How to Improve Your Image With Sharon Kornstein

Improving someone’s image deals with more than just the clothes they wear; it highlights their personal brand. Choice of dress, overall behavior, business and dining etiquette, and body language all contribute to the image they portray to others. 

In this episode, Marc Bautis welcomes guest Sharon Kornstein, owner and founder of Image Design Consulting, to discuss ways you can start improving your image today. We’re all going to be back in the office soon and this conversation will assist anyone who is seeking to improve their personal image in a timely, affordable, and comfortable manner.  

In this episode you will learn: 

• How image consulting works 
• How many business outfits you should have in your closet
• How often there are changes in trends
• What is important to look for when adding to your wardrobe
• Common image mistakes that people make 
• What to wear to a job interview 
• What is a virtual closet?
• And more!

Tune in now and be inspired to look and perform your best!

Resources:
Episode Transcript & Blog | Bautis Financial: (862) 205-5000 | Image Design Consulting: (973) 433-7142

Transcript

spk_0:   0:02
Welcome to the Agent of Wealth podcast with Mark about is from about his financial. In this podcast, Marc helps guide you towards financial freedom, ensure you never run out of money and create a balance in life that prioritizes what is most important to you. Join us for this journey as Mark draws for years of expertise and guest experts to solve the multiple wealth building challenges involved in your financial life. Welcome back to the agent. Well, podcast, this is your host, Mark Mattis. On today's episode, I brought a special guest on the show, Sharon Kornstein, Sharon's the founder and owner of Image Design Consultants, which is a business image and style consulting company. So, Sharon, welcome to the show.

spk_1:   0:48
Thank you more, make everybody.

spk_0:   0:50
And even though it's not a financial topic for save, mostly audiences, working professionals and I thought I'd be an interesting topic, so looking forward to having you on the show. Thanks. All right, so let's start off. I know you have an interesting background. Let's talk about how you got into fashion. I know you have a bachelor's degree from the Wharton School that you pen and funny doesn't know Wharton school is one of the most prestigious business schools in the country. And I imagine they weren't talking about fashion in your economics classes.

spk_1:   1:18
No, and I took a lot of economics classes. I ended up majoring in accounting in Warton and actually worked in that field. I worked on Wall Street for about eight years after and graduated and just felt that it really wasn't for May. I was actually interested in how people got ahead in the fields, help people got into leadership positions, and I just It was interesting to observe, you know who pretty but you have the power. So at that point in time, I had read about a program at F I. T. It was called a certificate degree and image consulting, and I said, Wow, I didn't realize that this is a real business where you can help people look their best and perform their best Will. They have the technical skills and knowledge to want to do their jobs. They don't necessarily present themselves in a way that that really reflects what they can do. So anyway, I took the course and it was two years I was commuting back and forth to F i t from New Jersey here. And then I started my image descended

spk_0:   2:18
fashion images. I Was it something you were always patching about? Or is it something that just clicked at some point after

spk_1:   2:23
college that, you know, it's something that I was brought up with because I have to say, of all the influential people in my life, my grandmother was probably the most she shouldn't say to me, you know, stand up straight, have good posture. Look, people in the eye. Yeah, her parents after had owned a dress store back in the day in New York. So we were just growing up. We were interested in fashion, looking our best, putting together outfits and just really, always being, you know, welcome. Jim Presentable.

spk_0:   2:56
Okay. Yeah. So you you hang your shingle that you start start the company. What did you start off kind of marketing. What service is that? You start start off

spk_1:   3:05
with. Well, originally, when I started my business, I thought most of my clientele or all of them were gonna be women, Which is not the case. And I pretty much marketed to, you know, women in my in my age bracket thirties and forties. But I found that really I enjoyed working with and was able to communicate best with working professionals. So I decided to focus on helping people again women and men with their business wardrobe so that they could reach their goals, whether it's to get promoted to get another job to, you know, be ca managing partner of there for whatever it waas, there was always a look that they needed

spk_0:   3:48
to achieve. And was that at the time where I guess business dress was still in her? Was that when the transition into like this a lot of companies were doing business? Card was

spk_1:   3:56
back when business casual was becoming predominant and people really had very different ideas about what? That

