Gettin’ REAL in Cleveland

I’m on a committee to bring MTV’s The Real World to town. It’s really an exciting concept. Cleveland has been an underdog for so long that it’s about time for great things to happen here. I never thought I would be able to say that amazing things are going on in Cleveland, but it’s really an exciting time to be here.

This initiative is being headed up by our Tech Czar. They’re planning to build an MTV Ultra Lounge. The plans so far are very cool. Definitely nothing like anything else here. Hopefully we’ll be able to impress the heck out of the MTV people and they will be compelled to have a season here in C-Town. You know what? We deserve it. We’re getting better here in Cleveland. Really.

Hey, I was in Inside Business Magazine this month. Okay, I wasn’t thrilled with the picture, but it’s still publicity. It was taken at the Red Room Revolution event back in March.
I’ll be in there next month as well for my “One to Watch” interview. Gosh, I feel like a celeb!

Stacy London from What Not to Wear was on Oprah today as were two guys with a new book I’ve never seen. What I wouldn’t do to get on Oprah. I’m certain I’ll have my chance one day. I just need to be patient and wait for the right opportunity. A chance to be on Oprah is like the gods of marketing smiling on you.

More Stacy – I also watched two hours of What Not to Wear tonight. That’s an addictive show for a fashionista like me. They do such a great job and they’re so entertaining. I can only hope that my show (whatever it’s called) will be close to that good. I’m really excited to make the pilot. I’m sure it will be great. I don’t do anything half-hearted, so I’m certain we’ll succeed.

Kristen Kaleal
President, Fusion Image Group
uniting image and innovation for a powerful presence
Image & Media Consulting
Cleveland, OH

p. (440) 742-0385
f. (440) 579-0100
e. kkaleal@aol.com
www.fusionimagegroup.com
www.clevelandwomen.com/fashion/kristenmain.htm

Show Girl

I’m so excited after my meeting yesterday with the TV people. I met with a programming director and a production company about producing a style show. We’re going to do a pilot and see if there’s interest from sponsors. It will hit exactly the right demographic so I don’t see a reason why sponsors wouldn’t be interested!

Another wonderful thing about this show concept is that we can feature my friends who have interesting things to share. I know a lot of people in the image/beauty/style/etiquette world and I’ve learned a ton from them and I would love for them to share their knowledge with the rest of the viewing audience.

I gave the producers a list of about 30 ideas for shows and segments and makeovers we could do. Hopefully this will all work out and will be the start of something much bigger.

I’ll keep updating as the pilot is shot and hopefully picked up.

The Star Treatment

I feel like a celebrity this week! I’m not used to all this attention. Today I have a meeting about developing a style TV show!!! Thursday is an interview with Inside Business magazine (www.inside-business.com), where I’ll be featured in a “One to Watch” interview. Friday is an interview with the Cool Cleveland website (www.coolcleveland.com) and after that is the photo shoot for Inside Business.

Okay, so it’s not Oprah or Today, but it’s pretty cool nonetheless. I’m very excited.

Perhaps I’m most thrilled about the TV show idea, which I will talk more about in a later blog, but I’m also delighted to be featured in Inside Business. One young professional is profiled on the last page every month. It’s kind of a hip interview with little sound bite-y answers. I better practice being brief! It’s really an honor to be recognized as One2Watch. Not only do they choose up-and-coming professionals, but they must also be civic-minded, which I am.

In addition to my image consulting business, I write a style column for the ClevelandWomen.com site. I volunteer for Dress for Success Cleveland. I used to be a personal shopper, where I would pick out interview clothing for their clients. My time became very limited so I now speak for their Professional Women’s Group a few times a year. I think I can make more of an impact that way. I can reach 20+ women at a time, which is nice.

I’m also so excited about the Cleveland Women’s Leadership Link networking group that my friend DeLiska McGhee-Haggins (“Dee”) and I are starting. Dee and I met in 10th grade at Euclid High as cheerleaders. We reconnected at a Beachwood Chamber event last year and we both felt there was no networking group that was meeting our needs here in Cleveland. There is definitely no lack of women’s groups, but they all are imperfect in their own ways. So we got a wonderful group of women together to plan a launch event at the House of Blues Foundation Room. It kicks off on May 10th. I can’t wait.

We won’t just be a networking group but we’re planning to have a mentorship segment which will allow us to work with young women from area colleges. It’s so important to know the right people. I started learning that too late. It will be a distinct advantage to these young women to have an “in” with area companies and women in their industries.

We also want to be part of the Cleveland Brain Gain. It’s all about attracting talented people to our region and keeping college grads here. I consider myself a Brain Re-Gain. I couldn’t wait to leave Cleveland. Then I did for 2 ½ years. I moved to Las Vegas. But I ended up right back here. And I was plotting my next move to a warmer, hipper place when something strange happened. I became submerged in the business community and culture here and discovered that good things are really happening here and highly-motivated people are making them happen. It’s all about being around the right people. Like-minded people can make amazing things happen.

So I’ll bask in my week in the sun, then next week, I will be back to working really hard to make my own amazing things happen.

