Tag Archives: image

Does Your Image Speak Truth?

October 28, 2023Confidence, Personal Styleclothing personality, confidence, confident beauty, image, image identity, Img.ID, know who you areCatrina

Your outfit could be completely undermining your credibility.

How you dress is an indication of who you are and how you care about yourself, which in turn shows us how you will or will not care about others… which is really all that matters to anyone.

Do you care about me?

This fact of life is true in our personal life, and it’s true in our professional life.

When you dress up for a night out with the ones you love, you make them feel as if your time together is valued. When you dress up for the court room, closing or conference, you show the judge, client or colleagues, that you are respectable and prepared. By caring about such details as your image, others trust you to be professional about taking care of them. But being clean and neat, or even dressing up, is not enough.

If you want to be trusted, your image must speak truth.

It is no more appropriate to “dress up” for court in a cocktail dress than it is to dress in any clothing that is not your style. Dressing with Confident Beauty is not about dressing in style, it’s about knowing your Personal Image Identity (or Img.ID) and branding your wardrobe by following your style guidelines.

Your outfit speaks. Does it tell the truth? If not, others will not trust you–and they may not even know why.
Catrina Welch, Author, Speaker, Image- and Life-Coach

The best way to figure out how to dress honestly and appropriately every day is to discover your Personal Img.ID. When you know who you are, and dress according to your authentic style, you will be your most powerful self for two reasons:

Your image will speak truth, which allows others to trust you.
You will feel like yourself, which allows you to be more confident.

There are six clothing personalities and a broad spectrum of combinations of those six. Your Personal Img.ID represents your outward authentic style as well as your inner character, and if you do not dress according to your guidelines, you may very well be misrepresenting yourself. If you live in sweats and t-shirts when you are a glamorous Romantic Img.ID, your image is saying the same thing about you as if you were wearing jeans to the opera. You may be more comfortable, but you are giving a mixed-message to those around you about who you are and what is important to you.

Your Img.ID is not just your clothing personality or personal style, it is the core of who you are. Which words best describe what matters to you:

C: Quality, authority, education, professionalism, timeliness, edict.
N: Practicality, comfort, conservation, loyalty, peace.
D: Excellence, style, esthetics, enjoyment, completeness.
I: Compassion, recognition(for others and self), creativity, memories.
R: Hospitality, sensuality (smells, feelings, etc.), grace, endearment.
G: Fun, fairness, work ethic, boldness, success.

Click the letter to learn more about that Image Identity, including What2Wear. To take my FREE quiz and learn your Image Identity, click here.

Having an image assessment is a simple and enjoyable process, which can literally change your life because instead of undermining your authenticity, it empowers you with Confident Beauty, which doesn’t wear off like makeup does, making you more powerful and influential. If you are interested in learning your Personal Image Identity, or in hosting a Supreme MakeOver Image Assessment Event, please contact me today!

Author and speaker, Catrina Welch, is the founder of Confident Beauty Image- and Life-Coaching. After 30 years in the beauty industry as both a cosmetologist and image consultant, she developed a fun and interactive way of doing group image assessments. These events she calls Supreme MakeOvers because they do not wear off like makeup does! To learn more about having or hosting a private or group SMO Image Assessment event -or if you are interested in becoming a certified consultant yourself, contact her today! She can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Linked In, Goodreads, or visit her at https://catrinawelch.com

3 Questions that Make Life Good Again

November 6, 2022Confidenceconfidence, image, image issuesCatrina

In the beginning, God created man and woman in His image and gave them a mission to enjoy His creation, reign over it and fill the Earth with lots of offspring. But they got distracted by a snake (see my last blog).

When we mess up, God calls out for us.

Most of us get off-mission at some (or many) point in our lives. Whether it’s a cruel word or big mistake, if we want to overcome self-consciousness, we are wise to consider the questions God asked the first couple after they messed up.

Where are you?

God went searching for the first couple. He knew they were hiding in the bushes with fig leaves covering their bodies, but He called to them to give them another chance to turn back to Him, for He is a gentleman who does not push himself on others.

In the same way, He still seeks after you and me.

The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”
2 Chronicles 16:9a NLT

Who told you you were naked?

God acknowledges the problem. He does not like it when His children are belittled. Obviously, they were now embarrassed about their nakedness. God recognized their shame (even though it was part of His very good plan that they should have freedom from wardrobe) and brings it up for discussion.
Have you ever been made to feel badly about something in your life or image?

“You’re so (naked / vulnerable / ugly)…”
“Your not (like God / good at that / very strong)…”
“You should (hide / shut up / stop doing that) …”

Your Creator cares about the way you are treated. He doesn’t control those who hurt you, but He will deal with them at the right time. For now, He longs to comfort and heal you, but first, He must deal with what you did.

Did you do something wrong?

God had one rule for Adam and Eve: Don’t touch that one tree. The rule didn’t just protect them from knowing evil, shame, fear and self-consciousness; it also gave them the opportunity to show Him that they were choosing to obey, trust, and love Him. He had no desire to control them and He still wants His children to have free choice.

