I love mixing patterns and textures. Fall is a splendid time to really get creative with this type of dressing.

Similiar fabric weights mix well together. Tweeds and wools look great with wool and wool blend pants.

Make sure your textures are a good color blend. Colors that are too “off ” do not make a smashing outfit

If you’re going to mix and match a texture with a solid (say textured jacket with solid pants, buy them together otherwise you’ll never get the match quite right. Trust me on that)

Silk and cotton blouses go with light weight wools and synthetics along with tweeds and boucle’s.

Linen pants do not mix with wool jackets. A synthetic would be better or cotton.

Cotton shirts and pants are not a good match with heavy wools but look terrific with wool gabardine blazers along with cashmere sweaters

Two bold prints can blend together just make sure the patterns are not the same size and there is at least one common color.

If you are color and texture challenged, however, seek professional help because this is very important style option where you can really stretch your wardrobe dollars.

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.

Read more here…

Women should not fear mixing and matching their business suits BUT there are some rules to follow. If you are going to mix and match then make sure the fabrics work together.

• Textures can work well together and make for a visually interesting outfit
  

  Textured jacket looks great with a gabardine trouser

• Do not pair a lightweight silk jacket with a heavy wool tweed skirt or pant
• Make sure your textures are a good color blend. You can kill this look with two greens that have different undertones, for example
• If you’re going to mix and match a texture with a solid (say textured jacket with solid pants, buy them together otherwise you’ll never get the match quite right. Trust me on that)
• Have confidence in you fashion choices and don’t be afraid to experiment a bit, you’ll know you have mastered the art of mixing and matching when you receive positive feedback from your colleagues and friends. No compliments? Try again
• If you are color and texture challenged, however, seek professional help because this is an important style option