HUNTING

Trim Gage

Male Image and Style Walking Out the Door

So you are going out on the town. It may be an important date you have been working towards for months or it may be your wedding anniversary and you are surprising your wife with a well planned night on the town. This night is special for more than just one reason. You took extra time and care while picking out what to wear. You put on a bit more deodorant (not your typical single swipe application), shoes were clean, hair styled extra well and took greater care while shaving for that extra smooth face you know she loves. You feel great, look amazing and are confident that the night will be grand. Most likely it will be unless you say something that gets you in trouble. Chances are it will be great and let me tell you part of the reason why.

You are confident and this can't be denied or over looked. That lucky lady who you are out with feels special and valued because she can tell the subtle things you did that took effort in order to impress her. This scenario plays out time and time again in your life. However, it plays out not only in relationships but your professional and social world as well. This situation may be a hot date, an anniversary or it may be church, big meeting, job interview or even a high school reunion.

In preparation for these situations, you my friend are executing and implementing your best attempt at style and personal packaging (your image). My question to you is, if you feel this good and confident when you do take that little bit of time to ensure a great package, why don't you do this every day of your life?

Style and a great image doesn't come when you apply yourself once, twice or even 3 times a month. Style and image is an everyday/ every event thing. In order to be perceived as having a great image and stylish, one must execute consistency. If you show a track record of dressing like crap, this will be how people view you. It doesn't matter that you looked sharp the day you met with your client or you went out on that one date. It is important not to let your guard down and don't be tempted by the lure of "casual Friday" let all of your ignorant peers fall victim and watch you move up the latter of success with mind blowing speed.

Alright, so now we have determined that you need to pay attention to detail on a daily basis, what do us as men need to do before we walk out the door to ensure that we are bringing the best "you" to the table every day? Look in the mirror, a full length mirror. Most of us use the mirror in our bathroom as the gage of our togetherness. The mirror that only shows us ourselves from the chest up may not be painting the most accurate picture. A full length mirror will allow you to view the whole picture.

Stand back, face forward and start at your feet and work up analyzing your clothing choices independently of each other and as a total package. Are your shoes scuffed? Is your fly open? Is there a big stain on your shirt next to your belly button? By standing back and taking it all in, you will be able to see what the world sees.

Points of analysis

• Shoes: Are they clean? Are they scuffed? Are they worn out and old looking? Are they stylish?
• Pants: Are they long enough? Are they too long? Are they stained? Are they wrinkled? Do they fit? Is your fly zipped?
• Belt: Does it match your shoes? Is it worn out and permanently marred by your inability to maintain a consistent weight? Is the buckle lined up with your fly? Did you miss a belt loop?
• Shirt: Is it clean? Is it pressed? Free of small holes? Buttoned appropriately? Fit well? Is it out dated?
• Tie (if you plan to wear one): Long enough (stop at the middle of belt buckle)? Short enough (stop at the middle of belt buckle)? Free from stains? Free of wrinkles? Tied with a symmetrical and centered knot? Stylish or out dated?
• Jacket or Sport coat (if you plan to wear one): Is it wrinkled? Is it too large? Is it too small? Does it fit you? Does it match or compliment your outfit?

Now it is time to move to your head and face so move back to the mirror in the bathroom-- Hair (Nose, Ear, Face, Head).

• Nose: Can you see hairs when you look forward? Can you see hairs when you turn to the side (both sides)? Can you see hairs when you tilt your head up? (If answer to any of these is yes, trim them)
• Ear: Do you have hair that protrudes out of your ear (inside and out?) (If the answer is yes, trim with nose hair trimmers)
• Face: Did you shave today? Is there stray hair that you missed near your nose? If you wear facial hair, is it neatly trimmed? Ask yourself-- would you kiss yourself? If the answer to the kissing question is no…take care of the issue
• Head: Does your hair look good? If you don't have hair, are you cleanly shaven ? Are you overly gelled or sprayed? Are there stray hairs sticking up that are out of place?

Now let's talk about a very important aspect of your image-- oral hygiene.

• Teeth: Have you flossed? Have you brushed? Are your teeth stained and in need of a good bleaching treatment? Have you used mouth wash?
• Breath: See above and if you have not taken care of the above, get some gum or mints and use them

By paying attention to these key point on a daily basis prior to walking out the door will help ensure that you are ready to face the world, no matter what situation you are in.

