Makeovers.

[Lights]

I'm considering having a makeover as part of reinventing myself. I am thinking of looking for an image/fashion consultant to arrange such a thing, but before I do that I'd like to know from people, preferably ones with experience, whether image consultants or the like are worth it.

 

Thanks for your help.

[Pink Amulet]

I think it may be dependant upon your age... How old are you?

[Lights]

I think it may be dependant upon your age... How old are you?

 

I'm 26 (almost 27, fearing for my lost youth ).

[Lights]

I think it may be dependant upon your age... How old are you?[/QUote]

I'm 26 (almost 27, fearing for my lost youth ).

[/qUOTE]

Just an extra note: I'm male, if that makes a difference besides the obvious regarding makeovers.

[Pink Amulet]

Male?!?! Oh well in the case... I have no suggestions Sorry!

[Sand&Water]

Lights,

 

Are you considering an extreme makeover [not necessarily going under the knife]? Or just a few touch ups?

 

What is your current look? If I may ask.

 

I suggest you stay away from image consultants. It is just another form of baloney. [Consult LS, friends, relatives, family, or magazines, if you wish]

 

Sand&Water

[Lights]

Lights,

 

Are you considering an extreme makeover [not necessarily going under the knife]? Or just a few touch ups?

 

What is your current look? If I may ask.

 

Yes, I plan on having it be pretty extreme. This will be part of a major reinvention of the rest of my life as well.

 

I have two looks: at-work and personal-time.

 

My at-work clothing is business casual. Usually dark pants and a long-sleeved shirt, polo shirt, or short-sleeved shirt, and black leather shoes. Depending on weather conditions, I may wear a jacket while in transit (usually black woolen jackets, although I also have a leather one). I'm not so worried about this at this time; what I wear there seems to serve the purposes well.

 

Outside of work, my garb is essentially t-shirt-jeans-and-sneakers, or the appropriate equivalent for non-t-shirt weather. I might wear a leather coat over that when things are cooler. In cold-weather conditions, I might wear a snowboarding jacket and a knit hat. This is what I wear during ordinary times around the town, or when hanging out casually with good friends.

 

I possess no clubwear or clothes for "going out" or anything that lends itself to any form of social peacocking. This was a result of hating nightlife and hating what were pretty much the de facto processes of meeting people my age (and hating a lot of the people and the local culture) in years past, but I want to have a good social life as a young man while I still have the chance and am considering changing my ways and would like to know what would be the way to go.

 

I have short hair (short, but not as in buzz-cut). I generally wear it in simple, minimal-maintenance styles.

 

Overall, I'd like to create a happier and sexier image. If applicable, I also want any "darkness" I might still project that is still part of any 'personal style' I might have to go--it stopped serving my purposes many, many years ago. I'd be interested in learning how to really look and be more alluring and, dare I say it, cute, for once in my life.

 

Thanks for any help in this matter.

 

I suggest you stay away from image consultants. It is just another form of baloney. [Consult LS, friends, relatives, family, or magazines, if you wish]

 

Sand&Water

 

Thanks for the warning, Sand&Water.

 

The reason I am turning to the internet for advice is because I don't have any knowledgeable friends. I've tried reading fashion magazines, but they're a joke to me; they're more advertising than content, and the fashion pages look more like advertisements for a bunch of seriously overpriced ordinary things. (Men's magazines in general irritate me; the sophomoric talk [or even some worthy talk] about women is meaningless to someone who's never been in a relationship of any kind anyways, the celebrity-endorsed social trends are meaningless to someone who neither gossips nor is among the celebrity crowds nor is among those who genuflect before them, and arrogant as it sounds, I believe my knowledge of workout technique is superior to most of what is featured in their fitness features.)

[Lights]

Can anyone here help?

[Sand&Water]

Lights,

I have short hair (short, but not as in buzz-cut). I generally wear it in simple, minimal-maintenance styles.

 

I don't have much advice, when it comes to a male's overall hygiene and style. [As I am a woman] However, from what you described, I do not see anything bizarrely wrong with your image.

 

The one of the important things you should focus your energy on, is: Hair, skin, facial hair, body odour, teeth, and confidence.

