When it is better not to alter:

– When the garment is too tight

– When the seams are less than ½ inch

– When the garment has a lining (It will cost double.)

– When the garment is chiffon, silk or lace- (It will leave marks.)

– When the garment has a zipper that needs to moved

When it is best to alter:

– When the garment fits well and only needs either the sleeves or hems altered

– When the garment alteration cost is less than the sale price reduction

Follow these guidelines you will not be disappointed in the alteration results and the related expenses.

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.

Bobbi Brown, my favorite makeup artist, and I both agree is it important to recognize your color temperature. If your skin tone is warm it is best to wear blush and lipstick in the warm families with yellow undertones.

For example, a red lipstick would be a tomato color with red undertones. This also suggests that those with colored skin tones can wear blush and lipstick with blue undertones. The red lipstick would be a cherry red with blue undertones. When you try to do the opposite it tends to make your skin look harsh and dry.

Just recently, I watched an old movie, A Touch of Mink with Cary Grant and Doris Day. I saw that Cary Grant’s tie and button down navy cardigan is catching on again. Suits with vests, like the ones worn by Cary’s right hand person in the movie, can also be seen on the streets today.

Doris Day’s simple suits and evening wear can also be seen in today’s fashions. Even her hair style is being worn by all ages.

Classic fashion never goes out of style.

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.

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.

The dress is slowly replacing the suit with a skirt as a power look. Wearing a jacket with the sleeveless dress can add a splash of color to a neutral tone dress. Color blocking has also become very popular and is perfect for the neutral tone dress.

What are some of the key elements of a power dress?

• When a dress fits properly at the shoulders and hips it projects elegance. The weight of the fabric is critical so it hangs correctly and moves well with the body.

• The color of the dress must enhance your skin tone. This is especially true if the neckline is close to your face.

• Solid colors always exude a classic, rich look.

• Two color prints in geometric shapes have been replacing the solid color dress.