IT only took one hour for former accountant Diana Blakeman to decide to completely change her life after she attended a talk about the importance of professional image.

Diana worked in a senior finance position at IBM and had worked as an accountant for 30 years but after attending an hour long talk by a House of Colour style and colour consultant, Diana’s life was to completely change.

“The consultant’s talk resonated with me so powerfully that I realised I not only wanted her job but that this would be the key to a healthier, happier future," says the 63-year-old from Romsey.

"I literally had no hesitation and asked her how I could do what she does and didn’t worry one iota about the 30 year finance career I had built up. A career helping others become visible, building their confidence and making them feel good about themselves was what I had been waiting for, I just didn’t know it until that moment.”

A few months later this ‘wow’ moment had caused Diana to change career paths entirely and she had become a personal stylist for the Southampton, Romsey and East Salisbury region. She now has a team of three other stylists as part of her franchise and is a Director of House of Colour helping steer the strategy of the 100 plus team of stylists.

“At 18 I remember the excitement I felt when I realised as an adult, I now had the freedom to be able to buy and choose the clothes I wanted to wear. I was finally free to be me. What happened though was I adopted the typical finance uniform of navy suits to try to show authority rather than authenticity. I was still wearing a uniform which dulled my look and spirit, when actually I have always been a vibrant people person. I looked and felt restricted and I literally spent 30 years without colour in my life.

“I often talk about how my life came into colour when I was 46 years young. During that infamous one-hour talk, my eyes and ears were opened to an entirely new way of life. Throwing off my navy suit jackets was like a man having their first shave in 46 years! In fact, I would go so far as to say I feel younger now at 63 than I was when I was 46! Life is full of colour which gives me joy, lifts my spirits and energises me – all of which I now give in turn to my clients by showing them what colours and styles suit their unique selves.”

Diana particularly likes working with business professionals and enjoys showing them that they can still look corporate, but also radiant and authentically themselves.

“I know what it is like doing a professional office job, with long hours and how we often fail to take the time to take care of ourselves. I have also always been interested in transformation. As an accountant that meant restructuring organisations but now, I enable my clients to simplify their lives and avoid having endless choices and duplication. I am a process queen and knowing what colours and styles suit you, means that you can have less clothes, but they will work together creating numerous different and fabulous wardrobe choices. We lead very busy lives and it’s important to improve flow and let life click into place, whilst looking and feeling good about ourselves.”

Client Karen Stephen agrees: “Understanding what colours and styles truly suit me has completely changed me and how I feel about myself. I love my rich, deep, warm Autumnal tones and have discovered so many new colour combinations including wearing gorgeous neutrals and the difference a pop of the right colour makes.”

Diana’s Top Tips:

1. Wear the tones that suit you – make sure you wear colours which compliment your skin tone, eye and natural hair colour and you will look and feel healthy and radiant.

2. Understand your body shape and proportions – when choosing what to wear, make sure the cut and length of the garment compliments your figure. Certain cuts suit certain body shapes and style personalities better than others. Find out which styles suit you best!

3. What to wear –whatever the occasion, be sure to allow your personality to shine through in what your wearing. For example, office wear doesn’t necessarily mean bland and boring, when you can look professional, in focus and authoritative.

Diana Blakeman is one of a network of consultants with House of Colour, offering colour analysis, personal styling and image consultancy across the UK.

www.houseofcolour.co.uk.