Shoes should be the finishing touch to one’s appearance. They should complement the whole, pulled-together look. To the observer, shoes can indicate a person cares about details. When shoes are noticeable on a person, it can be distracting or call attention to the fact that the shoes are the wrong style or just a glaring mistake. Observers should notice a person’s face first—not his or her shoes. If the shoes are more memorable than the face of the wearer, it is time to tone down and reconsider the shoes or to pay more caretaking attention to the face.

Do’s:

·         Shoes should complement the outfit style—they add the final touch.

·         Wear colors that blend in with the total look.

·         Always wear well-maintained shoes that are clean and not scuffed – even when sporting athletic shoes.

Don’ts:

·         Avoid wearing shoes that are too casual or too formal for the outfit.

·         Be sure not to wear shoes that aren’t comfortable (everyone can tell by the way you walk).

·         Avoid wearing shoes that look battered and scruffy.

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!

Color can be used in full force if the style and cut of the clothing item works. You can even wear the same color top to bottom!

Michelle Obama, the former First Lady has been on a whirlwind. 99% of the time she wears a suit (Yes!) in an array of colors from a metallic cyan-hue suit to a multicolor strip golden suit. Material chosen, cut, and styled, plays a major role in expressing a powerful statement with color. It also needs to be the right occasion.

Her stage presence has always been as a dynamo!  This includes her book tour presence which has been a showstopper and fun to watch. Her suit colors and choices accent her brilliance.

Recently, I decided to repurpose a white silk pantsuit that was worn fifteen years ago rather than wear a formal gown. The jacket needed alterations by taking in the sides. I wore a pair of fabulous earrings and black swede sandals.

This suggests that classic designer styles stay timeless when taken care of. This pantsuit was placed in a fabric garment bag and spot checked for stains. Necklaces were not needed since they would have dated the garment. Let me tell you humbly, the pantsuit rocked!

The first yellow introduced was the primary yellow, then it became a golden yellow. In 2019, the new shade is lime (chartreuse)  yellow. It has become a neutral color depending on what it is paired with. This color can be worn with grays, navy and even black but it’s not an easy color to wear. It is bright, so before adding it to your wardrobe, try it with as a small accent other clothing items.

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.

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!

Wearing short boots rather than heels has become more popular over the last few years. There is no hard and fast rule except that the boots should not be the first thing noticed.

If you want to make a fashion statement by wearing an animal or red print, a short boot can accent your total look. It does takes a great eye to correctly balance the impact of wearing a short colored or print boot. Of course, you can always run with the idea that the boots are just a fun statement!

I love jewelry, real or costume pieces. The pieces must accent the total look. The necklace, earrings, or bracelets are best when they complement each other. Today, we are seeing more and more of a mix including multiple, different items worn together.

The owner of Ikram, a well-known and famous store in Chicago, is always wearing multiple rings. Sometimes all eight fingers are bejeweled! It is her brand, multiple bracelets but no earrings. Whatever is chosen to wear, we want to love and have fun with jewelry.