Tattoos – antagonistic, creative or self-expression?

Whatever your opinion of them, tattoos are everywhere.

The history of tattoos is not overly clear, however they’ve been found on corpses dating back thousands of years and all over the world.  One of the oldest dates from the Bronze Age and the tattoos were thought to have been used  for therapeutic reasons – possibly to relieve the effects of arthritis.

Gang Membership



Circus 'Freak' Show Act

Traditional Maori Tattoo

Tattoos are clearly forms of communication, expressing something about you and your beliefs.  Early forms of branding were to identify cattle ownership; the Nazis used letters, numbers and symbols to identify prisoners in the 2^nd World War; Tribal tattoos are used to express rank and title, pagan worship, spiritual powers; Sailors typically used tattoos to show where they’d travelled; Circus tattoos manifested as freak shows;  In prison they were an expression of identity; The ultimate display of commitment to gang membership.

 

 

 

Which leads us to their arrival in modern day, celebrity culture - a once individual expression to set you apart from the crowd has now become mainstream – a competition to have the most unique, outrageous, unusual or personal.  From David Beckham to Cheryl Cole, Angelina Jolie to Harry Styles, many a beautiful body has been permanently altered and I question what psychological motives may be hiding their need to adorn their bodies.

 

 

 

More positive uses can bring psychological benefits because we respond to the images we see in the mirror.  Some people are finding permanent and semi-permanent make-up after illness, e.g. tattooing areola following breast cancer surgery, to be transformative. 

Aside from the cosmetic medical uses, tattoos can be polarising.  Love them or hate them, they evoke an emotional response which is why we categorise them as an ‘antagonistic form of dress’.  If you want to elicit the best response from someone, minimise the visuals you send out which may trigger a negative response and increase those which will cause people to warm to you. 

The purpose of Colour and Style and Personal Branding is for people to notice you, the person.  Anything you wear should serve the purpose of pushing you forward so you are ‘seen’ as who you are.  For many, tattoos support them in their self-expression.  For others it undermines an otherwise positive impression!  Do we notice the person or the tattoo?

Recently, the media reports that while there are many laws regarding hygiene practices, the inks may be toxic, highlighting a disturbing lack of regulation on them, the fact that carcinogenic chemicals in 13 out of 21 commonly used tattoo inks used in Europe is frankly frightening.  One of the best sources of information on all kinds of tattoo inks dates from Germany in June this year as FAQs.

As with any industry, crusaders exist who want to change the regulations and make it safe for people as there also seems to be an alarming rise in self-tattooing in schools and of underage children.   We so often see the beautiful results of this creative artwork, rarely the ugly or hideous side effects.

Ultimately, as with anything we put on our bodies it is our own choice in most cases.  As an Image Consultant it is not my position to judge, merely to alert people to think carefully before choosing something so permanent.  Positioning them so that they can be covered up is a good idea but also consider whether you might still like them when you are in your later years?

Break the rules knowingly and accept all consequences, positive and negative; given how long tattoos have been around, they are here to stay.  Make sure, if you start this journey, that your eyes are wide open. 

Simplify Daily Life!

Heading off on the school run, I realised that having a wardrobe that’s a ‘natural extension of me’, i.e. where all the clothes suit me, are in my colour and style and organised by function and colour makes my mornings so much less stressful.

Most of you reading this will be able to relate to the school run – at some stage you’re likely to have been on one either as a student or a parent!  The best run homes have a routine; the alarm goes off at the same time, the bathroom routines execute in an agreed order.  Distributing responsibilities is the way to go when more than one adult is available!  Breakfast is usually based on a recognisable formula and can be timed to the minute.  Brush your teeth, pick up your bags and head out of the door!

The children dress in a uniform, thankfully no choices to be made there! What a joy to have an element of that autonomy for myself.  I don’t have a uniform but having worked with my colour and style for nearly 20 years, I have a good range of my colours in my wardrobe and a good selection in my make-up kit.  It doesn’t matter what I ‘grab’ from either, I know that ‘the worst’ I’ll look is presentable because the colours are from the same family even if they don’t match they will harmonise and complement each other. 

My wardrobe is organised - I hate hunting for things and can usually lay my hands on something within a few moments.   Organising my wardrobe by clothes type (jackets, tops, trousers etc), then function/style (work, casual, short/long sleeved), then colour (blues, reds, pinks and so on) I can quickly find an appropriate outfit… if what I’m looking for isn’t there I know it’s in the wash and can easily find a suitable replacement on one of the neighbouring hangers!  I use simple wooden hangers so that everything looks tidy and organised - I’ve found Ikea and Wilkinson’s good value but others are available!