spk_0:   4:04
man Probably good timing that you started when this whole, you know, business transition to business, casual and probably people didn't even know what business Casual waas

spk_1:   4:13
this is casual started on the West Coast in Silicon Valley, and so it migrated east into New York. But yet there were a lot of mixed views about it. So I, um, at that time I would get hard to go into companies and basically defined you know what's business dress? What's business casual? What's professional dress and, um, show examples basically of what people should wear? I

spk_0:   4:36
think the West Coast has taken it to another level now because I think a lot of it's in our jeans and T shirts. You see kids T shirt, shorts, flash. Yeah. Okay, So you you come into a company and who actually does the company with the company engage with you at the time? Or would you? I start working with select individuals that got the company.

spk_1:   4:56
It's really a combination mark. I mean, I get hired by companies to come in and speak to their employees, speak to groups. Sometimes the hired me to work with one or two individuals privately, but usually, if it's a one on one situation, I'm hired by the person,

spk_0:   5:12
okay? And when you when you come in and talk, obviously fashion is, it is a big part. Is there other component of an image that someone would would look to improve if they wanted to improve their image?

spk_1:   5:23
There are several aspects to it. So how do you look? How you dress is important, but it's also behavior. I talk about business etiquette. I've given sections of my trucks are dining out again. Body language, nonverbal communication. It really all fits in together.

spk_0:   5:43
Sure, and I guess fashion is it is one of the components of it as well.

spk_1:   5:47
Fashion is one of the components. I mean, I like thio. Talk about it. Where is a CZ? Your personal image, and it's kind of a little part of me. Personal brand is a big term right now, but it's kind of a part of your personal brand because it's how you look. You want to reflect you, your lifestyle, your job, your goals, your values. So you want to be fashionable. But you also want to be authentic. Basically.

spk_0:   6:12
Sure. And what do you lead with? I guess, at some of the benefits of doing, I imagine confidence is one. But what else? Why would someone improve their their image?

spk_1:   6:22
I mean, I help people basically feel better about themselves, and I helped him control how others react to them. So it's when you walk into a meeting. If you know you look the part. If you know you look your best, you feel more confident and then it's reflected in your actions and behaviors. And then it's also the person that you're speaking with gets that feedback. So it's a It's a back of one kind of thing.

spk_0:   6:46
Sure, and you see a lot of people embrace it. Embrace trying to improve their their image.

spk_1:   6:53
People embrace it if they're at the right point,

spk_0:   6:56
right? What? What point does someone have to be thio to embrace? It isn't a low high that they have to be at. Or is it all different for all different people?

spk_1:   7:05
It's different. But it's usually people that have either experienced some kind of transition where they change firms, and they feel like they, uh, need to dress a little differently to reflect the new firm. Or it may be they. They've been in a situation where they felt they were underdressed. They were under groomed. They may be just didn't have the right outfit in their closet because in addition to helping people feel their best, I save them time, and I saved the money because they don't buy things that they don't end up where

spk_0:   7:37
you sure. So how does someone start engaging with you? And I guess I could kind of get into the the fashion aspect of it a little bit. Do you come in and just look at what they're currently going and make a recommendation? Is it? Imagine it's a constipated approach where you see what's important to them in terms of their their image in and try and help them get to that point.

spk_1:   8:00
Yes, it's a concentrate of approach in that it's not a one size fits all kind of thing, and, you know, police toward the fun. Um, I first I talk to people, whether whether it's on the phone or in person or online. You know, I speak to potential client, find out exactly what they're looking to achieve, what's not working about their current wardrobe. I have a questionnaire that either someone can fill out or we could just sometimes we'll just discuss the questions. You don't live with them Generally, the next step is to meet them at their home and spend 1/2 day or so going through what they have in their closet. So I'll put together outfits will take out the pieces. I do it by piece by piece. So say Well, look at all the jackets, all the suits all the shirts, all the shoes. I'll take out what's they're not gonna be keeping based on my recommendations and actually donate. Either sell it on consignment shop or donate to dress for success or career gear. One of those organizations, um and so they're left with a closet of things that are flattering, that sit that our current. And then the next step is to come up with shopping list, and next step would be to take them shopping,

