least 6-7 sentences where most of the English alphabets have been used. I know it can be difficult to find a “good” sample but let’s just get started.

Look at the sample. Notice how big, small, medium sized, or crooked the words are. Now remember this – the larger the words look, the more talkative or open the person will be. On the other hand, the smaller the words look, the more closed or shy the person is.

Now think about the person whose handwriting you are looking at. Do you see any connection between the personality and the handwriting?

Next, look at which direction the letters slant in the handwriting. Do the letters slant towards the left or the right or maybe both? Letters that slant towards the left mean the person is unable to let go of the past. Slanting towards the right means the person is open to the future and future possibilities. Straight up letters indicate balanced individuals. And having a mix of slants means the person is fickle minded or indecisive.

Again, think about the person whose handwriting you are looking at. By now you must be seeing some connection between the personality and the handwriting, right?

Of course you have! This is fun, isn’t it?

Now you’ve got the proof that whatever you think about a person is technically correct as evidenced from their handwriting. For instance, if your partner is fighting the urges of commitment towards your relationship, you can show the evidence in the left, right and/or straight slants in your partner’s handwriting. What do you have to say about that!?!

Drop me a line. And don’t forget to visit the Anks Imagewebsite at http://www.anksimage.com for all your image consulting needs.

Color analysis is about finding the right colors to wear in your clothes, accessories and/or makeup that suit your natural colorings (hair, skin and eye colors) and make you look more fabulous. The right colors will make your skin look flawless, eyes brighter, hair shinier and teeth whiter.

Here are my 3 reasons why everyone needs color analysis at least once in their lifetime..

Color Analysis Is a Science

Science is all about observation and experimentation, right? Color analysis involves the same. As a color consultant, I have to observe the undertones and overtones in your skin color, hair color, and eye color, and then through a series of experiments determine which color season is suitable for you.

Hence, color analysis is not about intuition or guess work. It’s a science, which can help you correct your looks and show you how to take advantage of the right colors to the maximum potential.

Use the Facts, Not Intuition

Some people are already intuitive about which colors suit them, while some aren’t. But at least with color analysis, you can always get your look right and not fall prey to your own guesswork.

I mean, how many times have you seen Aishwarya Rai or Kim Kardashian show up in unappealing colors? Even though there’s no fault with their style, the colors completely undo their style quotient and these style icons end up with unpleasant comments.

Because It’s Fun

How many times have you thought about changing your look just for the heck of it? For most people, changing their looks is directly related to changing their hairstyle. Change your hairstyle and poof!.. You’ve got a new persona!

That is so NOT how it works.

Changing your look can be as subtle as wearing the right colors. Maybe you are a Clear Spring (like Heather Graham), but you have been wasting your looks by using colors from the Clear Winter (like Liv Tyler) palette.

Come over for a color consultation and we can have loads of fun experimenting with the 12 different color seasons, because changing your looks can simply mean using the right color season palette and collecting compliments all around.

Drop me a line. And don’t forget to visit the Anks Imagewebsite at http://www.anksimage.com.

Sales are everywhere, whether you are in India or outside. And to take full advantage of these awesome sales, try my simple tips and you’ll be able to wrestle some great bargains.

Remember, these are easy to follow tips, tried and tested by myself for my clients in our personal shopping experiences, so you got nothing to lose.

Scout First, Buy Later

Visit the stores which are offering sales – don’t buy right away. I know some things might not still be there when you get back to any previous stores, but it’s always a good trick to save yourself some money in a sale.

I know this might not be an ideal solution for most of you who are in a rush to finish their holiday shopping, don’t have any time anyways, or just don’t like shopping that much. But it’s helpful in saving more money, don’t you think?

Check The Size

This is a biggie!

Sometimes the holders might say “XS – Extra Small” but the cloth hanging on that holder might actually turn out to be a “L – Large”. You get the picture, right?

So check the size of the things you are keen to buy. Grab an armful of clothes in your size (or in the nearest sizes) and camp out at the trial room to make sure you get the right size.