About the Author

alpha m. Image Consulting was launched back in 2006 by founder Aaron Marino. Aaron realized that there was a lack of resources and options for men to receive real world help and advice regarding their image, style and grooming. Our goal is to help you look and feel the best that you can...every day of your life.

A Note from Aaron M: I would first like to thank you for visiting alpha m. I created this company and our services to help men realize their true potential. We accomplish this through confidence building, wardrobe management, grooming guidance, and style selections-- all in an effort to help you achieve personal aesthetic excellence.

Too often I see men not getting the women they want or the job the deserve because of a lack of knowledge regarding how they are presenting themselves to the outside world.

Judgments are made about you in the first 10-seconds upon meeting someone. If you are not sure what you are communicating or how you are being received...we can help!

Aaron Marino of alpha m. Image Consulting can be seen in a new VH1 show (Glam God with Vivica A. Fox) premiering on August 21st. Contestants compete in various challenges including hair, make-up and wardrobe, to become the next big celebrity stylist. The winner receives the opportunity to style an A-List celebrity and $100,000.

Cast photos can be viewed at http://www.vh1.com/photos/gallery/?fid=1592079pid=3105593

Baby Name Game: Assign nursery color(s) to these names?

Imagine a nursery for the following babies based on the names they were given. Include color(s), look, and give a middle name.

Example: Anabella Marie. Sky blue and white lace trim on everything. Under the sea theme. (be as detailed or as vague as you want. The minimum requirement is a color and middle name.)

Roarke ♂
Elaine ♀
Liam ♂
Araminta ♀
Nico ♂
Evanna ♀
James ♂
Portia ♀
Gage ♂
Elizabeth ♀
Bartholommeo ♂
Fern ♀
Micah ♂
Audrey ♀
Emerson ♂
Aunaleigh♀
Winston ♂
Twins!: Ivy ♀ & Ira ♂

* if you liked.

Roarke Aaron- forest green, with a jungle theme. green wallpaper with jungle animals as a border, and a cartoon monkey rug. dark wood for the furniture.

Elaine Isabella- lavender walls with a hearts theme. purple heart border, purple heart rug. lavender bedding. white furniture.

Liam Kayden- dark blue, with a sailor theme. a sailboat border. red stripes. blue and red bedding. white furniture.

Araminta Rae- mint green, with a flower theme. very light brown wood for furniture. flowery border, rug, and bedding.

Nico James- red with a circus theme. medium brown wood furniture. polka dot and clown border. (i doubt i would really use this, as i don't like clowns. but it sounds cute if you like clowns.)

Evanna Lee- pale yellow, with a kitten theme. kitten border, stuffed toy kittens to decorate. white furniture.

James Dean- blue, with a rock star theme. guitar border and rug, music notes bedding. dark wood furniture.

Portia Mae- pale rose color with a prairie theme. gingham print bedding and curtains, light wood furniture.

Gage Ryan- blue and yellow, with a Spongebob theme. Spongebob bedding. medium wood furniture. blue walls and curtains. yellow rug and various yellow decorations.

Elizabeth Anne- light blue with a butterfly theme. butterfly border, and cloth butterfly wall adornment. butterfly rug and mobile. light blue bedding. white furniture.

Bartholomeo Pierre- French theme. medium brown furniture. beret and baguette French border. white walls with stripes.

Fern Elizabeth- light green with a farm theme. farm animals border and rug. light green bedding. light brown wood furniture.

Micah Joseph- blue with a car theme. orange car border. blue walls. blue bedding with car print. dark brown furniture.

Audrey Skye- baby pink with a princess theme. tiara border. pink bedding and white furniture. wall adornment that says princess in big letters.

Emerson Joe- blue with fish theme. a fish border. blue bedding. fish rug. dark brown furniture.

Aunaleigh Rose- light pink with a ballet theme. ballet slipper border with a ballerina rug. light pink bedding and white furniture.

Winston Jacob- blue and red with an airplane theme. blue walls with airplanes. airplane rug. blue and red bedding. white furniture.

Ivy Scarlett and Ira Bridget- light pink and lavender with a fairy theme. lavender walls with pink fairies spaced randomly. pink bedding for Ivy and lavender for Ira. white furniture.

Lee Zip Trim