The Image Architect

COLOR ME CORRECTLY, PLEASE – Book Launch

Sandy Dumont — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:51:26 +0000

This is the book the fashion, makeup and image industries do not want you to read.

This ebook was years in the making and based on thirty years hands-on and in-depth research. Social biologists have proven that everything you do and every decision you make is based on primitive instincts, relating to survival, including the choosing of the colors and styles you wear.

You think you know what you look good in, but chances are, you don’t! Got questions? Sandy Dumont has answers.

Life will be easy from now on. Get the information and tools you need to turn heads and look fabulous every day.

Click on the book cover to order your electronic copy with
250 pages containing more than 160 color pictures and illustrations.

The most revolutionary book on color since 1830

Redheads Have Warm Hair, But Cool Skin

Sandy Dumont — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 01:24:57 +0000

The fashion and makeup industry have doomed redheads to a life of garish and harsh orange makeup and garments. Check the Red Carpet or the pages of fashion magazines, and redheads will be clad in peach, coral, salmon and orange. And that’s in spite of the fact that redheads have more visible pink in their skin without makeup than anyone!

I have makeup covers to my credit and have been on many photo shoot sets and witnessed makeup artists immediate grabbing orange-toned makeup the minute they see a redhead. That’s what the makeup artist did with the woman above, left. She’s wearing a warm salmon pink blouse, so she could have warranted a warm salmon pink blusher. But no, there she is in makeup that matches her hair! In person, you’d notice that her makeup looks heavy. You may already have noticed that her face and hair blend too much, unlike the woman on the right, so her face doesn’t pop.

A makeup artist with a good eye matched the model’s skin, not her hair, in the photo on the right. Her face pops, and in person her skin looks translucent and glowing. For the rest of the lowdown about color, makeup and fashion, get your copy of my new eBook, “Color Me Correctly, Please.” You may be astounded to discover that you could do with a change of color yourself.

What to wear to the Prom?

Sandy Dumont — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:10:25 +0000

An as image consultant, color is the cornerstone of my business. You can have a designer dress in the wrong color and won’t look as pretty as you would in a $20 dress in your best color.

Sociobiologists tell us that every decision we make is related to prehistoric survival instincts. It’s in our DNA to choose colors that let us blend in with our environment and our superficial appearance.

That means that we wear colors that match our hair and eye color very often; and we choose bright colors like spring green, lemon yellow and coral in the spring; and we wear the colors of an autumn landscape every fall. In the summer we wear swimming pool blue, sky blue, rose red, emerald green and pure white. Winter is a time of greyness so we opt for winter white, slate blue and mauve in wintertime.

Thirty years research into color has shown that more people look better in cool colors than in warm ones. This means you’ll probably look better in fuchsia than orange; in emerald green rather than lime or spring green; and black rather than brown. Other wonderful cool colors are purple, violet, magenta, fuchsia, ruby red, true red (not orange red), royal blue, peacock blue, navy blue and white.

Makeup colors also come in warm and cool tones. It’s very likely that you’ll look better in a soft orchid or pink lipstick than a brown-toned warm lipstick. Lipstick will make your prom gown look even more special. Look for blushers in soft pink shades. Blushers give you a healthy glow.

When it comes to style, here are a few pointers:

If you are short, avoid mid-calf lengths. They will make you look shorter. A sheath style dress in a solid color will make you look the tallest.
If you are tall, you will look shorter with one color on top and another color on the bottom. Avoid sheath-style gowns; the long straight line will make you look taller. A long full skirt will enable you to wear flats or low heels that won’t be noticed.
To look thinner as well as taller, wear one solid color from head to toe. This visually elongates your body.
Large patterns will make you look larger. Solids are more sophisticated.
A square neckline will accentuate your collarbones, so avoid this neckline if
your collarbones protrude.
If your chin is slightly pointed, avoid V-shape necklines. Round necklines are
good.
If your face is very round, avoid round necklines. V-shapes are good.

If you have a large midriff, consider wearing black silky or satiny pants and top; and wear a brightly-colored glamorous top that is left unbuttoned atop your black “ensemble.”
If you have a too-generous bosom, don’t opt for a strapless gown. It’s better to choose a sleeveless gown with a V-neckline. The angular line of the neckline will make your bosom look less full.