Take A Non-Buying Companion

A Non-Buying companion is someone who will look out for you, instead of looking for stuff for himself/herself. This way you get 2 people working for you – yourself and your friend.

You can cover more ground and get more awesome bargains this way. Plus, your companion can also help you run back and forth from the trial room for size changes, etc. Trial rooms can really get crowded in sales.

So make sure your companions are not at all keen to buy for themselves and bear in mind to tell them all about what you want. A personal shopper really helps in such a scenario, while Moms are the next logical choice. But never take your partner, spouse, or boyfriend – they’ll just hurry you along and you won’t be able to enjoy a nice sale (words of wisdom from personal experience!)

Check The Price Tag

This is important. Sometimes “New Arrivals” and “Sale” sections mingle – maybe due to careless shoppers or staff – so always check the price tag before you go to the counter to check out.

And if you can’t find the price tag, or are uncertain what the price tag really means, just grab hold of the staff member nearby. I understand sometimes staff can get really snobby when it comes to helping people during sales, but you are the customer, so you have the right to ask for assistance.

Visit my website http://www.anksimage.com to understand how a Personal Shopper can help you shop right and save your precious time, money and effort. Drop your comments at our Contact Form.

You might procrastinate for many reasons. After working with people from different backgrounds, here are some common reasons why you might be procrastinating.

You Are Afraid of the Outcome

How about this – you are putting off getting on the weighing scale to check your weight because you are afraid you might not have lost the number of pounds you are hoping for, right?

That’s procrastination, alright!

There’s Always Something Better to Do Instead

You are not sitting at your desk filing the paper work you need to do because you would rather be outside working on your tasks, hands-on. That too is a classic example of procrastination.

You Can’t Help It

You are a lazy bum! Sorry, there’s no delicate way of putting this. You just can’t help yourself because you are not motivated enough. But think about this – no one else will do your job, live your life for you. You have to do it yourself.

So here are my tips to avoid procrastination:

Get Help

No, not the psychiatric type. I mean, get help from your loved one. Designate your spouse or partner or friend to get you moving, even if you’re the type of person who doesn’t like asking for help.

It’s for your own good, so get moving!

Make Lists

List your tasks in paper or on your computer and print it out. Stick it some place where you will regularly see it. Annoy yourself into completing these tasks.

Motivate Yourself

The only person in the world who knows what motivates you to get off that couch is YOU.

So plan your tasks according to your motivations. Schedule breaks, fun outings, family times, whatever comes to your mind to motivate yourself to complete a task and then reward yourself in your own way.

Do you have any suggestions? How do you break your procrastination era? Let me know and I’ll highlight them in my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/AnksImage.

Contact me right here.

Here’s something to read about. With the onset of the Winter season, I’m sure you’re bringing out your pairs of boots right up to the front of your closet. So have you thought about what each style of your boots tell others about you?

Read on to find out.

Knee High Boots

With knee-high boots, you’re showing the world how glam and sexy you are. No matter what the fabric or the height of your boots, your boots show your elegant and sophisticated side.

And knee-high boots are not only stylish but are also active in keeping your legs warm too. No matter what heels you wear – starting from kitten to stilletos – your boots are an auto-boost for your style quotient.

Winter Boots

With winter boots (like those Ugg ones), you’re showing the world how adventurous and active you are. You have a zest for life. So come hail, rain, sleet, or ice, you’re always on the GO!

Usually winter boots have a sheepskin lining to keep your feet extra warm. So just incase you have soaked your boots in any way, remember to dry them out completely before tossing them back into your closet. This ensures more life for your incredible boots.

Ankle Boots

Ankle boots are quite a la mode. It means “in tune with time”. To you, fashion is not just a trend, it’s an art. And with ankle boots, you’re showing the world how smart and trendy you are.

A word of caution – ankle boots tend to make calves look thicker, so be careful. Find the right pair and rock your style.

Cowboy Boots

This is an American classic, a timeless beauty. Use it to dress up or down – adds a whole dimension to your wardrobe with it’s versatility.

Whether it’s from Dior or just your neighborhood store, you can pair up your unique pair of cowboy boots with jeans, skirts, even dresses.

