You are here: Home / 2008 / Archives for January 2008

What to Wear to Work

January 7, 2008 By 1 Comment

The goal in getting dressed for work is to project a professional, competent image, regardless of your employment level or career path.

The styles, colors, lengths and fit of your fashion choices will speak about your ability to do your job. You should be more concerned with looking professional than looking cute or trendy. The more distracting a piece of clothing or jewelry is, the less appropriate it is for office wear.

Things to Watch For

  • Jewelry that is noisy is distracting. Select a small to moderate size earring and a single bracelet.
  • Large over-sized or slouchy handbags look sloppy. Go with structured style.
  • It is the details that make a difference in your appearance: manicured nails, run-free hose, scuff-free shoes, neat hair.
  • Fit is everything in projecting a polished image. Pants should be fitted and free of visible pantie lines.  Skirts should be loose enough to sit down in comfortably. Jackets should be able to be buttoned.  And blouses shouldn’t gap between buttonholes.
  • Be careful when wearing designer labels. Anything heavily logo-ed looks cluttered and frivolous in the work place. A small designer bag is fine; a logo trench coat looks ridiculous. Choose well-made items that are free from obvious designer labels for the most professional look.

Career Killers

  • Too sexy: see-through lace, miniskirts, spaghetti straps, sheer sundresses, strappy stiletto sandals.
  • Too casual: jeans, shorts, T-shirts, hats, sneakers.
  • Too sloppy: wrinkled clothing, too many layers, baggy-fit clothing.

Business Dress Codes

Traditional (Formal) Business Attire - Matched business suits (skirt and if acceptable slacks and blazer), Closed-toe shoes (no sandals), Blouses, hose and conservative hair, jewelry and makeup are expected.

Corporate Casual Looks (Business Appropriate) – Dressy pants and a blouse, sleek jersey knits and skirts and tops are all examples of corporate casual.  Denim, T-shirts and flip-flops — all ’90s phenoms — are only acceptable in the most casual of work environments.

Casual Friday – Depending on the business, this can mean anything from corporate casual instead of formal looks or “Wear your company logo polo and jeans.” If in doubt, ask a superior.

Filed Under: Articles, Image, Wardrobe Tagged With: , , , , ,

How to Choose a Handbag

January 6, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Handbags can flatter your shape as much as the right jacket or pants. Think of these tips the next time you shop for a handbag and you’ll get great shape and style with each outfit.

You’ve heard me say it before and I say it again. It’s all about proportion. Think Shape and Scale.

1.  Shapes

Choose a shape that is the opposite of your body type.

Tall and thin: Choose one that is slouchy or rounded to compliment your figure.
Short and voluptuous: Select on that is tall or rectangular or long and sleek (think clutch)

Generally, the rounder your figure, the more structure you should have in your bag . . .

Bag Definitions:

  • Tote – An open-top bag with straps or handles.
  • Hobo bag – A crescent-shaped shoulder bag.
  • Duffel – Tall shoulder bag, often with a wider opening on top.
  • Field bag – A flap-top shoulder bag with utility-type closure (buckles, snaps, etc).
  • Clutch – Small, handheld bag or a larger, geometric shape that is tucked under the arm.
  • Satchel - A large, handheld bag.
  • Baguette – Long and rounded shoulder bag resembling the namesake bread.
  • Messenger – A large, soft shoulder bag with long straps (often worn across the body).
  • Cigar Box – A small, boxy, hard bag.
  • Pouch – A soft, small bag.
  • Kelly bag – A classic Hermes style named after Grace Kelly; a large, structured handbag with distinctive hardware closures.

2.  Scale

Size should be in proportion to your figure. So if you are small is size and scale select a bag that is in scale with your body. DO not choose a bag that overpowers your body.

A shoulder bag’s length (where the bottom of the bag hits your body) will accentuate whatever part of the body it comes near. So if you are ‘blessed’ with “saddle bags” do not have your shoulder bag end at the largest part of your hips. The eye will be drawn to this point and accentuate your hips.

*Most women look great with a bag that hits mid-torso because it flatters the waist.

3.  Tips

Select your handbag wisely. Take your time and look at yourself in the mirror.  Just because it is a trendy shape, it may not work for you. Does it match your lifestyle?