spk_0:   9:10
OK, And how many? Let's say someone's work your business apparel. How many outfits are different changes of clothes? Does someone need? Is it did any? Just You can rotate every week and have five different ones or is a tenor? Is it 20? What's like? Is there a right number of number of

spk_1:   9:32
questions? I mean, I would sit just 10 just so you don't end up wearing the same things every week, but it doesn't have to bait all completely different outfits. I mean, when I create a wardrobe for my clients, I liked it. Have the mix and match approach basically. So, you know, for, uh, guy like yourself, I mean Alicia wear suits every day you know you'll be a mix of business casuals for jacket suits. So say, you know you have a pair of slacks that could go with a couple different shirts, obviously jackets, maybe a suit. But maybe you could wear the suit pants on their own. Maybe you'll have a vest or, you know, sweater stone into the mix. So it's not as if you need 10 completely different abstinence.

spk_0:   10:20
And is it? Is it seasonal enough that that are having a summer Wouldn't I wouldn't wear in the winter or fur? These

spk_1:   10:28
people are getting away from the seasonal close. It's just, I general recommended. Is that air year round? Wait, you may want to have a couple heavier outfits, you know, in this summer. Yeah, you'll have some, you know later with things. But I think at least 50% of your wardrobe should be year round. Versatile. Take

spk_0:   10:46
clothing. How often do do trans changers t do outfits go in out of fashion? Your yearly things changes it every couple of years. You see, you're seeing you know, a shift. How often do you see No,

spk_1:   11:02
dumb. I mean, it's seasonally really. So you know, if you want to be on trend. You want to get a few new things at least twice a year. But when I recommend to, my client is having the bulk of their wardrobe be classic pieces that really are are not going to go out of

spk_0:   11:20
style. And how do you How do you keep up entrance to know that? All right, this is the upcoming trends, or this is what's in style. Is it research? You're just

spk_1:   11:31
Yeah, I mean for me, you know, it's my passion, so it never feels like work. I do attend from bad. There's a semi annual menswear show in New York that I go thio. So I learned the trends from the designers of the manufacturers themselves. I read up on a number of blog's newsletters, magazines? Um yeah and plus going Thio. Actually, I, an outside independent stylist for Nordstrom. So they recently opened a new mentor store and into women's store in New York, so they have a lot of events where they're always talking about trends. So when I can go, I go to those also

spk_0:   12:09
okay on Let's let's go back to that, creating a custom wardrobe for someone so you meet with them, you spend time with, um how do you determine? You know, how do you get down from there? Right. This is what we want to, you know, at a high level to drilling down to These are the specific articles of clothing that we were gonna get.

spk_1:   12:29
Okay, now that's a good question, because I have a process where I go through a list, so I'll determine the person's coloring. And this is as we're going through their closet. So, you know, it's not just, like keep this, get rid of that. I'm telling them why, and I'm telling them what their best colors are. Their best styles, best shapes of things, best length. So, you know, for guys. Jackets have got shorter and shorter recently, but that look isn't good for everybody. So you know, I'll tell someone. Help dated inches exactly how long their jacket should be. You know, same thing with the pants. You may wanna have a narrow like pants you wanna have wider like pants. So I go over all the different styles, colors, fabrics and even combinations of colors and patterns and things that that all the best

spk_0:   13:22
on them And is it a mix? You do have some of it custom created for the specific person. Or are you just shopping? Kind of generally? No. Once you figure out what you know, like you said, colored styles, you lie and look for

spk_1:   13:35
I do offer custom clothing. So it's a nice option for these shirts and for suits and sport coats, you know, tailored clothing, basic greeting. Generally order custom the business, casual jeans, accessories. I go to the store, you know, pick things up for people,

spk_0:   13:55
okay? And what do you see? Some of the mistakes that people can. You actually use me a cz. An example of you if you find something on May. But what are some of the mistakes that you see? Your common mistakes that you see people making with that fashion, not in the business?