There are, of course, many other forms of boots we can discuss. But for today, I’m wrapping up right here.

Let me know what you think. And of course, don’t forget to visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com to learn more about how image consulting can help you.

Contact me right here.

Personal Shopper service at Anks Image is a custom service to help individuals shop better. Our personal shopper expert can help you understand your personal style, list out what to buy (what your wardrobe needs), shop at the right stores, and all in all, save you more money.

Why Choose Personal Shopper?

There can be many reasons you need to choose a personal shopping service:

(1) You are not sure what colors, shapes, sizes or styles suit your appearance AND your lifestyle.

(2) You don’t have time to spare for shopping.

(3) You are buying stuff for someone else.

(4) You simply need expert opinion.

What to Expect?

At Anks Image, our personal shopper will assist you in understand what kinds of clothes and accessories you need to project the kind of image you want. Plus special consideration is made on how your purchases can affect your lifestyle needs.

I mean, let’s say you are going for a strong glamorous image but you spend most of time on your feet, so obviously you can’t be wearing high heels all day long, right?

Just because you are on your feet for a majority of your day time does not mean you have to give up your glam image. No need to wear simply sandals, or worse, clogs! In such a scenario, you can easily retain your glam image by wearing kitten heels, which will be comfortable enough to keep you on your feet all day long, and yet pretty enough to uphold your glam image.

Our personal shoppers know where the best bargains are, which stores don’t hound their customers, and of course, what’s in stock currently to let you experience a swift, painless, and within-budget shopping adventure.

In short, our personal shopper saves you time, money and effort!

Contact me now to schedule your personal shopping experience. Visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com to learn how image consulting can help you look fabulous, boost your confidence, and become more successful in life.

Diwali (Deepavali) is the Festival of Lights in India. It’s the Indian Christmas for most people, wonderful time to spend quality time with friends and family, eat great food, light firecrackers and enjoy a good time.

So here are some of my tips to enjoy Diwali even more..

Protect Yourself

There’s going to be lot of pollution in the air – firecrackers, diyas, and of course the daily dose of pollution from the usual suspects. So protect your skin. Remember to wash your face before bedtime. And don’t forget your moisturizer.

If you’re pulling an all-nighter partying with your friends and family, do NOT forget to take off your makeup before bedtime.

And if you’re lighting up diyas and firecrackers, remember to wear fitting clothes, not those drapey ones which fly around too much and can possibly catch the flare from diyas, candles, and firecrackers, or even your own lighting tool.

Say NO to Plastic

Gifts are HUGE during Diwali. And if you’re gifting people, remember to gift healthy. Pick up dry fruits or fresh fruits as gift packs. And remember to tell your gift wrapping person to wrap stuff in paper products, not those plastic or plastic-like materials.

Drink Responsibly

Diwali is a time for parties and for some, it’s the perfect time to let loose and booze. But please don’t get carried away in the flow of celebrations!

Drink responsibly. Remember to drink a glass of water between every alcoholic beverage you consume. And NEVER drink on an empty stomach. There’s going to be lots of good food around you, so eat something, especially when you’re drinking.

Protect Nature

Avoid those loud firecrackers that add to noise, smoke and trash all around us. Spend time with your friends and family, and forget about scaring your neighbor’s dog.

And remember to keep a trash bin near the area where you’re planning to light up firecrackers, whether in your home or community place. Make sure all trash goes in these bins – the cleaner next day will definitely bless you for your consideration!

Have a safe Diwali! And may the new year bring in more prosperity for you.

For all post-Diwali inquiries on how to repair your skin, lose those extra pounds you’ve gained this Diwali season, or simply for a chat, contact me now and do visit the Anks Image website for all your Image Consulting needs.

At Anks Image, Fashion Style means advising you on the type clothes and accessories you should include in your outfit for different occasions. We don’t tell you what to buy, it’s mostly about how you can use your existing clothes, bags, shoes, jewelry, etc. the right way to project the image you want.

What to Expect

The first step in a Fashion Style consultation is discussing how you want to project yourself, how you see yourself, what you think are your strong and weak points, and so on. Next, we evaluate the differences between what you want and what actually is.