But when we mess up, we must fess up or we will remain in our shame.

They failed Him, but He did not fail them. God brings our shame into the open not to condemn, but to correct. Love allows consequences; no longer could they walk freely in the Garden, but neither did they need to cower from Him. He removed their uncomfortable attempt at clothing and covered them with beautiful leather. Then He sent them back on their mission to have dominion over creation and to be fruitful and multiply. We know for certain that they were forgiven and given a fresh start, because it was only after paradise was lost that Eve was given her name.

Then the man–Adam–named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live.
Genesis 3:20

If you have been questioning God’s rules and doubted His heart; if you have lost your confidence and are hiding who you really are; if you are keeping your distance from God and man, I encourage you to listen for the voice of God and seek the truth, for this is what sets us free. Acknowledge the words that have hurt you and let God deal out the consequences in His time. For now, confess any part you did wrong and put on the clothing of forgiveness! The snake will get what’s coming to him, but let’s not let his words keep us from getting back to being who we were designed to be!

If you have ever been set free from the pain of someone’s words, or if you know someone struggling with their identity, would you share this blog on your social media?

CONFIDENT BEAUTY Image- and Life-Coaching

The Only True Source of Confidence

September 12, 2020Beauty, Confidence, Lifebeauty battle, confidence, confidence conflicts, image, image issues, peaceCatrina

Life may never be the same after this pandemic, but it sure is good to get back into the salons, even if it’s so much less personal! It’s just easier to cope with all the changes when our nails are finished and our hair is good, isn’t it?

As women, when we feel beautiful, we feel confident.

Achieving beauty is one way we attempt to become confident. Success, wisdom, popularity and strength are other powerful sources for self-esteem. Yet, the moment someone outshines, undermines, devalues or corrects us, we will likely feel defeated, diminished, devalued.

Is there anything that will truly satisfy our need to feel good about ourselves?

I believe there is one true and lasting source of confidence, and it is Continue reading The Only True Source of Confidence →

The Best Solution to Discrimination

June 13, 2020Confidence, Life, Personal Stylebeauty battle, confidence conflicts, image, image assessment, image issuesCatrina

Racial discrimination is a serious problem, but prejudice isn’t limited to color or culture. People always “judge a book by its cover,” this is a fact of life. If we are honest, we all make visual assessments and prideful assumptions based on personal experiences and preferences all the time.

We choose our communities, caretakers or political parties according to our beliefs, opinions and needs.
We use businesses, attend meetings and make friends only if we feel comfortable with those people.
We decide which checkout line we will use according to our assumption of the cashier’s attitude and aptitude.

It is natural and normal to make decisions based on appearances. In fact, you and I decide if we like or trust a person, place or thing within six seconds. Is this wrong? Maybe, but this tendency to make quick judgments can save us time or keep us from danger.

Sometimes our first impressions are completely off, and we miss out on an opportunity or relationship that we may have enjoyed. Other times our assessments are completely inappropriate and we make harsh judgments based on personal opinions or experiences that have nothing to do with the reality of what–or who–we are criticizing. Continue reading The Best Solution to Discrimination →

Favor is Deceitful and Beauty is Vain

May 16, 2020Beauty, Confidence, Faith, Lifebalance, beauty battle, confidence, confidence conflicts, image, proverbs 31, Supreme MakeOverCatrina

“Favor is deceitful, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30

As a young church girl, I thought this scripture meant that it was wrong to be beautiful, that I shouldn’t want the favor of anyone, and that I should be afraid of God.

Wow was I off!

Many other times in Proverbs it is said that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The understanding of fear that I had as a child is not the kind of fear God desires of us. We should fear Him like we fear fire; a better word may be RESPECT. When we don’t understand God’s heart–or fire–we will run away from it instead of enjoying it.

When we are afraid of God we may work with all our might for His approval–that was me, I really had to wrestle with the meaning of this verse because I wanted to please God, but beauty was my passion. Continue reading Favor is Deceitful and Beauty is Vain →

3 Reasons Beauty is Dangerous

February 22, 2020Beauty, Confidencebeauty battle, confidence, confidence conflicts, image, image issues, peaceCatrina

Most women don’t have Confident Beauty because they compare themselves to other styles, but if you have ever been mistreated because of your appearance, you know that Image Issues are more complicated than that, because BEAUTY IS DANGEROUS.

Beauty is dangerous when it defeats us.

Maybe you HATE how you look because you compare your beauty to the models in the media and you feel you don’t measure up. Maybe men have been mean to you or taken advantage of your body. Perhaps it’s women who have mistreated you and tried to demean your beauty so that they feel better about themselves. Continue reading 3 Reasons Beauty is Dangerous →

Do You Have a Laid-back, Casual Kid?

July 6, 2019Confidenceconfidence, confidence conflicts, image, image issues, Img.ID, NaturalCatrina

Some children are very calm, cool and collected.