spk_1:   14:09
Oh, uh, well, fit and quality are really important. And so, uh, one mistake that people make is that they really sacrifice, you know, quality in terms of even either having a lot of clothes in the wardrobe or really trying to save money. And the fact is, if you really people are poor quality clothes, you lose out in a couple different ways because they don't last. You know you'll end up replacing them after six months or a year, and they just really don't reflect well on you. So even someone who's, you know, not trained to be looking at the way things were so no put together can get a certain feeling they get on Liston Intuition. If you know if Somebody's weren't something that's that's really poor quality, Um, and it is another really key factor. I mean, even if you buy the right size or, you know, you feel something fits you in the store, it so it's a good idea to have a a tailor or, you know, consult like myself. It just advise you on the clothing and say, Well, maybe an already look better if it were an inch shorter or, you know the waste is easily taken out. 1/2 an inch of that, it's it's gonna fit perfectly because clothes in the store I mean, that's what the advantage of the custom clothes, because they do fit perfectly once they come in, and they may be a slight additional tailoring, but anything you get in the store, chances are, it's gonna need to be adjusted, you know, in some area.

spk_0:   15:33
Where do you see? Like the big break points in? Let's just take like a men's business. Sure, the long sleep ship up downturn as an example, Right? You can go and get a $50 shirt from Costco. We're probably cheaper. 19. What? Is there a big difference from like that to, let's say, $100 shirt versus something $200? Customs is there are big differences between

spk_1:   16:00
Yeah. I mean, let me start at the higher end breakdown that you gave. The difference between $100 shirt in a $200 shirt is really gonna be more about fabric. Um, inequality. If you spend on her dolls on a short, it should be good quality. It may not be. The fabric may not be as final, as elegant as something that's gonna be in the 202 $150 range. Also, you can look at the buttons. In the past, it was just made shirts, just tack, you know, simple plain white buttons. But now there are all kinds of different styles and colors of buttons that had a little interest in the shirt. So you know, the higher insurance we'll have more details like that

spk_0:   16:37
are more shirts made here or they made in Europe were somewhere else where where are mostly personally

spk_1:   16:44
from May my custom shirts and all my custom clothes are made here in the U. S. So you know, I can't speak for others. A lot of things were still made in the floor east, um, Vietnam. I've actually got a lot of clothing manufactured in Europe anymore. And what is it is very expensive.

spk_0:   17:03
So it's all over the place. You can get good custom shirt, probably

spk_1:   17:06
anywhere, right? And the fact is that the custom shirt a the coast of shots start around 100 25 $130. So around the same prices Dorge Trump's air Bloomingdale's.

spk_0:   17:18
Sure remember we one of our previous conversations. We talked about a custom shirt company. I know Stan, which they you know, you're seeing a lot of these types of companies come out where they make a custom shirt, but based off of, you know, a couple different measurements where it's not fully custom, where someone had taken a tape measure to you but they're claiming that they can use technology. They could use a couple of measurements and come up with something that's pretty pretty close to a custom. Custom furniture.

spk_1:   17:45
Yeah. I mean, the thing is, is that, you know, you may have to go through one or two rounds before you get the bedroom. It's right. But, you know, after that, um, I'm sure they're good.

spk_0:   17:54
You know, your you told me you're getting into a virtual closet, which I'm not even sure what. That what that is, is that your you could build someone's wardrobe using using some kind of a happier program to do

spk_1:   18:07
it? Yes, so I tell you what. The virtual closet ISS. So, um, it's a specific software program that allows me to take pictures of my client's wardroom. So I mentioned when I first start working with someone will go to their home as we're going through the clothes in the closet. I take pictures of everything that they're keeping. So then I'm able to upload them into the closet, and then they actually have all their clothes in. It's when I say it's a virtual closet. It's just it's up. It's a it's a digital version of their closet so they can look at it online with a specific link. They can see all their clothes in separate pictures, and then I can take, say they're going to, uh, in events that they have a wedding so I can tell them you know what you wear to the wedding. Maybe they're going to a conference. Maybe they have a conference they're going to in Florida. It's a three or four day event. They want to know what to take and they don't want to over pack. So I can actually go through their closet and tell them what they should bring, what they should pack and then even what they need to wear. You know, every day as time moves on and you want to add to your wardrobe if you have the virtual classic, I can make recommendations from online websites.