And based on these findings, we focus on your physical appearance, most importantly, what you wear.

The shape of your body and your face are important factors in deciding what types of clothes to wear, which accessories suit you, even the shape of your sunglasses! Once we are done with this analysis, we move to something more important – your attitude!

Attitude Matters

Your attitude matters a lot. If you’re not comfortable wearing certain types of clothes and/or accessories, you’ll never feel happy in whatever you wear. So we focus on choosing outfits in which you are comfortable and at ease.

And planning is not just us picking clothes and accessories for a single event. No, we teach you how to plan an outfit all by yourself, according to where you are going and whom you are meeting with.

And It’s Not Expensive!

Anks Image offers a personal styling session, fashion report, home visits, even personal grooming sessions within Fashion Style, and that too, in one low price! Come on, it’s not at all expensive when you are getting 2-3 services for the price of one, right?

So what are you waiting for? Fashion Style is the answer to all your wardrobe issues. Now you don’t have to rummage through your closet trying to figure out the perfect outfit for your office or a party. Remember, we plan your outfits PLUS teach you how to plan an outfit within 5 minutes. Neat, huh?

Contact me now to understand which clothes and accessories suit your body. Plus also learn how to plan an outfit in 5 minutes. Visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com to learn how image consulting can help you look fabulous, boost your confidence, and become more successful in life.

1. SMILE

Smile and the world will smile back at you. Or not. But the important thing is you did smile and that shows your good nature. So smile and let your smile attract some goodwill from the others.

2. Walk Right

Don’t rush. Don’t slow down. Walk with your head held high, back straight at a moderate pace. This posture is good for your body, plus you will automatically project a strong image with such a confident gait.

3. Brush Your Hair

You don’t have to hire a hair stylist, just a few strokes of your hair brush is fine. Your hair should not be frizzy. Use styling products if you have uncontrollable hair. Good tidy hair will give you a groomed look.

4. Wear Nice Clothes

By “nice”, I mean clothes that are not torn or need repairing of any kind. Wear well-fitted clothes – not too short, long, bulky or tight. Also, always mind where you are going and whom you are meeting with while planning your outfit.

5. Speak Clearly

Never mumble. Speak clearly, enunciating properly. When you speak, keep in mind to look directly at the other person(s) around you, who are listening to you. And keep a check that you are not flailing your arms or walking around aimlessly while speaking – that just makes you look agitated, nervous, or worse, aggressive.

6. Chew Your Food

This is especially important if you’ve been invited for a meal. Always chew your food properly. Don’t talk with your mouth full. And never stuff yourself when someone else is paying the bill. Nothing crushes your image like the image of a freeloader!

7. Don’t Get Drunk

Again, this is another important etiquette tip, especially when someone else is paying the bill. You lose control when drunk and worse, sometimes you can’t even remember what happened when you were drunk. So avoid this at all costs!

8. Control Your Temper

Similar to being drunk, you lose control when you lose your temper. You can’t control what you are doing or saying. And you tend to say hurtful, cruel things at the heat of the moment, which definitely will come back and haunt you forever.

There’s lots more to keep in mind, of course. But these 8 etiquette tips should be the minimum you should try to keep up a good image.

Contact me now to understand how to improve your image for more success. Visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com to learn how image consulting can help you look fabulous, boost your confidence, and become more successful in life.

Happened to you yet?

Take a few moments to read this post and protect your image online, even if you use Facebook to stalk your exes!

Let’s start with your Account Settings in Facebook..

Go to the drop down menu at the top right corner in your Facebook profile – you’ll see “Account Settings” tab. Click on it.

“General” is the first tab you see. Check the settings in this tab. And don’t forget to check out your “Linked Accounts”. Remember, these accounts linked to your Facebook account can not only retrieve your personal information, but these can also post status updates on your behalf. So beware!

Next is “Security”.

Turn ON “Secure Browsing”. This helps protect your information, especially if you’re using a public computer, or a public network.

