Mastering Your First Impression With Celeste Moore

In this episode of Not Nice, Clever, we’re getting into personal style, confidence, and the quiet power of first impressions with Celeste Moore, a globally certified master image consultant and celebrity stylist with decades of experience.

Celeste breaks down how style isn’t about trends, labels, or having a perfect closet. It’s about using what you wear as a tool—especially for introverted entrepreneurs who want their style to do some of the talking before they ever say a word.

We talk about:

• How to dress for impact without blowing your budget
• Why color matters more than you think
• Where most people go wrong when decluttering their closet
• How personal style can communicate confidence without forcing you to perform it

Whether you’re prepping for a big moment, building your personal brand, or just want your everyday outfits to reflect who you actually are, this episode feels like a mindset shift and a masterclass rolled into one.

Hit play to rethink your wardrobe, your confidence, and how to let your style speak for you.

• Connect with Celeste on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestemooreimage/
• Celeste's Website: https://celestemoore.com
• Check out the Moore Style podcast: https://celestemoore.com/podcast#/

Want Even More Personal Branding and Marketing Strategies?

📣 Amplify by Not Nice. Clever. is an entrepreneur's shortcut to standing out online. This hands-on, workshop-style program gives helps you and your team grow your business, strengthen your personal brand, and finally make social media work for you.

Find out more www.notniceclever.com

🏁 Connect With Us On Instagram!

• Not Nice Clever
• Candice Carcioppolo
• Kat Torre

🎙 Book Kat and Candice to speak at your next event, summit or workshop HERE

Chapters

• 0:00 Episode Trailer
• 1:27 Meet Celeste Moore: Style Expert
• 2:41 Networking Tips for Introverted Entrepreneur
• 3:30 Visual Branding & Marketing: Why Style Is Part of Your Brand

Transcript

 with the, yeah, so cool. Nostalgia, Anthony. Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. I was just curious. Especially that's what I got this, this week. Why? What's ha What's this week that's special? Oh no, just that I'm not her hair.

Yeah, my hair is normally, oh, okay. Yeah. My hair's normally like blow dried, curled, similar to yours, Celeste. And a shorter version of Candace's luscious locks. Um, yes. But yeah, I was just curious, uh, in real time. Yeah, you've got a fun vibe today. So I wanna know about your Forbes feature because that's extremely exciting and impressive and one of the things that you said in that feature was women are constantly told how to show up, but rarely asked how they want to be seen.

Mm-hmm. That hit me. That was so powerful. Yeah. What do you mean by that? Can you expand on that for us? I have connected with women just very recently. I only typically worked with men throughout my career because when I first started in my career, I was at the point and it was, I was young and women would hire me to, you know, take them shopping or do their closets.

They just kind of were almost like, Hmm, how do I say it? Oh no thanks. I already know what I like kind of thing. Or I'm just gonna wear this no matter what. And I was like, why are you wasting my time? Why are you wasting your time and money? And I just felt this like almost combativeness with women in the, in the beginning.

Mm-hmm. And so when I had male clients, they were just like, oh, I need to get from point A to point B. Let's do it. And I was like, oh, this is easy. People, they're really receptive to, to my work. And um, honestly, when I started to work on myself in the last couple years, like really work on myself. Like I started, I've been firewalking for a couple months and spiritually working with a coach and really diving deep into like.

Who I am, who is my identity, what is going on? Mm-hmm. I realized that for so many years, and I think I briefly touched on it, that I dressed for others. I dressed for the male gaze. I dressed for money, I dressed for acceptability, for a sense of self-worth, and I was like, whoa. But who am I and what do I, and how do I wanna show up?

And so things started to change for me and I realized that this is not, I'm not the only person that has these stories. You know, women are in male dominated spaces more and more because we're being called to be women leaders to be. We're, we're here, we're gonna change the world. This is a whole nother conversation, but through the divine feminine, you know?

