I wear color brights when working out because it is fun and most athletic shirts are found in multiple colors. Interestingly, my professional clothing tends to be in grays with a touch of a primary color. The dramatic colors come out when presenting in a large venue.

Nikki Haley, the recently resigned US Ambassador to the United Nations, is a fabulous role model for using color to her advantage. When speaking or representing the US she wore navy and gray colors, suggesting a most valued player. When speaking to the press or moving around New York, Niki wore her famous bright dramatic pink in a dress or coat combination. Remember, as you select dramatic color clothing pieces, the fabrics and cuts must possess high quality and design, or they will look cheap and costume like.

Nude pumps are best worn with outfits where a grounding color is not needed for the shoes. For example, when Megan Markle wore a hunter green blouse and leather skirt, nude pumps were the absolute right choice, especially as day wear.

If she had worn a red ensemble, the nude pump would have worked, too. However, recently, a photo of a colleague at an evening event revealed a navy dress with a nude pump that looked lost. A black or dark navy pump would have enhanced the dress. Wearing the nude pump made it look like a day outfit. A nude pump with slacks works best in the same color family.

The perfect length for an ankle pant is when the pant covers the ankle, or the ankle just slightly shows. The Lafayette fashion show got it right. Their models wore the correct length with those pants. When the pant length is too short, it looks dowdy and makes the person look heavy.

For wide leg pants, hems should just touch the top of the shoe. They should not puddle or break (which means the pant folds on the shoe). The only pant with a break or that slightly puddles is one with a straight full leg.

Years ago, while working an all-day women’s event at a fortune 100 company, women and men stopped by for a tip on their image. The number one item was the lack of attention to their eyebrows. They were mostly unattended. The purpose of eyebrows is to capture the eyes and enhance facial expressions.

Twenty years later, the proliferation of new products to add color and boldness to eyebrows may have gone too far! Most eyebrows look very painted on which is fine for television but not for everyday wear. The tip is to brush the eyebrow out, so it will look more natural. Also, when using these new tools, stay within the arc of the brow. Too many touch ups look like they belong on a science fiction character!

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.

A current trend is wearing beige or nude pumps with dark dresses. The beige or nude pump has been worn in the last five years with colors in the same family of neutral tones.

Recently, Megan Markle wore a Navy dress paired with a nude pump. Yes, the nude pump will make the leg look longer in some cases. In other situations, the outfit will appear lost. The bohemian look of very loose clothing in various prints and patterns combined is a fad. It will move into a trend only in a modified way.

Another trend is that opposite patterns are being introduced in dresses, shirts, and blazers. This fad is an attention getter where the clothes become the statement. My number one motto is that the person wears the clothes, not the other way around. The clothes need to reflect you and complement the body, enhancing the positive impact you want to project.

Years ago, at a Fortune 100 company, I was asked to spend a day working with high potentials candidates for management. There was a woman in her mid-thirties, in accounting, who was constantly overlooked for the next level position. In my first meeting with her, she walked in with pink hair!

Naturally, the hair came up for discussion. I learned that she changed her hair color every week because her evening job required it. However, it appears to be hindering professional advancement in her day job because it comes up often in talks with management. The problem is that her hair has become more of a talking point than her professional qualities.

Hair is the frame of the face. For some it is glaring statement of identity. A crowning glory. Take Kim Russell, the star of Americans and before that, Dawson’s Creek. She has long and spectacular curly hair. One day, she cut it very short. It almost cost her career! Her long hair had become her trademark.

Then you have Halle Berry as a completely opposite example. When she was starting out, she changed her long hair to a short pixie cut which ended up defining her brand. The bald head on Bruce Willis has made him more distinguished. So, the crowning glory can sometimes make or break a personal brand.

A recent New York Time’s article covered the late Tom Wolfe, his choice of suits, and his white suit. The white suit, while not in fashion, set him apart from the crowd. This clothing reflected his internal and external style including his writings and larger than life personality. The clothing choices also distinguished Mr. Wolfe from a group of very successful writers.

Use a signature brand, whether with clothing, or as in the case of Anna W of Vogue, her famous haircut. The individuals above possessed the stuff to back up their signature style and long-term successes throughout several decades.