Take a look at the “Recognized Devices”. And definitely turn ON the “Email Notifications” to get notified if someone else is accessing your account.

“Notifications” and “Apps” are easy to handle. These simply show your activity on Facebook. But don’t forget to enable email notifications.

And now, most importantly, click on the “Facebook Ads” tab and edit the settings for Third-Party Ads and Social Ads. In my experience, it’s always better to choose the “No one” option in both these settings.

Now, let’s move onto the Privacy Settings in Facebook.

Choose your default privacy setting – Public (everyone can see what you’re doing), Friends (only your friends can see your activity) and Custom (you control access completely).

Make sure you click on all the privacy settings and choose the setting of your choice.

Facebook does NOT use your private information without your approval. You have ultimate control – simply use the Account and Privacy settings to control everything there is on Facebook about yourself and protect your image online. You never know who’s looking you up on Facebook!

Contact me now to understand how to improve your image. Visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com to learn how image consulting can help you look fabulous, boost your confidence, and become more successful in life.

Traditionally speaking, Color Analysis is the process of determining the right colors to use in your clothes and accessories to look fabulous in any outfit you plan.

However, I strongly believe colors can tell a lot about your personality, rather than just make you look great in whatever you wear.

The colors you love wearing actually tells me what kind of a person you are, how you think, and most importantly, how you can use the colors of your choice to improve your current personal image (only if you are unsatisfied with it).

A lot of people I meet always tell me they dress according to their mood. I do too.. sometimes. But surprisingly, I have found most times the colors you choose when you’re in any mood tend to relate to the shades in your color season.

Color season, huh?

If you’re not familiar with color seasons yet, let me keep it simple for you – a particular color season contains the shades of colors you should include in your outfit (clothes and accessories). This is the result of a color analysis consultation.

On a basic level, there are 4 color seasons – Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. Just like the weather seasons!

Most colors from these color seasons actually correspond to the colors you see in the similarly named weather seasons. And that’s very helpful in remembering your shades, just in case you’ve forgotten your color palette somewhere else!

Anyways, Color Analysis at Anks Image is all about understanding your personality and lifestyle, analyzing your natural colors (skin, hair and eye), and recommending you colors to look AND feel great in whatever style you wear.

While I love conducting a session of Color Analysis directly face-to-face with someone, I do offer online sessions of Color Analysis for clients located outside India.

When you employ Color Analysis from Anks Image, you can expect a great conversation, exceptional advice on what to wear and what to avoid (something like a crash course on Fashion Style), and your personal color kit (PDF report) to use anytime you want.

So you basically receive a combined session of Color Analysis AND Fashion Style – all for the price of one! And one session usually lasts for up to 3-5 years, unless there have been drastic changes to your natural colors (skin, hair, eye), and/or your preferences for some XYZ reason.

Contact me now to understand which color season you belong to, and dress to the best of these colors. Visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com to learn how image consulting can help you look fabulous, boost your confidence, and become more successful in life.

Well, I beg to DIFFER!

I don’t think first impression is the last impression. In fact, I think impressions change, and most importantly, impressions can be changed. After all, isn’t that what image consulting is all about?

Image consulting solutions are meant to build or repair your impression to the world, your image to the world. You use these techniques and tactics to reveal an appealing image of yourself to others you come across in your life, so as to be appreciated by others and succeed in whatever you’re trying to accomplish with a good, positive image.

But why do you employ image consulting solutions in the first place?

You haven’t been born today – you already have an image and someone already has a first impression about you. Don’t you think so? And when you do employ image consulting solutions, you’re trying to change that particular impression, right? So there!

That’s why I strongly believe first impression is NOT the last impression. It might be difficult to change a person’s first impression, but it’s not impossible. One way or other, you can definitely change the first impression about yourself in the eyes of others with the help of image consulting solutions.

Just keep in mind, first impressions vary from person to person. Someone from your workplace might not think about you the same way as one of your school pals. While it can be difficult to change your pal’s impression about you, as compared to your colleague or client from your workplace, it’s definitely not impossible.

