Last weeks’ Time magazine’s has Facebook’s COO, Sheryl Sandberg, on the cover. She is wearing a burgundy dress. The dress indicates femininity and burgundy is color of royalty and power (from the Power of Color by Dr. Morton.) Sheryl’s pose is one of low key strength.

The look is a critical element in a leader. It encompasses clothing, body language, eye contact and how people perceive you. Is it perfect all the time? No, but it must be consistent and people around you must get it. A signature visual is what will help you stand out among the crowd. It supports your body of work and constantly replenishes your confidence capital.

Retailers are beginning to realize how important it is to offer alterations for women. Major stores like Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks understand this. Now, Talbots, Macy’s and Lord & Taylor have made it easier for women to get their sleeves and hems taken up or down. There is also a National Association of Tailors that can help you find a tailor in your area: http://www.ctda.com/find_a_tailor.htm.

I am always asked how much should be spent on alterations for items that need updating. The recommendation is that for one item, a maximum alterations amount is $50.00. Also, it should be an item you could not replace for 4 times the cost, in this case $200.00.

Recently, I took an older Dana Buchman jacket crafted in a beautiful blueberry color and fine wool material to my master tailor. She is going to take the cut down the shoulder. Typically, the shoulder is the last item I would encourage altering unless the price is right and you have a master tailor doing the work. Fit is so critical because it speaks loudly about your presence.

Jewelry styles change rapidly. This can cause classic pieces to appear a bit dated and matronly looking at times. However, fashion, business social and lifestyle trends are also so fast moving that I don’t recommend throwing anything out. Temporarily retiring the jewelry might make the most sense.

Balance and shape, referring to hair and clothing, dramatically impact accessory choices also. We have moved from the Dynasty look (big statement pieces) to the understated where people cannot tell you are even wearing any earrings.

Necklaces have moved from, big, shiny, even gaudy pieces to natural stones and delicate gold chains. My recommendation is to be very aware of the statement you want to make and enhance it with a contemporary look.

At the Academy Awards, many of the actresses wore full sequined gowns. Barbra Streisand and Halle Berry wore them. Adele even performed in one. Ms. Berry was the only one who looked slender. For Barbara and Adele it added weight to their appearance.

If you are shopping for a gown, you will notice that many of them contain various colored sequins. My suggestion is not to purchase one. A gown made of shiny or sequined material will only add pounds on you. Besides that, they are very heavy to wear.

If you want sparkle on your dress, look for those that feature sequin trim that’s around the neck or lightly woven through the grown. You want to focus on your face and not the extra pounds a dress might add to your appearance. You can always wear a sparkly necklace for glamour.

Heels have been reinvented these last few years shifting from the classic look to many different toe shapes and heel heights. In addition, we are seeing women wearing different color heels. Colors are moving away from blacks/reds to greens and other interesting hues and tones.

What are the colors we can wear that will compliment an outfit with an elegant look while avoiding a cheap appearance? A quick tip is to ask: Does the shoe add to the outfit and look rich while doing so?

Choose the shoes closest to the impact you want with the overall look which might mean different heels for a serious versus a casual appearance.

The power suit for women has changed dramatically from two to three button blazers to various lapel shapes and different styles, especially when it comes to how the jacket wraps around the body.

Color has shifted from traditional blacks to shades of gray, brown and taupe. Patterns are on the rise – mirroring men’s suit designs.

Kerry Washington talks about style and the suits she dons in her starring role in ABC’s hit TV show, Scandal. (See this at: You Tube Bluefly Closet confessions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsFhfFB7ipo&feature=player_embedded.)

The reality is that most of us do not have an unlimited budget for Armani, Valentino and Escada (a brand which I absolutely love.). Instead, look for these critical jacket elements that tend to emanate a stylish power look.

• Statement collars (Mandarin or modified standup)

• Close fitting body

• Pattern on the jacket similar to men’s suits

• Textured fabric

• Shorter jacket length

Look at these critical points for your next jacket purchase and you will exude power with a feminine touch.

The first lady, Michelle Obama, wore purple gloves instead of the traditional black ones in the Inaugural parade. Why did the purple work? First, it was a quiet touch while being just enough to notice and for folks to spot her as she waved to them. It was also in the same color family and tone of the navy blue coat.

Purple ended up being perfect as an accent color and worked well for the gloves. They definitively replaced the black and were elegant at the same time. Would it have been the same had she worn purple pumps or boots? No.

Emerald is “a lively, radiant, lush, vivid, verdant green” which “enhances our sense of well-being further by inspiring insight, as well as promoting balance and harmony” as quoted by Pantone.

Green also represents money and nature. Think of adding this color with an accessory, like a tie, pin or scarf. Recently, green nail polish has replaced the tangerine one. Use the color sparingly, though. (You can always wait until St. Patrick’s Day!)

In a recent Oprah magazine article, red lipstick was touted as the new lipstick color. For example, Taylor Swift only wears red lipstick with a touch of blush on her cheeks. This accentuates her eyes and has become her signature look.

My recommendation is to use the red lipstick for night wear only. Use a more natural color for the day time. Definitely experiment with it by having a professional help you in choosing the right red. It should make you feel a bit glamorous as opposed to clownish.

Today you see many folks on television wearing eyewear. They are usually wearing the latest fashion trend which is black eyewear frames. You can tell the frames that work well as well as the ones where you say to yourself – what are you thinking. The key element is that the frame must fit the face and not be too wide or deep.

Black eyewear can make a difference because it can cause the viewer to focus on your eyes. Remember, they must enhance your eyes, not hide them. If they do, your eyes will be an attention grabber.