Shoes

The dictionary definition of shoes is: an external covering for the human foot, usually of leather and consisting of a more or less stiff or heavy sole and a lighter upper part ending a short distance above, at, or below the ankle.

But shoes do more than just cover your feet and protect them from the elements. Shoes add the final touch to an outfit. They can make your inexpensive ensemble look expensive or make an expensive outfit look cheap.

But did you know certain style shoes can make you look thinner and taller? For women and men a tapered shoe will make your feet look longer. This draws the eye outward thus adding height. A darker shoe will make your feet look smaller. A shoe with pattern leather or colors will make your feet look larger having the effect of making you look larger.

So, select your shoe choices wisely. You will add the finishing touch that will make you look very smart. Check out my favorite sites for shoes Zappo.com and Nordstrom.com.

Today’s clothing choices are driven by the fashion industry, media and celebrities. It’s rarer to see folks dress their age. Instead, we see folks who try to look younger when they really can’t mask their age any longer. Of course, you have the opposite situation—people who try to look older. They end up looking like kids playing dress up or looking just plain silly.

We saw one of the young female stars at the Oscar’s last night who tried to dress older. It only made her look younger and a bit foolish. I will say 99% of the stars including men, looked age appropriate. I especially liked that the men wore the correct cut tuxedo (jacket and lapels) for their age and body type. I also liked how we saw every man over 40 wearing a properly tied bow tie – no clip ons.

So, it does not matter what the occasion is. You will always look smarter when dressing age appropriate.

It is amazing how someone’s facial expression can affect us. Also, it can give you some insight about what they are thinking.

Recently in the “Live” section of the Chicago Tribune, Julianna Margulies, who stars in the CBS show, The Good Wife, was measured for facial expressions and eye movements. She engages the audience so thoughtfully that she connects her viewers to her and to the character.

As I mentioned in one my recent blogs, Bill Clinton locks his eyes on whomever he’s speaking with. This, plus his facial expressions and manner, places the conversational partner at center of his universe.

We know for a fact that when a complete stranger smiles at you, it can make your day. At the same time, the person who looks right through you sends the signal you are invisible, which can make you feel worthless.

So, we want our facial expression to be one that suggests to others that you might be a good person to know.

A belt is a flexible band, typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worn around the waist. A belt supports trousers or other articles of clothing, and it serves for style and decoration. Belts have been documented for male clothing since the Bronze Age. Both sexes used them off and on, depending on the current fashion, but it was a rarity in female fashion with the exception of the early Middle Ages, late 17th century Mantua, and skirt/blouse combinations between 1900 and 1910 (from wikipedia.org/wiki).

Today the belt has become a fashion accessory. They come in many shapes, colors and fabrics. For women, wide belts look best on thin bodies if the belt is a different color. If you do not have a thin shape, choose a belt that is the same color as the outfit you are wearing.

For men, it is always about the buckle. Simple is better for professional dress. If you’re seeking fun, go for it with various sizes and color.

Your belt choice should always be a fashion statement not a fashion disaster.

How many times have we made mistakes or hurt someone’s feelings to the point where we had to apologize for our transgressions? Apologies have credibility only if they’re followed by consistent actions.

An apology, whether by Tiger Woods or by a person who is always late, will only be valued if the offenses are not repeated. Of course, the words of the apology have to be meaningful and sincerely delivered.

So, when you make a mistake, apologize with sincerity and back it up with the appropriate action.

Black is a power color and it’s a wonderful sight against the back drop of white ice. It is amazing when I have watched the many skaters’ costume choices and how those choices have worked for and against them. If you watched the skaters you know the ones I am talking about. Sometimes, you ask yourself – what were they thinking?

Evan Lyacek’s accents of silver visually accented against the black worked very well, though. It broke up the starkness of the color and at the same time worked visually with his moves.

Whether you are performing on ice or speaking in front of a group, synch your color and clothing choices with your body movements. Make them relevant to your performance.

Plus, if you are thinking of wearing black, make sure it works as well for you as it did for Evan Lysacek— the winner of the men’s gold metal figure skating.

We get very comfortable with what works. A great example is hairstyles.

How many folks do we see today that are still wearing the same hairstyle they wore in high school? This goes both for men and women.

Hairstyles constantly change. Women’s styles have gone from very puffy to flat, long to short, short to long. Note the conservative hair for men. It’s still short and getting shorter with the new styles.

When asked why he cut his hair, the Grammy-winning soul singer, Maxwell, recently responded:

“I didn’t want to be a caricature. There’s nothing worse than that guy who’s still rocking with his hair at whatever it was, 20 years after his heyday. The world’s moved on, and you’re stuck.”

So, when people look at your picture from 10 years ago and say you haven’t changed a bit – make sure the comment doesn’t refer to your hair!

Change is tough. Sometimes it’s hard to maintain. And when we try to do too many things at once it can be overwhelming.

A good approach is to start with something easy that will make a significant impact and make you feel good. This also will provide you with a quick start.

For example, a new piece of clothing, a shirt or a change in your hair style will give you a new lift. Or, if you want to be a better speaker visit a Toastmaster club and listen to other folks speak.

Another big one is weight. Going on a diet is too hard. However, eating smaller portions might be a good start. The main idea is to start small and take one thing at a time. You’ll be amazed at the feeling of accomplishment you get which in turn will keep your momentum going.

The U.S. has been in a deep freeze these last few weeks. In fact, Florida has experienced their coldest temperatures in the last twenty years. So, it’s understandable that we cut ourselves a bit of slack as we pile on layers of mismatched clothing.

Down coats are wonderful. They are lightweight and keep you very warm. Add on a smart scarf with color and you are good to go. Now comes to the serious part for both girls and guys – the boots. High or low ones will add the finishing touch. Plus, no matter how they look, you are allowed to wear your favorite pair of boots for warmth. The main thing is staying warm. Looking stylish comes after that.

The good news is now all coats, scarves, hats and gloves are on sale!

Non-pleated front slacks have become very popular. The question that arises is who should wear these slacks? And should they be cuffed?

Non–pleated front slacks have always been the usual look for jeans and casual twill slacks. Recently, they became vogue in suits for the younger man. For example, with a black suit, the no pleat style slack works with an athletically cut jacket.

Over the last five years the non-pleat slack has been tailored with a fuller leg. This allows a cuff. In the traditional no-pleat slack, the leg was slimmer with a no cuff hem.

So, should the younger man wear them and the older man not? Not necessarily. It depends how the pants fit. The no-pleat front slack is best worn by someone who has a flat stomach and slender legs. Age doesn’t matter.

The slender bodied older man may look quite sharp with non-pleat front slacks worn with a sport jacket.

The well proportioned younger man may end up wearing a pleated slack and look just as smart. Also, designers have become savvy by pairing the pleated slack with an athletically cut jacket.

So the bottom line – men wear what best fits your body type.