Almost four million viewers tuned into the English leadership debate Tuesday night, myself included. My mission was more than personal interest. I needed to take copious notes on the demeanor and dress of the four leaders.
Although typically media will call me for commentary following the debates, this time I’d been given a heads up, by the producers at CBC Radio’s The Current, and was scheduled for an early morning discussion with two other women keeping close tabs on the evening: Kady O’Malley, political correspondent with the CBC and Globe and Mail columnist, Tabatha Southey.
My mandate, clearly, was not to comment on content but to interpret the body language of four seasoned politicians, all determined to make their points under crossfire — and the hot lights of a TV studio.
Posted on April 18th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Body Language, Celebrities, Dress, Hair, Image, Presentation Skills, Special Events | No Comments »
Children in grade school are giving presentations. High school students are doing them with PowerPoint. In every company, organization, social gathering, and team meeting, there are more opportunities and expectations to speak in front of a group. Some fear presentations. Others just need help in how to give a presentation that engages the audience and achieves its goal.
It’s not that hard, but there are many steps. Write a clear key message. Develop the outline. Generate the content of your presentation, create your visuals, carefully consider your conclusion, rehearse your opening, then edit and practice.
Posted on March 4th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Communication, Conferences, Presentation Skills | 1 Comment »
Last month my husband and I traveled to Vancouver for a whirlwind weekend of celebrations leading up to a family wedding. Every occasion, from the groom’s dinner to festivities for out-of-town guests and ultimately, the ceremony and reception, radiated a magical sense of happiness.
Posted on February 28th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Dress, Social Etiquette, Special Events, Weddings | No Comments »
These are the individuals who organize and plan every function from conventions to luncheons and although the uninitiated may think this profession is glamour incarnate, the reality is very different. Military precision, troubleshooting par excellence and enough detail to drive an actuary crazy all define the professional Event Planner’s day.
During the training program, I gave a menu-planning workshop. Here’s a behind the scenes look at what we covered.
Posted on February 13th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Conferences, Dining Etiquette, Food, Special Events, Weddings, Workplace Etiquette | No Comments »
World-renowned colour authority Pantone Inc. has just declared Honeysuckle Pink colour of the year for 2011. Described as “a brave new colour for a brave new world,” watch for this vibrant, blushing pink to make its mark on everything from fashion and makeup to interior design.
Posted on December 15th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Body Image, Celebrities, Dress, Fashion, Image, Makeup, shopping | 1 Comment »
Understandably, I was excited about this unexpected invitation but I must say, nothing could have prepared me for the extraordinary two days that lay ahead. The Allure of the Seas is truly majestic. There was a sense of glamour and excitement from the moment we boarded — “we” being my 28-year old son and myself. But what struck me immediately was the profound feeling of fun in the air.
Posted on December 3rd, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Celebrities, Diane's Reflections, Relaxation, Special Events, Travel | No Comments »
Working with positive people is, indeed,
a blessing; they bring joy and brighten the day. It’s like a gift of sunshine.
Posted on October 24th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Accessories, Diane's Reflections, Food, Image Consultation, Social Etiquette | No Comments »
the real measure of Ms Sullivan’s Executive Presence is surely her grace under fire. The rebranding took place during extraordinarily challenging financial pressure: plummeting stock prices, selling off the men’s and kid’s divisions; criticism for overpaying for recently purchased casual retailer J. Jill. Throughout all this public scrutiny, Ms Sullivan and her team rolled out the rebranding and never lost their poise or their vision.
Posted on October 14th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Celebrities, Dress, Fashion, Image, Menswear, shopping, Womenswear | No Comments »
Creating the right image is a powerful tool for success. This is as true for corporations as it is for individuals. Over the last few months, I’ve been fascinated to watch as traditional retailer Talbots re-branded itself from a chain for conservative, some would say stodgy, sixty-somethings to a destination store for younger, hipper, edgier, career women.
Posted on October 5th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Celebrities, Fashion, Image, shopping, Womenswear | No Comments »
When it comes to air travel, anything more than a carry-on is counter productive. It’s not just the lost-luggage-factor that has most women wheeling, not carrying, a single bag onboard. The hassle, the time lost, and often our travel partners, with little or no patience for hanging around carousels, have conditioned even the most passionate [...]
Posted on September 8th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Accessories, Dress, Fashion, Image, shopping, Travel, Womenswear | 1 Comment »
