We are excited to welcome Mr. Chris Curse this month as we discuss, style, fashion, and your professional image. You might remember Mr. Curse from our “Chris Curse Client Appreciation” acknowledgment back in September.
He hosted a successful client appreciation event at Nouveau Tavern located in downtown Chicago complete with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Why? Just to say thank you!
If you missed it, you can access it by clicking <HERE.>
We welcome you to enjoy this conversation with style expert and beauty professional Mr. Chris Curse of Chris Curse & Company.
DR. GIA: Which is more important, style, or substance?
Mr. Curse: It depends on what type of work you are performing because both have importance. How important they are varies on what you are trying to accomplish. For example, if you work for an executive at a magazine company your style helps to represent the company and its branding; but structure and content have to be present as well.
At a tech-based company, style may not carry as much weight, structure and content may be more critical. The importance of both will vary at different times in respect to achieving your goals.
DR. GIA: How would you define style?
Mr. Curse: I would define style as an outward presentation of one’s self. Style is a way to communicate non-verbally and create an image and visual context for an individual.
DR. GIA: What are the essential elements of style?
Mr. Curse: That would have to be your total package – Hair, face, body shape, verbal communication, non- verbal communication, and attire. How you combine those elements is the aesthetic that creates your style. Your, grooming and personal hygiene, and accessories provide the finishing touches to the style you represent?
DR. GIA: How do people become informed about style?
Mr. Curse: Visually! Opening their eyes to the world around them, social outlets, and magazines that focus on style and taking advantage of the world wide web to help put it into a more global context.
DR. GIA: Would you endorse the use of a style consultant?
Mr. Curse: Absolutely! Especially for individuals who lack the consciousness and judgment to make sound style decisions that will benefit them.
DR. GIA: How would you work with someone like me? I am confident, but sometimes lack style judgement. I mean well, but don’t always make the right decisions.
Mr. Curse: For people who lack judgment, I try to find out what they like to stick to and why; there is usually a rationale for a person’s choice. For instance, a person’s hair. They may always wear fringe or bangs because they believe they have a big forehead. Some people base fashion choices primarily on their body shape. Style decisions usually have a rationale behind them.
There is often some kind of consideration that influences their choice. For example, it could be based on economics. It’s important to have a guide or some consistent feedback to help navigate one’s hang-ups and explore alternative options. They can still live within their comfort zone and effectively express their individual style.
Dr. Gia : How do you have a difficult conversation about someone’s style?
Great question!
Join us for an upcoming post, when Chris addresses this question, natural hair, style and gender, and a few other questions I was dying to know his answer to!
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Dr. Gia, I must commend you on an informative and relevant blog. While reading this interview, it brought back memories of how I presented my self during various stages in my life.
During the Civil Rights Era, mainly the 60’s and 70’s, I wore an afro hair style. At various times, it was so huge where I couldn’t wear a cap or small enough where a cap could be worn. However, in many quarters, that hair style was looked upon as being a non-conformist and troubling to many people. Yet, it was not important to them that I had quality and historical content to verbally defend my choice of style. It was my appearance that sat the tone.
Later in life, I had the fortune to work for a fortune 500 company as a salesman. I surmised it was important for me to “dress for success.” My choice of clothing was critical for me and the company. I had to impress my clients. In other words, I had to sell myself. My style of dress was what they saw. Optics! Getting pass the optics were critical. At that point, I could start taking about the reason I was there. The content.
In both examples, style came before structure and content. Today, I am retired, but it is important to me how I present myself to the world. In my opinion, it’s style first and content second.
I have had the pleasure of meeting Chris and he is an amazing person. This article gave me a different perspective of style and substance in the business world. I disagree with Chris (sorry Chris) that you can separate style and substance. It has been my experience that style and substance are a package deal. In fact, it two parts of the formula that defines who you are and allows people to see your personality, personal characteristics, and more. I have meet plenty of people who have great style but lack substance, which is a recipe for disaster. Especially as a consultant because consultants are visual people but I also need to know that there is something behind it. I mean unless you are a model, I need to know that you are have substance and can hold a conversation with all people.