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vendor reviews: beauty: spas, hair & make-up |
Interviewing Karen Dorland, Image Consultant, Owner and Operator of Image Connections
Having the perfect dress for your wedding day, and accessorizing it with make-up, hair and jewellery are important features to making you feel good when you walk down the aisle; but picking the right colours and styles that fit your personality and body type can sometimes be a daunting task. Karen Dorland, Image Consultant, Owner and Operator of Image Connections offers her expert advice for you to feel good from the inside out - during, before, and after your wedding day.
With a 'wholistic' approach, Karen offers a colour analysis and body type workshop that helps you determine what colours and fashion styles look best on you. She delves into your personality, lifestyle and goals to coach you on letting your characteristics and self-esteem shine so you can feel good inside and out. This makes Image Connections perfect for any girl who's up for a major life change - brides and moms topping the list. Let us explain...
Personally speaking… Karen has been offering her expert advice for over fifteen years, and has been operating Image Connections for five. She has a vast knowledge of colour, image, self-empowerment and make-up, which she studied at the International Image Institute in Toronto. Karen has also taken Alyce Parson’s Universal Style course, and is a chair person for WINGS Canada (Women in Networking Growing Strong), and a member of Master Mentors and the East Gwillimbury Chamber of Commerce.
Karen says she feels that her services are unique because she takes a "wholistic approach," meaning she looks at the "whole person. I consider your personality, lifestyle, body type, and colouring." And she does so to help "clients let their personality shine, gain self-esteem, dress to honour their bodies, and feel comfortable in all situations."
One of Karen’s clients, Jill Hewlett, vouches for this claim and says that "By discussing your personality, lifestyle, colour palette, body type, [Karen] brings out the authentic individual inside you. And once you discover the powerful person you are, others will discover it too!"
When Karen is finished with her clients, she hopes the result is that "They are carrying themselves better – are more confident, more open, and have a better comfort level, so as to develop a self love." Karen's favourite part of what she does is when she can see this success on the spot, as well as watching her client’s ongoing growth. "It’s all about the client," says Karen.
Another client, Lisa Montpool, says that "Working with Karen isn’t just about colour and style, but more about... connecting how you truly feel about yourself (on the inside) with how you feel on the outside."
Specifics on the services… In the fast paced fashion industry, Karen notes that fashion trends change every seven months, which is why she tries to "teach women to make the most out of their wardrobe by accessorizing, and how to make what they have already, look good."
To aid her clients in this, Karen offers colour analysis, body type and style analysis, personal shopping, hair consultation, make-up application and wardrobe audit. She also conducts workshops on such topics as dressing up denim, accessorizing, and dressing for success.
During a colour analysis, Karen drapes her clients with several colours to determine which ones look best to enhance their visual appeal. She notes that "knowing your colours will make you more confident, approachable, look younger, healthier, and more vibrant. Clothes are the tools to take you where you want to be in life and wearing the right colours helps enhance your looks, skin colour, and make you look your best."
A client of Karen’s named Arlene E. Green remarks that having her colour analysis done was a very positive experience for her: "This simple technique has done wonders for me; not only do my friends notice a difference, my coworkers are complimenting my apparel more often. This has given me the confidence to apply for a new job."
The analysis lasts about two hours and comes with a free colour wallet of your palette that Karen says also helps influence your hair colour, make-up and accessories. Karen can also help with this by offering a hair consultation where she discusses a hair colour and cut that suits you, in addition to accompanying you to the salon. During a make-up consultation, Karen teaches you what colours suit your skin tones, and how to use make-up to enhance your natural features. The body type and style analysis is also about two hours, during which time Karen assesses your height and bone structure to determine what styles of clothes best suit you. Karen recommends that you "Dress with intention, and dress the way you want to be seen and come across to others." Karen can also accompany you on a personal shopping trip to teach you how to scan stores for your colours and styles, and help you mix and match which clothing you already own. This session usually lasts about three to four hours and is accompanied with a colour analysis.
Or perhaps you would like to go through the clothes you already own, which is where the wardrobe audit comes in. During this three hour consultation, Karen goes through your wardrobe and divides your clothes into keep, give away, and transition piles. She offers advice on how to mix and match, and what clothes need to be added to the closet.
Packages & how it works… You can book each service Karen offers individually, or you can have her for a full day and combine any three of the major areas, plus add more when you need them. A full day package, which is her most popular service, goes from 10 am to 5 pm (with a working lunch) and includes any three of the following: colour analysis, body type analysis, hair consultation, make-up consultation, wardrobe audit and wardrobe module, or a shopping experience and you receive an image workbook and colour analysis.
During a half day consultation, which lasts about four hours, you can combine any two of the major areas as previously mentioned.
Karen also offers a bridal package so you can feel your best on your special day. This includes a colour analysis to find your true colour palette and the best colours for you to wear. Doing so will determine the best hair colour, make-up and accessories for you, and you get a colour wallet to take with you when you shop.
This analysis session will also help you find the colours that compliment you – like should you buy a white or ivory dress? Karen will also assess your body type to find the best shape and clothing lines for your body, and determine your dress style. She says that "knowing your body type and shape will make dress shopping easier; you can look for the styles that will compliment your body and enhance your features." To complete your look, Karen adds a make-up lesson and application so you can "save on a make-up artist on your wedding day." During this session you will "Learn how to enhance your features with colours that are going to make you look your best."
Walking you through it... Depending on her availability, Karen can book appointments two weeks to one month in advance. During your initial meeting with Karen she discusses what changes you want to make, where you see yourself in the next one to five years, etc. Then you can book whichever analyses you desire.
Pricing... Karen targets clients who are "who are willing twice a year to relook and reeducate themselves and their closet." She also wants clients to ask themselves: "How much do you spend per month and per three months on hair colour, make-up and clothing that is not right for your body or the image you want to portray?"
To book Karen for a specific date costs $100. Her workshops are $60, and group events range from $200 to $800. For a full day of one-on-one consulting, Karen’s services cost $800, which she compares to buying "one high end suit, or two midrange-low end suits. But one consult is a lifetime of change."
Great advice for your wedding day, and every day before and after, Karen urges women to "Be an advocate for yourself – speak up; don’t just do what others tell you!"
Connecting with Image Connections... Contact Image Connections at 3 Highland Terrace in Bradford by phoning Karen Dorland at 905-775-7486, or emailing her at imageconnections@look.ca. Check out more details on her website at www.imageconnections.ca.
- The Staff at TheWeddingRing.ca * Prices are all approximate and are subject to change and verification by authorized staff and management of Image Connections. |
Image
Consultant makes it her business to show women how to make themselves over
inside and out
