Years ago, it was said that too much hand movement when speaking could be annoying and distract from the speaker. Today, in our virtual society, hand movements have become our body language, as we are seen from the shoulders up on the screen. In a recent interview, Bill Gates commented about the pandemic. He tried to walk a fine line without causing too much political damage. Gates attempted to be diplomatic, but his hand movements and tone of voice showed he was angry about the state of affairs and troubled about the future ahead with the pandemic. Visual cues will always make an impact.

Eyebrows are becoming significant. In 1995, while working for a major organization, I was asked to give individual sessions with their managers to offer quick tips to help them strengthen their presence. Nearly 90% of the advice had to do with their lack of eyebrow care. Their eyebrows were either too thick, too thin, or non-existent. Fast forward to today – and women have gotten the message due to the promotion of all the newest and latest hype over eyebrow products. So, what do your eyebrows say about you? In Stellan Skarsgard’s acceptance of his supporting actor Golden Globe for the film Chernobyl, Milos Forman, the filmmaker, said, “I have seen many of your films but never remember your face.” Skarsgard realized nobody could tell if he was angry or sad. Skarsgard had the make-up designer, Daniel Parker, make him a set of eyebrows for the film. So, what message are your eyebrows sending?

I found out later in life it how much it matters to like, and even be passionate about what one is involved in. It seems that earlier in life earning a living was the first goal…to pay bills and still be left with some freedom to live a life that matters.

In my travels, I like and enjoy being around people that make a difference and demonstrate similar values to mine. It is especially important because when we hit a bump in the road, the passion and joy of the work will push us through it.

There are many books that focus on the importance of passion. Some simple exercises to discover what you may be passionate about include journaling and taking a pause to reflect about a moment that brings you a feeling of a brilliance. It is like when athletes say they were in “the zone”. It worked for me.

Color can be used in full force if the style and cut of the clothing item works. You can even wear the same color top to bottom!

Michelle Obama, the former First Lady has been on a whirlwind. 99% of the time she wears a suit (Yes!) in an array of colors from a metallic cyan-hue suit to a multicolor strip golden suit. Material chosen, cut, and styled, plays a major role in expressing a powerful statement with color. It also needs to be the right occasion.

Her stage presence has always been as a dynamo!  This includes her book tour presence which has been a showstopper and fun to watch. Her suit colors and choices accent her brilliance.

Fashion today breaks all the rules of traditional color and fit guidelines. From mixing colors on opposite ends of the color wheel to wide shoulders and pants legs for women and very narrow pants for men, how do you stay current and not look dated or matronly?

Chose a middle ground. Find a style that works for you in business and socially by following these five guidelines:

1. Feel comfortable
2. Find professional and social role models close to your age range
3. Review current garments you own that work within the first two guidelines
4. Experiment by shopping but not buying
5. Buy a complete outfit to mix, match, and work into your existing wardrobe

I love jewelry, real or costume pieces. The pieces must accent the total look. The necklace, earrings, or bracelets are best when they complement each other. Today, we are seeing more and more of a mix including multiple, different items worn together.

The owner of Ikram, a well-known and famous store in Chicago, is always wearing multiple rings. Sometimes all eight fingers are bejeweled! It is her brand, multiple bracelets but no earrings. Whatever is chosen to wear, we want to love and have fun with jewelry.

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.

The manner in which a jacket fits on the shoulder is critical because it proportionally balances the way the rest of jacket looks. The seams need to align at the spot the shoulder connects to the arm. The jacket model must have the appropriate design.

If a person has a full chest, it is better to choose a garment which offers the fuller chest fit. In suits for men, the model is an athletic cut where the chest area is ampler. There are many styles today that satisfy all shapes and sizes.

Build confidence by doing it. Practice bolsters confidence even when there is failure. In the early stages of my work, whether speaking to a group of 20 or to one thousand, it took constant practice to fortify my confidence.

Go to different events to study the styles of those who are really the best. Watch Oprah or Zig Ziglar and note their speech patterns and talking points. Receiving feedback, good and bad, will always help you improve as it did for me.