Your job is to understand how you want to be known, or perceived as, to people in different aspects of your life. If you feel certain people are assuming you in a different sense, or misunderstanding you completely, it’s time to talk to an Image Consultant, who can suggest you ways to correct this misconception.

Plus, working with an Image Consultant can also be rewarding in understanding your own abilities, discovering hidden talents and skills, and just chatting with a friend who will never judge you in any manner for who you are, what you do and what you have done in life.

Image consulting can be a liberating experience for most people. If you feel up for a chat, drop me a line and we both can figure out how image consulting can benefit you. Visit my website http://www.anksimage.com for more about image consulting solutions.

Here are 4 more ways to boost your confidence, or maybe fake it just a little bit to get you through different situations in your life.

Take Care Of Your Appearance

The way you dress makes or breaks your image at first glance. Some people can judge you simply by the way you dress, or even by the shoes you wear!

So to maintain your confidence, or fake your confidence, you can put a little bit more thought into the way you dress and present yourself in front of others. This is essential because by looking presentable, you appear more appealing to others, thus giving you a positive image, and that’s what builds your confidence all the way through.

Know What You Are Talking About

Ever notice how some people have something to say about everything under the sun, and sometimes even beyond? These are talkers. You don’t have to be one. But you do have to keep in mind that for a good positive image, you do have to make conversation with another human being.

I’m not saying talking will boost your confidence. But at least listening in to conversations, understanding what others are talking about (not gossiping, mind you!) and what’s basically happening in the world around you can put thoughts in your mind and the next time you have to have a conversation with someone, you will have something to talk about.

Hence, talking or just actively listening to the people around you can give you the confidence to know what you are talking about and improve your personal image.

Understand And Accept Your Abilities

So what if you are not SIZE ZERO? You don’t need to be Size Zero to have a positive image. Understand your abilities. Maybe you can talk well. Maybe you are really good at what you do. Or maybe you can make others around you feel very welcome and comfortable whenever they are around you.

You need to understand and ACCEPT who you are. And that will give you the confidence you need, only after your acceptance.

Find Out And Deal With Your Issue(s)

So you are a Size Zero, yet you don’t feel confidence enough? Then find out what’s stopping you from feeling confident. Is it the people around you? Is it something from work? What is it that’s troubling you?

Find out and DEAL with it. You can ask for advice among your friends and family. You can seek professional help from image consultants, even doctors. When you deal with your issues, and you know there is something being done about the issues you face, you will automatically gain the confidence you lack.

Contact me now for more ways to boost your confidence and live a more comfortable, fulfilling life. Visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com to learn how image consulting can help you look fabulous, boost your confidence, and become more successful in life.

According to Wikipedia, Business Communication is communication used to promote a product, service, or organization; relay information within the business; or deal with legal and similar issues.

At Anks Image, Business Communication is all about information within the business using the following modules:

Body Language

Body language is non-verbal communication your body sends out to people around you. Unless you sit behind a desk all day and have absolutely no contact with any other human being at all, you should seriously consider understanding how your body language is affecting your communication skills.

At Anks Image, I study your body language and suggest you ways to feel more confident, downplay any negative aspects of your body language, and so on, with simple and minor changes to your body postures.

Personal Impact

Your Personal Image is the key to how others relate to you. To be successful, you need a successful personal image.

And that’s what I do for you – I study your personal image – your personality, physical appearance, and behavior – to recommend certain changes in these areas for you to build or repair your personal image.

When you have an appealing image, people are more attracted to work with you, or at least listen to what you have to say.

Business Networking Skills

Business networking doesn’t necessarily mean you’re tired of your existing job and are looking to get a new job by networking with rival companies and clients at your workplace. It’s so much more than that!

Networking is obviously very useful in keeping track of your competition. It is also very useful in understanding the changing trends in your line of work. And of course, you can always get onto a more exciting job, if such an opportunity shows up.

I can show you the different forms of business networking – online and offline tools – and how you can use these tools to your benefit.

Soft Skills

I won’t get into the different aspects of soft skills training. All I can say is soft skills teaches you to communicate effectively. With such training, I can help you can get your message across to the other person(s) clearly, without raising any misunderstanding or confusion.