I love the fact that it’s easy on the eye, therefore one more stress factor is removed!  I used to hate clothes, hate shopping and invested minimal time and money in the whole process, I was never sure whether things really suited me….we rarely enjoy something we don’t know how to do well.   Investing in a Wardrobe Review or Shopping Trip will pay back several times over, the knowledge, experience and skills you learn will remain with you for ever. 

Business and industry use processes to save time and effort, minimise error rates and massively reduce cost, sometimes they have to invest up front to get the medium and long term savings – other savings are immediate.  Co-ordinate your ‘wardrobe’ process and you’ll get all of these benefits for yourself - dressing just got one step easier!

Wearing Colour Trends

When I had my colours analysed 3 years ago, I left the session both excited and with renewed confidence having discovered the palette of colours that suited my natural complexion. Click here for more information about the colour analysis process

I certainly enjoyed shopping for my ‘star’ colours and wearing my new wardrobe for a while but what do to, six months or a year after I’d first had my colours analysed, when I wanted to update my wardrobe?  There are only so many damson or royal blue pieces I can wear!

I love fashion and looking current and on trend is important to me.  Each new fashion season sees a dominant colour palette take the title of the ‘must have’ trend colour and although I do feel slightly resentful when the ‘it’ colour is orange (I’m a Winter), we can all adapt certain colour trends to suit our season. 

This season it’s all about Pastels, featured everywhere in fashion publications.  It’s all about introducing pretty pastels such as peachy rose tones, soft forget-me-not blues and baby pinks, even leafy greens and pale lemon yellow, which are all key for this season’s more feminine looks.

At first I  was sure this would be another colour trend I couldn’t invest in as I need cool, bright colours to create contrast, however when I looked through my colour wallet I realised I could do it as long as I remembered my ‘rules’ for wearing colour. I would recommend that you consult your wallet each season to see how to make the ‘on trend’ colour work for you, ensuring your wardrobe stays current and on trend.

It’s easy for all seasons to update their look with a few pastel shades. Here are a few suggestions for each season:

 

Winters – Look out for Ice Aqua and Ice Blue. Team with a strong neutral such as black or navy to give you the contrast you need.

Springs – Mint Green looks amazing this season, team with a brighter colour such as Geranium Red to ensure your vibrancy.

Autumns – Look out for lemon yellows for extra zing. Textured finishes such as lace or brushed wools will ensure you are bang on trend.

Summers –Look out for this season’s key colour trend, Dusty Pink, especially in outerwear and a lot of other soft, muted tones such as Powder Blue will work well for you, especially when worn together.

Generally, look out for Winter Pastels in soft tailoring, knitwear, especially with brushed or textured finishes, and outerwear. 

Find out what colours work for your season with our free Autumn/Winter 2013-14 colour guide

Radio 1: Waking up to First Impressions

I heard an amusing comment recently that Radio 1 presenters will need to smarten up their appearance because they’re having their own dedicated channel on BBC iPlayer!

On searching for the news item I was even more amused to find no mention of what this will mean to them or their appearance! There’s a perception that if you’re on radio, it doesn’t matter what you wear but if you’re on TV it does! Maybe the old adage has changed too:

 ‘I’ve got the face for Radio and the voice for Twitter’

I was always taught to take pride in my appearance when going to work.  Despite working on a farm it was still important because it demonstrated my attitude to work and my co-workers.  Now I have children and can see things from an adult perspective, I haven’t changed that opinion.  The more important it is for people to see/hear me and my ‘message’, the more attention I pay to what I’m going to wear.

There’s much debate about first impressions and whether they count as much as we think  - modern networking happens across platforms like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and it’s about your picture as much as what you say or post. 

According to M. Farouk Radwan, there are several factors that determine how we form a first impression:

·         Social exchange theory

·         How you make them feel

·         When you meet them – have they or you had a bad day? 

·         The Halo effect – an interesting phenomenon!

Arthur Dobrin suggests that while the halo effect is powerful, in a longer term relationship, its power is diminished, which is completely in line with our view that consistency is critical - in your behaviour and appearance but also with who you are.  Your beliefs and values shine through your personality whether you like it or not, unless you’re acting, and that’s difficult to maintain outside a temporary role.  The Queen and Bob Geldof are two examples of consistency because whether you agree or disagree with their stance, values or behaviours in the world, their impressions are upheld because they present themselves in ways that are consistent with their body language, physical appearance and character.

