I’ve decided to begin a series of interviews with women (and perhaps occasionally . . . a man) who are active in fashion, style, design and other culturally related endeavors. As editor of the New Orleans Arts Paper, I used to do this quite often and adored it–for what could be more fascinating than finding out what makes fascinating people tick?
I thought a good place to begin was with someone who weaves together the many threads of fashion, style and personal expression. And so I met with lovely Catherine Montalbo, a professional Bay Area Personal Image Consultant (who is consulted by women and men), at Cafe M at the 4th St Shopping District.
Catherine Montalbo
Kathryne Cassis: How did you decide you wanted to become an image consultant?
Catherine Montalbo: I’d been flip-flopping between two careers–graphic design and retail apparel management–for a few years, not happy with either. When I got laid off from my last graphic design job, it was the last straw. I decided I needed to discover what I was best at, what I was most passionate about, and turn that into my career. Someone at my church introduced me to a skills and talent assessment called Strengths Finder, and I also read “What Color Is Your Parachute;” those two experiences led me toward several possible choices for a career I’d love and stick with. One of them was image consultant. It was the perfect combination of my love of fashion and clothes and my desire to help individuals improve their lives.
K.C. Who or what is your inspiration?
C.M. The fashion and design of post World War II America is my biggest inspiration from an aesthetic point of view. There was this explosion of creativity and innovation brought on by the post war prosperity, among other things, that resulted in the 50s and early 60s being my favorite era for fashion and design because there was so much optimism, joy, and color. I am also inspired by anyone who dresses well and who understands why it is important.
K.C. Was fashion a big part of your growing up?
C.M. Not at all. No one springs from the womb knowing how to dress but in my case, I was really a late bloomer. I know so many people in my field who can point to this aunt or that sister as their first fashion mentor, but for me, a love of fashion didn’t start until I was in college. I was poor and could only afford to buy clothes in thrift shops, and that’s when I discovered vintage clothes. Combined with my fascination with the design aesthetic of the 50s and early 60s, naturally my favorite clothes were from that era as well. I taught myself how to combine vintage pieces pieces with contemporary ones so I wouldn’t look “costumey.”
K.C. Is there a difference in your approach to working with women vs. men?
C.M.: Definitely. Besides the obvious differences in what we wear, men are looking for solutions to their clothing needs, while women tend to look to their clothing to provide a boost in self-esteem in addition to being a solution to “what to wear.” Of course this is a generalization, but it is generally true. Women bring a more complex psychology to their wardrobe and appearance; men just want answers to what to wear and when to wear it. So while men are simpler in their image needs, women are more interesting. And of course we get to wear all the fun clothes!
K.C. What is the single most important thing one needs to know to improve their image?
C.M. I can sum that up in one word: fit. You can spend lots of money on your clothes but if they don’t fit you properly, the person who spends much less but pays attention to fit is going to look better.
K.C. You work a lot with color. Do you have a favorite color?
C.M. I’ve always been partial to red. My parents gave me an outfit for my eighth birthday consisting of black corduroy pants, red turtleneck top, grey Hush Puppies, red socks, and a garnet ring. I’ve never forgotten that outfit! Hmmm, maybe I did have some fashion influence as a child, after all! By the way, did you know that everyone looks good in red? It’s just a matter of finding the red that suits your skin tone.
K.C. What are your guilty pleasures?
C.M. Oh my, I have quite a few. I just love the glitz and kitsch of “Dancing with the Stars.” I also love awards shows like the Oscars. I am always fascinated with what the stars are wearing!
You can discover more about Catherine and her work at her website catherinemontalbo.com. While there don’t miss her blog which combines expert style advice with a touch of whimsical humor!
Oh, and by the way, in the above photo, Catherine is wearing one of her own Dominion of Light Jewels necklaces . . .
Posted: March 22nd, 2012 under Uncategorized - No Comments.
