The Job Hunt: It's Not Me, It's YOU!

Over the past two months, I have received many resumes by email and in person, that have left me shaking my head. Some people seem great on paper, but have zero communication skills when speaking with them. Seeing as all jobs that I know of service people, communication is a key component to success. Furthermore, I have seen a plethora of outfits and resume presentations that have made me wonder whatever happened to the concept of dressing up for an interview and to selling yourself in the best way possible!?

It is completely up to the job candidate to sell themselves, rather than being up to me to force information out of them! I have had mumbling, fumbling, people come knocking with boring resumes that are written in the universal default font of Times New Roman, and who speak quietly to the point where I can barely hear them, or have others who yell and laugh nervously like hyenas. People have shown up dressed in torn jeans, dirty jackets, muddy runners, running outfits, and the Vancouver special - the sporty rain jacket - to a fashion boutique where I am hiring a fashion stylist / sales associate. Why would I want my customers who I love, to work with that?

Even if you are applying for a job where the dress will be casual or be of a sort that will need to get dirty, it shows total disrespect to the business in question, in my opinion, to show up in anything less than your nicest outfit when handing in your resume or for an interview.

Here are a few things that I would have loved to have interested candidates do before applying at my business:

* Do some research before going into a business that you might want to work in, or you may never get your shot at the job due to attire, demeanor, and your resume layout.

* Look at the company's website and go in as a potential customer to see what they sell, and what the other employees are like before applying.

* Learn about what the company does from a social standpoint to ask yourself if they are a company you would be proud to work for.

* practice speaking clearly and introducing yourself. You will most likely need to speak with others and communicate on the telephone and by email in any job, so fine tune these skills and practice them regularly if you are someone who has trouble in social settings.

* Don't apply to a workplace just for the sake of applying as you create extra work for the owner or person in charge of hiring. Get serious about where you want to work and go for that job instead of handing out resumes like cards in a game of 52 Pick-Up.

* Every company needs to sell their product or service, so make sure you tell the business how you plan on selling their specific services or products. Highlight any sales and service awards you have won.

*References should be from previous customers of yours and employers rather than any personal references. The employer will care about your work performance, not how much your Mother or Aunt Bessie loves you.

*Answer your phone professionally instead of sounding like you are high on Quaaludes, and change your email address to something professional instead of "sexypants@..com!"

Once you have done all of these things, get your best outfit together and get ready to sell yourself. Those who present themselves in their best way possible, will never be out of a job in any field and in any economy. Some of the people who I have had apply to my business, have made it clear that I would rather work all of the hours myself than to give a job to someone who can't even take the time to find out what I sell before applying for the job in an outfit that looks like they have either just been mugged, or have just gotten out of bed.

Thank you to those out there who try their best and respect the businesses that they are applying to, regardless of the size of them. Employees make or break any business, so thank you to every employee out there who gives 110%!

Use Your Makeup As An Accessory!

I have recently re-discovered black eyeliner, which, when applied correctly with some fantastic shadows, makes your whole outfit sing a song of fashion delight. Think peacock feathers as an inspiration rather than a toddler’s crayon rendition of a rainbow. You want to blend colours rather than being able to see the layers.

To practice, draw a line of black eye liner on your hand and then soften this with a tapered, detail shadow brush to smooth it out. From here, practice applying different combinations of the eye shadows that you already own. This makes it easy to see what colours you like together rather than trying to squint in the mirror to see your eyes.

Most of the time when I go to makeup counters, they suggest things that make me look about 30 years older, and they fail to hear what I am looking for. I am looking to have fun with makeup – especially eye makeup, and want their help in making this happen. Most times, I tend to get dumped for wrinkle-free college students in mid query, only to be mobbed if I do happen to buy something, so that the clerk can claim my sale as her own hard work.

Last July, I happened across a makeup artist who was great. She explained which shadow colours would bring out my blue eyes as well as showed me how to conquer black eyeliner. This makeup expert let me in on the trick to eyeliner; apply it however it goes on and then use the right brush to smooth it out to for perfection, rather than trying to apply it perfectly in the first place. This was an eyeliner “a-ha” moment for me.

Finding the right expert in any field is crucial to having a positive experience and for saving time, and money. Like hair stylists, fashion stylists, and now makeup artists, it is important to find the person who is all about you, instead of themselves. If you feel worse leaving a store or service than when you came in, you have not found the right expert to help you in the way you deserve to be served, regardless of the amount of money you are spending. Retail sales is one of the hardest jobs in the world, so when you find someone excelling at this job, please let it be well known to the people who employ them.

AMAZING Photo by Katharina Fösel of Germany.

Following Mother Nature For Colour Inspiration

Every season I get asked about 30 times a day what the

"hot" colour is going to be. Sigh....

During my travels this summer, I witnessed a lot of what Mother Nature has to offer us in the colour department. Now she knows how to design, I tell ya! Instead of just one shade of green, there are thousands in one forest...all worn together with a plethora of other colours thrown in. You don't see an all black tree unless disaster has struck it! Think of that next time you are wanting to wear all black for the third day in a row this winter. Sure, Mother Nature may use black as foundation colour, but in general, the main attractions are done up in plentiful colour.

This got me thinking how crazy it is that consumers are happy to have some designer somewhere choose just one or two colours to be the must-have trend each season when there are millions of shades of colour available. It is about time that designers expand their palette that they offer their clothing in, and time for consumers to get away from caring about what someone else has dictated that you wear this fall.

