It’s time to come out of winter hibernation. Clearly, I (and my blog) have been sequestered. Now that the temperature is warming up, it’s time to assess how we dress to impress.

you are your own brand
Do you think of your personal image as a brand? YOU are a brand. How you present yourself to the world— whether you’re a soccer mom or seasoned corporate executive—projects a brand that’s all yours. So, what is your personal brand?

spring closet makeover
Ladies, it’s springtime. I don’t know about you, but my spring cleaning goes beyond scrubbing the walls of my home, and I dig into my closet and purge! The closet changeover is a great time to assess what you’ve got, what you need, and what you can toss. A spring wardrobe makeover may be just what you need to put your best self forward. And gents, don’t feel sad. I’ll get to your top 10 list, too….looking fashionable isn’t just for us women!

While wardrobe necessities generally don’t fluctuate too much, I have a few twists on my list. Take a look at my top 10, then take a look at your closet and see what’s missing, or what needs updating.

David Meister LBD

1. The LBD—The Little Black Dress is an absolute must. Whether a classic sheath or form fitting knee-length number, you’ll reach for this dress again and again. Paired with sleek heels for a romantic dinner out, or with a blazer and boots for a board meeting, the LBD is a timeless essential.

2. Luxury handbag—A luxurious, buttery soft leather handbag is something to behold. However you define luxury, luxury defines you. Maybe your version of luxury is a Louis Vuitton (which I long to have someday!) or a great patent leather hobo. The luxury is in the details: hardware, pocket detail, leather, and lining. What’s important is you splurge on an eye catching piece you’ll love hauling around as arm candy.

My spring arm candy! Andrew Marc 'Maddy' satchel

3. Perfect fitting black dress pants—Like the LBD, a woman can’t live without great fitting black dress pants! Cut and style are important, as well as fabric content. A pair that goes from season to season is ideal, or, even better, have several pairs that span the temperatures of the changing seasons. This wardrobe staple is worth the investment, so don’t skimp on the designer, fit or details.

4. Go-to blazer—Fitted and functional, leather or wool, every wardrobe needs a great fitting blazer that can be worn with anything—skirt, jeans or dress pants. My go-to blazer is a burgundy vintage leather that is perfect for spring and fall months, looks great with dress pants or funky with a casual tee and jeans. Find one that suits your needs and don’t be afraid to spend a little. This essential piece should last years and years (so steer clear of anything too trendy).

5. Sleek heels—Pair them with jeans or your LBD.

Patent leather peep toes

A sleek pair of heels does wonders for any outfit, I mean any outfit! High heels make them more versatile, and of course, open toe sandals add to the sexy factor. This is one item to splurge in the designer department. Your tootsies will thank you.

6. Power pant suit—I can’t leave this off the list!! While separates are good, a power pant suit is phenomenal. Especially if you spring for a designer suit with sleek lines and a tailored cut. Fit is key! And I’ll share what my mom taught me: if it comes with a skirt, buy all three pieces: pant, jacket, skirt. Your options are never-ending.

7. Designer jeans—Almost as tricky to find as a swimsuit, a great pair of designer jeans is a staple for the modern woman. Look for something with stretch, a boot leg and dark rinse, preferably…these are the most flattering features of today’s array of designer denim. Find the look that flatters from all angles and watch how these will transform your casual wardrobe!

8. Any occasion top—This will become your go-to top for a night out or under a suit blazer. Versatility is the name of the game. Look for tops you can dress up for flirty fun or add some pizzazz to your 9 to 5 look.

9. Timepiece—Notice I don’t call it a watch. It’s a timepiece. You spend a small fortune on clothes, so make sure your wrist is wearing a timepiece that does more than tell time…it let’s others know you mean business. And it doesn’t need to be a $12,000 Cartier—one of my favorite timepieces is a vintage Hamilton I bought in NYC for under $5oo.

10. Trench coat—Whether it’s a classic belted tan trench or an updated metallic, every woman needs a trench coat. Length and color can vary for this key seasonal transition piece. Your fall wardrobe will take on a whole new feel with this timeless addition, and it’s perfect for the rainy spring months.