spk_0:   19:21
Oh, cool. So you can say if they're looking for something that they need. Are you recommend that you're going on a trip to here? You might need this. You can actually,

spk_1:   19:31
exactly. I mean, maybe, you know, maybe you're going to London and you don't have a nice trench coat and, you know, the weather is very changeable, so they will just, you know, why don't you just add this to your wardrobe and I can give three or four different, you know, examples of different styles of price points and the advantage. If you are registered for the closet, you can actually just click on it. It's just it's so easy to know, Brandon, you just look at the picture. You figure out when you want, you just click on it and then you could buy it right there.

spk_0:   20:00
So it is all interactive in terms of how to use it. That's pretty good. Now you mentioned one thing with the closed. You said the virtual closet works with clothes that someone's gonna keep. Is that part of the engagement where you, you know, have that concentrated approach and you kind of specifically go through where we're keeping this? We're not keeping this. We're keeping this.

spk_1:   20:19
Yeah, So as I going through so much closet and you know, just reminder this this takes a couple of hours way. Have a pile of what's a key. We have a pile of what to giveaway or donate, and then there's a pile of things that may need alterations. So you might have things in your closet that you don't wear because they don't fit you anymore. Maybe they just have a full inhabitants. Lost the buttons. You don't know where to replace them. I take care of all of that for you. And then everybody has things in the closet that they don't wear because there's nothing that matches with that, right? So, well, that's in the keep pile. But I as I'm taking pictures of everything, I'm making notations, and I know that. Say, you're gonna need a pair of slacks that's gonna match with that. You don't multi blue colored shirt or something like that. So you'll be able to put all your clothes in tow outfits, okay. And this is something else. I learned from my grandmother because when we would go shopping to take what? We're not leaving the store until you have outfits.

spk_0:   21:23
Yeah, you definitely want, right? You don't want stuff

spk_1:   21:25
that doesn't know about stuff. That doesn't matter.

spk_0:   21:28
Does imagine kin is part of it. Also making out of the clothes multiple efforts from different, different scenario. Different?

spk_1:   21:36
Yes. Yeah. So that's what I was talking about that. You know, maybe you have a 10 different outfits, but it's not all separate pieces. So, you know, you might have 45 pair of slacks if you're a woman, you know you have two skirts, three dresses. But everything can be combined into many more outfits than that the number of pieces would suggest, because it's I pull in a capsule wardrobe, so it's pieces that can will just fit together in different ways, and I'll show you how to do it.

spk_0:   22:04
Sure. And who do you say? I know you mentioned earlier, initially thought that you'd be working with a lot of women, and then you talked about people in transition, but who most commonly do with what is there and it Sure, any type of people that you most commonly work

spk_1:   22:19
with. I'd say the most common Clyde that I have right now is a man or woman in their forties or fifties in business who doesn't have time, has a very varied type of life, you know, it doesn't want to spend a Saturday at the ball all the time, and they hired me to come in and just create a wardrobe for them that they're comfortable with. That's flattering. That's within their budget. And it's just it's easy to wear.

spk_0:   22:48
And I know you mentioned earlier about, you know, working with colleges. And it's not just fashion. That's part of an image. What types of help with someone graduating college need in terms of building Custer. I guess. You know, with someone in the forties and fifties here, you might be recreating. They're they're imager there, there, personal brand. But someone may not even have one to begin in the

spk_1:   23:13
right. Well, when you graduated college, presumably you're looking for a job. If you have a job, that's great. But you're just beginning in your career. So I help people in their twenties really define a certain style for themselves and, you know, learn howto had it proceed, going forward with their wardrobe. But in addition to the wardrobe, there's different etiquette situations that they might find something, whether they're interviewing, whether they're trying to get clients living there speaking, so I really I helped him through all the non verbal communication aspects of business etiquette.

