Megan Markle’s designer, Clare Waight Keller, head of Givenchy, designed Megan’s wedding dress. She was quoted in NYT Styles’ Q&A on the fact that clothes convey meaningful messages. Also, Oprah says clothes connect you to the world.

What one wears should make you feel good. Clothing messages a quick assessment for the audience about how approachable or even intimidating you are as well as whether or not you possess style. While Clare doesn’t feel this way, she confirms some think fashion and clothing as frivolous. I emphatically agree with Clare. Clothing sends a statement about all of us!

Eye wear says many things including authority, playfulness, drama, and creativeness. The shape and color also helps set the stage for the face. In addition, today’s eyewear evolves in style daily causing more and more folks to own multiple sets.

Years ago, a well-known host of a cable show set her brand with the style of her glasses just as heavy frames were coming into vogue. Now, depending on the person’s routine and special occasions, eyewear can project many looks for different situations. Just be sensitive to a style your audience will understand.

My favorite colors are black and gray. When worn in jackets and outerwear it gives me comfort. Plus, those colors are also very easy to mix and match with other shades.

However, when photographed wearing these colors, I look dreadful! But wearing reds and bright colors always photograph well. So, I counteract the drabness of the gray and black with red by putting on brighter makeup and a bold lipstick. I have too many dull pictures of myself in dark colors and learned that a bold lipstick makes my skin pop!

The challenge with working virtually is how it easy it is to slide into a very casual look! The rule of thumb, especially if you are alone in your office, is to make sure you are dressed appropriately if someone drops in unexpectedly.

The fashion and retail sectors have discovered business casual workout clothes. Uniqlo, Gap, and Crew, to name a few, have made clothing polished with a knit fabric with body shape. Soft jeans in multi-colors besides denim also create a professional look.

Fit on a garment is critical to visually adding or taking pounds off of your look. On shows or movies, the actors always appear slender. Some folks we know are naturally skinny. Others make sure they have just the right length on the shirt around the waist and sleeve.

How do we ensure our clothes fit right? If you have a tailor’s eye, use a full-length mirror to take a quick picture of yourself. Does your first impression put smile on your face? If not, take your items to a tailor for a professional opinion of the fit. This will provide a guideline on what works and what needs alterations. Begin with a few items a time.

One more tip is that the clothing must make you feel good, or as Marie Kondo suggests, ask:  Does it give you joy? if not, donate the items.

However, It is amazing when clothing fits properly!

Finally, suits for men and women are back with a whole new contemporary fashion! Fabrics are softer including leathers and colors not in the traditional blues, grays, or black. The blues are brighter with different hues. Jackets have different lapels and belts are back in with women suits.

New twist blazers look more like jackets except they are not so structured and come in non-traditional colors and prints for women. Men are moving gently toward more of a statement fabric. The more contemporary blazers have narrow lapels. Jackets and blazers have always projected a more finished look to an overall presence.

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

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.

Recently while out with a client, I noticed her straight full leg pants were short and not short enough to look fashionable. They looked like a fashion snafu. This is a challenge because many new pants shorter while the pant could be wide or narrow. The problem is that the look is dumpy if not worn correctly.

The issue is also based on the color and style of the pant especially around how it falls on the ankle with shoes on. For women, the hem should just lay on the ankle of the leg. The only time you can play with this guideline is by wearing a boot or hose that matches the pant and shoe. With men, the slacks with suits tend to be very narrow and do not break, so they never touch the shoe.

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.