DKNY Metallic Trench

seasonal extras

1. Statement/Signature jewelry—Think the ‘Carrie’ necklace from Sex in the City: a statement jewelry piece you practically become known for. I have two: an ‘L’ necklace, and multi-stone ring I wear everywhere, everyday. Find a statement piece of jewelry and make it your own.

2. Cashmere sweater—Cashmere is no longer a luxury item. A range of blends and prices are available, making the cashmere sweater not only attainable, but affordable. With so many styles to choose from: turtleneck, v-neck, or cardigan, its layering versatility will add greatly to your wardrobe.

3. Classic shirt—I want to say ‘classic white shirt,’ but why limit yourself? The dress shirt simply needs to fit well, allow versatility (think with a vest instead of a jacket) and suit your personality (Stripes? Silk? Cuffs?). The sky is the limit. Just make sure it fits…everywhere. Bulging buttons is not an option.

This has been my mantra for t he last several months.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself.

I was reminded of this poem today and wanted to share it with others who may need the reminder to never, ever give up.

Don’t Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit –
Rest if you must, but don’t quit.

Life is strange with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow –
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a fair and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out –
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,
It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.

~Author Unknown

Happy Holidays and best wishes for a wildly successful 2010!

I’m trying something new in my business these days. Something so radical and shocking it forced me to dust off my blog and write about it.

Want to know what it is?

I’m using the telephone to contact people. Not just contact them, but call them.

Crazy, eh?!?

Let me explain. No, let me sum up. (Bonus points if you know the movie.)

We live in a technologically over stimulated society. From young to old, personal to professional relationships, we’re becoming comfortably numb (great Kelly Clarkson lyric, by the way!) by technology today.

I’m finding some people don’t really use their phones to actually call someone anymore. It’s not a phone. It’s a GPS! It’s a PDA!  It’s a multi-function device to surf the web, play video games, watch You Tube, tweet and ping others with. That’s right, I said ping. It’s a camera! It’s a hand-held computer! (Author’s note: I wrote this blog on my cell phone, aka Black Berry memo pad, at 3:something AM because I wanted to save the steps of getting upstairs to my computer.) Get my point!?

It’s outta control.

Recently, I was speaking with a fellow business owner who expressed shock at how many text messages they receive daily from clients. I agreed (even though my situation is much more tame than theirs). Our instant gratification society has leaked over into business communications, too.  Have you noticed people now send a text message asking if you’ve received an email…which was sent only moments before? We know that everyone is walking around with a similar amount of technology, so we expect an instant response. If we don’t get one, the texts, tweets and pings begin.

Sometimes, the first point of contact is even  made with a text message…not a good ‘ole phone call, but a short, limited-to-140-characters text message. That’s what I find the most surprising. It’s becoming more and more acceptable to hide behind uber modern technology and do business with a device, not a person.

So, I’ve decided to kick it old school and do business the old fashioned way, all while using my PDA for it’s original reason for being…a telephone. Instead of sending an email, I dial digits. Tempted to text? I call instead. The shock on the other end of the phone is worth the price of admission. People are actually befuddled to hear a voice, instead of simply hearing a variety of beeps alerting them to varying messages that they can choose to ignore.

Now don’t get me wrong. Plenty of people talk, talk, talk on their phones. But when it comes right down to it, it appears many would prefer to text or email rather than talk. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that).

So if you fall in the technology overload category, this is your challenge, if you chose to accept it. Try old school communication for a change of pace. See how you, and your clients, like it. After all, the phone was designed to reach out and touch…not text…someone.

I’ve long been a believer in the power of networking. And I’ve been on a networking tear lately (clearly I’ve been too busy networking to keep up my blog). It’s surprising that so many events are going on during the summer months…perhaps it’s a sign of the times? People are enjoying Staycations, working more and traveling less. Thus the litany of networking opportunities. Since I’ve been out on the circuit, I’ve decided to jot down a few Do’s and Dont’s in my book to make networking all the more powerful. Take them with a grain of salt…I don’t call myself a Diva for nothing.

