A great example of a traditional piece of clothing for men has been the pleated dress slacks with cuffs. However, the current fashion trend has shifted toward a very modern look with a slimmer leg and no pleats or cuffs.
The challenge for men today is that not everyone can wear these pants and not everyone should. A man will always look elegant if he wears what looks good on him. Wearing the right cut and fit will always appear elegant. Cary Grant always looked good because he shunned current fads and stayed with classic lines that flattered his body.
Josh Groban currently has the number one selling CD, “All that Echos”. On Feb 11, Josh was asked why he does not perform more popular songs. He replied that his voice was not suited for it meaning the vocals would not have the impact he wanted them to have. He also said that he was not comfortable performing in that genre.
Groban’s career thus far suggests that he stays with and strengthens what he does best. You can see the growth from his first CD to the current one, which has sold 25 million copies to date. (Interesting numbers, knowing that after being discovered, he was told that his voice might not sell.)
Groban’s stance suggests a maturity and insightful understanding of his own abilities. We might all take a lesson from this and embrace/strengthen what do we do well and build a proven track record to confirm it. Stay focused on what you do best and while always moving your skill set forward.
Interviews fall into the same category as public speaking. We can be extremely nervous while at the same time, we want folks to know that we are brilliant and belong in that role. Even Jodie Foster, writer, actor and philanthropist hated the audition process, which is similar to an interview.
Breathing is the number one physical action you can take that will steady and help you exude confidence in an interview as well as help you get through a panic attack, should one occur.
Secondly, you want to practice how you will talk in the interview. Remember what it is about your background, life and practical business experiences that puts you over the top for the position.
Keep in mind, though, that a “gotcha” question might be asked. If so, repeat the question and breathe deep to settle yourself. These tips will bring you closer to getting the job you are meant to have.
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.
Unfortunately, it has become very common not to respond to e-mails, phone calls, voice messages and even direct questions. I find that a true professional will respond with one of the following statements:
– I will get back to you when we have an answer.
– I received your message and will get back to you by________.
– I received your message and will get back to you as soon as I can.
A real professional will respond within 24 hours. Become a pro who always gives the courtesy of a response. If you are already responsive, good going and keep it up.
In the book “Shouting Won’t Help,” author Katherine Bouton whose hearing loss began at age 30, lists three tips on how to help someone who has a hearing loss. They are:
– Look at the person you are talking to
– Repeat the question or answer by paraphrasing it
– Articulate using a normal voice and even pace.
It’s all great advice since many folks today may experience hearing loss due to loud noises and ear phone usage. In fact, we are getting used to seeing hearing aids because they are becoming as commonplace as glasses.
Also, if you have a hearing loss – let people know about it in an easy conversation. It will remind them to use the three tips above and help you understand what they are saying.
I just finished reading “Complaint is a Gift” by Janelle Barlow and Claus Moller (It is out of print.). It highlights case studies from companies who have used customer complaints as a tool to strengthen their services and products (British Airlines is one of those cited in the book.)
I believe our customers refer to everyone we communicate and work with. Just recently, I purchased an item that was misrepresented to me. I called the store to let them know I did not like being strong armed into purchasing this product. I was told that the product was better than the one I actually wanted to buy.
Their responsess were text book on what not to do when handling a complaint:
– They never asked my name.
– They never introduced themselves.
– They never thanked me for calling.
– They never suggested that they could have been wrong.
This will be the last time I go to this store. Their products were not less expensive than those at other stores, but their establishment was convenient for me to get to.
So, it’s good policy to treat a complaint as a gift because when it’s handled the proper way, customer loyalty usually remains intact.
All politics aside, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, showed her command presence in the way she handled the four plus hours of grilling by the Senate. (We all understand the gravity of that situation.)
The piece that impressed me and many others (listening to the commentaries) is the discussion around what we were going to do to make sure this does not happen again. A true leader handles him/herself with composure always going back to seeking a solution to fix the problem.
What if the most respected global companies only finger pointed and didn’t focus on the solution? Nothing would get resolved.
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.
