Travel + Color + Style = Unexpected Gifts

This is going to be some year. None of us can afford the luxury of self-protection or keeping up pretenses of any sort. Nope, it’s a year to say who we are, what we stand for and what we are going to do about it.

My business has always been about helping others walk their talk. Building their looks to reflect their inner and outer style and to tell the world what they are up to. My business, Panache, is one of the of the loves of my life because it allows me to help people in special, intimate way. Sometimes the changes happen slowly, sometimes almost overnight. No matter, it’s the result that my client sees and FEELS that is so important.

Now it’s my turn. Deep breath. I have felt out of touch with Panache for more than a year and have tried a number of ways to fit my business model – what services I offer and who really is my client – around all sorts of advice from marketing experts and advisors. Should I be “Stylist”? “Image Consultant”? How about “Wardrobe Coach”? How do you tell people that getting help on looking your best is not just for rich people or celebs? People really do ask me if I only work with celebrities! I honestly haven’t worked with even one of that rare breed. Not that I wouldn’t, I just haven’t been asked. What the heck to you call someone

who does what I do? Are there enough people in Austin who need/want this kind of help enough to part with some of their hard-earned money? Somehow, it just wasn’t communicating and my sales numbers were showing it. Not something for polite company in a blog but there you go.

Here is my journey and if you want to know how it ends without reading the story you can just skip to the last few paragraphs. We are all busy so no judgement.

October 2016 I took a trip to get myself re-centered – a week in the Caribbean is a great way to get perspective. OK, now I had a better idea of my goals and a recommitment to Panache, whatever that would mean.

November 2016 Austin and San Diego and more clarity on how much it matters for me to succeed with this business. It’s just the right thing to do right now. For too many reasons to name here.

December 2016 Austin and the cedar fever starts. Two years ago it lead to pneumonia and last year a burst eardrum and deafness in one ear for six weeks… I love you guys but get me the hell out of here!

January 2017 I stuck around long enough to give Paul (beloved and wonderful architect husband) an awesome birthday party. Then I took off for some spiritual work in Clearwater, Florida. Not only is it 70’s and sunny, THERE IS NO CEDAR!!!!!!!!!!

So, I am toiling away getting spiritually cleaned up and continuing to look at where my business successes have been in the past. What did people come to me for in the first place – and send their friends and family too. By crunching the numbers for the past seven years, it turns out that Personal Color Analysis was the #1 item. Hmmm, only problem was that the vendors I had used for the color palettes had been unsatisfactory or had gone out of business. No wonder I quit promoting it. Very frustrating.

This is where the unexpected gift comes in. For some reason, (likely to just let off steam) I called Color Me Beautiful, the original brand with which I did color and image certification, just to talk to them about the 4-Season color palettes they were offering (instead of the 12-Seasons that they used to offer) and how I was taking them apart to customize them for my clients. Long silence on the other end of the line. You are? Yep, says I, my clients deserve a palette that really works for them and I just can’t be satisfied with one that isn’t right for them. Well, says she, you should probably know about Color Alliance.

Turns out that CMB bought a company that makes totally custom, computerized color palettes and if I’m willing to invest my money and time in their 3-day training I can become a certified Color Alliance consultant. That decision was actually a no-brainer. I have wanted custom color palettes for my clients since forever. All I needed to do was put my spirituality on hold, get up to Washington, D.C., the next week and do the training. Some obstacles had to be overcome, not the least of which was the trainer breaking her arm the week before but persevering anyway (now that’s commitment!).

I did the 3-day advanced color training, additional professional wardrobe training for women and men and a refresher on the CMB makeup line. Mind blown! Great system and even better that every color in the custom palette is going to be perfect for that person, including having specific colors to use to enhance their skin tone and hair and eye colors. Can you tell I’m a color and style nerd?

Color Alliance by CMB Custom Color Palette
What I have realized is that this work is aligned with my purpose to help as many

as I can learn the skills of being dressed well for the events of their lives. My role is first and foremost the teacher who takes you through Color and Style 101. Since I consider this basic information that we should all have been taught in middle school, it is pretty awesome to be able to share it in a package that is accessable to a wide audience. I LOVE helping people become self sufficient in handling their wardrobes. It’s great having people send me pictures of the outfits they put together themselves after they have learned the color and style principles that work for them.

Of course I will still go shopping with you and put together outfits for you! The work we do together depends on what you want to accomplish with your style and wardrobe. But with this service you will know what works for you – and what doesn’t! I still haven’t come up with what to call myself but I’m much more clear about what Panache and I are about.

FOOTNOTE:

I am still in Florida and in between my spiritual studies I am doing some practice color analysis and makeup lessons. The skill level required to do the color analysis is considerable but well worth my efforts. I am finally happy with the depth of information I can give someone in a short amount of time. I’ll be home the end of February and excited to start offering Color Alliance by CMB color and clothing styles analysis. You can call or email me if you want to book an appointment or find out more.

WANTED:

Your comments and some feedback on what to call myself. Vote on any of the titles listed above or add your own. The point is, I want to find out what title/job description you think most people would respond to as someone to help them be more put together in their colors and styles.