 

Use confidence to your advantage. In other words, if you enhance one or more of the above ideas, and establish a sincere confident self -then it is likely you will observe a positive change to your self-esteem, personal well being, and performance.

 

Be yourself. Be respectful, and do not take comments/rejections personally. Women, easily notice, when you act insecure, obscure, or just plain lazy.

 

Good Luck,

Sand&Water

[blind_otter]

I dunno man. I just talk to my hairstylist who happens to be one of my good friends, too. But that's sort of a girl things to do, just naturally.

[Lights]

Lights,

I don't have much advice, when it comes to a male's overall hygiene and style. [As I am a woman] However, from what you described, I do not see anything bizarrely wrong with your image.

 

The one of the important things you should focus your energy on, is: Hair, skin, facial hair, body odour, teeth, and confidence.

 

Use confidence to your advantage. In other words, if you enhance one or more of the above ideas, and establish a sincere confident self -then it is likely you will observe a positive change to your self-esteem, personal well being, and performance.

 

Be yourself. Be respectful, and do not take comments/rejections personally. Women, easily notice, when you act insecure, obscure, or just plain lazy.

 

Good Luck,

Sand&Water

 

Thanks, Sand&Water. As facial hair goes, I'm cleanshaven. As the body goes, I keep clean, although if exposed to hot-weather conditions sweat happens as does to everyone I suppose. The rest is just ordinary I guess.

 

Confidence, well, that's something I've been looking for how to work on, and still have a long way to go.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by obscure, though.

 

I dunno man. I just talk to my hairstylist who happens to be one of my good friends, too. But that's sort of a girl things to do, just naturally.

Hi Blind Otter,

 

I see; I can understand that would work for altering one's look via the hairstyle. Who or what kinds of people would I talk to about more attractive and sexier clothing choices?

[Lights]

Any advice, anyone?

[Guest]

First start out by looking at men around you - at work, going to clubs, etc. Decide which styles you like and that you think would suit you and feel like you.

 

Then go to a men's shop where the kind of clothes you've found you like are sold and ask one of the salespeople to give you a hand choosing some clothes in the style you like. And watch the reaction of the other salespeople. They usually aren't able to hide genuine enthusiasm so if you see a couple of them admiring you in an item of clothing, you've probably hit on something that suits you. And if even customers look you over and tell you it looks nice, you've got a winner.

 

An important component is color. You may really love beige, but have a pale complexion and/or light-coloured hair so that beige clothes just wash you out and make you look sickly. You can figure this out for yourself by holding up various colors of clothing near your face and seeing which make you look healthy and alert and which wash you out but if you have trouble figuring it out, ask for help.

 

Some guys look great in button shirts, others are better in sweaters, and others look great in turtlenecks - all depends on your overall look which is why you need help to decide.

 

Of course, the best help is a friend or family member who you think dresses well but if you haven't got one handy, the next best thing is to ask for help from sales associates.

 

One word on magazines - they don't often have clothes that regular people wear, however if you look through the catalogues of regular men's wear or department stores, you'll find plenty of things that might interest you.

[Lights]

Thanks for your reply, Guest.

 

First start out by looking at men around you - at work, going to clubs, etc. Decide which styles you like and that you think would suit you and feel like you.

 

This is the main problem. I don't know what kinds of styles are good, nor what defines a style.

 

Then go to a men's shop where the kind of clothes you've found you like are sold and ask one of the salespeople to give you a hand choosing some clothes in the style you like. And watch the reaction of the other salespeople. They usually aren't able to hide genuine enthusiasm so if you see a couple of them admiring you in an item of clothing, you've probably hit on something that suits you. And if even customers look you over and tell you it looks nice, you've got a winner.

 

I figured that asking salespeople would be an important part of the plan. However, this is something I actually haven't ever experienced; I've never seen salespeople care that particularly much (besides merely pointing me in a direction where [insert clothing item] is), let alone customers care what someone nearby is wearing. I'll see what happens next time I go shopping.

[Lights]

Anyone, anything to add?

[Lights]

Just an update. I've gone out shopping a couple times since, but haven't found anything lending itself to the reinvention I seek.

 

Guest: Salespeople seem to be utterly unhelpful save for pointing me in directions. I do not seem to know how to find an effective style, and salespeople don't seem to be willing to recommend anything that'll make my image pop.