Filed Under: Accessories, Handbags, How To Tagged With: , , ,

Finding Your Best Cut

January 5, 2008 By Leave a Comment

When it comes to getting great hair, don’t look any further than your own mirror.  Whether you’re a “heart,” “round,” or “oval,” your best cut is determined by your face.  Every face is different and it’s important to understand that every hairstyle is not for every face shape. To accentuate balance and beauty, strive for a hairstyle that works with your particular face shape. That strategy will not only give you your best
look, but also emphasize your best features. Be sure to bring this up with your stylist and make it an important determination in your new look.

Sorting Shapes

Figure out your face shape by pulling hair back into a tight, structure-revealing ponytail.  Look at the outline of your face — the size and shape of your forehead as it compares to  your cheeks and chin determines its shape.

  • ROUND — full with round chin and hairline
    Do: Add volume to the top of head to slim.
    Don’t: Stay away from a spiky and short topside. Avoid width or volume on sides.
     
  • SQUARE — with strong jawline and hairline
    Do: Take the edge off with a softening style featuring a side part and length at nape of neck.
    Don’t: Don’t center-part hair or cut square, straight bangs. Avoid geometric lines.
     
  • OVAL — jawline narrower than temples, rounded hairline
    Do: Add volume to the top of head to slim.
    Don’t: Stay away from a spiky and short topside. Avoid width or volume on sides.
     
  • LONG — narrow jawline and hairline
    Do: Layer it on for fullness on sides.
    Don’t: Skip short cuts, jaw-length bobs, or styles that add height on top.
     
  • HEART — wide temples and hairline, narrowing at chin
    Do: Try bangs and a length that frames the jawline.
    Don’t: Don’t go too short at the nape of the neck.
Filed Under: Articles, Hairstyle, Image, Style, Trends Tagged With: , , , ,

Closet Cleaning 101

January 4, 2008 By 4 Comments

Cleaning your closet can be an emotional experience. It can conjure up all kinds of memories both good and bad. If this is the first time that you have cleaned your closet in years, it might take the better part of a day. Select a time that it can be completed, otherwise, you might
find yourself in the midst of interruptions and a half emptied closet. Believe it or not, it can be a very cleansing experience. Completed correctly once, the task is very easy season after season.

In order to have a true “working wardrobe”, it is important to go through your closet on a seasonal basis. That means that no fewer than two times a year you should evaluate the items that are in your closet for fit, style and wear-ability. Some pieces need to be replaced seasonally, others just need to be moved out, repaired and cleaned ready for a new season.

Below is an effective way to approach cleaning your closet to make the most out of your wardrobe.

ONE: Take everything out and put them in loosely organized categories, such as shorts, pants, T-shirts, blouses, etc.

TWO: Pass through each category using the golden rule “If you haven’t worn it in a year, put it in the discard pile.” If you haven’t worn the item due to repair needs, make a “repair” pile.  Pass through each pile again to sort through any duplication. Pay special attention to the
repair pile. Evaluate whether an alteration or a repair would bring the garment back to life.

THREE: Clean the closet. Physically, get in there and really clean the closet to make sure there is nothing left under boxes, belts, socks, etc. There is no aesthetic value in dust.

FOUR: Try on each and every item. If it was an impulse buy, not your style, too tight or too big, put it in the discard pile. No exceptions!

FIVE:Plan your closet! Don’t just put everything back in willy-nilly. I like to hang my shirts back into the closet ‘light to dark – left to right’. It is a good idea to split up your suits that can be mix and matched. You will actually see the potential to work with more pieces if they are not hung together.

SIX: Shoes are hard to store, some just have to go. First, make sure that each and every pair will go with at least three items of clothing; if they don’t, discard. If they are sadly out of date, discard. Third, try them all on and walk around the house in them. If they hurt your feet,
discard. If your shoes need repairs or polishing, put them in the repair pile. Finally, get a good shoe rack. Your seasonal shoes (sandals, boots, etc.) should be moved when they are not being utilized so they don’t take up your valuable closet space.

DISCARDS: Now that you have all of these piles, what do you do with them? You have several options before putting them either back to your closet or into retirement.

