A book that’s been haunting the imaginations of bibliophiles’ throughout India lately, is former external minister K Natwar Singh’s ‘One Life is Not Enough.’ Touted as a diatribe against Sonia Gandhi – A veteran of Indian Politics and president of the Indian National Congress, the book is a lengthy salvo revisiting the malpractices & corruption during...

Team India put up a stellar show at CWG 2014. Finishing 5th – the final tally of medals stood at 15 Gold, 30 Silver & 19 Bronze. Although England finished in top position, India’s victories are being celebrated with great aplomb. As an image consulting professional, here are some lessons you can learn from their success: 1)      Highlight the 1 st –...

Clothes & shoes take up 80% of your wardrobe space, but the 20% that I’m going to talk about today is very interesting. This 20% can make or break your outfit. Yes, I’m sure most of you of guessed it right. ACCESSORIES This is the easiest of all to shop online. There will be no sizing issue and the product will be as displayed.  Even though...

Part 2: Shoes  So did you try out shoe shopping online? Today we look at quick tips for shoe shopping. Just like clothes, shoes also require a certain kind of fit otherwise you can have sore feet. Tip 1: Know the Heel size Since you are not trying out shoes before walking, always pay attention to the heel size. Measure the current heel that you are comfortable...

This is a 3 part series for quick tips on online shopping Part 1: Clothes Part 2: Shoes Part 3: Other accessories Part 1: Clothes There are a lot of websites that offer good quality clothes at a good cost. They have runway inspired clothes to fit your budget.  Tip 1:  Search what you want to buy It can get overwhelming with thousands of clothes to search from....

Most award ceremonies have their shares of hits and misses when it comes to either winning awards or having a winning image. Let’s look at some of this year’s hits and misses. Farhan Akhtar was definitely a winner when it came to winning best Actor male for his role in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. When it comes to his appearance, he is a winner again. The mix of...

I was enjoying the Gurgaon winters armed with my morning cup of tea when an article in the paper caught my attention and interest. It read “ Toxic metals in beauty products” It ‘s an eye opener to the safety gaps left by the unregulated cosmetic Industry. What was more shocking was the fact that some of the names listed by the CSE in the top offenders list were...

Red = festive. There are so many reds available now, if you do a Google search on how to choose a red lipstick, it will give you more than 3,00,000 pages to read. Red is a classic color but if you don’t have the perfect red it might spoil the whole look. If you have a warm skin tone, look for orangey or tomato reds. If you have a cooler skin tone, try a...

One of my favourite “ME times” of the day, is in the morning, when I come back home after dropping my son to school. I rush to the bedroom, raise the curtains, and sit by the French windows. The morning sun seeping through and bathing the room warm. The background sound of the ‘jhadu’ in the expert hands of the house keeping on the ground floor. Cupping a cup...

Christmas is here and New Year is just a few days away. A perfect month for retailers to lure us with one word, ‘SALE’. Is the shopping that we do, sale oriented, or do we buy based on need? This is a very subjective matter and I know many people who would argue and say that sales are really bad. They only shop when they need. But, in reality it’s basic human...

Before we start…… just a little information from you : Can you honestly say : You have never looked into the mirror and said “S*** ! I NEED to loose weight !!”.   Y/N (even if only a few hours have lapsed since the last  time you saw yourself in the mirror) You have never gone on a diet and not even thought about trying one.                 Y/N (even if for...

Fashion or Fit – Indian Cinema When it comes to Indian cinema, we have known for a long time that in the battle of fashion vs fit, fashion beats fit hands down most of the time. But, there’s plenty of good work going on. The exceptions stand out with attire and make-up that fit the role, the story line and the director’s vision rather than the notion of pure...

ICBI is taking a leap ahead in continuing its efforts of reaching out to its audience. The beginning was made with the first set of ads projecting First Impressions and Image Consultants during the show “What Not to Wear India” hosted by actress Soha Ali Khan and designer Aki Narula. The response to the ads has been tremendous. We now continue these ads to...

As a fashion stylist, an innate sense of colour and style is the base material you carry. To this, a certified fashion stylist course builds the foundation and the structure, teaching you all there is to know about your profession. In addition to these, you need to pick up other practical elements to stay on top of the business every day of your working life....

