Dress for corporate Success

Do's and Don'ts when followingTrends

Today’s women want to look good and trendy at any age. With greater job opportunities, higher disposable income and constant exposure to the latest fashion and beauty trends, women today are certainly wanting to be more savvy in their overall visual presentation. However, the desire to be “IN” may actually become your worst nightmare when you cannot keep up with fashion’s notorious fickleness and end up looking so “last year”! Fashion comes and goes in hyper speed; sometimes a hot fad may fizzle out in a matter of months. To avoid looking like a fashion victim, here are some general guidelines:

1. Do invest in timeless items such as tank tops, jeans, well-cut blazers and little black dresses. You cannot go wrong with these classic pieces. Buy them in neutral solid colours for easy coordination with other trendier pieces.

2. Do opt for a natural sheer look be it your make-up, nail polish or hairdo. If you are in the creative field, you can be more adventurous with your style, otherwise a sun-kissed matte look always project a sharper and polished image. If you want to experiment with bold colour make-up, go for a matte instead of glossy finishing for work.
3. Do update your wardrobe in small doses. For example, trendy accessories such as a bright colour handbag, patterned tights in neutral colours or laced-up booties will add instant wow into your core wardrobe without having to spend too much.

4. Do wear your hair in a neat and light style. Frizzy or flyaway hair can be kept in control with the use of hair products or accessories. Long hair should be sleek and tidy; wear it in a chignon style or low ponytail for an elegant day-to-day look.
5. Do wear trendy fashion because you really like them and not for insecurity reasons. You do not have to be togged in trends from top to toe to look good and feel belonged. Inner beauty triumphs over fashion at the end of the day. Eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, think positively and cultivate friendships. As designer Kenneth Cole says "To be aware is more important than what you wear."

• Don’t bet on exaggerated styles, cuts and colours to stay for long e.g. acid wash jeans, big shoulder pads, micro minis, neon colours and military jackets. These styles are not only difficult to pull off but they will fade away by this time next year. 
• Don’t wear flip-flops in and out of the office. It does not matter if they are branded, fashionable or ultra comfortable. A slipper is a slipper and it has no place in the corporate world. It instantly diminishes your credibility at work.
• Don’t wear bright make-up to work. Blue eyelids were hot in the 1980’s and are making a comeback but unless you work in a beauty industry, I would recommend that you choose a softer blue palette for the board room.
• Don’t overdo in the accessories department. Big bold accessories may be the trend now, but wearing oversize necklaces or rings will be distracting for the office. You will want your boss, co-workers and clients to focus on your sales pitch or presentation rather than your fashion statement.
• Don’t wear leggings to work no matter how casual your office is. Leggings will continue to be a strong trend but that doesn’t mean it should become your office wardrobe staple. Remember you will want to stand out in the crowd and not be one of the crowd to get that promotion.

Why Color is so important in Fashion

I came came across this great article today about the importance of Color written by  Susan Lockhart a leading Image Consultant in Brisbane. Colour is the first thing other people notice about us, and its impact is immediate and long-lasting. Our fashion color choices say a lot about the image we are trying to portray and how we feel about ourselves.  So what does color tell people? Within seconds of meeting you, others will respond to the 'color messages' flashed by your clothes. It is a fact that different colors can make people feel a certain way. It has even been determined by medical science that color can influence the viewer's hormones, blood pressure and body temperature. Colour also has an impact on: Your apparent shape Your apparent weight Your apparent personality Your emotions Others emotions Other important considerations are how appropriate the colour is for the location, occasion, time of year, your age and of course, your natural colouring. We are all influenced by colour every day, whether we realise it or not. If we're having a bad day and not feeling good about ourselves, we tend to automatically choose clothes in dull neutral colours like black, grey or brown because they match how we're feeling. Just as when we're happy and feeling great we will go for something a bit brighter. Have a look in your wardrobe and see how many different colours you own. Do you have a veritable rainbow of outfits? Or are there just 1 or 2 colours that you wear a variation of all the time? You may find you are stuck in a colour rut. Knowing this, why not experiment with the colours you wear and surround yourself with. The first rule is to always be guided by what suits your natural colouring - that is your skin tone, eye colour and hair colour. Once you know your best range of colours, you can choose different colours for different occasions. Sometimes a certain combination of colours will create the affect, rather than each colour individually. Colours produce different reactions when put together in different colour combinations and when used in different fabrics.  For example, a red jacket worn with a white shirt to a business meeting exhibits confidence and power, but a red jacket worn with a lacy red top may be interpreted as you having other things on your mind besides this business meeting. So which colours are appropriate for what situations? Which colours can help you portray a certain image? Here is a list of colours for woman that are ideal for a whole range of occasions: Blue-based reds: Suggests intelligence and femininity. Yellow-based reds: Energetic colour that keeps conversations going (Men are inherently attracted to yellow-based reds - a great colour for a first date) Purple: Stirs the senses and generates passion - great for creative endeavours Turquoise: puts other women at ease, encourages them to open up Lipstick red: implies strength and authority Medium blues: a calming colour that allows interactions to go smoothly Browns: non-threatening, stable, supportive and reliable (great for meetings with colleagues or clients) Remember, the most important thing is to choose colours that are a good fit for your natural colouring. There is no point choosing a colour that suggests creativity and confidence if it also makes you look washed out or sick. Wearing your best range of colours can have a huge impact on your wardrobe and your confidence. The right colours can make your skin tone appear more even, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and dark circles and make you look brighter and healthier. While on the other hand wearing a colour which isn't so good for you, can make you look tired, dull and even ill. A colour analysis with a professional image consultant will sh ow you exactly which range of colours are best for your clothing, makeup and accessories.    Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Lockhart