Anna Soo Wildermuth

Welcome to Personal Images, Inc.!

Here I'll give you up to date tips on developing your personal and professional image to ensure your first impression will be your best impression. Also I will blog about current image and communication blunders. Feel free to join the discussion by leaving comments, and stay updated by subscribing to the RSS feed. Thanks for visiting my blog. – Anna

Change One Thing is a superb book that gives excellent advice to help jumpstart your engine." Stephen R. Covey, author, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

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Archive: Fashion Trends

Eyebrows: What Do They Say?

These days, as we are all wearing masks, your eyes are often what people see and notice. Eyebrows help frame your eyes. Sparse eyebrows or a lack of eyebrows brings less definition to your eyes. We want eyebrows to have an expression of questioning or agreeing–not just a blank look. Eyebrows that are too heavy can be alarming or intimating. There are numerous products to help define eyebrows. If you’re not sure what to use, take several pictures using your phone and send it to other individuals for feedback.

Trends or Classics?

The fashion industry, along with major designers, have the consumer on a merry go round. Styles change as we speak. They are dictated even before the clothes are in the stores. When the clothes make it onto the rack, another change begins. Before chasing after what is new, pause, and wait. Contemporary clothing items are not always timeless. They can quickly look dated. One example is the cut of a jacket. The trend for men has become much slimmer and tighter around the shoulder; it almost looks too small on a man. The classic style is much fuller; however, it can look dated. Move toward the middle – such as a relaxed fit, especially in shirt styles. It is important to choose a trendy item or accessory. For men it might be a shirt. For women, it might be the print on an item. Check social media, and especially the business magazines, for professional ideas.

Trends for Evening Jackets

Black is the traditional color for men’s evening jackets, as is the color white in the summer. Trending for younger men are evening jackets in a wide variety of colors, worn with black evening pants, a white shirt, and a bowtie. Evening jackets in bold patterns with a black background are also increasingly popular. Michael Barkin of Stitch and Heart has always shown his style by wearing different and unique evening jackets. They look smart on him and reflect his confidence and style.

Linen Options – Comfortable and Cooler

Weather this summer has been quite a challenge. Between the heavy rains and hot sticky weather, it can be difficult to find clothes that keep you comfortable and cool—whether for casual wear or in the work place. There are several options to consider when making clothing choices. Lightweight fabrics, such as linen, is one option. The weave of the fabric is important. For example, I purchased two pairs of linen pants. One pair was very lightweight; the other was more heavily woven. The lighter weight fabric was cooler. Sleeveless items for women will not be cooler because of the exposure to sun and heat. Additionally, sun exposure is not good for the skin. To stay cooler in this hot, muggy weather, choose clothes in lightly colored, loosely woven fabric.

 

What is too casual?

Leggings are back in full force. I love them because they feel comfortable for workouts and just running around in and out of the house. Jennifer Lopez has taken the look to the extreme by wearing lounging or bedroom clothes as street wear.

They are too casual for business or workplace casual. Skinny jeans and pants can be like leggings when they are too tight. If they bunch up around the knees and hip areas, you might as well wear leggings!

Deadly sins of capris

Why do women still wear capris when so many stylists say not to do it. Capris make legs look heavier and thinner. They cut the leg in half which is usually not flattering. It also will show any imperfections a leg might have. Instead of capris, take advantage of the many slacks in very comfortable and cool fabrics.

Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder

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

What do your eyebrows say?

Here we go again with the eye brows – eye brows should accent the eyes, not create a strong reaction like – what the heck is that on your face! Eye brow shapes including no eye brows, depend on the total face and how the hair frames it. The best eyebrows enhance rather than take away from the eyes. Do a test by taking a quick look in the mirror. Do your eyes blend in or shout out?

Nail polish – statement or accent?

A recent photo of Megan Markle wearing a dark nail polish at a formal event spurred the question- why not a neutral color? I believe she wanted to make a statement focusing on the nails rather than the dress.

However, for an accent, my preference tends toward a less dramatic color, maybe a gray a neutral one (OPI sells very popular nail polish in these color tones, for instance). This brings up the dramatic nail color changes from multicolor to dark to sparkles to even different nail colors on each finger of the same hand! If you live in a fashion environment, wearing dramatic nail colors are the norm, it works. Perfectly groomed, neutral color nails, always make an elegant statement in any setting.

 

Nude pumps

Nude pumps are best worn with outfits where a grounding color is not needed for the shoes. For example, when Megan Markle wore a hunter green blouse and leather skirt, nude pumps were the absolute right choice, especially as day wear.

If she had worn a red ensemble, the nude pump would have worked, too. However, recently, a photo of a colleague at an evening event revealed a navy dress with a nude pump that looked lost. A black or dark navy pump would have enhanced the dress. Wearing the nude pump made it look like a day outfit. A nude pump with slacks works best in the same color family.