Innovation & Inspiration

BY LENORE AGUILAR

"EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, A NEW TECHNOLOGY, AN OLD PROBLEM, AND A BIG IDEA TURN INTO AN INNOVATION.” — DEAN KAMEN, INVENTOR OF SEGWAY TECHNOLOGY

"WHAT IS NOW PROVED WAS ONCE ONLY IMAGINED.” — WILLIAM BLAKE, LATE 18TH-EARLY 19TH CENTURY POET, PAINTER, AND SOCIAL CHANGE ADVOCATE

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: I originally submitted this article before the pandemic. It’s now April, and our world seems so surreal like I’m in one of those Hollywood doomsday movies. But in this movie, I’m the helpless bystander, and the two doctors and two nurses in my family are the action heroes, donning their protective equipment, and risking their own lives to battle the coronavirus enemy. They are my inspiration.

This issue’s column looks at innovations that help image consultants better serve their clients. We also take a look at an organization’s mission to impact the fashion industry on a global scale and learn how image consultants can play a role. Hopefully, these innovative examples can inspire AICI members to differentiate their practice by solving old problems with new approaches.

Hue & Stripe

Hue & Stripe is a client management system with interactive personal shopping and styling features that, according to cofounder Craig Nordstrom, are “an extension of an image consultant’s personal touch.”

Image consultants can link finds from online retailers in the Finds section for clients to browse and shop. The Closet contains photos of the client’s items, uploaded by the client or consultant. The Lookbook section is where the consultant can style an outfit with garments from the Finds or the Closet section. Each section is interactive, where client and consultant can add comments. An example can be viewed at hueandstripe.com/catalog/102H&S51FP

Beyond the tools, Hue & Stripe offers free monthly webinars on various topics.

Mr. Nordstrom estimates that of the 250 Hue & Stripe members, approximately three to four dozen are AICI members. Membership is $85 per month or $210 per quarter. All certified AICI members are eligible to join and can request an invitation at hueandstripe.com or email Craig Nordstrom directly at Craig@HueAndStripe.com.

MOSTY

Founded by Juliana Berman and partner Victor Berman, MOSTY (My Own Style) is a technology solution where clients can access their image consultant’s recommendations from their computer or cellphone app.

In the client profile section, the consultant can select the client’s silhouette, facial shape, and cosmetology. After a color analysis, the client can access the Personal Color section with an online color chart. In addition, the client can view a personalized style guide in the Moodboard and a photo gallery of their outfits in the Virtual Closet.

Three versions are available beginning at $15 per month, depending on the features included. A demo video and a five-day free trial are available in Portuguese and can be translated with Google Translate.

www.mosty.com

Analyzing a style type can be confusing at times. The 16 Style Types aids in understanding the relationship between personality and style “by tapping into the psychology of style” using a personality analysis tool based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The tool was developed by image consultants Imogen Lamport, an AICI award winner, and Jill Chivers, along with Dr. Jane Kise, a leadership consultant and MBTI® Master Practitioner.

How can a client bring her style to life with 16 Style Types?

She receives a 30-page illustrated Style Type Report, a 10-minute video explaining how to bring her style type to life, a 40-page workbook with questions and resources, and a Get Traction resource with activities and exercises.

The report is USD$47. A sample is available on the website: www.16styletypes.com

The mission of the non-profit global organization Fashion Revolution is to change “the way our clothes are sourced, produced and consumed, so that our clothing is made in a safe, clean and fair way.”

The organization is best known for its annual Fashion Transparency Index, a scorecard of 200 major retailers’ and fashion brands’ transparency (or lack of) in their supply chains, sustainability initiatives, and labor practices. In 2019, Adidas, Reebok, and Patagonia garnered the highest score with 64 percent each.

The index was created in response to the 2013 collapse of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh, which housed garment factories manufacturing for many wellknown global brands. With 1,138 worker fatalities and 2,500 injuries, the deadliest garment factory disaster in history put a spotlight on the industry’s exploitative working conditions and destructive environmental practices.

In addition to the index report, Fashion Revolution conducts year-round campaigns and organizes the annual Fashion Revolution Week, held worldwide. Activities include clothes swaps, sharing a story on social media about a garment that has personal meaning, and film viewings, just to name a few. This year’s Fashion Revolution Week will be held from April 20 to 26, 2020.

Visit www.fashionrevolution.org to learn more and to obtain the complete index report for free.

LENORE AGUILAR is the founder of MUSE Personal Styling and a freelance fashion writer. The Las Vegas area resident is also the lead personal stylist at Dress for Success of Southern Nevada, where she has styled hundreds of women preparing for job interviews and trained nearly 100 volunteer stylists. Lenore is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Image Consulting Certificate Program. She holds an MBA with a marketing concentration from Golden Gate University. She enjoys travelling and hiking.

www.dressforsuccess.org

MY AICI CERTIFICATION STORY

BY ALHELÍ VALERIO, AICI CIC

ACHIEVING THE AICI CIC CREDENTIAL HAS HELPED ME BECOME MORE PROFESSIONAL, INCREASED MY CREDIBILITY WITH MY CLIENTS AND OPENED DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES. THANKS TO THE CERTIFICATION AND MY BACKGROUND IN THE CORPORATE SECTOR, I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH IMPORTANT COMPANIES AND SEVERAL ENTREPRENEURS LOOKING TO IMPROVE THEIR BUSINESS AND CONFIDENCE THROUGH THEIR IMAGE.

Istarted my journey in image consulting as a makeup artist. I enjoyed noticing how every client changed little by little as the makeup process was evolving. As they learned more about makeup, they looked more beautiful, and completely changed their attitude and body language. They thought they looked pretty and acted accordingly. I realized I needed more tools if I wanted to help my clients continue to feel that way, as not only did they contact me for makeup services for their special events, but every single day.

I spent several years practicing image consulting before I knew about AICI. The two first people to mention AICI to me are now AICI CIMs. I remember telling my husband about an international organization where I could join, learn from the experts, and make a difference in my career as an image consultant by becoming certified. It took me a couple of months to join AICI, but as soon as I did, achieving the certification became a professional and personal goal, even though I knew it would take time and effort.

I read somewhere that you cannot go to bed unless you have worked at least a little to accomplish your goals, so I studied every book recommended, attended several courses and checked every single requirement. I made sure not only to have everything that I needed but also tried to exceed the requirements. When I think about the process, I now see that although it is not easy, I can really say it is easier than you think while you are doing it. If you are thinking about it, please do not hesitate. I am sure you can accomplish it!

Achieving the AICI CIC credential has helped me become more professional, increased my credibility with my clients and opened different opportunities. Thanks to the certification and my background in the corporate sector, I have had the opportunity to work with important companies and several entrepreneurs looking to improve their business and confidence through their image. Most importantly, it has improved my reputation as an image consultant. My colleagues now come to me for guidance and support when they want to work together or pursue their AICI CIC.

It has been almost seven years since I joined AICI, and I can honestly say that I have really enjoyed the journey and I am more than proud to be AICI. I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to serve AICI members on the Teleclass Committee, as the President of Guadalajara Chapter, and now as the VP Chapters where I’m able to meet colleagues from all over the world, learn from them and try to help them achieve their goals.

I need to say thanks to all of you who have supported me through this beautiful experience: my family, teachers, colleagues, friends from all over the world, Teleclass Education team, my dear Guadalajara Chapter members, and now the International Board. Thank you!