The rule of thumb has always been to button all the buttons when wearing a double breasted blazer for both men and women. However, there are exceptions to the rule when it comes to jackets (not a suit jacket) that are double breasted. You don’t always have to button it all the way up. In some cases, when there is a tie with the jacket you only have to button half way up, leaving the top two buttons open. A double breasted jacket with a tie usually projects a casual look.

Below are the top five things that were listed in a recent workshop exercise on personal impressions:

1. Personal hygiene (grooming and body odor)
2. Facial expression (smile)
3. Positive attitude
4. Body language
5. Clothing choices

So, be sure these five points are working for you. If you do, then you will always make Your First Impression, Your Best One.

National news anchors and basketball coaches are great role models especially when it comes to the men and their clothing choices.

Great examples are Brian Williams and Diane Sawyer. Granted they have at least three consultants (hair, makeup and wardrobe) but you can become your own consultant by observing these folks a few times a week.

Ask yourself, what are their wardrobe and color choices? For men, observe shirt colors, tie choices and jacket styles. For women, notice the jewelry selections (necklaces and earrings) and styles. Look at the people on national and cable news stations. Once you become observant of their image, it will help you create fresh options which can take your image to the next level.

An October 13th article in the New York Times talks about a recent study where women were shown wearing different amounts of makeup. This study was paid for by Procter & Gamble and Boston University. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute was responsible for the design and execution of the study. The results were that respondents considered the women wearing more makeup to be more competent.

Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown Make-up, believes make-up helps build confidence. She feels the right color will create the perfect effect both professionally and personally. However too much make-up, especially in the wrong colors, will do the opposite. I recommend for those who do not like make-up to use the Bobbi Brown method. This means to wear at least a touch of blush and lipstick.

Business casual began as a step up from casual work days. It is supposed be a relaxed professional appearance.  That means, for men, it is a shirt and tie without a jacket or in some cases a long sleeved dress shirt instead of a polo shirt. For women it means a collared shirt, dress or a complimentary jacket.  Recently, while waiting for a client in the lobby, I found it somewhat disturbing to see how we are sliding downward instead of moving upward in business casual.
Here are some business casual faux pas:

For women wearing:
• Shirts worn outside with hems that are designed to be tucked in
• Sandals that look suspiciously like flip flops
• Too tight blouses that look very close to tank tops
• Blouses that show more breast that fabric
• Long dangling earrings especially the feather ones

For men wearing:
• Printed shirts with palm trees and birds on them
• Distressed jeans
• Running shoes
• Frayed leather belts
• Baggy sweaters
• Faded collars with dress sleeves

If you are constantly reviewing your business casual dress options you will always look your elegant, professional best.

Different dress codes appear to apply for different generations. Traditionalists and baby boomers will definitely tell you that white is never worn after Labor Day (the exception is in the winter when winter white is acceptable). The Millenniums and Gen Xers say you can wear white after Labor Day if it is still warm. This can be confusing to the those who want to be sure they are following the appropriate fashion codes.

Remember this: First, you cannot go wrong if you are generationally correct. Secondly, white is always acceptable year round in the tropical climates.

A stimulant, red can motivate cash-strapped consumers to make a purchase which something designers and manufacturers know. That’s not malarkey: A recent study by psychologists at the University of Rochester in New York found that red causes people to react both faster and more forcefully because it is seen as a danger cue.

Unfortunately, the study also found that any energy boost from seeing red is short-lived. The psychologists, though, do not believe that applies to wardrobe. The color has become accepted as a classic, alongside black and brown. So, red items are more of a long term investment rather than something to be worn one season and tossed.

Read more at http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20111001/ISSUE03/310019980/from-carmine-to-cerise-red-heats-up-fall-fashion#ixzz1ZrQMRGvP

Be modern in wearing red with brown, navy or camel.

Facebook and Twitter are social media vehicles designed to help us communicate with others. They allow us to easily share information. However, what is posted is never lost plus it can have a tremendous reach to even millions of people.
 
So are these tools our friends or enemies? 

For example, take a recent court ruling reported in the Chicago Tribune by Ameet Sachev on October 1st “Judge backs car dealer that fired employee over Facebook post.”
 
For another example, see the Tribune story on October 9th which discussed that as many recruiters rely on Social Media tools  as they do “word of mouth” in candidate searches. 

Social Media can be a wonderful tool to promote yourself and your brand but it is definitely a balancing act. 

So be sure Social Media promotes your brand and rather than tarnishing it.

Dresses are becoming very popular for women today because they are one piece. So, the question becomes is a dress appropriate in the C-Suite? Jan Fields, the president of McDonald’s, wore a simple navy dress with cap sleeves for her interview on CNN.
The dress was fine for the interview because the segment was targeted to healthy eating and the audience consisted of folks interested in the healthy aspects of food.  A dress can be acceptable in other professional settings. However, you want to be careful if you are hoping to be in the C-Suite.

Elements of a C-Suite dress:
• Classic style
• Solid colors  and the darker shades carry much more authority
• Always wear with sleeves – never sleeveless unless it is a business social function
• A companion jacket with the dress (you can always put it on or take it off)
• Skirt length above the knee

Keep these critical elements in mind when choosing a dress and you will be style elegant and C-Suite ready.

Paralanguage refers to non-verbal aspects of speech– specifically, tempo, intensity and pitch—because those characteristics dominate speaking performances.  A recent article in the Chicago Tribune talked about the presidential candidates and how their body language spoke volumes. Cited in the article were sociologists William Kalkhoff and Stan Gregory of Kent State University in Ohio who are studying paralanguage.
 
Our audiences, whether in front of a crowd or in an interview, remember us not only by what we say but how we say it.  As Kalkhoff said in the article, “There is a lot going on in these debates that’s occurring on a non-conscious level. The negotiation of power of and status in the “paraverbal” range is just a part of it.”

So, remember, your body language speaks louder than your words!