spk_0:   23:50
Okay, I know dining etiquette is one of them,

spk_1:   23:53
and dining etiquette. It's one

spk_0:   23:54
of the very interesting. What goes into dining

spk_1:   23:56
etiquette. It's well, I'll tell you how I got started and dining etiquette because I found out that a lot of second interviews, especially these young people, graduated college. A lot of the second interviews were conducted over a meal specifically because employers are looking to see. Is this someone I could introduce to clients? Is this someone that I could pull into a meeting spontaneously? You know, is this some of it? If I have a client meeting at lunch, I could have bite them along, and they're they're gonna be helpful in that in embarrassment, basically. So the way dining etiquette works is that I'll go into a school and a lot of work in her state. I'll talk about the place setting the use of silverware. How to. Actually, there's a lot of nonverbal communication, involves sending messages to the wait staff of whether you're still eating, whether you're done, whether you want more and in a good restaurant. There's not a lot of conversation between the wait staff and the people leaving. Believe it or not, they are able to gauge exactly where you are. You know when you're beyond what you need. So I talk about all that with the students, and it helps them not only make a good impression on potential employers, but it helps them feel confident if if and when they do find themselves in that

spk_0:   25:09
situation. Yeah, it's probably, you know, funny. But small. Things like that probably do separate when there's so many candidates out there for this looking for the same job. If you have even like the small things, like like dining it, it could separate you from from all the other candidates.

spk_1:   25:23
It could definitely separate you and I, but I tell the students I say, Don't copy anyone at the table. I think other people don't necessarily know what I'm teaching you today, so just, you know, pay attention and I have handouts, and then I can I tell them all to connect with me. And they did. If they ever have any questions

spk_0:   25:42
and saying, Go through, do you help people out with interviewing skills as well? I guess that's obviously useful for not just college student, but that's if you're you know, something your forties fifties and looking for, you know, a different job that could be helpful there as well,

spk_1:   25:57
Right? Right. Definitely. So I do help with interview skills. I mean, I helped decide what to wear on an interview because a lot of people don't even know that anymore at this point, especially for businesses casual, I talk about how to greet someone. Yeah, basically had a have eye contact, engage in conversation. All the, you know, well, the communication, verbal and nonverbal aspects of an interview

spk_0:   26:21
on the hot address, some conflicting things After it, I've heard dressed in a suit, no matter what the where is for the company. I've also heard dress one level up from what the company is. Is there a rule of thumb in terms of how to dress for business interview?

spk_1:   26:35
I mean, I'd say Start with the assumption that you're gonna wear a suit, a TTE least for, you know, for a man for a woman. It doesn't have to be a match to, but it could be a jacket. I family jacket is really the one piece of business clothing that adds that extra level official presence. You have to be 100% sure that the company is casual, are very low and business casual before you don't wear a jacket. If you don't wear a tie to an interview and it's a business casual firm, that's fine. Um, sometimes they will give you some guidance on what to wear and, you know, just just believe them. But maybe dress a touch nicer than what they direct you to. And also one last piece of advice. If you're going on an interview, don't be concerned. If you are dressed at a more professional level that the person you're speaking with because they're working there, they have the job. You're the one that has to make the good first impression

spk_0:   27:30
on. I guess it goes the same for you. You're hearing a lot about virtual. Really Support may be the first interview might be a virtual interview. You don't wanna be on camera in your shorts and T shirt, even

spk_1:   27:40
if no, listen, if you're sitting at your desk, what you were below the waist, it doesn't matter. But you want to have a professional style shirt and a jacket. Yeah,

spk_0:   27:52
Okay. We're just about out of time. And Sharon, I'd like that. Definitely. Thank you for being on the show. How best can people reach out to you if they want to get a

spk_1:   28:00
hold of you. Sure, so the name of my company is image designed consulting. That's my website Image Design consulting dot com. You can give me a call it 9734337142 You can eat only shower at image design consulting dot com. And I'm also won all the social media instagram Twitter, Facebook business and yep,

spk_0:   28:25
perfect. Thanks again and it's been really informative. I could really appreciate you coming on and thank you everyone for listening. This is more about us and have a great day. Thank you for listening to the Agent of Wealth podcast. Click this subscribe button below to be notified when new episodes become available. The information covered represents the views and opinions of the guests and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions about his financial content. Has been made available for informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial planning and investment advice. Always seek the advice of your financial advisor or other qualified financial service provider with any questions you may have regarding your investments and financial planning