A Touch Of Class

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The Improper Bostonian Jan 17, 2001

[Polished] Social Image Consultants, the self-described modern-day equivalent of a finishing school, is a new company geared toward grown-ups who are seeking to perfect their social skills. Since it's inception in December [2000], [Samantha von Sperling] and her associates have made house calls to those in need of a self-esteem boost - teaching ballroom dancing, wardrobe consultation, personal shopping, makeup, etiquette, speech and diction. In many respects, the My Fair Lady connotations are accurate, as [Mrs. von Sperling] classes-up clients as a modern vision of Henry Higgins, another prim instructor of style and grace. Of course, unlike Higgins, [von Sperling] doesn't transform her clients pro-bono.

A session with the Manhattan import costs about [$300] an hour. So just who would want her help anyway? "Someone who wanted to move up the corporate ladder hired me to get rid of her Longislandism," enunciates Raynes. "Word spread from there. Knowing what knoife and fork to use, how to bake, proper etiquette and how to dance all have to do with perfecting one's social image." Surprisingly, aboult half of her clients are men. "Many men in technology come to me - people who were nerds in college and are suddenly successful, but they only learned how to interact with a computer. Now they have to go to banquets and fund-raisers and they're disasters."

[Samantha von Sperling] also teaches brides how to dance, daters how to dress and overeaters how to lose 10 pounds. "Some clients require a complete overhaul," she explains. You can opt for package deals too. Call [646.644.4300] a week in advance. But, "if it's an emergency, we'll be there."

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