Is Cleavage Cool or Crass at Work?

Last week, a survey was commissioned in the UK which suggested that women who display too much cleavage at work could end up sabotaging their careers. More than 3,000 managers found that almost half of bosses would overlook a woman for promotions if she regularly exposed her cleavage.

Is this fair? Or is it sexist nonsense? Is cleavage cool or crass at work?

I'm not a prude - and as a small chested woman I can appreciate a fabulous bosom as much as the most hot-blooded male...but.......a glorious cleavage in the office is just not on. It's a distraction to both men AND women - but for different reasons.

1. Men see it as a clear 'come on' sign OR, they are so embarrassed they don't know where to look.
2. Women can either be continually distracted (I know I am because one of my colleagues insists on regularly exposing her cleavage and I can't help but keep looking.......). The altenative female response is to elicit some good, old-fashioned, bitchy jealousy and loathing.

As an Image Coach, I'm all about personal brand - helping professionals create a perception by colleagues which conveys the real essence of them; their reputation; their unique expertise. Who on earth wants to be known as the girl that always has her baps on show? It's not right and it's not fair, but the reality of still working in a predominantly male-orientated work environment means that to succeed in business we need to be viewed as credible, professional and authoritative.

A woman can't do that if her boobs are out.

So, ladies please - a glorious bosom is for a date, a cocktail party, a social event. It's not for the office. So button up, put them away and create a focal point somewhere else. May I suggest the face instead?

7 Secrets of Successful Shopping

Apparently we women spend three years of our lives shopping......or does it just feel like that when you queue up in your local supermarket?

The average British woman will visit 84 grocery shops in a year; shop for 94 hours and 55 minutes (for household goods) and spend just over a 100 hours browsing the shops for clothes and shoes. Given that we are about to enter a marathon shopping period it seems right to talk about shopping - and offer some simple tips (for when clothes and accessories are on the agenda).

1. Always shop with a list...otherwise you'll end up buying your 'safe' item.....that thing in your wardrobe that you have multiple versions of.

2. Do your hair and make-up. Fitting rooms lights and mirrors can be extremely unflattering and morale is easily lost.

3. Take whatever you want to combine your new purchases with; it will be easier and more effective when you can see the whole ensemble before you buy - rather than when you've lugged it home and can't squeeze into it.

4. Dress comfortably - especially your footwear.

5. De-clutter your handbag - don't carry around a load of junk - this affects your posture, walk and general view of the world. Again, not good for seeing the best in your (possible) new purchases.

6. Do your research on-line. Easier; more productive and will save you time - and wherever you can, buy. On-line stores now have excellent and easy return policies.

7. Forget Saturdays - vile, crowd-filled shops where tempers are often frayed and it takes 30 minutes to walk 3 paces (well, nearly). Investigate late night shopping and extended opening hours which most stores offer during the holiday season.

Easy!!!

Good luck and enjoy it.

7 New Style Statements for Autumn

Ladies,

It's time for serious Autumn/Winter dressing. The fashion shows are hitting New York and London in the next couple of weeks -yes I know that's for next year but even so - the rest of us mere mortals are thinking about Autumn/Winter 2010. So here's 7 different ways to make a style statement:

1. Match Your Lipstick To Your Dress.
If you do this; don't match bag, gloves and scarf - there is a limit.
2. Wear Wellies (good ones) With Your Day Wear.
Honestly - I'm not kidding and if the long range weather forecast is anything to go by; you'll thank me later.
3. Show A Little Hem
From your dress or skirt beneath the length of your coat. A usual fashion faux pas but it will look very on trend this season.
4. Combine Socks and Skirts
Yes, I'm not kidding. Looks fab - essentially as we transition between Summer/Autumn and from Winter into Spring.
5. Clash Your Prints
Spots and stripes, florals and dots etc. Just make sure the scale is DIFFERENT for the pattern so that anyone looking at you doesn't start watering around the eyes.
6. Denim on Denim
No, we're not going for a total Daisy Duke look but if you mix the fabric, colour and washes of the denim it will be fine.
7. Bed Head Hair
A more relaxed, free-flowing look is all the rage.

Remember - pick 1 or 2 style statements and have fun with these - don't think you've got to do it all.......have fun and a super stylish Autumn/Winter 2010.

Online Shopping - What's Not To Love?

When Net-A-Porter first launched; I thought to myself 'that will never work'. How wrong I was. Natalie Massenet recently made £50million from the sale of the business and rightly so. She proved what the sceptics thought wasn't possible - and her premise was simple:

WOMEN LOVE TO SHOP!!!

All Massenet did was realise that there was a gap in the market and that online is as good a way as any to buy clothes - especially when the women of today have even less time and more to do than ever before.

