It can be a challenge to find the perfect gift for a valued client. Corporate policies vary from company to company. If there is not a specific policy that prohibits your client from receiving a gift from a supplier or consultant, here are a few recommendations.

Opt for sending (especially if you are running late) a New Year’s gift with good wishes tailored to their industry. Along with your wishes, the gift could be a stylish coffee table or a current business book, an uplifting music CD or even a classic movie.

Sometimes, a memorable gift is as simple as a well written note inside a holiday card. The most important thing is to remember your client who in the past has served and in the future will serve you well.

When you are a guest for a dinner party or open house in the U.S. it is customary to bring a gift to show your appreciation for the invitation. The question is, what do you give?

Plants and flowers can be tricky. One issue is finding a place to display them without infringing on carefully crafted decorations. The other is that the host may be allergic to the smell.

Food items are difficult unless you know of a favorite candy or food. It is the thought that really counts but we also want our gift to be enjoyed. Wine can be nice especially if they are wine enthusiasts and you can select a bottle they may find interesting. You can’t fail with a current picture book. Stay away from anything political.

What happens if the invitation says no gifts? Definitely honor it. You can always send a gift later. Thank you notes never go out of style. So, within a week, send a handwritten note of appreciation containing a few words that capture the memory of the occasion.

Do these things you will be a a guest to remember.

It seems that whether it is remembering someone’s name or making introductions you need to be perfect when networking. However, how many times have you said someone’s name wrong or added the wrong bit of information to a moniker?

I believe if you do this with a smile you can have some fun with it. For example, if you fumble an introduction – you can smile and say “Let me start over again.” When you forget someone’s name you can say “I remember great faces but am terrible at remembering names” or “It is great to see you, what have you been up to?”

If you have just been introduced to someone and you can’t remember their name you can fess up by saying “My brain has gone into sleep mode, sorry” or “It’s on the tip of my tongue but my tongue is recharging.”

The most important thing is to maintain a sense of humor and a smile when you mix and mingle at parties this holiday season. Not only will you have more fun but you’ll be remembered because people like being around you.

Rumors start when there is a problem or something has gone wrong and no one acknowledges it. The ignoring of it allows the space for the issue to grow into the 800 pound gorilla in the room.

Even if there is nothing behind the chatter, not to address the problem makes the speculation all the louder. Eventually, all that is heard and more importantly, all that is believed, is the noise.

Rumors happen. For example- the health of Steve Jobs. It has been rumored that he is dying. Had Jobs had immediately addressed this, his health concern would still exist.

However, he could have put his right hand person out front and put a positive spin on the situation. (Most folks don’t realize that Jobs number one creative director is behind all latest and newest products at Apple, anyway.)

Problems happen. An recent example of this is Tiger Wood’s car accident over the Thanksgiving holiday. No comment from Tiger has the media and the public running rampant with rumors.

The best thing you can do when there is a problem and you are the center of it is to acknowledge and own it. When you continue to ignore the actual problem, the damage of not acknowledging it will become much greater than the actual issue itself.

Hand grooming is critical to projecting a professional image. Torn cuticles and ragged nails are unacceptable. Does this mean that your nails always have to look manicured? This question comes up time and time again.

Some people never have cuticles that grow. These folks just need to be sure their nails are clean and filed. They can manage this grooming themselves.

Whether your cuticles tend to be dry and unsightly or you want to prevent any nail issues, a bi-monthly manicure is a good way to ensure your hands look their best.

Men should keep the nails short and filed semi round.

Women can finish their nails rounded or semi square.

Nail polish also reflects personal taste. If men choose to polish they need to go for a non shiny look. For women a neutral color is best.

However, if you’re in the arts or a creative field, you can add some flair.

Your nails speak louder than you think when they are not well groomed.

I remember when plaid could only be seen in flannel shirts. It seemed to be worn only by those who wanted to hike in the woods or hunt. (Or as your grandfather’s favorite piece of clothing!)

But now, multicolored plaid is everywhere. It shows up in coats, shirts, skirts and shoes in many color variations. In fact, when you see some of the color combinations, it makes you ask— what are they thinking?

And the only plaid that continues to be cool (and expensive) is the Burberry plaid in black and red. You see this exclusive plaid in coat linings, scarves or umbrellas.

So, if you want to be in the fashion savvy group, you can add some plaid to your wardrobe. But make sure it doesn’t look like you raided your grandfather’s closet.

Halloween is the second most decorated holiday in the U.S. You see everything from house décor to party paraphernalia in the Halloween colors of orange and black.

Dr. Morton Power tells us the color orange stimulates creativity, ambition and pride. However, too much orange can produce nervousness and restless behavior.

I love the color orange but I know a little of it goes a long way.

Orange looks great with rust, brown, gray and navy. So, when you want to get in the spirit of Halloween, you can match orange with these colors.

Also, shirts or jackets highlight orange best. Never use orange in a full outfit. You don’t want to look like you’re in jail or working an intersection as a crossing guard.

And never wear black with orange. If you do, you know which holiday you’ll look like!

It was bad enough with plunging necklines and see through blouses.

But skirts really began to shrink this spring and summer. Style Magazine showed celebrities and folks on the streets wearing skirts that barely covered their you know what! Not to mention the  revealing skirts on Project Runway.

Granted, I understand those who want to display their shapely legs. But what about those legs that show best covered up?

Alas, fall brings cooler weather. And the good news about that is people tend to clothe their once exposed skin.

Women are beginning to wear dark hose, thigh high boots or leggings with their short skirts.

So, let me ask the women- Why not be remembered for your your face instead of your bust, butts or legs?

When President Obama made his health care speech on television he wore a red tie. After the speech was over, the GOP leader in the U.S. Senate, Mitch McConnell (the highest-ranking Republican), can be seen wearing a blue tie as he followed Obama off the Senate floor.

Wikipedia says in the 2000 elections the Republican red and Democrat blue came from a news network map. The map highlighted red states (Republican) and blue states (Democrat). 

Red and blue make a good contrast on color TV and the colors became trademark colors for the respective parties since that time.

So, with President Obama wearing red and Mitch McConnell wearing blue, they pulled the old switcheroo.

The question is, did it help build bipartisanship, was it good television or did they (like most guys) put on whatever was handed to them while not noticing a thing?
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_states_and_blue_states.

In the New York Times style section of September 13th, in Bill Cunningham’s On the Street – Catwalk piece, the majority of the women were wearing high heels. Just a few sensible women wore flat shoes.

What is it with the high heels? The tallest ones found on “Heels for Less” are eight inches! It used to be stilettos were for street walkers. However, note that Fashionista, Victoria Beckham, wears six and eight inch high heels shoes. Today, in some circles, that’s considered the “height” of fashion and style.

Does this mean us women wearing low shoes or flats may be considered out of style?  If so, maybe someone needs to tell Michelle Obama she needs to get with it. 

Or maybe the First Lady really demonstrates a woman with low heels and high style.

See Victoria Beckham’s shoe collection at http://www.mandyshotstilettos.com/2008/06/victoria-beckhams-shoes.htm