As for how long it takes, contrary to popular belief, it’s no longer a few seconds; according to Willis and Todorov it’s more like one tenth of a second, on that basis almost exclusively visual. 

There is hope.  Dobrin points out, ‘First impressions matter, but substance has the final word’. 

As public figures, Radio 1 presenters have already got a personal brand being clear on this and how to display it will serve them well if their visibility is suddenly increased.  If there is changing/upgrading to do, it needs to be maintainable – slow and steady rather than erratic and unpredictable will enable them to maintain their credibility, unless unpredictable and erratic are values they wish to be known by!   If their image is not consistent with who they truly are they won’t be able to maintain it over time without considerable cost to themselves and their self-esteem. 

And my top tip?  Dress for the position you want to be!  If you don’t look like someone who can represent your organisation at the next or even highest level, then you will either be overlooked in favour of someone who does ‘look the part’ or you’ll have to work harder to get there. 

Clear that Clutter!

I’ve done it again.  Many, many hours have been spent over the last two months clearing out clutter and I’m now gearing up for my second pass! 

Growing up on a farm the impact of my surroundings and the need for light and fresh air came home to me after I attended a London University!  So it’s no surprise that I’ve developed a keen interest in Feng Shui.  In my own language, this is about having a physical environment that works to support me in my life.   This includes being as mindful of the negative power of clutter as I am of the positive elements in my environment.

An interesting point that Karen Kingston makes in her book, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, is that the negative effect of clutter can be far more powerful than the positive energy of anything else.  Clutter clearing is contagious, having cleared my office, I moved to my wardrobe including my underwear!   Pareto’s principle of 80:20 suggests that 80% of our time we wear 20% of our clothes.  Having helped many clients over the years, I concur.   Fortunately, I’ve applied what I teach generally but some areas are creeping towards 60:40, most notably my underwear and socks!  Suffice to say I found it liberating only keeping the ones I wear regularly!   Our theory at House of Colour is that you’ll only wear something uncomfortable 3 times before overlooking it in favour of something else when choosing what to wear.  This is especially true of underwear!  So do yourself a favour, be honest - if in doubt, chuck it out! Or at least put it in a bag with today’s date on it – if in 12 months time you haven’t been into the bag, then it’s time to get rid of it… without taking a sneaky look at what’s inside!

My husband’s wardrobe didn’t survive completely unscathed but a cautionary word of advice here from Karen and myself – don’t try clearing other people’s clutter!  After a painful process several years ago, I’ve managed to keep on top of this and learnt how to work with my husband.  I am currently learning how to work with my children!  If you want more tips, read Chapter 14 of her book!

The contagion is spreading; several of my friends have reported that they’re starting to clutter clear as a result of me sharing my experiences!   And there are many charity shops who are able to recycle fabrics as well as clothes and are extremely grateful for anything that doesn’t make it past the EBay apathy!

The process:

1.       Prioritise:

             a.       Identify all the areas that hold clutter
             b.      Grade them on a scale of 1-10 by how much they annoy you
             c.       Grade them on a scale of how big or small they are
              d.      Start with the smallest areas that bug you the most to get the quick win

2.       Have boxes to sort the clutter into:

             a.       Fixing/mending
             b.      Cleaning
             c.    Returning  to their owners
             d.      Charity shop/Ebay .. but make sure it’s done within the week otherwise it becomes  
                      another source of clutter
             e.      Filing – to be deposited in the rightful places around your home – but don’t do it until
                      you’ve finished clearing otherwise you’ll get distracted
             f.       Throwing away

3.       Sorting / Filing:

             a.       When replacing your cleared belongings, file them according to function/purpose/
                      colour so that they are easily found
             b.    Keep all things visible.  Out of sight is out of mind and you’ll forget they exist if they’re
                      hidden in a corner of your wardrobe.
             c.    Lifestyle – recognise how you spend your time and keep your clothes in proportion to
                      this.  10 ball dresses are fine if you go to several each year!

 My confession?   I couldn’t do this on my own – I’ve (nearly) finished the job myself but I needed someone to help me break the backbone in the worst area – my office.   Your consultant is trained to help you clutter clear your wardrobe as a critical part of your Wardrobe Review service.  Consider what help you need….and cut yourself some slack. Clutter clearing is a draining process but it’s well worth the feeling of lightness, clarity and space at the end!