In choosing clothing items to wear, remember the visual pause of giving the eye enough time to absorb the image in mind. For example, there needs to be a backdrop or a visual point when wearing prints, to ether focus on the print with the other pieces remaining as solid colors. When there is no visual pause in the total outfit, the eye cannot take it all in, and the impact will be confusing.

Recently, I saw the ultimate holiday outfit, patterned coat, hat, scarf and mittens. This person was young and she looked cute.

Holiday wear for some is a tradition and other clothing comes off a bit hokey.

At its best, holiday wear should put a smile on the person who is wearing it and a smile on those who see it. These are a few of my guidelines. One piece is enough for me and my preference is in the color. I love red this time of the year, whether in a scarf, hat or necklace.

The moment one walks in the door, before any words are spoken, folks will have decided unconsciously to remember or not remember you. Working with executives, they want to know: Do you represent the professional, personal, and the organizational brand well? Can you be a face of the organization?

To burnish your brand, Here are some items to keep in mind:
• Projecting confidence is number one. This includes the walk, posture, facial expression (smile), and a sense of where you are going.
• Clothing choices will connect you the audience through a choice of familiarity or for a shock effect.
• Elegance is a critical component.

Also, assume the audience will know nothing about you.

The most common fit mistake in a garment is the sleeve length. It’s either too short or too long. It can be time consuming to find a tailor or you might need to wear the piece before you can get it altered.

Using self-adhesive tape for a sleeve or pant length can work as a temporary fix. The best option is to purchase clothing where tailoring is offered or find a tailor who will alter while you wait.

I wear color brights when working out because it is fun and most athletic shirts are found in multiple colors. Interestingly, my professional clothing tends to be in grays with a touch of a primary color. The dramatic colors come out when presenting in a large venue.

Nikki Haley, the recently resigned US Ambassador to the United Nations, is a fabulous role model for using color to her advantage. When speaking or representing the US she wore navy and gray colors, suggesting a most valued player. When speaking to the press or moving around New York, Niki wore her famous bright dramatic pink in a dress or coat combination. Remember, as you select dramatic color clothing pieces, the fabrics and cuts must possess high quality and design, or they will look cheap and costume like.

Nude pumps are best worn with outfits where a grounding color is not needed for the shoes. For example, when Megan Markle wore a hunter green blouse and leather skirt, nude pumps were the absolute right choice, especially as day wear.

If she had worn a red ensemble, the nude pump would have worked, too. However, recently, a photo of a colleague at an evening event revealed a navy dress with a nude pump that looked lost. A black or dark navy pump would have enhanced the dress. Wearing the nude pump made it look like a day outfit. A nude pump with slacks works best in the same color family.

The perfect length for an ankle pant is when the pant covers the ankle, or the ankle just slightly shows. The Lafayette fashion show got it right. Their models wore the correct length with those pants. When the pant length is too short, it looks dowdy and makes the person look heavy.

For wide leg pants, hems should just touch the top of the shoe. They should not puddle or break (which means the pant folds on the shoe). The only pant with a break or that slightly puddles is one with a straight full leg.

Years ago, while working an all-day women’s event at a fortune 100 company, women and men stopped by for a tip on their image. The number one item was the lack of attention to their eyebrows. They were mostly unattended. The purpose of eyebrows is to capture the eyes and enhance facial expressions.

Twenty years later, the proliferation of new products to add color and boldness to eyebrows may have gone too far! Most eyebrows look very painted on which is fine for television but not for everyday wear. The tip is to brush the eyebrow out, so it will look more natural. Also, when using these new tools, stay within the arc of the brow. Too many touch ups look like they belong on a science fiction character!

In working with clients negotiating compensation, the question becomes what is more important, money, time, or title? The answer depends on where the client is in their life. For example, do they have family, are they self-supporting, and will the package provide staff support and travel flexibility?

Also, other than compensation, does this career move offer a long view of the career path? These answers are not easily answered but need to be addressed for a good work and life balance. Without that balance, the compensation will ultimately feel unsatisfactory.

Recently while out with a client, I noticed her straight full leg pants were short and not short enough to look fashionable. They looked like a fashion snafu. This is a challenge because many new pants shorter while the pant could be wide or narrow. The problem is that the look is dumpy if not worn correctly.

The issue is also based on the color and style of the pant especially around how it falls on the ankle with shoes on. For women, the hem should just lay on the ankle of the leg. The only time you can play with this guideline is by wearing a boot or hose that matches the pant and shoe. With men, the slacks with suits tend to be very narrow and do not break, so they never touch the shoe.