A lot of men struggle with mixing casual and fashionable dress. Most commonly, men tend to dress too casually, and who could blame them when “fancy” attire generally consists of suffocating clothing and constricting neckties. It’s only too tempting to wear looser, more casual clothing – after all, breathing is (debatably in some situations) more important than dressing well.

However, the thing that many men don’t understand is that fashion does not actually need to come down to a choice between comfort and style. For examples of some clothing that satisfies both concepts, you might want to check out the Vivienne Westwood men’s collection at my-wardrobe.com.

Some of the most appealing items in this collection are the outerwear options, such as the blazers, coats and sweaters that you will find. These items are comfortable, much like your average casual jacket or sweatshirt, but also carry a certain dignity, and can do much to increase your “casual but stylish” image. Of course, they are generally a bit more expensive than some of the simpler options that you might be used to, but in return you will be receiving the quality that comes with high-end designer clothing. Start with a few really great key pieces that will last you a few years.

I really love this navy melton wool neck strap pea coat by Vivienne Westwood. Such a great classic look with an edge. Great over jeans or dress slacks.  

Ultimately, high-end men’s fashion collections have a lot to offer with regard to the idea of enhancing your casual look. Some people think that higher prices mean stiffer, more formal clothing, but this is not the case at all. Quality can still be casual, as you will find in the collection mentioned above.

Imagine being on the corporate ladder to success. One of the most important aspects for getting ahead in the competitive business world is dressing your professional best. If you are going to compete, a strong confident image is necessary. Here are some dressing tips to help you

To Help Control your Costs:

• Think classics over trend
• Wear colors that are flattering to your skin tone
• Don’t buy cheap-you will regret it immediately because fabric, texture and fit can make or break you
• Hire a professional to help you who understands your industry and your goals. You’ll save $$ in the long-run by avoiding mistakes as you prosper

Ask Yourself: Can I wear these?

• Ditch the out dated clothes and colors
• Toss stained clothes
• Donate anything too big, too tight
• Save the ‘too revealing’ for your after hours
• No big,garish prints (unless you’re climbing the circus ladder)
• Get a full-length mirror and look at your backside, and fix or retire things that are baggy and saggy

BIG tirade today…

Why must I constantly see this look when I am out doing errands? I do not get it. Do you think no one notices that you are wearing your flannel print jammie bottoms, tank tops and Ugg slippers? This look continues to spread like wildfire and it is not acceptable out in public. Who knows if you might run into your boss or even one of your colleagues. Now, that is an image they will not forget! I certainly did not forget one Saturday morning while  I was shopping and ran into my assistant wearing an outfit almost exactly like the one pictured below. I was not thrilled since I wanted to introduce her to colleague who was in the store.

I get comfort, but this is just sloppy and lazy. At least put on a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt if you can not manage a complete outfit. And definately put a brush through you hair.

Done for the day…

Check your neck:

• Thin necks look best in wide spread dress shirt collar
  

  Spread Collar

• Neck tie knots should not be oversized if your neck is thin
• Thick necks should stick to a regular point collars (spread collars will make your neck look bigger) and open neck styles look awesome
• V necks will make your neck look thinner, crew neck will emphasize thickness

Arms and the Man:

• Great arms-flaunt them with short sleeves and tapered shirts
• Sweaters and jackets are terrific ways to disguise thin arms
• Instead of  a short sleeve shirt with thin arms,they will look better with sleeves rolled on a long sleeve shirt (adds some bulk)
• Big biceps need full cut shirts, and sometimes custom shirts are best to get a perfect fit

So there, you have some of my tips for emphasizing the positive and eliminating the negative. Hey guys, I do not think I have worked with anyone who has not looked significantly better with these few adjustments. Another  tip is to find a fabulous tailor to achieve great style and terrific fitting clothes (this may take time to find the “one” but it is well worth the effort!). And my  final tip is to know your skin color and best colors and use them to your advantage. Darker colors really do diminish your not -so -hot spots and light colors highlight your ‘hot ‘ones.