 

What would I do to find stores where salespeople are highly knowledgeable about these things and are willing to help? Also, how do I find a style that is attractive, and not something of questionable value that my uninformed self might simply happen upon?

 

Sand&Water: I still don't really know what else to do. Confidence is a nightmare I still haven't figured out what to do about, and I don't know how to improve the other parts you mentioned.

[moredeborah]

Some people think of image consultants or stylists as something so frivolous. I am a stylist for busy professionals. Most of them really don't have the time to be shopping. But some just don't know how to dress or how to do their hair. They just don't know how. This is similar to someone who needs to have their lawn mowed and just doesn't have time, just doesn't know how. If you feel like you don't really know how to do these things, don't have time to learn and want someone with professional experience, a stylist or image consultant is a GREAT idea.

[Lights]

Hi Moredeborah,

 

What would I look for in that case? Also, how would I separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff in terms of finding who to deal with and believe?

[moredeborah]

I saw your update on how sales people suck. I'm sorry if you are a salesperson, and I don't mean to hurt your feelings. I used to be in retail, hell, I used to manage a store. Lights, here's the thing about salespeople, most of them don't want to be there. They're young and don't make that much money and I hated customers when I worked in retail. That's probably what you're running into. And then, you go somewhere where they actually help you but you end up buying a bunch of stuff you don't need because they are working on commission! I guess the best place you can go for good help is Nordstrom. You can ask for a personal stylist, they have good people that try to get an idea of what you want and it is their job to know everything that's in the store and to put together the right things.

 

Now, as far as getting a good stylist, it would be similar to trying to hire and recruit someone. Consult craigslist for consultants, or post an ad about needing one! When you "interview" someone, make sure she/he is wearing something very catching. It does not necesarily need to be your style since fashion-types like to dabble in more than one style. They should also be prepared. I always bring a portfolio that shows the different looks I've created and some people that I've helped.

 

I hope this helps.

[Lights]

I saw your update on how sales people suck. I'm sorry if you are a salesperson, and I don't mean to hurt your feelings. I used to be in retail, hell, I used to manage a store. Lights, here's the thing about salespeople, most of them don't want to be there. They're young and don't make that much money and I hated customers when I worked in retail. That's probably what you're running into. And then, you go somewhere where they actually help you but you end up buying a bunch of stuff you don't need because they are working on commission! I guess the best place you can go for good help is Nordstrom. You can ask for a personal stylist, they have good people that try to get an idea of what you want and it is their job to know everything that's in the store and to put together the right things.

 

Now, as far as getting a good stylist, it would be similar to trying to hire and recruit someone. Consult craigslist for consultants, or post an ad about needing one! When you "interview" someone, make sure she/he is wearing something very catching. It does not necesarily need to be your style since fashion-types like to dabble in more than one style. They should also be prepared. I always bring a portfolio that shows the different looks I've created and some people that I've helped.

 

I hope this helps.

 

I see--thank you for your detailed explanation, Moredeborah. No, no offense taken, since I'm not a salesperson of any kind. I'll take a look at a nearby Nordstrom soon then.

 

I've started looking on Craigslist today; I'll see what happens.

 

I have a stupid clarification question here: how do I tell what's very catching? (No, this isn't an attempt to test you; I honestly do not know how to tell what's considered fashionable or whether any given clothing item/set is specifically a factor in someone's attractiveness at a given time or on a given person.)

[moredeborah]

I see--thank you for your detailed explanation, Moredeborah. No, no offense taken, since I'm not a salesperson of any kind. I'll take a look at a nearby Nordstrom soon then.

 

I've started looking on Craigslist today; I'll see what happens.

 

I have a stupid clarification question here: how do I tell what's very catching? (No, this isn't an attempt to test you; I honestly do not know how to tell what's considered fashionable or whether any given clothing item/set is specifically a factor in someone's attractiveness at a given time or on a given person.)

 

I'm not offended. Just make sure they are dressed well and that their clothes fit properly. Someone that is going to dress you should know how to dress themselves.

[Lights]

Forgive the necromancy.

 

Are there any men here who have been successful with makeovers? I would like to know what you did.