Elisabete Reis is an image, etiquette, and protocol consultant/lifestyle coach. A popular influencer, Elisabete is married to Miguel, and they share three beautiful children. The glamourous and stylish mumpreneur is also the founder of the popular Glam Your Image brand. Here, she chats with Kim Wyatt about her work in the fashion industry and shares her top tips on how you can Glam Your Image on a budget.
K: What is the concept of Glam Your Image?
E: Glam Your Image helps people to understand that clothes won’t work until you accept yourself.
In 2010, I started working as a stylist and gave one-on-one sessions to clients. However, I decided it wasn’t enough. I wanted to know and offer more to my clients, so I added Etiquette & Protocol for the corporate sector, plus menswear. I also trained as a life coach.
Eventually, I became a brand ambassador and helped to develop brands for specific clientele. Nowadays, I select a handful of clients and offer an A-to-Z program that covers wardrobe advice, etiquette, and building self-confidence and self-esteem.
I conduct personal and group classes to a range of clients, including students, stay-at-home mums, children, teenagers, men, CEOs, and businesspeople.
Essentially, Glam Your Image aims to empower you in all areas.
K: You’re one of Qatar’s top influencers. How do you feel about that?
E: Well, I don’t know about that! I’m the same person you see on my social media accounts—maybe with a little extra lighting in photos or with more makeup, but I am still me.
I get so disappointed when meeting people I follow on social media, and they’re not who they try to be online. I can’t stand that anymore. I am tired of seeing so much “pretend” in everything.
Nowadays, it’s hard to trust, so I don’t know [much] about being a “top influencer”, but I am a genuine person.
K: How do you always look so glamourous and stylish? Is it important to you?
E: Yes, it’s important to me. It is who I am. I like to get dressed up in order to look great for myself. I like to feel and look well-put-together. I have always done this! Even at home on the weekends, I put my hair in a nice ponytail or bun with a matching t-shirt and shorts, or something cute and sporty.
I like to look good for my family. My mom always said to me, “never leave the house with the bed untidy” and “never be embarrassed to answer an unannounced knock on the door”. I usually tell my friends and clients: “Never go unprepared to the supermarket, because chances are, you will see the last person you want to see!”
K: Do you think it’s necessary to buy expensive clothes in order to look fashionable?
E: Not at all! I have attended a few public events wearing some “affordable” clothes that you wouldn’t believe! It’s all about confidence and how you carry “the look”. This applies to everything—nothing will work unless you are confident. Not even the most expensive items will work if you lack confidence. I’ve seen many people looking very uncomfortable in the most expensive brands and seen some people wearing very affordable brands and looking like a million dollars. What you wear reflects who you are. The less you know about yourself, the more it reflects externally, so the expensive jacket won’t help.
K: Can anyone look glamourous on a budget? If so, how?
E: Absolutely! There are many brands that recreate affordable designer looks from the runway.
I encourage people to invest in a smart closet. We don’t all look good in the same so-called “classics”. We are all different. There are many options to choose from. Start by learning more about yourself and the best colours, fabrics, and cuts for your body type. Learn about capsule collections and how to maximize every single item in your closet, from a blouse to a pair of shoes. Building a capsule collection is the best investment.
K: How important are accessories to a budget-friendly wardrobe?
E: Accessories are key to a successful budget-friendly closet. They can change or transform a look completely. I recommend investing in key accessories and creating an accessory capsule. Depending on your personality style, the best accessories can be jewellery, scarves, belts, hats, or hairbands. There are so many to choose from! I love playing with accessories.
K: What garment details should we look for in budget-friendly clothing?
E: Nowadays, the problem is quality. There are lots of poorly stitched or cheap fabrics that almost always end up being a waste of money. Either the clothes look cheap or [they] shrink in the first wash.
On the other hand, with the fast-fashion movement, it is quite easy to find an outlet with great bargains, fantastic fabrics, and finishing.
I visit fashion outlets to find classic clothing. I like small, local brands. In Qatar, it’s very easy to buy good fabric and have clothing made by a tailor.
K: Do you have a budget for personal items such as clothing, jewellery, and skincare?
E: I believe budgeting is crucial. We need to be more conscious about what we need.
With my clients, I like to discuss budgets and a suitable shopping plan.
K: Do you buy bargains online? Please share your tips.
E: I am very careful with online shopping because a bargain can turn into a waste of money regardless of the price. Sometimes we must take a risk. I read labels and check online comments and questions. I’ve had disasters where I’ve bought clothing online and the photos were misleading.
Yet, I’ve been very lucky too. My advice is: make sure you check the comment section, enquire, and chat with other online buyers.
K: Do you think it’s important to budget for food shopping? Please share your top five money-saving tips
E: In terms of food, my house needs a strict hand. We have three adults and three kids (my nanny included). I am on a plant-based, vegan diet, and my daughter eats gluten-free food. The rest of my family eat everything—kids at that age eat continuously!
Most days, we cook two different meals. I cook my vegan meal and another separate meal for the family. I also favour organic food.
Gluten-free and organic products are very expensive, so there isn’t such a thing as food waste in our house! I like to be creative and cook a new meal out of leftovers.
My top five budget-friendly food tips are:
K: How do you budget for kids’ items such as clothing, school utensils, books, etc.?
E: We have an open dialogue about the less fortunate, and we regularly do closet-cleaning and donate to others. It’s easy for us to say no to the kids because they understand our priorities. We have them in a great school. The kids will be going to university soon, so we discuss fees and encourage them to set priorities. They wear sneakers and clothes until they are worn out or [they] outgrow them. We encourage our kids to handle school materials with care. It’s important for our children to understand the importance of buying responsibly.
- Buy local products.
- Use leftovers for the next meal.
- Look for discounted items in supermarkets.
- Be creative in the kitchen.
- Stick to a weekly shopping plan.
