November 2006 Newsletter If this email is not displayed correctly click here to view as a web page

Although a shirt or sweater may not be the most exciting of Christmas or birthday presents, it often relieves the recipient of the need to shop for it himself.

Available NOW from www.colourmebeautiful.co.uk/shop and from your colour me beautiful consultant. Click here for a directory. This book is for men who either shop themselves or rely on their sisters, mother or partner to do it for them. How about giving him something that will take the mystery out of it all.

A man does not normally wear make-up nor does he often colour his hair, so getting his colours right will help him look healthier and fitter. Whether he wears a suit, shirt and tie for work, or has a more casual work wardrobe, how he is seen at work does matter. Simply changing the colour of the shirt – say from pure white to ivory - will make him look younger ! We know that most men are budget conscious when it comes to spending money on clothes, and having a co-ordinated wardrobe which works well will, in the end, save him money. Whether he’s a Brad Pitt look alike (great in muted colours) or more of an Antonio Banderas (just delicious in dark and deep colours), he needs to wear his right colours to make the most of himself. Of course if he’s more like George Clooney (looking more and more distinguished and statesman-like with his greying hair) cool colours (blues, greys and blue-based pinks) will enhance his natural features. Young Prince Harry with his head of red hair (warm colouring) looks great when he wears rusts and browns mixed with olive, but just looks like he’s had a long night out when he’s wearing black formal tails. Now, if the man has blond hair and pale blue eyes – think Paul Bethany – please steer him away from black and other dark colours. If he has to wear a suit, make it as light a shade of grey or navy as his place of work and trade allows. If shirts and sweaters are his uniform, stone-coloured and light brown are good starting points. For more information on colour consultations for men, click here.

But colour is not the only thing to think about when the man dresses. Just like us women, men have body shapes too - not as many as women do - but whether they are broad shouldered or a little round in the tummy area, what they wear will matter and can make them look broader/slimmer/ taller/shorter. Just like for women it is a question of balance. If the man is an Arnold Schwarzenegger type (an inverted triangle with broad shoulders) he’ll want to show off his stature and opt for a structured jacket – anything soft and rounded will dwarf his physique. Mr. Rectangle (think golfer Tiger Woods) will suit more fitted- type jackets and should think about tucking his shirts and T-shirts in. For those with a more contoured and cuddly physique (think Mr. Rounded à la Ricky Gervais) the cut of the jacket should be softer and looser and he’ll need to put some thought as to the fabrics he wears (nothing too stiff and restricting).

With all the talk of who the next Labour Prime Minister should be, and political parties positioning their contenders for the next elections, our leaders should think whether they are dressed for success and what their images say to the voting public. Gordon Brown might well think of himself as Prime Minister in waiting, but his natural style personality lets him down. He badly needs an image makeover and should use Image Matters for Men as his sartorial bible. On the other hand Sir Ming Campbell is the epitome of the classic style personality. Move him away from his safe clothing combinations and he feels uncomfortable. This is a man of tradition and he will never surprise us with his dress code. David Cameron easily changes his look to ensure he’s appropriately dressed for any occasion. So whether he’s strolling around with a push chair in jeans and polo shirt, cycling to work in his combats and converse trainers, or in a British-cut suit at the podium, his international look is likely to appeal to many. Other style personalities are yet to be demonstrated by politicians, but Sir Bob Geldof (Creative), Bono (Dramatic) and Sting (Romantic) may well one day come at the forefront.

Knowing what the man should wear for which occasion can be a real maze too. Just in the workplace there is formal, business casual, dress down, smart casual, informal and casual and it all calls for fine tuning. The dress down office rules which have been around for a good decade are still giving headaches to employees and employers. So when in doubt he should take his cue from the host (a phone call may well avoid him embarrassment) or his boss. For more information on men’s image consultation click here. So let’s face it, image does matter for men too. At colour me beautiful we know how important it is for men to be comfortable in what they wear, to project the right image whether they want to go up the corporate ladder or woo their future partner. For more information on cmbcorporate, the corporate division of colour me beautiful, click here.

In the meantime if you want to start the party season with your own colour me beautiful party to get you into your right colours and make-up, click here to find out how fun finding your colours can be.

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