Mirror, mirror on the wall

A new look or a new you — which sounds better? Actually, come to think of it, both have a very thin line separating each from the other. But at the end of the day, a change is welcome, no matter what.

Little wonder why a lot of the city’s women are sparing their ‘image’ a thought and flocking to image consultants to get a hold of themselves — from within and otherwise. Who wouldn’t want to look and feel worth a million dollars?

Over the last three years, image consultant Manjusha Maheshwari has noted a remarkable shift in her clientele, with most of her clients being women aged between 35 and 48. “Most of the women who come to me can be classified into two categories — the young and upwardly mobile, who want to use an image makeover to achieve their goals and individuals — housewives or entrepreneurs — who come with problems that I feel are more psychological but nevertheless, can be addressed through an external makeover,” she explains.

The desire to get an image makeover could be varied, feels Manjusha — right from insecurities at home or at the workplace to a boost of one’s self-esteem. “It’s imperative to hear the person out and that’s why I always insist on an hour of question-answer session,” she states.

Image consultant Prasad Bidapa feels that lifestyle changes cannot be overlooked too while talking of an image makeover. “Once you start the process of change, it’s got to continue and the snowballing effect is what brings about self-improvement. Apart from a basic physical makeover, the personality too needs a lot of coaching — women should be willing to recreate themselves completely,” he offers.

But Prasad insists that Bangalore women still have a long way to go. “More women should wake up from their slumber. They need to dress well to please themselves first. Only when you feel good, will you be more impressive to the onlooker,” he says, adding, “A lot of times, one can identify a generation from their shade of lipstick.”  

Quiz Manjusha on why this particular age group of women are easy victims of this sudden need for a change and she informs, “They are placed in between the young lot and those who have reached a point where they are content with the way life’s shaped up. Moreover, a lot of women in this segment are not scared to ask for help. In fact, a lot of them are also very computer savvy and a world of knowledge is at their fingertips.” 

Even Manjusha agrees with Prasad about women in Bangalore still being a tad bit cautious when it comes to an image makeover. “In the course of conversations with my clients, I get to know how, over the years, they have been used to home remedies when it comes to their skincare, but with the amount of skincare products hitting the market, they are open to experimenting,” she states.

While an image makeover could include a change from one’s footwear to the shape of one’s glasses to the need to visit a dentist or a nutritionist, personalised modules could just be the key to a new and enhanced you.