Yeah. Part two, and I see how we've had to adjust and move to the male industry, right. To feel accepted. Mm-hmm. To feel valued, to be heard in those spaces. And we don't have to do that. We can show up in a way that's still professional. Mm-hmm. I'm not saying come to, there's a, there's another, uh, a spectrum where I actually had my first mentor who, uh, will not name names, um, but she's a big time speaker and she comes to the stage looking like she's going to the nightclub.

Now. I know there's that, there's a whole spectrum of women out there going great. Like, we get to wear whatever. How short, how bright, how whatever. Talk to women about business. To me, that just doesn't also resonate with me as well. 'cause I think there's a level of respect as well that's missing. So I truly believe that you can come to these spaces and show up with heart, show up authentically, show up really truly who you are and still be respected, be.

Make money, um, move into positions without having to explain yourself to others. So I think there's a way, and when you get to work with someone like me or just understanding who you are at the core and strategically, you know, there's a strategy behind it. But there's also a way to be authentically you.

I don't know if that answered it, but that ends and more, yeah. Yeah. What would be some questions that our clever crew could ask themselves to get clearer about their identity? Of, of who they are, because identity, I know you and I have had conversations about this and, and it's, it's so central to everything, Candace, and I see it in our, our coaching sessions.

It's so hard to put a finger on it because we're so close to it. So what would be some questions that you have asked, you know, yourself that, that our listeners could ask themselves to start to be aware of what it is right now? Yeah. And decide if they want to evolve or not. Yeah. Well, I think the very base and core of asking, do you feel that you're dressing for yourself?

Do you go in your closet and like your clothes or maybe like a item or two? And why do you like those clothing? So one thing I work with my clients is I have them do this. I'm gonna just. Um, no, no gatekeeping. So I'm gonna give you guys a little, I love it. Yeah, please. Exercising tool. If you want to take this, this is Yes.

Whoever wants to take this, um, I have my, when I sign up with a client, I have them do a unique action item, right? Like right away they go into your closet. Everything that you have not worn in two years, get rid of it. There's like no reasoning. You should have that in your closet because you should be making space for things that is the new version of you or the version of that you're looking to be.

And then also go into their, into your closet and say, is there anything here that doesn't make me feel good? Maybe I just have something in my closet that someone gave me and I feel obligated to have it or wear it. Or maybe I have jeans in here that when I was 20, and I know that I'll never get into them, but I keep them there because I think that one day after going after having babies, after going through menopause, I don't know all the stories that we tell ourselves that I'm gonna fit back into those genes.

And actually what you're doing is you're hurting yourself because every time you see those jeans, you're saying, I'm not enough of where I'm at today. So go through your closet just at the very basic and get rid of all of those items because you'll find so much. Like, you'll have so much more space emotionally and physically.

And then you can start looking at the pieces that you really love and why you love them. And then maybe lean into that a little bit. But understanding who your personality is, is really kind of understanding. Are you extroverted? Are you introverted? How do you process energy? How do you need to, um. Refuel your battery, if you will, and you could be both, and that's okay too.

What do you like to do for hobbies? If you like to read or if you like to do things outdoors, or if you like a little bit more of that me time versus being with others. Typically you're more introverted. Yeah. And that's okay too. That's us. But the, yeah. And. Understanding too, like, you know, sometimes profession doesn't necessarily mean who we are as the, as a person.

So I have a, a good friend of mine, a colleague who was in the, the Navy for 20 years. Badass woman. Um, speech writer for the White House. Really cool. But she had to be strong, dominating and asser assertive to be heard. Mm-hmm. But typically she's more introverted at the core. Interesting. So when you understand a little bit more about kind of the things that you enjoy, who you are energetically, you can start to wear colors that match that and you might not know your warmer cool, but like, like softer colors or olives or darker colors that kind of bring more of your personality to, to your attire.

Oh, those are just some basics. Do you find that people are ever surprised when they work with you, that you're not just going in their closet and telling them what to wear, but that you're giving them exercises that really cause them to have to reflect on who they are and where they're going and who they wanna be, how they wanna be perceived?

Yeah. I so. There is a lot of under not understanding of what I do, and so a lot of people are like, oh, cool, she's gonna come, she's gonna go shop for me and we're gonna, she's gonna do all my closets, and I've done that. I find that what happens is it drains me because I'm not really getting much from that person and they kind of still don't get it by the end of the process.

