March 2014 – Style With Aplomb

Rock your best look!

While preparing for upcoming speaking events for business professionals and those seeking jobs, it occurred to me that many of you might find some of these concepts valuable.

First of all, your grooming is the first thing people notice whether you are looking for a job, going to a luncheon or running to the grocery store. Neat and put together rule! Fit ranks alongside in importance.

I really like both of these looks in the first picture. The one on the left is not as professional a look for the office but would be beautiful for a luncheon, church, or a business dinner. This style will camouflage wide hips or give a balanced look for wider shoulders and narrow hips. The key is to have a defined waist, longer legs and to be fairly slender. The suit on the right would go to the office as well as any of the events mentioned above.

The gray suit is a classic business professional look. I love it paired with gray shoes as the eye travels from the bottom of the skirt to the shoes, elongating the leg line.

This suit could be a basic classic piece to mix and match in many ways. It could be paired with any blouse color or print that looks great on the wearer. Black or charcoal slacks would offer another variation, while topping the skirt with a sweater or contrasting jacket would give another totally different look. Be sure to dry clean both the jacket and skirt together as they will slightly change color with each cleaning.

Cautions: I find the hairstyle on this model a little too casual for business and the necklace needs clear definition either nestled above the blouse neckline or extending below the neckline enough to appear intentional.

The print dress with white jacket is a great business casual look.

Prints are never formal but the jacket helps give a more finished look. The skirt length is excellent for this fuller skirt. This would look good on a variety of body shapes. Neutral sandals add the perfect finishing touch.

The two images wearing black dresses personify what not to wear! The black dress on the left could work to go out to dinner but the hairstyle looks like she just finished cleaning house. The longer sleeve is excellent if you want to hide your upper arm but the low neckline is inappropriate for most daytime events. It’s ideal for a dressy evening, then finish the look with a great hairstyle and a pop of jewelry. The dress on the right is – well, best left for a cocktail waitress. Nothing about either of these looks says alluring and mysterious!

Styles You Can Actually Wear!

New spring catalogues have started to arrive and I was amazed to find an abundance of cloths that most women can actually wear! I mean those over 25, those who don’t have the perfect hour-glass figure or those who work in conservative environments. As I thumb through catalogues and fashion magazines, each page reveals another style that would be a great choice for the majority of ladies.

First, I was impressed with many longer lengths. There are even some calf-length skirts. The most frequent complaint that I have heard over the last several seasons, is that skirts are too short. Even if you have great legs, a skirt approaching the knee is usually better than mid thigh. Most assuredly, it is a more appropriate length in a business setting. Mid-calf length is also an option. It will look best on the tall lady with long legs. If that is not you, you probably want to take a pass on this look.

Look for many shift style dresses bypassing the waist this spring. What a great trend for anyone wishing to camouflage her waist or hide a tummy. No longer do you need to improvise to cover that area — it’s the style! Stores are also featuring a wide selection of over blouses; another great camouflage piece for the waist area. One caution: do not wear a top to bypass the waist with a full skirt. You want a fitted top to balance a full skirt or fitted slack or skirt to balance the over top unless your goal is to visually add lots of pounds.

A third trend that will be music to your ears and your feet is the flat shoe. If 4” heels have never been your thing or your feet simply can’t tolerate very high heels, this is the season for you! Stores are filled with dozens of options from ballet flats suitable for business or dress to fun sporty flats. Yes, Jimmy, Manolo and Christian are still showing many choices in high heels but they are also offering mid-heels and flats.

If any of these new fashion trends are on your wish-list of “I wish they’d . . . “ it’s your season to shop. Since such wearable styles do not appear often, I encourage you to shop carefully and buy the very best quality you can afford. Quality purchases will look good for several seasons so that you can look your best even when it is not the “in” fashion. Classics are never out of style.

Happy shopping!

Is it time to change your hair style?

Most of us don’t like to admit that we are getting older which must be why many ladies struggle with choosing the right look. Of course, there is always the question of to gray or not to gray. A previous article on that subject is available in the February 2012 archives .

It sometimes seems like we are walking a tightrope in choosing the right balance between maintaining a youthful look while still being age-appropriate. There is no one-hair style that works for everyone so let’s look at some options.

Judie Dench wears her hair in a short crop. This is no doubt a very easy style for her to maintain and works well with her symmetrical, fuller face. Although her 80^th birthday will be in December, one could not determine her age from looking at her. The subtle natural-looking blond color also contributes to a younger look. This style is not for everyone!

The short bob for Ellen Barkin is a great look for straight fine hair. She can wear bangs or, as in the picture, letting the bangs grow a bit longer and pulling them to the side. Helen Mirren wears a similar style beautifully. With a good cut, it only takes a few minutes to blow this hair dry and style it, add a little spray and look great all day.

I think Glenn Close appears younger and is more attractive with this short bob than she did ten or fifteen years ago wearing her hair shoulder length. Glenn has a long, rectangular face. The bangs help shorten the appearance of length and the little flip at the bottom adds width. Now in her mid 60’s, this is an excellent look.

Blythe Danner’s short bob works perfectly with her natural curls. What I especially like is that the style beautifully balances her triangular face, adding width through the chin and minimizing the width of her forehead. At 71 she is at her most beautiful.

Long hair is generally not as flattering for more mature ladies. Atlanta icon Jane Fonda is a good example. She is much more attractive at this age with shorter hair than she would have been if she had continued to wear the long locks of her youth. Adding a little more length to short hair will help soften facial lines.

If you are ready for a new look, use the internet to get ideas of what will work for your hair and for your face. If you need a new set of professional eyes, don’t hesitate to visit a different hairdresser. You, too can be your most beautiful as you mature!