Repairs: Never put anything back into your closet that needs a repair. If this is a discarded piece and the repair would make it wear-able again, take it immediately to the alterations or repair department. Some pieces only need to have their buttons changed or a hem-length
altered to bring it back to life.

Consignment: If you have simply ‘outgrown’ either physically or emotionally your pieces, they may be candidates for consignment. Be aware that a consignment store normally is very choosy about the garments they take. They too want pieces that are in good condition, clean, and saleable. Don’t expect them to take your 3-4 year old suits or out of date pants.

Emotional Attachment: Sometimes there might be a garment that simply has too much emotional value for you to discard. In that case, just remove the item from your closet. Place it in another closet or box and revisit it next season. There are numerous tools available today that allow you to minimize the space your clothes take by ‘vacuuming’ out all the air.  This would be a great place to use this space saving idea.

Donations: If your pieces are beyond the consignment sale date, consider donating them to a charity or homeless shelter. Be sure that you get a taxable form for your annual charitable deduction.

Swap: Your trash could be your friend’s treasure. If you are simply tired of your clothes you might consider getting your friends together and having them bring some of their clothes and have an old fashioned ‘clothes swap’.

Congratulations! You have successfully cleaned and organized your closet. Give yourself a pat on the back. One last trick to staying organized though. Always keep a shopping bag or laundry basket in your closest at all times for any alterations that need to be done or item that has lost its prime. The next time a donations truck comes by your house, you will be ready to release your tired, dated clothes.

Filed Under: Articles, Closet, Wardrobe Tagged With: ,

Men’s Shirt Collars

January 3, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Choosing the appropriate dress shirt for your body should be guided first by the size of the collar to the face. It should never be dictated by the current fashion. Just as a small picture would require a small frame, so would a smaller face require a smaller collar. Conversely, a large frame would require a wider spread collar.

There are at least 6 different styles of collars available on shirts. Below each is described and when each is appropriate.

  1. Straight-point Collar: Most neutral of all collars. Can be worn with any sports coat or suit. The narrow opening favors a rounder, oval-shaped face. Not suitable for a narrow face.
     
  2. Spread Collar: Today’s most important dress shirt collar. Inherently dressy & elegant. Collar height, point length, and openness vary greatly. Therefore, some variety of the collar should be in every man’s wardrobe. Usually worn with a Windsor Knot as it can easily fill the spread space.
     
  3. Rounded Collar: Popular with the well-heeled Eaton School System.  Originated as a separately attached collar to a banded shirt. Often worn today by athletically chiseled men to balance curved facial features.
     
  4. Tab Collar: Popularized in the 20’ and 30’s, the tab collar has lost interest due to the business casual fashions. Perfectly designed so that the tie rests in the collar’s opening. The tabs under the knot hold the collar’s points in place, moving the collar and necktie knot higher under the chin. Men with long necks and round or square shaped faces are complimented by its balance.
     
  5. Pinned Collar: Although seen as ‘too fussy’ by some, the pinned collar acts in the same way as the tab collar. It too thrusts the tie and collar high under the wearer’s chin. Worn by men with long necks to balance the neck to jaw line and to act as a counterpoint to the rounded or oval head or chin.
     
  6. Button-Down Collar: Popularized in the 20’s and 30’s, the button down is Americas only contribution to the dress shirt. Like the navy blazer, the button down can be dressed up or down. It is most often times recognized as a more casual dress shirt.
Filed Under: Articles, Image, Style, Trends Tagged With: , ,

The Power of Color

January 2, 2008 By 4 Comments

Color is a powerful tool that we universally respond to. Color can impact not only your mood but also the mood of others. When you use color correctly, it can make you appear healthier, younger, more energetic and exciting.

Just think of the colors in nature. The green of the leaves and the grass gives you a peaceful feeling.  It nourishes us. We can also use this color to project the same with our clothing. 

It has been said that the richest form of expression is seen in the colors you choose to put on your body. For this reason, it is important that you understand what color is, how it is perceived, and when and why you should wear it.

The chart on the following page illustrates the color, how it can be perceived in certain situations, and when you might choose to wear that particular color.