Right? So they're still kind of reverting back to what was comfortable, even if they have new clothes in their closet. So. What this does is it really gets them to reflect and understand more about what they, who they are, what, what their goals are, where they wanna go. And even though through that process in the end, like after we do curate pieces, after we really put a strategy, I will come in.

After a lot of the stuff that I don't need to be there for is gone and then we'll curate something that really makes sense so that they can just go in and go B, B, B, B, right. But it's, there's more intentionality in it and it gets them to really understand the process and really embody that new identity.

There are two like pop culture references that come to mind when you were saying that this, how you had started working in this industry is not how you work now. One was the old show on TLC called What Not To Wear. Did you either of you ever watch that? Yeah. Oh yeah. Stacy London. Yeah, Stacy and. They would do these follow up episodes to check in months after they had already given the pers of, of course the person looked fabulous, right by the end of the episode, but they would follow up with them and often the person had fallen back into their old habits and their approach on the show was your initial approach, Celeste, where it's just addressing like the symptoms, right?

You're just looking at what's in the closet, but not what's in their mind. And I remember one of my favorite movies is The Devil Wears Prada. And the identity of, of the main character, how she says, well, I'm just not into fashion. Fashion's not my thing. And then Stanley Tuc Chi's character saying like, oh, caring about yourself, caring about how you're treated, caring about how you're, oh, cool.

That's not your thing. Great. You know? And then she was like, oh, shit. You know, and started caring herself differently and, and, and caring about what she put on her, on her body and how different it made. The main character, Miranda Priestley perceived her like almost overnight. Obviously that's like dramatically condensed timeline, but, um, it really is the identity that gets in the way or supports like this lasting change.

Yeah. I have two questions because I always, Kat knows, I always like to take away nuggets for myself from our guests, so you should, selfishly, selfishly, my first question is. How do you talk about this to your daughter? So I have a nine month old. I am definitely thinking about how I'm gonna talk to her about like, how do you care for yourself and show up?

Because I do think my parents always taught me to like look put together and. Comb your hair and wear a belt and like, just kind of those things like look like you're complete, you know? Mm-hmm. That really mattered in my household and I, I have friends who are just like, I just let them like do whatever they want and like let them express themselves.

Like where do you land on that? How do you talk about it with your child? Well, my daughter's 18 now, and so she's seen a lot of that. Yeah. A lot of ups and downs with how I have dressed and what, how I've spoken to her about it. Mm-hmm. So one thing about my daughter, which I love dearly, is that 18 months I used to fight with her, like, no, wear this.

No, wear this. And she was like, oh no. She had her own personality. I wanna wear this. And so I was like, pick and choose your battle, Celeste. Like, it's not that freaking important. Right. But yeah. The whole concept of me having a daughter was like, I get to dress her how I wanna dress her, all the things. And lo and behold, she was like, Nope, I'm gonna do this.

And, and I let her, I let her be a purple and black girl. I let her be a pink girl and tu dos and you know, so it's the only expression. That they get at those ages. Mm-hmm. You know, it is what they get to eat and how they get to dress. Mm. And so for her, this was so important. I let her just be who she was, even as she got older and wanted to dye her hair.

And she has a couple piercings and I just was kind of like, this is who you are. I, I want you to be who you are and I want to celebrate that. Mm-hmm. With myself, I was of old school of like, you have manners. You dress this way, you always take. Be kept. Meanwhile, she's very kept. She's like more than I am, a little OCD on like the hair and the showers and the insane.

Um, but I did make that a priority because it is important to take care of yourself, to love yourself, to to show up for. Not only yourself, but for the world in the best way possible. Um, but like I said before, I dressed in all different ways. Mm-hmm. And I think more so versus talking to her about it, I kids learn through you showing them not through the words.

Mm-hmm. It's so much more powerful. It's just the more and more I've. Go through different stages of being a mother. It's really powerful. The less I talk, the more she receives. They only take in 7% of the words, right? Yeah, yeah. As much as I wanted to like hammer stuff in, like, no, you do this. I was like, that wasn't working.