True fashion and style is having the confidence to try new ways to wear things, adding accessories in your own way, melding what you already have with new things you acquire, and having fun with the details of life and fashion. Adding textures, prints, and colours that you may not normally consider for fall, will allow you to have more fun this fashion season than you have ever had when it comes to getting dressed in the morning!

Next time you drive through a forest, try to count the shades of green alone, and let it be a reminder that colours should not have a season, they should just be allowed to thrive throughout our world to make it a brighter, happier place. I salute the women of Africa, the Caribbean, and Mexico for doing such a fine job in embracing colour in their lives.

The Sheath Dress Revisited

The sheath dress has always been a must-have in my opinion as it flatters most women's bodies. Thanks to Michelle Obama, we have an alternative to the baby doll style that continues to be on the pages of this fall's fashion magazines. The baby doll, however, has made most of us look pregnant over the last 8 fashion seasons, regardless of how appropriate or biologically possible that can be.

Perhaps we should call Michelle Obama "Smart Lady," instead of First Lady as she is brilliant, but also knows what looks and feels great on her body. Remembering that confidence is the key foundation to true style, the sheath dress may just be the perfect addition to your wardrobe this fall / winter as they are one of the most comfortable dresses to wear, leaving you to think of changing the world, rather than wondering how many more minutes before you can change into your sweatpants! Sheath dresses are generally made of knit fabrics which contain a form of stretch to them - yes! Comfort is king when trying to get women to wear dresses, I find, so look at the fabric content on the labels, ladies, and make sure to get some stretch in that sheath dress of yours.

The key to making the sheath dress work for you is to adjust the length to suit your body. Most of us have spectacular legs, particularly from the knees down, so don't be aftraid to show them! The shorter you are, the more leg you may want to show, and the less you will want to wear shoes with ankle straps, as these will visually cut you off and make you look drowned by your outfit. Shoes without an ankle strap and with even just a bit of heel (the more the better... while still being comfortable), elongate the leg, so this is usually the best style for most of us to wear with dresses, in general. I would say that the sheath dress will keep its nice lines if hemmed somewhere between the calf muscle to just over the knee.

Sheath dresses are extremely versatile and usually travel well due to their knit fabric. You can wear the dress with boots, dress shoes, a blazer or jacket, a Pashmina, cardigan, belted, or with a blouse underneath. Never forget your accessories, of course, as these are what change an outfit around and make the finishing touches to it, like a cherry on top of a sundae. mmmm.... sundae.

Unleash Your Inner Rock Star To Attain True Style!

"'In my rear view mirror my life is getting clearer."

(Lost Highway, Jon Bon Jovi)

My annual pilgrimage to Montana allows me giddy moments of pure joy as I belt out the lyrics to songs like, "Bad Medicine," while soaking up the gorgeous scenery with my best cheerleader beside me - my dog, Shadow. This glee got me thinking about how some of my customers would benefit so greatly from a little "me-time" of their own.

It is times like these that build your inner fighter - the confidence that keeps you on your own team. Confidence is the crucial ingredient and foundation of being stylish - not age, size, or looks. Without confidence, a woman will never be able to look at accessories, colour, sparkle ... and life without fear.

So, rather than mimicking other people's style from a magazine, unleash your inner rock star, embrace your confidence, and try something new, bright, and sparkly.

"'cuz if there's something better baby, well I haven't found it yet..whoa oh oh!.."
(Bon Jovi, "Bad Medicine")

Remembering To Bet On Ourselves

Anyone who knows me... even a little, knows I aspire to be the fourth Dixie Chick. Even without my supreme adoration for them, their "Shut Up & Sing," movie is such a fantastic inferno of inspiration to do whatever you want. The fashion is also STILL spectacular as an added bonus. I totally suggest you re-visit this movie again soon.

In the movie, record executives suggest the Chicks take the safe choice of accepting a tour sponsorship because of fears that it might not sell out. Natalie Maines' response is, "It would be harder for me to work on a tour...knowing that I didn't bet on myself when I knew I should. ...If you take a gamble on yourself, it lights a fire. It makes you fight! ... BRING IT ON!"

Bring it on, is right. Never lose sight of your power to achieve anything you want, even when all odds seem to be against it. ROCK ON!

(photo copied from www.dixiechicks.com).

Affinity Feather Hairbands!

Flapper Meets Haute Couture with Affinity Hair Accessories!
Local designer Michele Pritchard designs unique hairbands, brooches, and hair accessories with one of a kind style. The hairbands are my favourite accessory that she does because they are so unique, posh, and are the mark of a true fashionista. Not bad for $16!

Available at Changes Vancouver or CLICK HERE to see more of the Affinity accessory line!

The Grip of Twilight

The Grip of Twilight:

Who would have thought that SO many of my late nights and early mornings would be completed OWNED by this book series? Not me.

Stephanie Meyer's use of words certainly creates an electric craving between Bella and Edward that leaves the reader wanting a vampire like Edward for herself. When you add this chemistry to a little vampire adventure, the result is a book series that has taken my imagination and given it a ride that it has been craving since my very real dream of singing on stage with Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.

The Bella Twilight Jacket:
It is no wonder, then, that I am carrying the Bella Twilight jacket at Changes Vancouver and on my online store (www.changesclothing.com). The jacket is designed by BB Dakota, and is the same one worn in the movie forest scene where Bella tells Edward, "I Know What You Are" and the ballet stuido vampire brawl scene.

The jacket is fantastic because of the fleece lining, hood, fit, and the many pockets, not to mention the button detailing. The two front pockets are perfect for your keys, wallet and cell. This jacket is perfect for summer evenings and well into fall. I love mine.

CLICK HERE to shop for the Bella Jacket at Changes