DO go to networking events prepared–look, walk and talk the part. Have business cards ready. Looking for a job? Have personal cards made up. How can you do business if someone can’t find you after the event? Unless you truly are that memorable, have your info on a printed card that folks take with them. Whether or not they use your card is an entirely different story…

DO go to networking events to netWORK. Set the intention of meeting the right people to help further your business. It’s called networking for a reason…people are there to do business. It’s not netPLAY, netDATE, netGETOUTOFTHEHOUSE. If you’re not there to netWORK, consider going to a lounge or club instead.

DO be selective of the events you go to. You don’t have to hit every single one out there (and there are plenty!). Find the events that suit your business needs. Be targeted and specific. If you’re a woman business owner, there’s plenty of events just for you. A budding entrepreneur? Work from home mom? There’s something for everyone. Dial into your appropriate network and go for it.

DON’T go just to gather business cards and add to your mailing list. It’s about making connections with people in real life. If I wanted to get spam, I’d stay at home and clean out my email. Make meaningful connections that will add value to your business, and mine.

DON’T walk into the room if you’re not feeling it. Had a hectic day? Stuck in traffic? Delayed start? Mind somewhere else? Don’t even think that the event will be worth your time. Turn around. Go home. There will be another event that will be far more beneficial to you when you’re in the proper frame of mind.

DON’T expect results if you’re not doing the work. The power of networking is establishing symbiotic business relationships. That may be tricky to sort out in a five or ten minute conversation around  a cheese platter. Get offline. Get real. Get ideas flowing and deals going. Get into business.

DO enjoy power networking! I’ve met many great people, enjoyed detailed dialogue, and explored collaborations with like-minded folks I met around a cheese platter. Each event is an adventure in business if you set your mind to the power of networking. And go with an open mind, and plenty of business cards.

For those of you on the networking circuit, I’m sure I’ll see you soon.

After working in the marketing industry for over 16 years, I’m used to justifying a companies’ investment in marketing, branding, advertising and public relations. Unlike other functions within an organization, it’s not as easily quantifiable as say, product development, or maintenance. If you pay someone to develop a widget, then sell that widget for a profit, you’re able to justify why you paid someone to develop that widget in the first place. They developed a tangible product that you in turn, were able to sell.

Branding is a little bit different.

Recently I was asked what the ROI is on branding, and explained it as I normally would: organizing your company, product or service into a comprehensive brand that is readily identifiable and easily communicated to your target audience provides long term benefits…of course, those benefits aren’t necessarily measured in dollars and cents.

Then I started to think about it some more (dangerous, I know!)

My thought is, how can you NOT invest in your brand? Afterall, it’s YOU. You (your product, service, organization, and yes, you) are your own brand. How critical is it that you put your best foot forward?

For example, if you were interviewing for a job, or had a weekend seminar speaking engagement, you would most likely shop for a new suit, blouse, shoes, etc., have your hair done, make sure your look was polished. I would hope you’d make sure your nails were filed, and even the basics, that your outfit matched the industry you were trying to break into. If you were speaking at a seminar “Engineers: Evolution of Natural Science”, I imagine you would dress conservatively: dark, plain suit, low heels, nothing flashy. On the other hand, if you were interviewing for a position at a downtown ad agency in the Jewelry District that prides itself on fresh thinking, creative solutions and a hippy vibe, you’d more than likely leave the dark conservative suit at home and wear something trendy, funky and as far from corporate as you could get.

Developing your brand is no different. You want to make sure how you present yourself will resonate with your target audience. It’s investing in you (meaning your company) the same way you would if you went out and bought that new suit for a job interview. How do you show the return on that purchase?

