Every day I see gorgeous women who are hiding behind the wrong color, inappropriate outfit, or unflattering hairstyles. Or I see people who simply make themselves invisible by wearing too much black. Often it saddens me to see such attractive people get lost by the way they dress.

Those of you who know the values I stand for, are aware that I believe black is not a color everyone can wear. Pure black is the absence of color, and for most it detracts, hides, and suffocates the wearer. Every person, however, has his or her own version of black. It can be anything from a deep teal to a dark brown, a midnight navy, or subtle eggplant color. The ultimate factor is that it is a COLOR. It has life to it. Black does not. Black acts as barrier, is harsh and unforgiving to most people's skin color.

Color Versus Black

Original photo of businesswoman in black.

Color makes her more approachable and inviting.

Here’s a great example. This beautiful lady was having a business meeting with two other women over coffee. Pure black is not her color, especially not when the weight of her cashmere sweater and the design of its ribbing is as heavy as it is.

Take a good look at how delicate her hair and facial features are. She has fine hair and fingers. Most importantly is the delicacy of her voice, which I heard. It was evident by the way she was interacting with her business associates that her character was subtle and demure. She had a gentle way of engaging. For someone with these characteristics it is always best to wear color.

A person possessing a light voice and delicate features is suffocated and overpowered by heavy black, as the photo on the left clearly illustrates. By changing the color she wears, not even the weight or design of her outfit, you immediately recognize how much more approachable and inviting she becomes. Wouldn't you want a potential client or business partner to view you as approachable and inviting, rather than harsh and severe?

A Better Proportion and Color

Original photo. Her dress color doesn't compliment her.

Now she looks taller and more harmonious.

The taller lady whom you see in the picture on the left, has visibly made an effort to put herself together nicely. She’s trying to dress femininely, has picked a beautiful color for her sweater (one of her skin tones), and the hemline of her skirt is very flattering to her body type.

Most of us are of the opinion (before we learn the principles of Image Therapy) that in order to build a good working wardrobe our basic pieces such as skirts, pants, blazers, suits, etc. should be in basic conservative colors. Well... that might be the information which most people have been given, however, having your staples primarily in gray, black and navy is not necessarily right for you.

This strawberry blonde, for example, was helped to look more harmonious by altering the colors of her skirt, shoes and purse. In the original photograph, the gray tone she chose for her skirt, neither reflect nor compliment her natural skin tones or hair color. Hence, we are struck with an outfit that does not look “well put together.” By knowing ones’ natural color tones and putting an outfit together with this awareness, looking “well put together” becomes easily possible. As seen in the photo on the right after a color change, in this case brown skirt and matching shoes, she begins to look like she belongs in the clothes she's wearing.

Our next step is to look at her body’s physical proportions. Her sweater is hitting about five inches below her optimum waistline. This creates the visual effect of her legs being too short and her torso being disproportionately long. We took five inches off her sweater, allowing it now to hit her at her natural waist which is most flattering to her body type. Now, her torso and lower body are in perfect proportion to each other. The result; she looks taller and more attractive!

Masterpiece of the Month

"Masterpiece of the Month" can be men and women who are well put together and exude a wonderfully strong sense of positive self-esteem.

Just as I go around taking pictures of people on the street that can use some assistance or can be presented as examples in my teachings, I take special note of those who look really great.

I met this beautiful lady completely by accident. While I was having lunch recently at an outdoor cafe, I saw her walking down the street towards me. Seeing her in all her radiant beauty I immediately jumped to introduce myself and tell her how beautiful she looked.

As you can see she is extremely well put together. The colors and all the items she's wearing are in harmony with who she is as a person. Her jacket matches her eye color, the silver gray pearl strands reflect the beautiful silver highlights in her hair, and she wears only a touch of makeup to delicately accent her natural features. Yet it was her gentle confidence and ease communicating to her friends and myself, which proved to be her most endearing asset.

To our Masterpiece of the Month: thank you for being an inspiration, and sharing your beauty with all of us.