Category Archives: Business Dress

Business casual, Business Dress, Colour, Men, Uncategorized, Women

Use Colour to Instantly Look More Authoritative

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Darker shades of most colours are considered more formal. They help you appear authoritative, confident and mature. When you wear dark colours such as navy or charcoal grey people will assume you can handle t he job. Black is the most formal and authoritative colour. Too much black can be intimidating. When worn alone, dark shades are dramatic and unapproachable. For a confident, authoritative look a dark suit with a light dress shirt and a brightly coloured tie, a coloured scarf and/ or metal accessories make the most effective combination. For more on this topic see ‘Upwardly Mobile Clothing for Upwardly Mobile Women’


Business casual, Business Dress, Colour, Wardrobe, Women

Do Maxi Skirts Work for Work?

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This season we are again seeing the new longer ankle length hemline on skirts, called the ‘Maxi’. Many of my clients are asking whether this skirt or dress style is appropriate to wear to work.

This is an interesting question. As image consultants we tell our clients to cover their skin, when dressing for work. And this skirt style definitely covers skin. However, the other thing to consider when dressing for business is, whether your clothing is distracting. Unfortunately the ‘Maxi’s’ falls into the category of distracting, as well. And because of this, it isn’t suited to the work place.

Why, you ask? If the clothing draws attention to itself, it also draws attention to your personality. This can draw attention away from your purpose and what you are trying to convey.

Business casual, Business Dress, Colour, Wardrobe, Women

Work Skirts that Work!

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This season we are seeing an abundance of skirts in various shapes, lengths and fabrics. With so many choices, it can be difficult to select the right skirt for the right occasion. When choosing a skirt for work, classic is the key: The best skirt styles for work are pencil or A-line silhouettes. They range in length, from just above to just below the knee. Fabrics are light to medium weight. Colours and patterns are subtle.

Business Dress, Colour, Etiquette, Wardrobe, Women

How to Maximize your Look in the Maxi Length Skirt

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The taller and slimmer you are, the easier it is to maximize your look with the maxi. If you are under 5’7” or desire to look slimmer, minimize the maxi affect, by keeping it simple and close to the body. The Pencil silhouette will be your greatest ally.  Make sure the fabric drapes well over the body and the hemline is narrow. The shorter your hemline and the more fluid the fabric, the more shape options you will have that flatter your figure.

Business casual, Business Dress, Casual dress, Colour, Men, Wardrobe, Women

Shed Some Light on Your Best Features

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One way to make your best features stand-out is by wearing lighter colours in that area. Light colours reflect light and draw attention to that area. This will accentuate the area and make it appear more prominent…especially when a darker piece of clothing is worn next to it.

Business casual, Business Dress, Casual dress, Colour, Men, Wardrobe, Women

How to Look Slimmer in Your Warm Colour Palette

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In my previous blog post, “Heavy or Slim…Not as Simple as Black or White!’, I talked about the effects of various colour qualities and how you don’t need to stick to neutrals like black or white in order to look slimmer or balance your body shape. Since then I have had questions from clients about what to do if you want to look slimmer but don’t suit cool colours.

One thing to consider is that there are so many variations of colour that can go into the mix. There is usually one colour quality in the mix that will suit your colouring and have a slimming affect. For example: if you look great in warm colours but also want to look slimmer, you may also look great in muted colours or dark colours, which will make you look slimmer. By taking advantage of these slimming colour qualities you can look slimmer and look great in your warm wardrobe colours.

Business casual, Business Dress, Casual dress, Colour, Men, Wardrobe, Women

Heavy or Slim…Not as Simple as Black or White!

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We have all heard the rumour black makes us look slimmer and white makes us look heavier. But there are other ways to create similar effects without limiting your wardrobe to black or white.

Any dark colour will have a slimming affect. So why limit yourself to black? Clothing in lighter colours has the opposite affect. Light colours reflect light which causes an area to appear larger.

Clothing in muted colours has a similar effect to black. Because they absorb light they will have a slimming affect. Bright colours like white reflect light and will make an area appear larger. This will have a similar effect in clothing.

Clothing from the cool side of the colour wheel also has a receding or slimming effect. If cool colours suit your colouring you have an advantage if you want to look slimmer. Warm coloured clothing will make the area appear bigger.

Business Dress, Casual dress, Men, Wardrobe, Women

Horizontal Contrast Makes Your Neck Look Shorter

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It isn’t often that I have clients (women or men) complaining that their neck is too long. However, if this is a concern for you, there are ways to make your neck appear shorter:

Any time you have a horizontal line of contrast, the area near the line will appear wider. As soon as an area appears wider, it will automatically appear shorter. Horizontal lines of contrast can be created with necklines, collars and accessories. To make your neck appear shorter wear blouses, shirts and tops with crew necklines, turtlenecks or a closed collar. Accessories like chokers, and scarves tied around the neck will also create that horizontal line and create the illusion of a shorter looking neck.

Business casual, Business Dress, Casual dress, Wardrobe, Women

How to Make Your Neck Look Longer and Slimmer

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Most women I have talked with love the idea of having a long graceful looking neck. Unfortunately many women feel their neck is too short or too heavy. If you want your neck to look longer, and I might add… slimmer looking, try the following tricks:

The lower your neckline, the longer your neck will appear. The longer it appears the slimmer your neck will automatically appear as well. Incorporating long vertical or diagonal lines near your face, neck and décolletage in the form of a neckline, collar or accessories will visually make your neck look longer.

Here are a few suggestions: Try collars and necklines such as V-necks, sweetheart necklines and U-necks will give the illusion of a longer, slimmer neck.

Accessories can also visually lengthen the neck and make it appear more slender. Try necklaces that fall below the collarbone, long pendants or medium sized earrings that hang vertically.

Business casual, Business Dress, Casual dress, Colour, Men, Wardrobe, Women

Give Unwanted Clothing and Accessories a New Home

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One of the most difficult things about critiquing your closet is giving up clothing and accessories that are in a great style and in great shape. The problem is that if you don’t wear the garment or accessory because it doesn’t fit; doesn’t look good; doesn’t fit your lifestyle; or doesn’t fit your personality, it also doesn’t have a place in your closet or wardrobe either. It will just take up space that could be used for another garment that you will love and wear often. 

When you find those lonely unwanted pieces in your wardrobe, consider a wardrobe swapping party. Get your friends together and find the perfect match for your unwanted clothing and accessories. If you are unsure about it, it’s a great way to find a new home for your unwanted pieces and incorporate new items into your wardrobe and save money!