What is a Clothing Personality?

Today’s blog is an excerpt from Chapter Seventeen of Confident Beauty in honor of Labor Day Weekend.

While most women want to understand their image and enjoy analyzing their body frame and facial features, I find that many of us put up a guard when it comes to assessing our personality. No one wants to be critiqued, and limiting our individuality to one (or two) of six options can feel a bit like criticism, I know, but hear me out on this.

Let’s liken our assessment to what a florist needs to do when she is caring for her various plants. With a quick glance she summarizes which type of flower she has and immediately she knows whether to water it daily, weekly or monthly. Some flowers she may give an ice cube to now and then because they need to receive water very slowly as the ice melts. There are some, like the Calla lily, that prefer shade, so she may put that flower in an area where she can protect it from the sun, while there are others she may put in full light to keep warm so that they may reach their full beauty.

Women are like that. Some of us need, or just want, extra care. Some prefer less fuss. Many are not sure what they want or need. What is right for one woman may be wrong for another, and too often we are confused as to which is which. Understanding our needs and our differences is what brings us Confident Beauty.

Some image consultants like Stacy London and Clinton Kelly from What Not To Wear may tell you what is right or wrong based on what’s in vogue or according to your height or lifestyle, but I like to make it more personal in order to identify the true you. I often introduce myself as “an image consultant without the shopping obsession; my message is not so much ‘what not to wear’ as it is ‘Know Who You Are’ which is the title of my book of guidelines for your Personal Image Identity.”

As much as I believe that God does not want us to judge each other by our outward appearance, I also believe that the outward character often indicates what is on the inside, and that is what really matters.

The challenge I run into when assessing women is when their preferences do not line up with their physical stature. This is very common for girls who were raised by a woman with a different Img.ID. We naturally form our opinions on what feminine beauty should be through personal experience. Influential women in our lives either help us decide if we want to be like them, or not. Perhaps your mom was a Classic who taught you to keep a proper and professional wardrobe but you just wanted to be carefree and casual with your look. Your choice is to comply with her style and feel confined and constricted, or to choose your own manner of expressing your individuality. A lot of times your unique style (your Img.ID) includes many aspects of the feminine influences in your life mixed in with what you like. Other times you may need to decide to change things that worked for her, but do not work well for you.

Typically, each clothing personality has a particular type of fashion that is most important to them and something that they need to be careful not to get out of balance in order to achieve their personal “look.”

If you would like to learn more about the six various styles of beauty of discover your personal Image Identity (Img.ID), be sure to take advantage of my Labor Day Weekend Exclusive Offer: The ebook edition of Confident Beauty will be available this Friday through Monday to download on your favorite e-reader device for only $1.99. Consider it my back to school gift to you. 

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Catrina Welch is an inspirational author and speaker whose personal experience with overcoming rejection, betrayal and loss–as well as her expertise as a cosmetologist, image consultant and Biblical life-coach–is empowering women to BE and LET BE.

Her latest book, CONFIDENT BEAUTY: Reflecting the One Who Made You, with the Images in your Mirror and in your Soul, is now available in your favorite bookstores. Autographed copies of all her books are available on her website at www.CatrinaWelch.com

This exclusive ebook offer is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Chapters, iBooks, or your favorite e-reader store.