Heels have been reinvented these last few years shifting from the classic look to many different toe shapes and heel heights. In addition, we are seeing women wearing different color heels. Colors are moving away from blacks/reds to greens and other interesting hues and tones.

What are the colors we can wear that will compliment an outfit with an elegant look while avoiding a cheap appearance? A quick tip is to ask: Does the shoe add to the outfit and look rich while doing so?

Choose the shoes closest to the impact you want with the overall look which might mean different heels for a serious versus a casual appearance.

The first lady, Michelle Obama, wore purple gloves instead of the traditional black ones in the Inaugural parade. Why did the purple work? First, it was a quiet touch while being just enough to notice and for folks to spot her as she waved to them. It was also in the same color family and tone of the navy blue coat.

Purple ended up being perfect as an accent color and worked well for the gloves. They definitively replaced the black and were elegant at the same time. Would it have been the same had she worn purple pumps or boots? No.

In a recent Oprah magazine article, red lipstick was touted as the new lipstick color. For example, Taylor Swift only wears red lipstick with a touch of blush on her cheeks. This accentuates her eyes and has become her signature look.

My recommendation is to use the red lipstick for night wear only. Use a more natural color for the day time. Definitely experiment with it by having a professional help you in choosing the right red. It should make you feel a bit glamorous as opposed to clownish.

Should women get a manicure and does there have to be color on the nails? Can I wear a vamp color on my nails? Your nails should always be chip, cuticle and hangnail free. A good buff for men is appropriate. Color for women should be neutral. The visual story you want your hands and nails to display is a fresh, clean and neat look that says I am healthy and youthful.

This issue keeps coming up whenever I am speaking to a group of professional women – to wear hose or not. Again, many companies, especially when it gets warm, have no opinion about whether women should or should not wear hose. Even as the temperature gets cooler they still leave it up to the wearer.

There are still women who like to wear hose no matter what the situation or the climate. And of course, there are women who don’t like to wear hose in any business situation. My opinion is that legs should not appear naked. This means that there are some legs that look great without hose. Others, not so good. So, unless the organization has guidelines about wearing hose, it is up to the wearer.

I do have two rules about hose, though. Never wear white hose unless you are a nurse and sheer black hose can be worn all year round.

So many folks are graying faster than normal that hair coloring has become a twice a month ritual. Bobbi Brown and many other women have to do this. Gray begins quickly in two areas: in the crown of your head and around the temples. There are two products that work well. One is a spray (root concealer, Rita Hazan) for the crown. For around the temples, an eye brow powder works well. In choosing a color, one shade darker is best.

Offices today are trending toward open spaces with many folks occupying them. Because of flexible office hours they are rarely filled. Sometimes, though, there will be occasions where everyone is in the office.

So, be careful of odors that can be offensive like ones that may emanate from smoke, cologne, hair spray and gels, body and food.

To make sure you are not the one causing the smells, one hour before a meeting:

• Do not smoke
• Stay away from dining places in a small, closed environment
• Do not pick up or eat food in your car
• Always wash your hands before a meeting. It helps get rid of odors.
• Carry breath mints