So, but do you teach her that it's a tool that can impact the way people, the way opportunities. Come to her. Yeah. Yeah. She had this conversation with me today and she says, do you think I should have my hair like this? So that I, 'cause she's starting to interview right now. Mm-hmm. And so that I'm more like presentable was her words.

Yeah. And I think because she grew up with me in her life, she understands the value. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Of, but I also allowed her to be very much her. She knows that going into the world of being, going into interviews, to showing up that's still authentic, but is respectful to the company, you've got company culture that you have to navigate, um, take into consideration.

Yeah. Yeah. So I think that she's very intelligent to where I wasn't at her age. I give her, and I don't know if she's just an older soul or if it's social media or all the above, or having you as her mom. Or that too. So I think she's just more aware of those things and I'm proud that she's able to recognize how important it is so that she can be successful in whatever she does.

Yeah. And my second question is, maybe it's just a statement that I need to get off my chest. Um, being a breastfeeding mother and fashion, those things are, they don't go together very well. My, my world or I feel like, because I feel like I'm always trying to wear something that's super accessible. You know what I mean?

Yes. And sometimes it's not what I want to wear. Do you, are there any like blanket thing? Have you worked with women like this before? It's been a long time because I was a breast feeder. Mm-hmm. But I didn't breastfeed till nine months. It was five. I was like, that's it. Um, yeah. That I don't, I wish I could give you an Yeah, it's a challenge.

I, I can just thought I'd throw it out there. I can find out some information and get back to you. I'm definitely, it's been a minute that I've had a, a new mom come to me because they want to look cute, but they, you know, need easy access, like you said. Mm-hmm. Um, are you pumping during the day or are you working at home or?

I work at home, like I'm at home right now and like I'll go out and feed her. Yeah. Um, but you know, sometimes I'm taking her places and I want to look better than I do, but I'm just like going with the T-shirt that I can lift up easily and shove under there, you know? Yeah. Okay. I would think about like it, anything that's V-neck or like a wrap, you know, that like a wrap dress mean?

Yeah, A wrap is actually a good idea. Ooh, yeah. Mm-hmm. Because I think it's a little bit easier that. And then you could still look put together and polished. Yeah. And you're still looking like you're snatching the waist or whatever's going on. I, I like it. Um, it's good for, it's good for being top heavy.

So I imagine you're having some milk in there. It's making the breast larger than they actually will be at some point. Yes. Um, so V-Neck are very, very good for that. They're very slimming as well. I need to add to my wardrobe for sure. There we go. Thank you. Two recommendations. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

I'll find some more. I'll find some other things for you. So. I have a follow up question to that. So a lot of folks in our clever crew are entrepreneurial and every one of their days looks different and sometimes they could get a call or an email to show up to an appointment or an opportunity or an event.

And they're not prepared. They're not ready, right? So if you had to get camera ready in 15 minutes or less, what would be some things. Some recommendations, some tips. If, if they're getting interviewed or they have to show up somewhere or they're, they're gonna be receiving somebody. What are some quick things that will make you seem instantly more polished without having to like, you know, they didn't have months to plan that suit like you did, like that outfit?

Mm. Okay. 15 minutes has given me a little anxiety. Okay. Maybe hour. Let's give an hour. We're gonna play with, we're gonna play with it. I can manage. Okay. Um, so. Make sure your hair is kept, like brush it, give a good brush like you can, you know, or if it's greasy today, like we all have, like if you're a woman, pull back in a pony, make a slicked look.

Mm-hmm. Right. That kind of is, is always a, a beautiful look. And make sure you just pop in a simple earring. If your hair's, you know back, if you don't have time to do makeup, I always recommend just at least a lip color. Mm-hmm. And. Mascara or something just to weaken up the eyes liter and, and even if you don't wear a lot of makeup, it's just, it really helps make you look more presentable.

