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First
Lady of First Impressions: Sandy Dumont, The Image
Architect® |
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By Amanda Richter |
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Quick. What color is the Mona Lisa's dress? If
you answered "black" or couldn't recall, you're not alone. Most
people, when conjuring up images of the world's most enigmatic
woman, remember the deft curl of her smile, the softness of her
eyes. And according to Sandy Dumont, The Image Architect®, that's a
good thing. That we remember the Mona Lisa's overall effect rather
than the details of her dress is indicative of the success of her
image. The sum, Dumont reminds her clients, is greater than the
parts.
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Sandy Dumont
uses her art and psychology background to change antiquated
perceptions of what's professional and classy by ditching
conventional consulting practices and adopting a holistic
approach to image. |
However, there is one
addendum to this proverb. "The devil is in the details," Dumont
warned with a chuckle. In other words, one wrong turn can put the
kibosh on the whole deal. Those shoes or that tie can sink the most
precious cargo you carry—your image.
Dumont's talent lies in
her supreme ability to detect those fiendish details that may have
implications as far reaching as lost job promotions, killed deals,
and ruined sales. She assesses her clients' appearances with the
cool, sharp eye of a forensic scientist. In fact, that's how she
earned her name. "You're so technically oriented," one of her male
clients said. True, but technical, in Dumont's case, doesn't mean
boring. Her philosophy? "You've got to stand out from the herd. You
want to have distinctive styles."
From Norfolk, VA, to
Washington, DC, to Brussels, Belgium, Dumont has spread her image
insights to a bevy of clients including such Fortune 500 companies
as Lancôme, Sheraton Hotels, TWA, Farmers Insurance, Rolex, ITT,
Yves St. Laurent Cosmetics, and American Express Financial Services.
A graduate of the John Robert Powers Fashion & Finishing School,
former faculty member at The Barbizon School, founder of Impressions
Strategies Institute, and founder of the World Association of Image
Consultants (and that's only skimming the top of her list of
credentials), Dumont uses her art and psychology background to
change antiquated perceptions of what's professional and classy by
ditching conventional consulting practices and adopting a holistic
approach to image.
We've all heard the rules about matching
our skin and hair colors to our clothes or letting our
sunnier-than-sunny dispositions radiate through vibrant lime and
chartreuse colors. Those are the tickets to looking our best, right?
Wrong!
"Your skin is the only thing you look at when
determining your colors," Dumont said. "Hair takes care of itself.
Eyes take care of themselves."
And for that reason, she
warns blondes and fair-skinned women to steer clear of the pastels
and "food colors"—ketchup, mustard, lemon, lime—that they
traditionally favor, claiming such colors will wash them out and/or
make them look garish, not to mention less credible.
Similarly, matching your personality to colors won't always
be flattering or bolster your professional presence. For example,
shy gals who stick to light pinks and purples will only play up
their shyness. Dumont insists that women ditch men's blazers as
well. Who wants to look like she's playing dress up in her father's
clothes? Instead, choose fitted jackets in distinctive,
bold-but-classy colors such as navy blue, emerald green, royal
purple, and cherry red.
Dumont's also a fan of fuchsia
lipstick, especially for younger women in their 20s and early 30s.
But before you scream, "The horror! The horror!" consider her
reasoning. Wearing fuchsia lipstick, "you will go up a notch in
credibility; you will be perceived as having more experience in the
working world. You'll make a bigger impact." But won't younger women
look like they're copying their mothers? No way, according to
Dumont. "You can't possibly look like your mother," she promised.
| Q. |
What do you like to do for
fun? |
| A. |
Astrology, Pilates, playing with my
cat, Muffin, and going places with my husband. |
| Q. |
What CD is in your CD
player? |
| A. |
The latest tape from the National
Speakers Association. |
| Q. |
What is the last magazine
you read? |
| A. |
Allure. They have great
university studies. |
| Q. |
What is your favorite TV
show? |
| A. |
60 Minutes. |
| Q. |
Who is your role
model? |
| A. |
Tina Turner. She is the only person
who can get on stage with Mick Jagger and show him
up! | |
Dumont's
vast and varied background leaves little room for skepticism.
Formerly an accomplished model, Dumont got her start in Washington,
DC, working with such designers as Bill Blass to put on big fashion
shows with "no expenses barred and fabulous accessories." These
early experiences taught her the value of "making a statement,"
still a core tenet of her approach to image consulting. "You get
noticed when you look dynamic," Dumont insisted.
It wasn't
long until neighbors began enlisting her savvy, but it was in
Brussels where her career catapulted into "serious corporate work."
First, though, she harvested her knowledge of image consulting by
teaching summer classes to expatriates. "When you have to teach a
subject, you really learn it," she said. It was also in
Brussels that Dumont saw the birth of her first company, Color and
Fashion Associates, which later became Image-inations and still
later was rechristened with its current name, Impressions Strategy
Institute.
Since returning to the U.S. several years ago,
Dumont has forged her own way in the industry. A few years ago, when
attending an Association of Image Consultants International (AICI)
conference in San Francisco, Dumont noticed a curious and, frankly,
shocking trend: "Not too many women looked like image consultants."
Dumont added, "They didn't seem to be in the right colors." They
played by the rules, sticking to certain color palettes and
so-called complimentary colors as though they'd been handed down
from Mount Sinai.
Lewis and Clark had nothing on Dumont. She
struck out on her own, creating the World Association of Image
Consultants. And she hasn't looked back. "I go against nearly
everything that they [other image consultants] condone, propose, or
suggest because I think that what they're doing is old-fashioned
paint by numbers," she said.
Both men and women can and have
benefited from Dumont's pioneering attitude. She advises her male
clientele to keep in mind that often, "the darker the color, the
higher the authority." With that in mind, she makes it her mission
to steer them clear of monochromatic or matching tie and suit
combinations and leads them into the world of ties that get results.
Attention-grabbing ties, Dumont instructed, should contrast with
suits (though smaller details such as lines on a tie can coordinate
with one's suit color). Select ties with small, discreet patterns in
order to emulate the "old money" aesthetic.
Dumont also
recommended that men test drive "gray or navy blue suits" that can
be paired with raspberry, burgundy, or red ties. But stay away from
black if you have black hair because you'll look too intimidating.
To avoid scaring the kiddies, try opting for a light (never dark)
French-blue shirt to combat the overpowering effect of the black.
However, under no circumstances should you don a yellow or red tie
to top off the ensemble. Why? One word. Godfather. And
while fun for Halloween parties and costume balls, the gangster look
can sure bring the mood of any meeting or sale down.
Above
all, in her sage manner acquired through 30 years of experience,
Dumont tells her clients not to become fad slaves, "whether certain
trends work for you or not." Instead, Dumont writes on her website,
focus on making heads turn because you exude professionalism,
trustworthiness, and refinement. Because, just like the Mona Lisa,
there's something about you.
And just what color is the Mona
Lisa's dress? Dumont didn't miss a beat: "Dark green." Of course!
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