When does too much skin show? Cleavage for women can be challenging as can tops that are too tight.

Men who wear an open shirt collar may have their chest hair show. Shirt sleeves that bunch up and cap sleeves on blouses that are cut too short on fleshy arms also show too much skin.

Here are some rules to help you ensure you are not showing too much skin:

For women:

– Cleavage: The rule of thumb for cleavage is to make sure your top starts no more than four inches from your chin.

– Arms: Sleeveless tops can be attractive if your arms are toned.

For men:

-For men who prefer not to wear a tee shirt, be conscious of chest hair

– Buttoned shirts should not have gaps. Otherwise too much skin may be revealed. Wear a shirt cut larger around the stomach.

A glimpse of skin is a good thing; too much is best left for private moments and on the weekends.

Full rimmed black and colored glasses have replaced the rimless glasses. The key is finding the right frame size and shape. Your eyes should pop in the frames.

The thickness of the frames looks best when they balance the shape of your face and hair. If your face and hair have a lot of texture, then narrow frames would be best. The opposite is true if your face and hair are very sleek. Then a heavier frame would add character to your face.

Rimless glasses look okay on wide faces because the side pieces will narrow the face.

Be sure to take your time in picking out your frames. They must feel comfortable and you want to feel confident in them. You also should consider having more than one pair.

The face is our main attention getter. Our hair is a frame around it so it should look as good as possible. Here are some dos and don’ts for both men and women:

Men:

Do: Think balance. Your hair style looks best when it is age appropriate and balances your face with the rest of your body.

Do: Clean it up. If you are bald (bald is beautiful) make sure it is completely clean – no fuzz on the back of your neck.

Don’t: Wear a hairstyle meant for an age 10 years younger than you are.

Don’t: Over spray. Your hair should not glisten.

Women:

Do: Wear a contemporary hair style. You can do that just by updating the style you have worn for the last three years.

Do: Have movement in your hair style – it will give it a modern feel.

Don’t: Wear a spiked hairstyle unless you are in the arts and/or advertising field.

Don’t: Over hairspray your hair so that it is as hard as a football helmet.

Follow these do’s and don’ts and your hair will not be a distraction but your crowning glory.

The trend in women’s clothing for tops has been moving toward three-quarter length sleeves instead of full length ones. The reasons are because it saves money, starts something new and helps women for whom sleeve lengths are a problem because they do not have the flexibility of getting sleeves shortened without an added expense.

Three-quarter length sleeves can be wonderful solutions for women who always seem to have sleeves be too long on them. However, make sure this length does not make you look wider, matronly or old lady-like. Suit jackets should come with a full-length sleeve unless it is a summer suit.

Give it to the fashion industry for always wanting to revolutionize how men and women wear jeans. Here are some guidelines:

Straight leg jeans are the modified skinny jean and easier to wear. To pull off the skinny leg jeans you must have very slender legs and the pant leg should not bunch up. The traditional style where the leg is wider but still straight will work well for women with larger legs. Also, the boot cut is coming back. If you were to purchase a new pair today stay with the straight leg one and you will be contemporary.

When it is better not to alter:

– When the garment is too tight

– When the seams are less than ½ inch

– When the garment has a lining (It will cost double.)

– When the garment is chiffon, silk or lace- (It will leave marks.)

– When the garment has a zipper that needs to moved

When it is best to alter:

– When the garment fits well and only needs either the sleeves or hems altered

– When the garment alteration cost is less than the sale price reduction

Follow these guidelines you will not be disappointed in the alteration results and the related expenses.

Many magazine pictures show celebrities wearing their skirts at least four inches above their knees and in some cases barely covering their behind. Many men are wearing their suits tighter and pants are narrow and shorter.

In today’s business world, the norm is skirt hems just above the knee or one inch shorter and that’s it. For men, dress slacks are being worn with no cuffs and the breaks are not as deep.

If you are going out in the evening you can be a hip celebrity but if you want to be taken seriously at work, stay close to the norms.

Telling your personal story is critical in establishing context to you as a brand. You want to craft it so it can be told in its entirety or in segments, depending on the audience. It needs to relevant for the purpose.

(Remember, that in all cases we are always being interviewed, whether formally or in conversation, for the next project or role we want.)

Below are three must-have personal story elements to address:

– What makes you the special sauce that everyone needs?

– What are three success stories that can validate and prove your case?

– Describe your brief history that brings to your story up-to-date.

Write the answer to these three points on paper. Continue to edit them until they become a sharp snapshot of your personal story. Then practice out loud until it sounds authentic.

The last and most important step is to videotape yourself. Videotaping is the most critical piece because it enables you to see how others view you—how you look, sound and act. This is what your audience will experience.

The best story engages the audience and is told in less than five minutes.

Do you have a personal calling card that you can give to those you want to reach you? This is a card that is not related to your professional life. You can give it out socially. Include your name, phone number and personal e-mail address on the card.

Vista Print (www.vistaprint.com) is a great online source that offers many designs for cards like this.

What do your body and facial expressions suggest to those around you when you are not talking? The way you stand, how you hold our body and set your facial expressions say much more about you than you might realize.

Begin this test for a week. Observe the folks you interface with. Do they take you seriously or are you off-putting to them?

If you want to improve your interactions, start changing the way you carry your arms or do something different with your facial expressions or smile. Act the opposite of how you hold yourself. Do this for a week and you will see the difference in how your silent message is being received.