Customer Watch: Adorning the Signature Pose

If you’re a celebrity-watcher, no doubt you have come to know that many of your favorite media darlings have a signature pose for the camera. In photograph after photograph, the stance is the same, as is the position of the face, the placement of the arms and, of course, the dazzling smile.

Some of this is training. It is possible for even the most attractive individual to take a photo that is not flattering. Abiding by some well-established principles of how to pose for the camera minimizes the chance of a bad shot. And thus the experts provide tips such as: Put one foot in front of the other in a T shape to elongate the appearance of your legs. Turn your body so that you’re not photographed straight-on, since a side view can make you look more slender. And so on.

Many people have a “best side” – I certainly do. Looking equally good from the left, right and dead-on center is an attribute that defines a truly photogenic face. As I watch Oprah on her show, I think to myself that, when I appear on the show as her guest, I’d prefer to be sitting in her spot so that the camera would be catching my best side, photographing me from the left. I notice that Barbara Walters on The View and Kelly Ripa on Regis and Kelly also claim that stage right position. Coincidence?

The June 2009 issue of Glamour magazine includes a montage of photos of four favorite celebrities with their signature poses or gestures, focusing on the face, not the overall body pose. Julia Roberts’s beautiful teeth are there (visibly perfect top and bottom from every direction, all the way back to her wisdom teeth). Drew Barrymore flashes a peace sign, sometimes two. Eva Mendes blows an air kiss. And Jennifer Aniston fusses with her hair, or as Glamour describes this “hair tug”: “Whenever she’s in front of photogs, she just can’t seem to leave that sexy little strand alone.” 

   [Jennifer Aniston’s "hair tug" as captured in Glamour]

I am reminded of a line from the movie Clueless, in which Alicia Silverstone’s character, the high school-aged heroine Cher, dispenses wisdom on how to attract a boy, and proclaims that anything that brings attention to your mouth is good. Mendes and Aniston each accomplish this by bringing a hand up near her face.

An eye-catching way to bring even more attention to the face is to wear something dazzling on that hand. And thus, as we watch Jennifer Aniston, we notice the embellished gold cuff, the gemstone rings, the decorated hoop earrings that come into view as she pulls back a strand of hair. And in Mendes’ case, lavish rings and multiple bracelets get plenty of notice as she throws each kiss. 

 [Eva Mendes’s air kisses, as captured in Glamour]

As you work with your customers, you may notice that many of them repeatedly use certain gestures and poses, just as they might use certain verbal phrases. One customer might sit with her chin resting in a hand. Another might be a business professional who steeples her hands to show confidence. Another might play with her hair.

Help your customers find the jewelry that adorns and adds further emphasis to those adorable quirks, their signature gestures and poses. Your designs themselves could well become part of a person’s signature look.