Color Perception Why Wear It
Red Power, vitality Strength, power, assertion
Pink Color of love Non-threatening, nurturing
Burgundy (cranberry) Entertainment, laughter Dispel feeling of intolerance
Magenta (includes
fuchsia)		 Spontaneity, freedom To feel more open
Orange Physical and mental force To feel social
Salmon Energetic, curious,
sensitive		 Subtly develop sociability
Peach Color loved by children Counteract lack of self worth
Yellow Joyous Color-joy of life-sun To feel positive, be seen
Chartreuse Electric, open, eager Stimulate creativity
Green Soothing, healing,
peaceful		 Project image of stability (*do not wear if you want to
project new ideas)
Mint Green Color of insight, modesty To cool body, mind, emotions
Apple Green Friendly, more
intellectual than
emotional		 When feeling overwhelmed,
to counteract emotional
stress
Turquoise Spontaneous, fun,
exciting		 To make a change, develop
new ideas and perspectives
Blue-Green (teal) Radiates inner calm,
optimism		 When you need optimism,
lack of hope or faith
Blue (royal, clear and
medium)		 Versatility, trustworthy,
color of calmness		 To Project success and
confidence
Light Blue Color of Imagination To develop creativity
Dark Blue (Navy) Wisest of Colors – reflects
good judgment, respected		 To project authority, to look
like someone in charge
Purple Powerful, regal, analytical Control others, protect,
stimulate creativity
Plum Sincerity, sensuality,
warmth		 To feel happy & warm
Lavender Traditional, thoughtful,
dreamy		 To soothe, tranquilize, aspire
romance and beauty
Brown (all) Fertility, strength When you want people to open up, to look dignified
Beige Refinement, cultivation,
well-being		 To feel proud, to be neutral,
conservative, respectful
White Symbolized truth To convey freedom, create
strong contrast, feel fresh
Grey Caution, compromise Counteract emotional fatigue,
safe
Black Dignity, sophistication,
power		 To be social, sophisticated,
alluring, show strength,
impact
Silver Honor, self-worth To develop a higher self
image
Gold Color of wealth Counteract fear of success, or
insecurities
Filed Under: Articles, Color, First Impresions Tagged With: , , , ,

How to Find Jeans that Fit Your Body

January 1, 2008 By 3 Comments

To find a jean that looks good on your body, you should study your body’s design pattern.  Most women should wear a lower rise jean style rather than the high waist-above the belly button style. A lower rise doesn’t necessarily mean real low! It just means a bit below the belly button! Jeans that rise too high on the waist tend to make a belly and boot look even larger. You lose the proportion of the rest of your body. Let’s take a look at ways to balance your body’s characteristics with the right cut.

Try to find a jean that has some stretch (spandex) in it. It will give you the ease and memory that will work with your body and provide structure. The best jeans should have at least 1-3% of spandex in it.  In all cases, it goes without saying that any jean that exposes your crack is TOO LOW!

If you are Tall:
You can wear more straight-legged or boot cut jeans. Length should hit the floor or slightly above. Avoid too much stretch (less than 4% is good)

If you have Bigger Hips or Thighs:
Look for wider leg openings-slight flare or boot cut. This will give you balance. Do not go for baggy jeans. Choose pocket that lie flat and material that doesn’t cling or hug. 

If you are Petite:
Avoid cuffs and Capri lengths-they just make you look shorter. When hemming, make sure that the hemline covers most of your heel. This creates a streamlined look-but don’t allow pant to drag on the floor.

If you have a Large Bottom:
To slim the large bottom, make sure that you create some distraction there! Choose jeans with pockets that are medium in size and don’t sit too low or too high. Stay away from embellishments-for example a worn vintage wash on the backside. Also, select pants that are not low rise.

Small Bottom:
Select jeans that have pockets that sit high, are smaller and have some detail. This will give the illusion of a fuller bottom. You can wear jeans with not back pocket or a low rise.

Boy Shape:
If you have slim hips and few curves, select a straight-leg, classic style. Whatever you do, stay away from baggy jeans as they will make you look like a boy!

FINAL TIP:  Always wash your jeans inside out. Even though you jean may be ‘vintage’ that doesn’t mean that it won’t continue to bleed on other fabrics. Darker jeans are prone to extra shrinkage so if you do not want them to shrink, be sure to dry them partially in the dryer.

Filed Under: Articles, How To, Jeans Tagged With: , , , , ,