You Don’t Know What You Look Good In

Sandy Dumont — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:11:35 +0000

Sociobiologists tell us that buried deep inside us, we all have compelling urges related to survival. Nearly everything we do and every decision we make is related to these survival instincts. It’s in our DNA.

You think you choose colors that make you look good. You think you choose what you wear based on the results in the mirror. You don’t. Your color and fashion choices resonate from the depths of your primitive DNA. Your decisions about what you wear are based on the most basic survival instincts.

In other words, you dress to be safe. Figuratively speaking, when you leave the cave each morning, you dress to keep dangerous predators from noticing you. We do it all over the world:

Big city inhabitants dress in the dark colors of tall skyscrapers.
In the South, everyone wears floral prints and pastels.
People in the Midwest adorn themselves in earthy tones.
In the Southwest, desert colors like terracotta and mustard yellow prevail.

The book the fashion industry doesn’t want you to read

Sandy Dumont — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:02:10 +0000

There’s a revolutionary new book coming out in late April. It contains scientifically-proven evidence that you don’t know what you look good in. Nor does anyone in the fashion industry.

They don’t want you to know the truth, because they know you’ll no longer be at the whim of fleeting color and style trends. You’ll KNOW what you look good in.

The book is the culmination of decades of hands-on research about color and color psychology. It’s entitled “Color Me Correctly, Please.” There’s information about makeup color, hair color, camouflage tricks, power dressing for women – and more.

Stay tuned for launch date. You can get your copy at Amazon or on my website at wwww.theimagearchitect.com

The most revolution book on color since 1830

Sartorial Sins

Sandy Dumont — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:16:14 +0000

A Word to the Wise

President, Obama, President Clinton, Prince Albert: please take note that you’ve broken one of the most sacred sartorial rules. One of the the main items, shirt/suit/tie, must have a pattern. To wear three solids, is unimaginative, particularly when all three items are in dark shades.

Of the three men, President Clinton comes the closest to breaking this rule successfully. His exquisite magenta tie definitely sets him apart. With his trio of dark colors, His Majesty, Prince Albert, II, of Monaco, does come across as a little bland.

President Obama actually looks the least powerful of the three, because he’s wearing a pastel tie in baby blue. Not a good idea, unless you’re in a situation where you want to come across far less powerful than you are.

Whoops, that’s not all, gentlemen. Trousers should never buckle around the shoes. They may gently break, but never buckle! President Obama and Prince Albert both need to have their trousers shortened a bit.

When you’re in the spotlight, you need to remember that the devil is in the details. You get the tiniest thing wrong and it will be noticed and ruin the whole effect.

Curly Hair / short with tendrils

Sandy Dumont — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:45:05 +0000

Curly Hair with Tendrils

By popular demand, here’s another great hairstyle for those of you with curly hair. There may be a small hairpiece involved at the back.

Curly Hairtyle / Short and Sophisticated

Sandy Dumont — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:39:58 +0000

Sassy & Sophisticated Hairstyle

This is a great hairstyle if you have curly hair and don’t want to be a slave to maintenance. It will take a good hairdresser to work thisout for you. But it will cause heads to turn!

This style is short but sassy – and sophisticated.

Curly hairstyles

Sandy Dumont — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:29:28 +0000

Here is a picture of a curly hairstyle that has a precision cut.

This is a good hairstyle if you have curly hair and want it to look sophisticated rather than wild. It needs a really good precision cut. Then it can make your life simple.

HAIR: Curly, wavy or straight?

Sandy Dumont — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 21:46:38 +0000

Curly Hair vs. Straight Haior

Celebrities on the Hollywood red carpet usually go for glamorous waves or lots of curls.

Psychologically, massive waves or curls can suggest high-maintenance. Curls are also fluffy and scattered, so it can imply subliminally the same about you.

Straight hair, on the other hand, suggests you get straight to the point and are not complicated. This look is better suited for power looks in the boardroom or elsewhere.

Nevertheless, hair that’s as long as Jennifer Lopez’s hair (far right) tends to be perceived as a more casual look. Ultra long hair that is straight is also thought of as teenage hair most often.

Hair that is naturally curly needs a precision cut in order to look polished an professional. Then it’s on a par with straight hair.

Based on hair, which woman would you want to:
1. Represent you in court
2. Decorate your home
3. Manage your wealth investments