Many magazine pictures show celebrities wearing their skirts at least four inches above their knees and in some cases barely covering their behind. Many men are wearing their suits tighter and pants are narrow and shorter.

In today’s business world, the norm is skirt hems just above the knee or one inch shorter and that’s it. For men, dress slacks are being worn with no cuffs and the breaks are not as deep.

If you are going out in the evening you can be a hip celebrity but if you want to be taken seriously at work, stay close to the norms.

It seems global warming has created inconsistent weather – either too hot or cold. Here are some clothing tips so you’re prepared for any type of weather as you’re celebrating the nuptials.

For women:

The designer, Citron, offers a light flowing blouse as well as many wonderful silk prints in tops and dresses. They can be worn with linen or silk pants or skirts. I definitely recommend flat sandals as the shoes of choice.

For men:

The trend continues with linen or silk short sleeve shirts worn un-tucked. Solid colors, such as a dark navy worn with cream pants and sandals, have a more elegant feel. Shorts are not recommended unless it is a very casual wedding.

You will look elegant and always still be temperature ready wearing these recommended clothing items.

Do you have a personal calling card that you can give to those you want to reach you? This is a card that is not related to your professional life. You can give it out socially. Include your name, phone number and personal e-mail address on the card.

Vista Print (www.vistaprint.com) is a great online source that offers many designs for cards like this.

What do your body and facial expressions suggest to those around you when you are not talking? The way you stand, how you hold our body and set your facial expressions say much more about you than you might realize.

Begin this test for a week. Observe the folks you interface with. Do they take you seriously or are you off-putting to them?

If you want to improve your interactions, start changing the way you carry your arms or do something different with your facial expressions or smile. Act the opposite of how you hold yourself. Do this for a week and you will see the difference in how your silent message is being received.

Prints, in a variety of clothing, have become very fashionable for both men and women. For men, plaids and checks are all the rage including wearing prints (stripes and checks) with patterned ties and shirts.

Women’s patterns are available in all clothing choices and also accessories like handbags and shoes.

Here are some tips to mixing prints and patterns:

For Women:

– Feminine prints – flowers with a masculine print (stripe); keep colors in the same family

– Only wear three prints or patterns at once; example- blouse with skirt and purse or shoes

For Men:

– Balance bolder and brighter shirts with your natural physical size

– Chose a solid tie when shirts have a bold pattern

Train your eyes to see the commonality and balance in prints and patterns. Experiment first, starting small with your choices.

In the June 17th New York Times Sunday Style section, Tom Browne, a renowned men’s designer (he also made our first lady’s inaugural ensemble), has shortened the length of his pants for men. This has had the effect of making it acceptable for men to wear dress or casual shoes without socks.

From a fashion standpoint it is the right approach because wearing socks with short pants is definitely not fashionable. However, I would recommend men only going sockless when wearing a full leather sandal and only on a very casual day. That being said, check with the company’s dress policy before you go sockless. And never go sockless on a client visit.

These last few months I have been in and out of airports twice a week and am constantly intrigued at the fashion smarts and disasters.

Here are a few of both:

Fashion Smarts:

– White shirts with casual slacks or jeans – still a classic look for men and women

– Sharp looking carry-on bags in a multitude of colors with both soft and hard shells

– Slimmer looking pants for both men and women

– Jackets are still popular and they project a finished, elegant look

Fashion Disasters:

– Long beach skirts with flip flops

– Anything with flip flops

– Worn out baseball hats

– Short shorts on folks over 25-years of age

– Sweat pants

There is no reason to look like you are cleaning out the garage or headed for the beach when you are travelling. There are many styles and fabrics that you can be comfortable wearing and still look well put together.

Eye contact is always important in these situations:

• When first meeting a person, good eye contact gives an instant connection. In some cases it is how you will be remembered.

• When you are presenting, eye contact helps you engage each member of the audience. Even if you cannot see them, they can see you.

• When you are having a very intense conversation, whether sad or happy, the impact of it will be felt with serious eye contact.

Do’s

• Do wear a name tag on your left side. The reason for this is so when the person shakes your hand they can easily read your name.

• Say your name when shaking hands to help the person remember it.

• If the name tag is on a string or lanyard, wear it chest high so it’s easy to see.

Don’ts

• Don’t wear it so it sits at the middle of your stomach or below.

• Don’t put it in your pocket so no one can see it.

I have always believed that nails look more professional with color polish. However, nails can be made to look worse even with nail polish, if the cuticles are unattractive.

My nails have always been a challenge because I have very dry and unattractive cuticles that are continually aggravated by nail polish. So, I have gone cold turkey and started getting manicures without nail color.

That being said, your hands and nails must look well taken care of. They must enhance your overall professional impact. This also means that you probably need to stay away from distracting polish colors and designs.

Remember, though, that if you go decide to go without nail polish entirely, you must stay vigilant in keeping your nails clean because polish hides the dirt that accumulates underneath them.