| NEW YORK IMAGE CONSULTANT | | | | test well in any white collar work environment. |
| Image consultant services can help New Yorkers | | | | One of the most common mistakes New York men |
| avoid the three major style mistakes they make. The | | | | make is wearing scuffed shoes or shoes of the |
| first mistake is failing to wear appropriate colors. The | | | | wrong color. The only appropriate color shoes for |
| second mistake is wearing the wrong shoes. The | | | | men in New York City are black and brown. The |
| third mistake is lack of style sense. All three mistakes | | | | wrong styles for men include shoes with white |
| are prevalent in the New York City area and mark | | | | details, shoes that have large lasts (the underside of |
| people as less successful and less credible with the | | | | the shoe, which can stick out), and shoes made of |
| public. | | | | inferior materials. (For example, a major brand |
| MISTAKE NUMBER ONE | | | | recently had an entire batch of polyurethane soles |
| The first mistake New Yorkers make more than | | | | that crumbled after a few months wear.) In New |
| other people is generally being unaware of | | | | York City, the number of stores where men can find |
| harmonious color combinations for clothes. Anyone | | | | appropriate footwear can be counted on one hand, |
| living in New York has to be impressed by the wide | | | | including Church's English Shoes, and John Lobb. |
| range of colors they see on people passing in the | | | | Unfortunately, some image consultants recommend |
| street, in Times Square, and in Central Park. As a | | | | shoes based on fashion rather than research. |
| result, they may succumb to the idea that wearing | | | | Salesmen in shoe stores generally know even less |
| trendy colors will make them look good. This is not | | | | about what works well in a New York business |
| necessarily so. In fact, this common misconception | | | | environment; their main motivation is selling. |
| can have serious implications for an individual's | | | | The easiest way to correct the second mistake New |
| credibility. | | | | Yorkers make is to choose the best shoes you can |
| Research shows that while certain colors will work | | | | afford. You may be assured that this strategy will |
| well in Manhattan business settings, other colors will | | | | succeed despite how expensive it may appear to be. |
| work better in casual environments. If you wear | | | | If you choose better shoes, they will last longer and |
| colors that have not tested well in a New York | | | | prove more economical over time. But whatever you |
| business setting, such as blue, gray, and beige, you | | | | do, keep in mind that the only acceptable colors for |
| risk losing credibility, and you also risk failing to | | | | men's footwear in New York are black and brown. |
| develop client rapport. Similarly, wearing analogous | | | | Women should also keep close to these darker |
| colors in a social setting can turn people off. | | | | shades, even when wearing lighter outfits. |
| (Analogous colors are close on the color wheel, such | | | | MISTAKE NUMBER THREE |
| as beige and red, or blue and turquoise.) Such color | | | | The third mistake New Yorkers make is failing to |
| combinations can hurt not only your social success | | | | develop their style sense. Believe it or not, more |
| but also your business success since a fair amount of | | | | people in the fashion capital of the world make this |
| business today is transacted in social settings. | | | | mistake every day than do those in other cities. Style |
| Research clearly demonstrates that navy blue paired | | | | sense does not mean being aware of the latest |
| with beige, for example, is appropriate for business in | | | | designs from DKNY or Versace. Instead, style sense |
| New York. Mixing analogous blue and green, however, | | | | refers to the ability to distinguish between effective |
| fails to have a positive effect. | | | | and ineffective styles in clothing. |
| New Yorkers can learn from Michel-Eugène | | | | Effective clothing does two things. First, it conveys |
| Chevreul's book, De la loi du contraste simultané | | | | the subliminal message that the wearer is credible. |
| des couleurs (1839) (English title: The Laws of | | | | New Yorkers want to be stylish, but they usually |
| Contrast of Colors), a classic that influenced the | | | | don't realize that certain colors and styles convey |
| French Impressionists, including van Gogh, Signac, | | | | subliminal messages. Second, effective clothing makes |
| Seurat, and Monet. His conclusions can help New | | | | the wearer fit in smoothly in a business setting and |
| Yorkers overcome the unique trend toward a general | | | | brings the individual added respect, power, and |
| laxity when it comes to color awareness. Chevreul | | | | confidence. Your wardrobe can have a profound |
| pointed out that painters should be aware of the | | | | effect on how you are received in a New York |
| "modifications of tone and color which [figures] | | | | professional setting. |
| receive from contiguous colors" (70). In other words, | | | | For example, research demonstrates that a New |
| colors that are next to each other influence one | | | | York male attorney will have more credibility with a |
| another. Cevreul goes on to point out that | | | | judge from ivy league law schools if the attorney |
| contiguous complementary colors (for example red | | | | avoids paisley ties. Other tie patterns will work better |
| and green) will make both colors more intense. | | | | with such judges, including solids and polka dots. |
| Chevreul's image consultant research can help New | | | | Similarly, there are certain tie patterns and suit colors |
| Yorkers overcome the first common mistake, failing | | | | that will work more effectively with blue collar clients, |
| to be aware of harmonious color combinations. One | | | | and other patterns and colors that will be more |
| solution is to use Chevreul's theory of | | | | effective with white collar workers in Manhattan. |
| complementary color when choosing an outfit. When | | | | Navy blue jackets are one of the most effective |
| wearing a navy blue jacket, for example, match it | | | | colors in New York when dealing with the middle and |
| with its complementary, such as a yellow tie. At the | | | | lower class; gray works well for the upper class client. |
| same time, avoid analogous colors in pants, such as | | | | Research also indicates that female attorneys in New |
| pale blue, purple, plum, or pink. When wearing a beige | | | | York will run into problems when wearing pants suits |
| jacket, match it with its complementary, a light blue | | | | if they are dealing with middle class men. Knowing |
| shirt. At the same time, avoid analogous colors, like | | | | what has tested well in New York is vital for |
| red or yellow pants. | | | | attorneys and salesmen. Indeed, knowing these style |
| MISTAKE NUMBER TWO | | | | secrets can be a key to greater business success in |
| The second mistake New Yorkers tend to make | | | | New York. |
| more than those from other parts of the country is | | | | NEW YORK STYLE MISTAKES CORRECTED |
| wearing the wrong footwear. Some styles are not | | | | The style mistakes we discussed above can be |
| going to be well received in the workplace. For | | | | corrected, but doing so can often be a daunting task. |
| example, sneakers are a poor choice because they | | | | Like a butler with inside knowledge, a trained image |
| are not perceived as professional, and yet many | | | | consultant can guide you to the most effective |
| New Yorkers wear running shoes, especially when | | | | choices and help you gain respect, authority, and |
| walking to work. Then they wear this inappropriate | | | | credibility in New York. |
| footwear as they enter the office. Sneakers do not | | | | |