I was recently asked what a professional travel wardrobe is. How is it different than your everyday wardrobe?

A travel wardrobe must pack easily and basically be 80% wrinkle free. It should have multiple functionality, so that the suit or jacket worn in the day can also be worn at night.

Accessories are also critical to adding a touch of panache to your ensemble. For men, it is the shirt and tie. For women it is the blouse and jewelry.

Toiletries, especially if you have a carry on, must be within the legal guidelines.

Most of all, choose colors that easily mix and match and give you a fresh, relaxed, confident image.

Today’s job market can be grim for jobseekers. So when you are fortunate enough to receive an interview, highlight what you have done.

However, what is more important is where you want to go and why. Present a vision. Support it by describing the steps on how to get there, what you bring to it and how you will bring others there.

Passion is critical. Love what you do and use that to create the ladder to your vision.

Clients often ask how to get their body language to be inclusive and engaging without appearing too silly or moving too much.

Too many make the mistake of thinking that body language is just about arm gestures when it is really about the movement of the entire body. It begins with the relaxing of the shoulders, holding good posture and standing erect. And don’t forget your facial expressions.

Remembering these things will help you send a message through your body language which precisely matches the words you are using.

What is it about fit? Most folks appear to be careless about it. So many times in group settings two out of five individuals are wearing clothes that fit while the other three folks are not.

The following is a list of ten fit issues most folks miss:

1. Too tight in the chest area of the jacket or shirt
2. Too big in the chest area of the jacket or shirt
3. Too big in the shoulder area (this adds 10 pounds to a person)
4. Baggy pants for both men and women
5. Length of jackets too long
6. Length of jacket too short
7. Waist of jackets too high
8. Waist of jacket too long
9. Sleeve length
10.Trouser length

Do not purchase any jackets where the chest or shoulders are too big or tight. You might think you can fix them but in many cases, any alterations will cost more than the item. An exception might be if it is a vintage or a keepsake garment.

Alterations are key to wearing a garment that fits well. It is very rare that someone can purchase an item that does not need some type of adjustment.

Depending on the area you live, the alteration can range from $30.00 to $60.00. So, you have to decide how much you want to spend on altering an item before considering  buying a new one.

Following these guidelines before you purchase an item and before you spend money altering it will help ensure you will be among the two out of five whose clothing fits well. Then, you will stand out in an elegant way.

Comfort should never be sacrificed with shoes. In a recent interview with female celebrities, it was pointed out that they will go on a three day or even a week diet/body cleanse so they can look their absolute best when walking the red carpet.

But, all too often, they make a mistake with their shoe choices. Their clothes may fit and they may look their best but it does not matter if the shoes are uncomfortable.
 
Men and women do not have to give up comfort to wear a business-like shoe even when they are used to wearing flip flops or sandals. The shoe designers have gone the well beyond the extra mile to ensure shoes feel comfortable.

There are wonderful brands for women such as ECCO, Munro, Anyi Lu, Earthies and Aquatalia. For men you have Ecco, Cole Haan Air and Bass. You can look sharp and feel great in the appropriate shoes(other than flip flops or gym shoes!).

Today, I see many folks coloring their hair to cover up gray. Bobby Brown was recently quoted in an article stating how she must color her hair every other week. Coloring the hair every two weeks is about average for those folks who have been at it for a long time.
 
No matter how often you color your hair, a spot that is sometimes neglected or missed is the hair at the back of the head near the crown. The color tends to fade at that spot or the color is not applied as it could be.
 
Bumble Bumble is a product you can buy on line or at Sephora. It is a spray that comes in four different colors. You apply it on your hair to cover the gray in between appointments. The best thing about this product is that it does not rub off and will last until your next shampoo. It also looks natural.
 
You never want to have the back of your head show gray. It looks much worse than having faded hair color around your temples.

There have been many comments about the negativity on display in the Republican race for the presidential nomination. While some commentators suggest negative advertising works, it is generally seen as a bad way to win.

Today, especially in interviews, you have to refrain from saying anything negative about a previous employer or situation. Instead, you want to speak to what you can do and what your positive qualities are.

Once you begin a negative dialog, your listeners will be wondering what negative things you will eventually say about them.

These are individuals who prefer not to be with other people. They go out of their way to be alone. Of course, most people are social beings and want to congregate. However, if you are in a situation when being a social isolator appears to be a good idea, here are five things to do when you want to disengage:

1. Look away
2. Look down
3. Step away
4. Don’t shake hands
5. Frown

If you project one or more of these five expressions, you will always be a social isolator.

Tattoos are becoming more popular as individualistic self-expression. On Cake Boss, one of the bakers decided to tattoo his wife’s face on his arm as a token of his love. This was not a problem for him since he always wears a long sleeve garment. Also, in his industry tattoos are accepted. 

On the other end of the spectrum, Walt Disney has a very conservative dress code and culture. In fact, they just allowed their greeters to sport a tattoo as long as it doesn’t show while they are working. So culture does make a difference.

In general, you want to avoid tattoos that are revealed in a professional setting. If you decide to have a tattoo that you want to world to see in your free time, be sure you have comfortable clothing that will cover it up at work. Stay away from tattoos on your neck and fingers.

In the past 10 years, we have experienced Friday casual and business casual days. However, a more formal business casual has been seen in the US in the last year. Now we appear to be morphing into a relaxed professional image.

This look requires a jacket type blazer or collared shirt for women. Men wear either a jacket with shirt or shirt and tie. The fashion industry has also been listening by providing more professional garments made with softer materials and a more relaxed fit. Remember a true professional looks and feels comfortable with their clothing choices.

Note: Avoid wearing these top five business casual disasters at work:

1. Clog mules – wooden shoes without backs
2. Low hung pants for both women and men
3. Palm trees on shirts for men
4. Multi earrings (3 or more)on both ears 
5. Leggings for women with a short top

If these items are in your closet, save them for the weekend only.