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

Fixing your closet can be overwhelming. The first step is to pick a half day or day that will be uninterrupted. Have three buckets for your clothes: one for charity, one for keeping, and one for items needing mending or alterations.

Items to keep must not be more than a year old unless the clothing is evening wear. It there are items that can only be worn occasionally, store them in a separate area unless you have a lot of space reserved for special occasions.

Arrange putting clothing back in the closet either by item, the way they are worn, or by color. If this seems like too much of a task, then start by removing items not worn in the past two seasons. This will make your closet a fun place to shop in!

Recently, I saw the ultimate holiday outfit, patterned coat, hat, scarf and mittens. This person was young and she looked cute.

Holiday wear for some is a tradition and other clothing comes off a bit hokey.

At its best, holiday wear should put a smile on the person who is wearing it and a smile on those who see it. These are a few of my guidelines. One piece is enough for me and my preference is in the color. I love red this time of the year, whether in a scarf, hat or necklace.

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.

The suit is back. It began last year with the blazer worn with skirts, dresses, and companion pants. In 2018, we see the suit surging. Fabrics and colors have become bolder. Shoulders for women look much more pronounced. For men the move is away from the soft shoulder.

In recent fashion magazine and red-carpet show openings, suits are being shown more often with women wearing them. The cuts of jackets appear closer to the waist for men and women.

A recent MSNBC business program featured icons and their uniforms including Steve Jobs with his black turtleneck and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg with a gray tee shirt. I recall that when DreamWorks was formed, Steven Spielberg wore a bomber jacket, David Geffen sported a mock tee, and David Katzenberg of Disney favored the shirt and tie.

The point is that there appears to be an unwritten rule of notable leaders branding themselves with clothing including a client CEO of a Fortune 500 company who always donned a jacket and skirt. All these folks wore their uniforms well, seemed comfortable, and stayed consistent because a uniform must be comfortable and fit well.

While on a project for an automobile company, we ensured that front-line employees uniform choices represented the company and the employee well. We focused on pride in wearing clothes that were comfortable and easy to care for. Many top companies make this investment when providing uniforms for front-line staff. Make sure you invest in yourself in your uniform.

A touch of color does wonders to update a wardrobe including sweaters, ties or jacket colors. Black, navy and any dark hue has become the norm for a wardrobe uniform. Adding a contrasting splash of color creates a more contemporary look. For men, the color can be flashed in a tie, pocket square and even socks. Women have many choices also, especially in jewelry or scarves.

A tailor is a best friend in ensuring the right fit in hem lengths, around the waist and the for the width of a jacket sleeve. The right fit takes pounds off a person and the wrong fit does the opposite. The wrong fit also projects the clothing in a frumpy, dated way, no matter how expensive the item.