The above mentioned aspects are essential to succeed as a professional and/or an organization. And Anks Image makes sure you (and your employees) are trained to the best of your potential to achieve higher degrees of success.

Contact me now for more about business communications training, or soft skills training. Visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com to learn how image consulting can help you become more successful in life.

Reference: Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_communication

Now this post, I’m talking about the other forms of styles available for the Indian Woman. Let’s start with Salwar suits and then move onto Western Wear.

I’m not going to talk about the different salwar suits available in the world. I can’t possibly talk about that. But here are my tips on how to wear a killer look with salwar suits:

1. Find out the length of the kurta you should be wearing according to the shape of your body. A good image consultant can give that bit of information to you based on vertical body shape analysis

2. If you’re bottom heavy, opt for narrow salwars like churidars, slim patialas, etc. If not, sky’s the limit. Go crazy with the different options available in the market.

3. Choose the right colors to wear. With salwar suits you have the option of choosing a monochromatic or contrast image. For monochromatic look, wear the same color in your kurta and salwar, maybe with a slight variation in the shade of the color. For a contrast look, experiment with the colors in your color season for a bold look.

4. No matter what size you are, avoid large prints, polka dots, or any of those weird shapes or designs. The more simple the design is, the more you’ll shine in your overall look.

5. Choose the right kind of fabric of your salwar kameez. If you’re heavy, choose light ones, if not, go for any fabric you like.

Now, moving on to western wear, let’s just keep it simple – whatever outfit you choose, highlight only ONE AREA of your body.

For example, if you want to flaunt your fab shoulders, wear a off-shoulder or one-shoulder tube top. But DO NOT kill your look by pairing your top with skinny jeans, or full skirt. Instead, wear simple flared pants/jeans to balance your look.

You are free to accessorize of course, but keep in mind that your aim is to highlight your fab shoulders, and nothing else. So don’t bother with a eye-catching bag, which may take the focus away from your killer shoulders.

There are many other ways to flaunt off your strong points, no matter what size you are.

Contact me now to understand how you can dress better, according to your body shape and look fabulous. Visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com to learn how image consulting can help you look fabulous, boost your confidence, and become more successful in life.

So today’s post is all about the incredible Indian wear called the SAREE.

Let’s start with the art of saree wearing:

1. Hold inner end of the saree with your left hand.

2. Making sure the saree is at floor level, tuck the top border of inner end into the petticoat.

3. Pass the saree around to the front, maintaining the same height.

4. Keep the top edge level, tuck in a little to keep the saree firm.

5. Start folding the pleats from the right, while holding the edge of the fabric.

6. Hold the pleats together and adjust the height so that the bottom edge is at the floor level.

7. Tuck in the pleats into the petticoat – the pleats should fall straight.

8. Bring around the saree.

9. Hold it in your right hand, and pass on to your left while arranging the border evenly.

10. Drape on your left shoulder allowing the end-piece to fall casually.

So now we know how to wear a saree.

Here are some of my tips to keep in mind when you’ve decided to wear a saree:

1. Wear light fabrics like Georgette, Chiffon or Chignon, if you’re a heavy person. If not, you can wear heavy (Organza, Cotton, Tissue and Tussar) as well as light fabrics.

2. If you’re short or top heavy, wear sarees (saris) with small or no borders. Big bordered sarees will make you look even shorter, or busty.

3. If you’re dark skinned, opt for colors like maroon, green, dark pink etc. If you’re unsure about the colors, come in for a color analysis.

4. Pay attention to your blouse. If your saree is already striking (has good designs), you should wear a simple blouse. And vice versa, if your blouse is stylish (low back, embroidery work, etc.) you should wear a simple saree to complement each other.

5. Also pay attention to your hairdo and footwear. Same concept as with the blouse. If your clothes are fashionable, go for a simple hairdo and footwear, else vice versa.

And don’t forget to pay attention to your comfort level. Whatever you have chosen to wear, do you think you can wear them comfortably for hours? Think about it.

