Photo:  Tori Beechum — Photo: *Tori Beechum*

Velvet Lope “Style Spotlight” consultations always include a sample of expert styling, where the client and I have a mini makeover session at a local clothing store. During this process, majority of my client’s become energized, excited, and invigorated during the transformation. After a few consultations with the same response, I started to realize there is a direct correlation between personal style and having a positive self-image. People often wonder why personal styling should be considered as a tool to transform self-image. When a person doesn’t have a positive self-image, it will directly affect their confidence and how they physically view themselves and ultimately how they operate in a sometimes unforgiving world. Expert styling can boost self-confidence, change moods, and give an extra bounce in your step to make you feel like you can do anything!!!

The media portrays an unattainable standard of beauty making it impossible for people to ever to be satisfied with their look. Proven studies state over 60% of society has a negative view about their appearance and feel stuck in a sartorial rut! Majority of working men and women find it difficult to develop their personal style during the work week and it’s just easier to opt for casual lounge wear on the weekends. On more than one occasion there are days I wake up and don't feel like myself causing me to invite in self-defeating thoughts…...I struggle like everybody else. Is my body perfect, HELL NO, is there room for improvement, ABSOLUTELY!!! But I always take a moment to asset my negative thoughts and make a choice to remind myself I’m here to SLAY in MIND, BODY, & SOUL! You may not always have control over your appearance but you have the power to keep a positive attitude about yourself!

The simple act of what I affectionately like to call dressing with "self-love" is a ground breaking power and a constant reminder that I’m in control on how I feel about ME and what I want to present to the observing world. When you create and cultivate your own personal style this allows you the freedom to have a positive self-image and grants the power to eclipse the human need for validation. The preconceived notion that “well dressed” people have it all together is nothing more than mastering the act of LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD, and DO GOOD CONNECTION. Something magically happens when clients step into a style and color that makes their skin glow a little more and or enhance their natural assets in the right places. As a result they start to view themselves in a new light and slowly remove the self-imposed blinders. Experiencing this first hand will make you a believer on how implementing small changes in your clothing can change the relationship with your body and your internal self for the better!