I would say please have at least one or two outfits in your closet that you're like go to every time you know that no matter what the situation is, you can put it on and you'll put pulled, look pulled together. 'cause it's really not just about colors, it's like the fit. Of things. Mm-hmm. You know, you can wear a $2,000 suit and it could be ill fitting or you can wear, you know, and it look, or you can, I don't know, this is so not, that's probably the opposite.

Let's say a $500 suit and it's ill fitted. Right, right. Um, but you can, if it's. It doesn't matter the price, if it fits well. So invest in a tailor. That's my 2 cents. I would just make sure that you have one or two outfits that you know, no matter what, like if you're going to see a client, if you get asked to speak on stage, keep the, keep their, like, keep the fabrics solid.

Mm-hmm. Because if you are. Going on a podcast or if you're going on somewhere where you know visibly it'll be distracting. Just keep with solids. 'cause I think that's better. Just know that a couple colors that work for you. Yeah. Make sure that you are not wearing shoes or belts that are like scuffed up.

Hmm. Or worn. Because that really. Yeah, it does not look professional. So just make sure that you have a couple pieces that you can just pop on. You can just run out the house, but just make sure and make sure your teeth are brushed. Make sure there's nothing in your teeth, like if you just ate lunch.

Mm-hmm. And then you're like talking to a client and you have this green thing and nobody said anything to you. 'cause they're rude. I mean, I don't know. Just, or they think they're being nice. Yeah. Yeah. By not saying anything. Mm-hmm. Please say something people. It's so much better if you say something. Um, so yeah, I mean, just, just keep in mind that like, and make sure your clothes are clean and there's, they're not holes in them, they're not tattered, they, they're pressed.

Mm-hmm. Just be presentable. Yeah. It's basics, but the basics. It's always good to review the basics. Yeah. Yeah. So, Celeste, what are some of the most common fashion regrets that you hear from your clients? I think the biggest fashion regrets that I hear is that they're scrolling on TikTok or Instagram and they see like a really cute outfit or an influencer wearing a shirt, a style, whatever.

They buy it and then they put it on themselves and it looks nothing like it does on the influencer. Now, I know we've all experienced this, whether it's on Instagram in my heart right now, scroll. Yeah, exactly. It literally can be anything. 'cause you see it on someone and it looks fabulous, and then you get it and it just doesn't.

So it's following trends. It's following like, oh, the the it skirt, the IT jean, the IT sweater, the IT color of the season. Because a lot of that doesn't work on our body types. We all have different body types, and it's not just vertical, it's horizontal as well. And. Obviously color and then the style, right?

What fits our bodies? So, um, it's also fabric. So anyways, following trends is a really big mistake because when you actually know your style and what works for you, that never, ever, you never go outta style because you're still current with things that are happening in the fashion world, but you're able to curate them.

That works for you. I would say the other thing is. It's similar, but like, you know, in the magazine, like as soon as you're like getting on a trend that even if it does work for you, by the time it's out in the magazine, it's it's done guys. I'm like, it's almost over. Yeah. It's the time slot is done. That's fair.

That's fair. Yeah. And if someone is in their mind or they're saying to themselves that they're just bad at fashion or it's not for them because. They're breastfeeding or they're not at the weight that they wanna be at, or they're not at the job they wanna be in, so they don't really have to think about fashion or they don't have a, a huge budget.

You know, like those, those things. Okay. I can talk to all four of those. Those are a lot of different things here, but budget wise, there's always What is your, yeah, yeah. Well, even budget-wise, like if you're like, I can't afford a, a. 25, $3,000 suit, you know? Um, I want to still look professional and I still want a suit.

There's ways to shop, there's ways to get things on sale and have them tailored, but finding a good tailor is like gold because truly you can alter anything that's a little bit big for you or if you lose weight, right? Same thing. Um, it is really hard though if you buy, uh, an item that's. Too tight thinking that there's fabric to be let out because fabric is.

So hard to come by these days because it is the most important and it's the most costly thing in an item. Mm-hmm. So in a custom, you're gonna have, you'll have two extra inches of extra fabric because it's custom, but you won't find that on off the rack. Just so, just so you know, like buy a bigger size and have it tailored.