Luxury brands cannot be defined objectively. What is luxury to one could be completely ordinary for another. Knowing the client’s profile, life style, social, personal and business lives becomes necessary when suggesting luxury brands to your clients. But, first things first. What Makes a Luxury Brand? Can a product that is the rage in all the right circles...

Working abroad can give the much-needed boost to your career. But the challenge lies in making the most of the overseas assignment. In addition to your occupational skills, it is how you manage your image when working in a different environment that leads to success. From clothing and grooming to body language, etiquette and how you communicate, you need to...

How would you predict a stranger’s chance of success at work? On his technical knowledge? And on the experience he gains as he moves onward? You would be better off observing his soft skills to make the prediction. According to research by Stanford and the Carnegie Foundation, 85% of the reason a person gets a job, will keep a job and move ahead in that job has...

Zohra Chitalwala, Director and Founder of Image2Image zo’s Consultation, often came across the statement during her consultations with clients, “I wish we were taught these life skills earlier in life.” Zohra realized it would be good to introduce a program along with Image Makeover with a slightly different module for teenagers and youth. She was given...

From sleek to sunny to retro, Drew Barrymore is a sight to watch. She comes from a long lineage of actors, directors and writers. The god daughter of Steven Spielberg and of Sophia Loren, Drew Barrymore had first appeared in an advertisement when she was less than a year old. As a child actress, we remember her for her role in E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. A...

Miller’s Bolt – A Modern Business Parable By Thomas Stirr Miller’s Bolt is a fictional story of Jim Manion, one of the top performers at his company who is in danger of being fired due to his poor interpersonal relationships. With just three months to change himself, he takes the help of a friend, Peter Miller to turn himself around. Author Thomas Stirr offers...

Ashirvad Pipes, based in Bangalore, is the manufacturer of uPVC riser / drop / column pipes used in the erection of submersible borehole pumps. Ashirvad is also the manufacturer and marketer of Flowguard CPVC pipes and fittings in addition to being the licensee of Lubrizol-USA. With their commitment to quality and service and towards bringing about the highest...

The art of smart dressing lies in building an effective wardrobe and in taking care of it. It isn’t just about getting the right ensemble complete with all the accessories, clothing and over wear in the right style,pattern and colour. This approach is not only expensive, but also very limiting when it comes to bringing variety to your wardrobe. Planning and...

  They are the perfect wear for winters. They look right on most occasions. They are a necessary element of the chic and the fashionable wardrobe. They are trench coats. Worn over formals, jeans, sweaters, shift dresses, leggings or frocks, trench coats make you look stylish and trendy. The history of trench coats truly begins with Thomas Burberry who...

Women have been carrying safety pins for a long time to protect themselves against unwanted advances from men. Given the continuing incidents of violence against women, it makes great sense to carry items that give you precious minutes to make your escape from men who are not deterred by safety pins. Pepper sprays, alarms and stun guns are handy items to carry...

New Year resolutions are many. Here we bring you resolutions in image management and more for the new year to project a confident, assertive you. These 8 resolutions are our bid to help you achieve your goals this year and for many years to come. 1. Art of Style: In order to leave a lasting impression, project your real self. These begin with first impressions...

Powder blush, cream blush, gel blush, tint blush, shimmers, there are plenty of blush types to choose from, depending on your skin type and the look you want. Powder Blush Most skin types can use powder blush, but it is particularly suited for oily skin and when you look for long-lasting colour. Powder blushes are also right for the summers. But, when you have...

“How to create the right First Impression” Workshop Conducted by Certified Image Consultants from Image Consulting Business Institute

While boots have entered the workplace, there is far more to boots when it comes to casual and evening wear. Taboos are lowered, but some caution is needed. If you want to play it safe, avoid the thigh-high boots. Wear the below-the-knee boots, mid-calf boots and ankle boots all you want during the winters. Matching Style: Match the boot style with that of your...

Tangerine Tango, the colour of energy, life and spirit, is the colour of Fall Winter 2012. A reddish orange, it is all about recharging and moving forward with a bounce in your step. It falls between the adventurous red and the cheerful warmth of the yellow, bringing a bit of both to your attire – high energy with a lot of playfulness. Tangerine Tango is about...

It’s been a long break from work – you may have had a child or moved to a different city or country or taken a break for a different reason. Alternately, it could be the first time you are entering the workforce outside home. Along with the excitement of getting back to work is the stress of what it’s going to be like. Prepare yourself by learning and upgrading...