Contact me now to understand how you can dress better, according to your body shape and look fabulous. Visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com to learn how image consulting can help you look fabulous, boost your confidence, and become more successful in life.

So here goes:

1. Tuck in your top or shirt into your bottoms, especially if you have a big belly.

2. Wear tops or shirts with horizontal strips, or better – huge prints (think Hawaiin shirts!)

3. Always opt to wear tops or bottoms 2 sizes bigger, or 1 size smaller.

4. Never wear fitting undergarments.

5. Tight t-shirts can really rock your look, so go for it, no matter what size you’re in!

6. Make sure the waist band of your pants are right below your tummy, so that your tummy bulges out after a certain time.

7. If you have an unusually big belly, wear high waisted pants to highlight your trouble area.

8. Wear heavy fabrics like corduroy, suede, etc. Never opt for light fabrics like cotton, lycra, etc.

9. Top-heavy women should definitely try clingy fabrics on top, maybe frills in the neckline or shoulders of blouses.

10. Never use flared pants to balance your look. Instead, wear a flared petticoat to look huge in a saree.

11. Try huge hoop earrings, especially if you have a round face.

12. Wear skinny jeans with short tops to highlight your back.

13. Top-heavy men can also wear skinny jeans to highlight their thin legs.

14. Bottom-heavy women should try huge Patiala salwars – the more wider, the better!

15. You already bother with weather seasons, so why the heck bother with color seasons! Just go with the flow. Wear different colors – the more multi-colored you are, the more fabulous you’ll look!!

16. If you’re of average height or feel you’re not tall enough, wear sarees with huge borders to look even shorter.

17. Make sure you have a big hairdo, like the bouffant, or something like that, especially if you’re heavy.

18. Never wear shapers to smooth out the contours of your body.

19. Wear sequins or shiny fabrics to highlight your voluptuous curves.

20. To look great, stay away from dark colors like navy, black, brown, etc, especially if you’re heavy.

Just in case you might NOT have noticed, all the tips above are things YOU SHOULD NOT DO while planning an outfit for yourself. These are huge mistakes. To look great, do the opposite of what has been mentioned above.

Contact me now to understand how you can dress better, according to your body shape and look fabulous. Visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com to learn how image consulting can help you look fabulous, boost your confidence, and become more successful in life.

Sounds intimidating, doesn’t it? I never knew it until last week when another stylist told me about it. I found it really amazing! But when I thought about it more, I realized styling for men can be just as complicated as styling for women.

So here are my tips on style for men that can be incorporated in every day wear without thinking which number of collar you should be wearing on a particular day!

If You Have A FLAT BUTT

Best way to dress yourself for formal or informal occasion is by choosing pants with waistband around your belly button and high inseam.

In case you don’t want to highlight your backside at all, then wear straight legged pants (or jeans) to keep the focus away from the backside.

If You Have A BIG BUTT

Avoid pants with high waistband. These will simply highlight your backside. Instead, wear flat pants (without pleats) or relaxed-fit pants (jeans).

Also, you can suit up in a nice jacket that barely goes to your hip line, thus pushing the focus away from your backside.

If You Have A BIG BELLY

First things first – you have to wear the right colors to camouflage your belly. Plain shirts in solid colors can do wonders for your physique.

Also, try to avoid anything with stripes. I know it’s always easy to say try vertical striped shirts or t-shirts, but in all my years as a stylist, I’ve hardly ever come across a good vertical striped top for men or women. So just avoid stripes, to keep it simple.

If You Have A BALANCED BODY

Yes, sometimes people are fortunate enough to possess a healthy body frame without any (or maybe minor) problem areas. In such cases, I suggest you figure out what your best feature is.

Men usually look great when they’re flaunting off their big muscles. So if you think you have the right muscles to show up, by all means, go ahead and flaunt off with good muscle t-shirts.

Since you already have a balanced body, try to make the best of your appearance with a good pair of shoes and a nice smile.

Contact me now to understand how you can dress better, according to your body shape and look fabulous. Visit my website at http://www.anksimage.com to learn how image consulting can help you look fabulous, boost your confidence, and become more successful in life.