Category Archives: Casual dress

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!

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

Accessories May Hold Future Value

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Clothing should be evaluated and removed from your wardrobe if it isn’t worn within a reasonable period of time. However, even though you may not currently wear your accessories due to fashion trends, they can still have future value in your wardrobe.  

Yes… accessory fashions evolve in cycles and what is now passé may again become the latest look. Before you discard your accessories consider your scale, personality style and most flattering colours. If these are attributes that your unworn accessories possess, you may want to store them separately from your current accessory wardrobe. Go through this accessory collection from time-to-time, to see if it will once again fit into your wardrobe. You never know…if you once loved it you may love it again.

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

De-clutter Keepsakes from Your Closet

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Many of you have probably heard that you should get rid of any clothing items that haven’t been worn for a year. And as a rule, I agree that cluttering your closet with clothing you will never wear, is a waste of space. However, what about the prom dress hanging in your closet; or the classic black dress pants that are just a little bit snug? I can see merit in keeping things under these circumstances:

If you have had a slight weight fluctuation and you KNOW you will wear the garment during the next appropriate season because it is a flattering style & colour and it fits into your lifestyle. Keep it!

If the garment holds sentimental value for you and you can’t bare to part with it. Keep it!

These clothing pieces deserve special attention. Remove them from your closet and store them separately. This will help to de-clutter your closet and finding something to wear in the morning much easier.

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

Wardrobe Planning to Suit Your Lifestyle

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As an image consultant my clients often come to me to learn what clothing styles and colours suit them. This is something we determine through analysis of the client. And yes it is very important. However, since the true purpose of clothing is to protect and cover our bodies, what we do in our clothing also needs to be considered when helping my clients select the most suitable clothing. For those of you who stare into your closet and think, “I wish I had something to wear”, get a pen and paper and jot down the activities that you do most often; the purpose of these activities and the message or impression you would like to convey during this time. Think of descriptive words like: serious, credible, fun, active, stylish, sensual or any other words that come into your mind that will help set the tone for your clothing and accessory needs. Clothing and accessory styles that are functional for the activity and create the right message should make up at least 75% your wardrobe. Use this list to when shopping for clothing and accessories to help you make the most of your closet.

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

How to Make Your Bust Look Smaller!

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Yes, we women come in all shapes and sizes. I was recently on a plane to Raleigh, North Carolina and there was a woman sitting beside me. She was close to my age, petite like me and she even had short hair like I do. However, there was one really obvious difference… unlike me, she had a slim hourglass figure with a well proportioned bust (or so I thought). I have to admit, at that moment… I was really jealous. We started chatting for a while about our businesses and then she got up to go to the bathroom. As she got up, she looked down at her chest and said, “I wish I could cut these off.” Wow! Was I surprised! Then I thought about it more and realized, that even a fuller bust can have its problems. If you want your bust to look smaller, stay away from small round necklines, fitted turtlenecks and choose the following instead: 

  • Lightweight fabrics that don’t cling
  • V necks and open collars
  • Clean simple bodices without pockets, ruffles or detailing near the bust area
  • Darker coloured tops, sweaters and blouses
  • Single breasted jackets
  • Collars that draw attention away from the bust area
  • A supporting bra
Business casual, Business Dress, Casual dress, Men, Wardrobe, Women

Not All Jeans are Created Equal

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Here in Vancouver, jeans are still very popular in the workplace for casual days. However, there still seems to be confusion about what styles are appropriate to wear to work. This continues to be a big issue with the many employers who ask me to talk with their employees about appropriate business dress.

Because jean styles are constantly evolving, it is much easier to describe what is not appropriate to wear to work rather than what styles work at work. If you are lucky enough to work in an environment that does allow jeans, avoid these styles at the office:

  • Jeans with holes
  • Jeans that look faded, worn out or distressed
  • Jeans that are too tight
  • Jeans that don’t stay up
  • Jeans that are extremely low cut
  • Jeans with cargo pockets
  • Jeans with frayed bottoms
Business casual, Casual dress, Wardrobe, Women

Harem – Dhoti – Jodhpurs are All Pants!

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harem pantsYes, this is a summer of extremes when it comes to fashion silhouettes for women. Leggings are stepping aside this season for a fuller pant silhouette. I just returned from France and although there were still some leggings, harem, dhoti and Jodhpur styles were everywhere. For those of you who are new to these terms here is a quick rundown… 

Harem Pant legs are full top to bottom and gathered into an elasticised/ drawstring or added cuff at the hemline. The waist may be smooth or full like the pants in the picture. As you can see these harems are a variation of the real thing with the hemline only partially gathered. 

Dhoti’s are a full pant that is very long in the crotch area. The legs are full in the thigh and taper dramatically to the ankle. Some may have an added cuff at the ankle. 

Jodhpurs were traditionally a riding style pant. They are fitted in the hip area and very full in the thigh. They curve in dramatically at or just below the knee they fitted to the lower calf or ankle.

Business casual, Casual dress, Colour, Wardrobe, Women

Street Fashion – Extreme Fashion in London and Paris

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maxi dressStreet styles for women in England and France included a bit of everything. Many of the fashions were mirror images of what we would see in Vancouver or any American or Canadian City. There were a few things that stood out for me. Hemlines were extreme; micro-short and maxi-long. I noticed the maxi length dresses more in England than I did in France. And they came in a variety of different styles in solid and print fabrics. On the other extreme, mini’s were everywhere; both in skirt and dress styles. Those who wore pants opted for harem, dhoti and Jodhpur styles, although there were plenty of leggings and short-shorts worn as well.