Making a positive first impression is the name of the game. Your brand image is that first impression a customer has of you…but here’s the real question: is that image the impression you’re hoping to make? Are you thrilled to hand out your business cards? Or do you do it, with an explanation that it’s not quite right, or you’re having them redone? Do you revel in sending customers or potential clients to your website? Or do you shudder at the thought, afraid you’ve just sent a potential client on a wild goose chase of trying to discern who you are from your outdated pages? If a customer can’t connect the dots between what you do and how you do it, and their first impression is less than favorable, from my humble perspective, the brand riddle is solved. Rather than looking at what branding initiatives are costing you, how about looking at the potential business you’re losing by not communicating your business proposition effectively.

Quite simply, you can’t afford NOT to invest in your brand. From your visual presentation (how you look) to your messaging (what you say), it’s critical to make a positive impact. After all, you really only get one chance to make a first impression.

Turns out other companies are discussing the resurgence of brand advertising, too.

http://adage.com/article?article_id=136629

If your company collateral has been around longer than most employees, it’s time for a makeover.

Is your image trapped in the 80s? Let’s revamp your look!

Attend my Marketing/Creative Copywriting 101 workshop to learn marketing, branding, and copywriting basics. Brought to you by Aspire Magazine, this introductory workshop is perfect for the small business owner who wants to learn how to do it yourself—understand the basics while infusing your copy with oomph! I’ve revamped countless individual and company brands (including the new April/May Aspire magazine!) Come learn branding basics and how to improve your copywriting skills to create marketing material with flair!

What will you learn at this workshop?

• Small business marketing
• Powerful marketing tips
• Branding basics: What is a brand? How does branding work?
• Essence of a brand
• Creative copywriting basics
• Do’s & Dont’s of copywriting
• How to write an ad

Who will love this workshop?

• Small business owners, entrepreneurs, self-starters…anyone interested in supporting their business by understanding the basics of marketing, branding, and copywriting.

Event details:
Date/time: Wednesday, May 13, 12:00pm
Location: 14 Phyllis Road, Foxoboro, MA
Cost: $35

Contact me to register: lori @ makeoverdiva.com

Sitting at my son’s first baseball game of the season tonight, I was reminded of an important lesson in business, and in life.

It’s all about momentum…

The force of movement in a positive direction. Usually there is an impetus for such momentum. In baseball, momentum comes from a series of great plays, one after another, feeding into the next. A great hit leads to an RBI…that scoring run propelling the team forward into a hot streak. Tonight the Orioles were on fire! First inning: three up, three down. Second inning continued in the same fashion. Third inning, they were up by five.

Then something happened.

The momentum shifted. Suddenly the opposing team was hitting, scoring, their stands cheering, and our team, the Orioles, was looking, and acting defeated. They’d lost their momentum. Or had they given it away to the other team? Just like a teeter totter, when one side is up, the other is down.

The same thing happens in business. Maintaining momentum can be tricky. Especially in these turbulent times. Continuing to focus on the positive things working in your organization is critical, especially when outside (or even inside) forces are tearing at the fabric of what makes you great, and ultimately, shifting your momentum, or focus.

Not to go too far with the baseball analogy, but you’ve got to stay on top of your game, or the momentum shift will become permanent…in the shape of a victory for the other team.

As for the Orioles, the momentum did shift back in their favor. However, it wasn’t enough to propel them to their first win. It was a tie, 8-8. As the coach surmised as they took their last round at bat with a tied up score, ‘at least we can’t lose.’ If only we all had that perspective!

Welcome to the Makeover Diva blog!!

It’s been a long time in coming, but I’ve finally given myself a makeover! Check out my updated corporate identity and website at www.makeoverdiva.com. I’ve even managed to get a few recent makeovers online…stay tuned for more as we really dig in.

Having just updated my own identity, it feels soooo good to have a brand look and feel that represents who you are as an individual business owner, corporate conglomerate, or individual walking down the street. You wear it well if you’re proud of what your brand says about you. If this describes you, congratulations! Feels good, doesn’t it? If it doesn’t, we should talk. Whether it’s a major overhaul or simple update, your makeover can make you feel like a million bucks. And in this economy, that’s really something!!