Kate Middleton brings back a long forgotten accessory!

Hey,college graduate, I’m talking to you!          

Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming. ~John Wooden

College was fun. Now it’s time to get to work, right? It’s time to take what you know about technology, communication, globalization, music, social networking, the environment, politics, and art and THRIVE at work. In spite of all you know, it’s what you don’t know that might be undermining you in the workplace.

Etiquette, yeesh! That’s not fun!

Remember the movie “Titanic?” Remember how stifled Rose felt by all the etiquette and expectations that came from being a woman of “proper” birth. Rose rebelled against those ideas then by having fun with Jack, and we resist those stuffy expectations even now (after all, an entire century has passed since then). If you can suspend any resistance, even for a moment, you may find that combining what you already know with what you don’t know yet can bring you successes beyond what you might expect.

Board Room:

You might not notice the subtle language of the boardroom, but it’s there: Where to sit, when to sit, when to speak, when to wait – - communication begins the moment you enter the room, and when you already know the language, you are confident enough to focus on the meeting and outcomes. Want to learn to speak this “language of the boardroom?” Your competitor does. They may have already mastered the art of boardroom-speak. I teach my clients how to combine the positive effects of your smile with the skills to back it up, and you will excel in the language of boardroom, withOUT being boring!

TIP- Don’t text or email under the table thinking no one will notice. Focus on the meet and your colleagues in the room.

Body Language:

Talk, talk, talk? Not yet! Smile first and then know this: You are already speaking volumes before you open your mouth. Your clothing, hairstyle, accessories, and presentation are all speaking for you. Oh, yes, mannerisms often speak loudest of all. What is it you want to say? Say it right, say it well, and have fun doing it!

TIP- When you cross your arms, you are telling the other person that you are not open to them or to what they are saying. More importantly, if she/he covers her/his mouth when talking, they don’t believe what THEY are saying. Wouldn’t you want to know these things when negotiating your next deal?

Brunch Table:

Food and work, work and food. Sometimes they just have to mix. If you meet at Chili’s, fine, no worries. But if you end up in the Business Club on the 30th floor, you might want to know a salad fork from an appetizer tong. You can shrug and say, oh well, I’m young, while your colleagues move right past you and into the boss’s good graces. When you know what to do, you have time to listen and the assurance to smile and enjoy a productive meal. My clients learn what cues to watch for, from the moment you pause while your boss is being seated at the beginning of the meal, to the moment you stand just after she rises from her chair when your meal and business conversation is complete.

TIP- Place napkin on your chair seat if you need to excuse yourself from the table. Leave napkin slightly folded on left side of plate as you get up to leave the restaurant.

Beachwear!:

Got your attention, huh? What we meant to say was: Business wear. Where you wear what you wear matters. Read this last statement again. Think about it. College had no dress code. As you have probably discovered by now, the job market is very competitive. Look around. The dress code may not be clearly defined, or may differ among departmental levels. Where are you in the mix? Too stuffy and you can’t relax enough to be yourself;too lax and no one will take you seriously. You need to discover what is right for you in a variety of settings and how you might add your own signature look without damaging your image.

TIP: If colleagues notice your necklace and shoes before they notice your neckline and hemline, you’ve probably made a good choice.

Stay young, smart, and aware of how to respect and harness the power of proper etiquette.

Have fun! Seek professional guidance just thinking about it makes your palms sweat.

Fantasie Swimsuit

A Summer plight is finding a swimsuit that you can walk on the beach in with confidence and not worrying if your ‘bits” are peeking and popping out.

Here are a few swimsuit lines that work if you need a special size- especially in the bustline.

Swim, boat, paddleboard, walk with style and be worry free…

RosaFaia/Anita

Christina

Panache

Fantasie 

Baaadddd Swimsuit

       

Rosa Faia swimsuit with C-F cups