Hmm. Um, for people that are going through. Body transitions, right? That's like, I wanna lose weight or I, I always say dress for where you're at right now, because you're not gonna be there forever. And I'm not saying go buy something custom right now, especially if you know that this is a inter interim.

Right. Um. But still don't look like you have to just throw in that old t-shirt because it works. Because it's like, uh, I don't wanna spend money still, still take care of yourself. Still love yourself for the, in the body that you're at right now. Mm-hmm. 'cause we never actually know what that the end result looks like.

And so I, I have this client was like, I'm not coming to see you till I lose like X amount of pounds. I'm like, well, what are you gonna do for the whole year? Yeah. Are you gonna wear Athleta Air still for the whole year? So it's like, you know, just what makes sense for you in your li there, you know, think about your lifestyle too.

So just, and people that don't know about fashion. Stop looking at what other people are doing and start feeling like what is important to you? Where are you looking to implement and bring in wardrobe pieces. Some people, they're all about the fabric, the softness, because that makes them feel good and comfortable.

What makes you feel comfortable? What makes you feel good? There are some things that we know about ourselves without really knowing what it actually is. You know, you don't have to without needing to hire someone. Mm-hmm. Um. So play around, have fun with it. Go to the store with your friends if that's what you wanna do.

Trying a bunch of new colors and new shapes and sizes. Try to like, think outside of the box just, just to try. If it's totally not for you, it's not for you, but at least you know. I'm taking all the Este mental notes, Celeste, all the mental notes here, because I was, okay. Candace says, when we first met, I, I would often say, oh, fashion's not my thing.

I need your advice, Candace, or like, my hubby's really into fashion, but now I still ask Candace's advice and I have. Taken it upon myself to educate myself and to learn and to really lean into what works for my short legs and long torso, an hourglass figure, you know, and knowing those proportions. So if I can, if I can do it, clever crew, you can do it.

So arguably one of our favorite parts of the episode, we had one of our clever crew right in anonymously. It's like, dear Abby style. So today's not nice advice for you, Celeste. Ooh, this is a tough one. A friend of mine wants to collab on a project, but their work ethic and vibe are not aligned with mine.

Had was say no without making things weird. Signed hard pass soft delivery. Well, definitely you cannot collaborate with this individual. And I'll just give you a story that I just went through. I actually, um. Worked with a local photographer, um, once and did not feel aligned, was like everything that this person promised did not actually happen or transpire.

And so I, this person sent me a client wanting to do a collaboration with this client. While I really would love the money and the client, I had to decline. I was just like, look, this just isn't in my new offer, in my new program. And so what I did, and this was very true to me, but you can just say things have changed in your offerings.

Things have changed within your values and your business, like, however you wanna say it, that's still the truth. But if you are, you're giving this person kind of like, this is just not, doesn't work for me anymore. This may be once worked. Then. Mm-hmm. But it no longer serves me. So maybe I, I, you know, if you're not aligning with them and it, it's your, with your company, maybe there's someone that you know, would be a good fit.

So that's also an option. But don't, don't also put that in, like you have to do that. Right. You don't have to recommend them to somebody else. Just, I would just like, thank you, but this just doesn't work with what I'm doing right now. Forever. Forever. That'll be the subtext forever.

Don't ask again. Yeah. Um, no, I get that. You have to protect your own reputation and your business and I, I think that advice is spot on for sure. Well thank you Celeste for this masterclass in fashion, personal growth identity. I really appreciate it. I know that our clever crew has as well. Um, let the people know where can they hang out with you online and offline.

Awesome. Thank you so much for having me ladies. Uh, you can find me on Instagram, Celeste More image. You can listen to my podcast more style and learn more tidbits and, uh, more information on what I talk about and pretty much all over every platform. And then if you wanna. Send me an email, you can do that as well.

It's celeste@celestemoore.com. Thanks so much for having me, guys. Thanks for joining us on. Not Nice Clever. Remember to follow, not nice, clever, wherever you listen to audio. And if you haven't already, drop that five star review, share your takeaways, tell us your story. We love to hear it. Signing off, you're not so nice, but oh, so clever besties that mean business.

See you soon.