Book Girl

I’ve been working on my book concept for at least the past three years. My internal clock is telling me that now is the right time to work on getting it published. I’m attending the Book Expo in DC next month to get the ball rolling.

I think it’s about time for this book. Doing what I do, I hear so many complaints about how young people dress. Whether it’s the parents or recruiters or career center staff, no one seems to have an answer about how to teach young women how to dress. Through my studies and training, I have the answers. And I’m putting them in my book.

In addition to teaching young women about first impressions, grooming and sensible wardrobe development, my book will help them avoid the traps that can sabotage their credibility in the workplace – showing too much skin, very long hair, dressing too trendy, and the myriad other things that can spell career doom.

After the first book, I’m hoping to write a follow-up about dressing for young men. But the women’s is more desperately needed right now. Men are lucky because they have rules. Women don’t and that’s why the result is what we see in the workplace today.

Cars & Style

I went to the Lexus Style Show at Playhouse Square in Cleveland last night. Many of the beautiful people in Cleveland were there. It was the unveiling of the new Lexus ES 350 along with a style show featuring clothing from an upscale shopping center in town.

The weather yesterday was absolutely beautiful, almost 70 degrees, which made people really want to get out.

I don’t think that they anticipated the crowd. It was so packed that people were being shown to an overflow area in the lobby of an adjacent theater. Maybe people were there for the free food and drinks. I was there for the clothes, and I suspect the 50% of the crowd that were guys were there for the cars.

The new Lexus is nice, but it didn’t hit my hot button. I’m looking more at sporty cars right now – and convertibles. I know they’re not the best choice in a place like Cleveland, but I want one!
Getting back to the subject at hand….

Kilgore Trout presented the fashion show and there were some really nice looking pieces in it. I don’t regularly shop there, so I don’t keep up with what they have. We saw some very casual items – I can’t believe the Bermuda short is back for women – a flat front style that doesn’t flatter if you have heavier thighs or hips. Lots of capris. I don’t think they’re going out until we get sick of them. Even I gave in and started wearing them in the last two or three years. Love the new distressed denim jacket look. It’s nice that they’re more tailored now. It’s a must-have these days. Although nothing screams eighties more than a shapeless jean jacket.

Also, metallics are in, but now they are very subdued. You may see a hint of metallic in the weave of a fabric, but nothing over the top. Metallic fabrics can be overpowering, so worn in moderation, they are great.

Some great looking Armani and Zegna suits for guys too. I don’t see any of them working for the office – especially the light grey with sort of a sheen. I love menswear, so I was very eager to see that part of the show. It didn’t disappoint.

All in all, it was an interesting evening. I was glad to see the new Lexus and it was nice to see warm weather clothes. I’m really looking forward to summer!

Kristen Kaleal
President, Fusion Image Group
uniting image and innovation for a powerful presence
Image & Media Consulting
Cleveland, OH

p. (440) 742-0385
f. (440) 579-0100
e. kkaleal@aol.com
www.fusionimagegroup.com
www.clevelandwomen.com/fashion/kristenmain.htm

It’s All About the Hair

I’ll admit it, I’m an addict. I’m totally addicted to the show “Blow Out” on Bravo. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a reality show about hotheaded LA salon owner and entrepreneur Jonathan Antin. Of course, we’re also reminded constantly that he’s a superstar in the world of hair. Actually, besides Vidal Sassoon, he’s the only person I know about in the world of hair, save for my stylist Nadine and a couple other local hair people.

So what makes Jonathan so special? I’m going to say it’s his ego and his quest for great hair. He throws fits and tantrums but if at the end of the day he makes someone’s hair look great, then it’s all worth it. He may alienate everyone he’s ever met, but if great hair results, that’s all that matters.

Watching him in action is what’s addictive. It’s amazing what is possible when your vision is crystal clear in your own mind. People follow. He inspires me.

Here's to great hair.


Kristen Kaleal
President, Fusion Image Group
uniting image and innovation for a powerful presence
Image & Media Consulting
Cleveland, OH

p. (440) 742-0385
f. (440) 579-0100
e. kkaleal@aol.com
www.fusionimagegroup.com
www.clevelandwomen.com/fashion/kristenmain.htm

About Me

My name is Kristen Kaleal and I am an image consultant in Cleveland, OH. I was born and raised in the Cleveland suburbs, attended Euclid High School and John Carroll University. I lived in Las Vegas for about 2-1/2 years. It was while I was there that I learned about image and started taking classes in color, body line analysis, wardrobe development, core wardrobing, professional image for the workplace, and business casual.

It wasn’t until later that teaching others about image – especially young people – would become my calling in life.

The three main areas of my work are speaking at colleges with my Cracking the Dress CodeTM program, speaking for women’s groups with my Developing Your Image QuotientTM program, and currently, I am branching out into image and branding for professional athletes.

I love what I do and couldn’t imagine doing anything else!


Kristen Kaleal
President, Fusion Image Group
uniting image and innovation for a powerful presence
Image & Media Consulting
Cleveland, OH

p. (440) 742-0385
f. (440) 579-0100
e. kkaleal@aol.com
www.fusionimagegroup.com
www.clevelandwomen.com/fashion/kristenmain.htm