Every two-year-old has their tantrums, but some kids are less concerned about getting their way. Casual children are laidback and tend to go with the flow. It may seem, at times, that they simply don’t care but in reality, the Natural Clothing Personality has a gift for seeing the bigger picture. If your child has an optimistic outlook on life even when things don’t go their way, he or she may be a Casual Kid.

Big kids

Most Naturals are broad boned and tall in height unless they have a combined Image Identity (Img.ID). Weight is sometimes an issue for this Img.ID because of their structure, but most Naturals are active in sports and nature and usually able to keep their weight under control.

Casual kids are faithful, low-maintenance friends. Their simplistic outlook and optimistic nature are encouraging and easy to be around. Their laid-back style, however, can be hard for parents to motivate. As we raise our children, Continue reading Do You Have a Laid-back, Casual Kid? →

Is your Child Charming and Compassionate?

June 29, 2019Confidence, Personal Styleconfidence, confidence conflicts, image, image issues, Img.ID, RomanticCatrina

Some children are very sensitive about what others feel.

Kids don’t always notice what is going on around them.They are usually too busy playing or dreaming to recognize what someone else may be thinking. Some children, however, are hyper-sensitive to the body language and voice fluctuations of those around them.

Typically, the Glamorous Clothing Personality is very compassionate. Many kids are sweet and caring, but if your child has a passion for making others comfortable, she or he may be a Romantic Image Identity.

Compassionate kids

Many Romantics are actually Ingénues as children. The two styles are very much alike except for their figure frames. The Romantic has more curves, and the Ingénue has a straighter, less “fluffy” figure.

Weight can be an issue for any style, but the Romantic children tend to struggle with the consequences of this the most (the girls especially, since they tend to gain a full bosom before they are emotionally ready to have an adult figure). Continue reading Is your Child Charming and Compassionate? →

New Children’s Book Equips Reader to Discuss Body Image Issues

May 22, 2019Confidence, Kids, Life, Personal Styleimage, image issuesCatrina

Image-Coach Reveals the 6 Clothing Personalities Through the Story of Katy’s Struggle with Self-esteem.

CAPE COD, Ma. (May 22, 2019) – The next generation is struggling with serious body image issues and it’s imperative that we help them. Parents play a vital part in how children see themselves, but this sensitive topic is not easy to discuss. With her latest book, author, Catrina Welch, taps her 30-plus years in the beauty industry to teach children confidence before their image becomes a life-long hang up. With a fun story, beautiful illustrations and suggested questions, this book unlocks a profound and pivotal message that could save your child from struggling with low self-esteem.

Like various flowers and trees, each boy and girl is beautiful and strong in their own way!

Journey with Katy as she lets go of comparison and learns to appreciate her individuality. As she finds the confidence to be who she was designed to be, so, too, will your child. Continue reading New Children’s Book Equips Reader to Discuss Body Image Issues →

Raising Confident Kids

May 18, 2019Confidence, Kids, Life, Personal Styleconfidence, confidence conflicts, image, image issues, Img.ID, peace, relationshipsCatrina

With the first hospital visit, adults begin “speaking life” over your baby:

She’s beautiful!

He’s so big!

As children grow, we naturally announce and affirm each progression of their development:

Look how he holds his head up.

She took her first step!

A healthy self-esteem is encouraged.

Every child comes into this world with the need to know their worth and understand their purpose. Naturally, they find their answers (right or wrong) from their environment and the things we teach them.

If you have a healthy self-image then you will be better equipped to help your children avoid Image Issues.

But not necessarily. Continue reading Raising Confident Kids →

Gamine – the Bold Beauty

April 27, 2019Confidence, Life, Personal Stylebeauty battle, confidence conflicts, Gamine, image, image issues, Img.IDCatrina

Some women are strong, spunky and secure in their opinions. The Gamine clothing personality is average to short in stature, but she is not fragile: not in build, and not in personality.

She is like a Cala Lily: strong, sturdy and full of color and variety. The trumpet-shaped flower can endure almost any condition, in the same way, Gamines thrive in situations where most of us would not know what to do. When they see crisis, they jump to action—like the flower that pokes through the ground before the rest of the plant.

Grace makes or breaks the Gamine’s beauty

The Bold Beauty has an intense work ethic, which sometimes overrides her intense love for fun. She has a quick wit, level head and a passion to fix things. Unfortunately, sometimes her drive for justice can be intimidating to others–and to herself. Continue reading Gamine – the Bold Beauty →

Natural – the Casual Beauty

April 13, 2019Confidence, Life, Personal Styleconfidence, confidence conflicts, image, image issues, Img.IDCatrina

Some women are simply laid back and casual; calm, cool and collected in nature. Those with the Natural clothing personality are athletic and nature-oriented and tend to be comfortable with themselves.

She is like a wild flower, strong, sturdy and able to endure most environments; she has little need of care and attention. The Natural’s bright cheer brings life to any occasion, making a formal affair less stuffy and a casual event more inviting. She should be careful, however, to stay true to her casual nature, no matter the formality of her environment or she may come across as phony.