Dallas Fashion Consultant, Julie Thurburn, reviews an article by Jodi Helmer

Dallas Fashion Consultant, Julie Thurburn, reviews an article by Jodi Helmer.

According to the Moneywatch.com article ‘Drink, Go Blonde, and 5 Other Ways to Make More Money’, by Jodi Helmer on July 27, 2010, paying to look good may increase your overall pay and offers several ways to invest in your looks.  None of the ideas are new.  They do, however, affirm the value in looking attractive.

“Attractive men and women are often seen as more talented, kind, and intelligent and that can lead to promotions and raises,” says Gordon Patzer, author of Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined. Unattractive men, meanwhile, earned 15 percent less than their attractive coworkers in a London Guildhall University survey of 33-year-olds. Unattractive women earned 11 percent less.’

Physical attraction may not be something you’re born with, but it can be created or enhanced by attending to details such as an updated hair style and color, as well as makeup techniques;  replace missing teeth, have them straightened or whitened.  In addition, your clothes should be clean, well-fitted, and pressed.

Ladies, while you may not be able to permanently increase your physical height, your shoe heel height can provide you with a temporary solution.  While you men may not be interested in wearing 3″ heels, making sure the shoes have a nice heel, are the same color or darker than your slacks, and are kept in excellent condition will make a positive impact.  In addition, hem the slacks to break on the top of the shoe to create the illusion of long legs.

“Height is equated to power and authority,” says Patzer. “We literally look up to people who are taller.” Every extra inch in height adds another $789 in annual income, according to psychologist Timothy Judge and researcher Daniel M. Cable at the University of Florida. Someone who is 6 feet tall earns nearly $166,000 more during a 30-year career, on average, than someone 5’5”, say Judge and Cable

Facial hair is always fodder for discussion.  In general, if the hair on your head is a different color then your beard or mustache, lose the facial hair.  It’s a distraction.  Otherwise…consider the mustache…an asset.

“OK, maybe these guys aren’t completely objective, but a group called the American Mustache Institute says its survey found that men with mustaches earned 8.2 percent more than men with beards and 4.3 percent more than clean-shaven men.”

Investing yourself in church attendance may be good for business, but please leave the sweats, shorts, sneakers, and flip flops at home.  One of the biggest complaints I hear about the church market is the sloppy church attire.  It’s, church, a place of reverence and introspection, not the gym.  While you’re there…

“You might want to pray for a bigger paycheck. Using Census figures, MIT economist Jonathan Gruber found that doubling church attendance increased income by 9.1 percent. Among Gruber’s theories: Going to religious services helps you build social networks and shed the stress of everyday life.”

Looking attractive allows others to easily access your space and will help you proceed in the direction you want to go in life.  We’ve mentioned a few ideas to consider here, but we can’t leave without mentioning some of the most important keys to attraction.  These include how you talk to yourself, how you feel about yourself, your willingness to smile often, and your speaking kindly to others.  What is in the heart, shows up on the face, and overall in our attire.  Invest wisely and BE fabulous, always!

As your Dallas Personal Shopper and Fashion Consultant, it is my mission to help my clients always look fabulous, without being a slave to the whimsical ways of fashion trends.  I am passionately committed to making sure my clients always look their very best in order to help them achieve their personal and business goals.  If you have any questions or are interested in a personal consultation, please give me a call at 214-223-2200.