Careers To Go

A Passion For Fashion
Image Consultant

By Karen French

Age: 38
Nationality: British
Family: Married with 2 children
Countries Lived In: England, Bahrain, Dubai, Holland, Jakarta and Singapore.
Qualifications: A few 'O' Levels and the International Baccalaureate.
Full Image Diploma from Color Me Beautiful (UK), Makeup for Brides and Photography from Top To Toe College of Beauty Therapy (Singapore) and a Fashion Merchandising Diploma from International Correspondence School U.S.A.

Her story:
Pre-consultant days I tried everything! Worked in a private practice as Assistant to a Chiropractor, worked at the International Trade Centre (Dubai) co-ordinating computer exhibitions. Did a stint with the Middle East Regional Office of Philip Morris, headed admissions of an international nursery school in Holland and have spent time in the Treasury Dept of an Arab bank in Bahrain.

As a little girl, living in Bahrain I spent countless hours playing 'dress up' with my Barbie Dolls. I'd spend hours cutting pictures of skirts, dresses, lipsticks and shoes out of magazines to paste into scrap books. If only I'd pursued my 'Passion For Fashion' then it would have saved a lot of years doing unfulfilling jobs. To be honest, I always knew deep down that I wanted to do something with women and clothes but had no idea or direction to follow my dreams. A career in the world of Image and Fashion would have seemed absurd in the highly academic school where I studied in the Middle East.

Years later, I am delighted to say that with the help and support of my husband who has encouraged me to follow my basic instinct and to pull down the barriers - I have found my niche. Being an Image Consultant has provided me with much more than the exciting career that it is. It has given me opportunities and opened doors that I never even knew existed.

Not satisfied with only offering the traditional colour and style consultations, my services have expanded to include wardrobe management and planning, shopping trips, presentations, workshops, co-ordinating fashion shows and my second love - writing!

I have found all of the above permutations of my basic love of fashion to be provide fabulous ways to fulfill my ambition to show any woman that wants to know, how to make the most of herself. Regardless of age, size or budget every woman can look great! This is not about glamour and being the most fashionable female - but about understanding body shape, your own character and integrating it into your own lifestyle.

I took my first steps with Color Me Beautiful (London) in the early 90's and have not looked back. This career offers the flexibility to work with what I love, be a mum to two wonderful boys and cope with endless moves as a trailing spouse. If there's a move on the horizon, there isn't that sinking feeling - and it helps cope with a move to know that when we all get settled at the other end I can unpack my things and carry on the work that I do. A wonderful example of a portable career.

If you'd like to know more about being an Image Consultant or have any related questions, please e-mail me on: kakatua@pacific.net.sg or visit my homepage.

You may be interested to know that Color Be Beautiful now sends out a free electronic newsletter to anyone who would like to receive it, so please contact me if you would like to know more.

Karen French
Personal Stylist - Kakatua
Image Consultant - Color Me Beautiful - Singapore
Associate Consultant - Jill Lowe International - Singapore
Fashion Show Co-ordinator - Asia Pacific