Do you like my hair?

The absolute touchiest of all fashion questions, and a hot button for both men and women because it seems to be an extension of our identity. It’s not only what people see first, I think it’s about control and expectation, and someone else is in charge of the cut! What do you think?

You can really kill a great look with bad hair. We all know someone who does this continually.
First, you need to love and accept the hair you have, not the hair you want to have. The older we get, the more soft and natural our hair should be. I do not believe truly flattering hairstyles are “wash and wear”. We want our hair to look: appropriate, stylish, and above all contemporary. Gone are the helmets and poodle perms. One of the biggest factors we must consider is the volume and texture, or lack there of in many cases. Get a handle on this, and move on from this point. Next, work with your skin tone to achieve your most favorable and flattering color. Confer with your hair stylist. Anytime we have hair that is in an upward style, our face will appear lifted. In addition, highlights around the face will brighten us. Long hair tends to drag the face down, and emphasize the lines and circles.

I am asked all the time ,”When is it not okay to have long hair anymore?”

My favorite thought on this comes from famous hairstylist, Louis Licari, he said,” Don’t look young from the back and old from the front.”

Enuf said…

Fashionably yours,
Lori Ann

You either love ‘um or hate ‘um. Usually everyone that wears prints has their favorite type. Some love anything with a flower motif, while others like the strong geometric shapes. The thing about prints is that they are more memorable than solids when building a wardrobe. So, that’s why I advise my clients to use patterns sparingly, and use them in their accessories i.e. scarves or tops.

Prints can also camouflage if you are wearing the right ones OR they can emphasize your not so good bits. If you have a tummy bulge a print can de-emphasize it (check out one of my earlier blogs for more info). If your hips are your problem area, the print may make you look bigger, especially plaids. The pattern that would be a better choice would be a vertical stripe.

A good rule of thumb to follow on what size print to wear is as follows: large prints should be worn on taller and larger women, while small prints should stay on petite women.
Speaking of petites, their print size should stay around the size of their fist. Larger ladies should avoid teeny tiny prints instead opting for larger patterns. It is all about proportion.

Prints can pull an outfit together. For instance, if you are wearing 3 pieces of clothing all different in color then add a print scarf that has all the colors for a pulled together look. Chic and snappy. Men can do this with their ties. If you want to add prints into your wardrobe, Spring and Summer are the ideal times to try out when they are most popular.

Fashionably Yours,
Lori Ann

Do you want to set yourself apart from the others at an interview? Do you want to make a great first impression that shouts: “I am the ONE you seek”? Your message is that you know how to “sweat the small stuff”, and it the “small stuff” that matters. If you arrive sloppy and disheveled, the recruiter gets the impression that if you don’t care about your appearance, are you going to care about your job performance and their company? Think about it… If you were on that other side of the desk would you hire YOU?

Choose an outfit well before your interview.

• Try it on, is it dated? Does the outfit make you look and feel confident?

• Have your clothes professionally pressed and/or cleaned

• Sit down in it to make sure it does not gap anywhere (especially important for the ladies)
• Check for unsightly holes or stains
• Polish shoes and handbag, and any portfolios

• Have an unfussy hairstyle that will stay out of face, so you will not “HAIR ACT”, guys this one is for you too

• Watch the cologne and perfume
• Be careful of “clink and clank” of jewelry

Look in 3-way mirror to do a check fit. Remember the interviewer will see you coming and going. Yes, that stain on the back of your pants, from the Mexican restaurant will be seen, and you cannot back out of the office now can you?

Dress in an outfit and have family or friends give an honest opinion. Image is… head to toe.

Remember the importance of your face, since most of the time the interviewer will be focused on it. Be aware of everything from your make-up to your teeth. I suggest a trip to the “close up” mirror just to be sure all is ship shape.

Make yourself an interview checklist so that you have the process down. My wish for you is that you find employment that makes you so incredibly happy and fulfilled that you jump out of bed in the morning to start your day.

Okay, okay may be corny, but you get my drift!

I will continue with more interview tips in the next couple of months

Fashionably Yours,

Lori Ann

PS. NO onion bagels or garlic bread before interviews

As an image and fashion consultant, my clients ask me this question all the time. There are all sorts of theories out there on this subject. Many will tell you to spend a certain percentage of your income per year. A popular theory says we spend approximately 5% of our gross income on clothing. I feel this should be answered depending on the individual, and what is already in their closet. For instance, a tailored woman may have a great core wardrobe, and will only need to add few key pieces to update with color and style. Now a trendier woman who thrives on the newest and latest, will spend far more to have her wardrobe “au courant”. Tricky you say? My theory is- NEVER go into debt. I have known too many people that will do this on their shoe selections alone. Not smart!

I worked with an actress who had the worst closet of clothes, but her shoe selection would rival Imelda’s. Yet, when ever she needed to go somewhere other then the gym, or to the dog park, she did not have any outfits that would compliment the incredible Louboutin and Manolos. I often think of her, and wonder if she is running up and down the canyons in $1200 boots and worn out sweats

Buy what you can afford and the best quality you can afford. So that might mean when you are in a financial good spot, you spend more and shop in a higher end store. When things are tight, like now, shop when there are great weekend sales. LOVE THEM! And shop in stores that are more credit card friendly. You must also figure out a budget too. After expenses, decide what is your “fun fund” and use a portion for your clothing. This might mean giving up martini night with the girls but “them’s  the breaks, babe”.

PS You can’t wear a martini anyway

Camouflage is for everyone!

Everyone has bits they want to cover up; even the glamorous celebrities have flaws, and never think they DON’T. As an image and fashion consultant, I find myself using camouflage techniques on just about everyone.

Monochromatic is still the classic way to look long and lean. Though some may find this way of dressing a “snore bore”, I beg to differ. It looks smart and chic, and you can jazz it up with accessories. Keeping the eye focused on detail in the center of your body (think vertical buttons and stripes) will make you appear svelte. V-necks, and “your friend” the oblong scarf work well to camouflage your mid- section. Have the scarf ends drape over the problem area. People’s eyes will look at the scarf and not your middle.

You can do this trick with long necklaces too, just as long as they do not hit smack on your tummy.

Layering will truly be your best friend when you have a full middle. Don’t wear anything too tight; keep everything a bit on the loose side. If the top is a bit on the long side, scrunch it up a bit over your tummy .You are probably thinking “that will make me look chunkier”, it will not, this trick is a great one, and is deceives the eye.

Look for clothing with verticals lines: stitching or pattern.
Diagonals are also terrific since they keep the eye moving across the tummy area, moving away from the problem. Why do you think so many swimsuits have diagonal patterns? Hmmmmmmm… that’s RIGHHHT!

Fashionably Yours,
Lori Ann