The A/W2010 season is just around the corner and the new season's styles are coming in....so now is the time to log on and check out the new trends (although the whole camel colour things is absolutely vile - sorry but it is. Few women can wear it well and it's a nightmare to keep clean). Anyway, before I digress any further, go and check out some of my favourite online websites and see for yourself:
www.my-wardrobe.com
www.asos.com
www.mulberry.com
www.topshop.com
www.theOutnet.com
www.Brownsfashion.com
www.ShopStyle.co.uk

Happy Shopping!!!

Get In Your Closet!

It's the time of year when we're seeing real transition in the shops - the summer sales (in Europe) are finishing and the Autumn/Winter season 2010 is starting to appear......we're still all in our summer clothes; but it won't be long before we're pulling out boots and thick tights.

Yikes!

So - while you've a mo' why not have a tidy up and sort out of your wardrobe? The chances are you've got too much stuff in it anyway which you don't wear; doesn't suit you or is serious need or love, repair or retirement.

Let me share some top tips:
1. Anything you've not worn for the last 3 years should go - unless it's something which you have an emotional attachment to and couldn't bear to part with (e.g. wedding dress etc.)
2. Your 'When I've Lost Weight' clothes. No woman should open her wardrobe and look at clothes which she can't currently wear. If you TRULY mean to lose the weight then pack them away until you're ready to wear them....otherwise, stop kidding yourself and move on.
3. Items with the tags still attached which remain unworn from...............the mists of time. The chances are that you weren't sure; bought it anyway; aren't reaching for it and.........it doesn't quite work - and you knew that deep down when you pondered in the shop for ages trying to decide!!
4. Create a 'this needs repairing, dry cleaning, new buttons etc. pile' and get it to the dry cleaners.
5. Store your shoes in clear plastic boxes so that you can see what you have.
6. Fold all sweaters - never do hangers for those.
7. Remove any plastic covers from dry cleaners on clothes - not good for them and can increase moisture on your garments.
8. Replace your mothball deterrents regularly. You don't want your clothes ruined.
9. Invest in odour sprays for your shoes and spray them before putting the shoes away. It kills all bugs that create the odour.
10. Hang your most worn garments to the right as you look at your clothes; least often worn to the left and organise in groups of garments (e.g. all skirts/all trousers/all shirts etc.) then colour.

Wardrobes should inspire and excite; not depress and confuse. So get in your closet and create space, order and possibility with your clothes....so that you can go shopping...........guess where...in your wardrobe!

Strapless - Do We or Don't We?

Ladies,

Let's talk about strapless dresses. We need to. Summer is here in force and so are weddings, summer parties, barbecues and holidays - all of which seem to bring out the strapless queen in us.

However - beware.

Most women look simply dreadful in strapless dresses - and don't seem to realise it. Why? Well, let me tell you.....................
1. A full bosom does not work in a strapless dress. It's asking for trouble when it comes to a public, unplanned nudity moment and can be distracting (to say the least), when walking. And you can forget running for a bus.
2. The whole 'yank the dress back up' look is just dreadful. This means it's not fitted enough to stay put and shatters any illusion of being ladylike and is utterly conflicts with the whole 'ladylike' look we're going for.
3. Short necks; broad or very sloping shoulders and batwing arms all don't work with strapless - equally a very bony, scrawny top half doesn't look good. Wear a pashmina or bolero cardigan for coverage.
4. Unless your skin is flawless - absolutely smooth and clear - no spots, bumps, wrinkles, sunburn or flakiness - then just.......don't.
5. And beyond a certain age - exposing all that flesh just isn't great. (And I say that as a woman who is enjoying middle youth - not middle age).

So who does it work for? Ladies with long necks, slim shoulders, small chests and toned arms are most likely to look stunning. So by my reckoning that's about 4 of us.

Tying Yourself Up In Knots

Ladies,

My blog this week is about ties..........and don't think it doesn't relate to you. I wear a tie - and mighty fine it looks with a white shirt and pair of black trousers.

But if ties aren't your thing; this could be useful for the men in your life.

Let me just say one thing - JUST HOW MANY MEN DON'T KNOW HOW TO TIE A TIE!!!???

I am SO sick of seeing men walking around with ties that are CLEARLY tied incorrectly. What is up with that? This is a life skill - and you've just GOT to help them to get it right.
The rules - once and for all are as follows:

1. The tie should end at the tip of the belt on the waistband. Absolutely no higher and no lower.
2. The knot should fit snug to the top of the neck button - and not look as if the two have fallen out.
3. Ties with button down shirts do not look good - ever.
4. The knot of the tie should be in keeping with the size and scale of your face. So, if you have small features, you need a small knot; and vice-versa. Otherwise it will look out of proportion, unbalanced and just not right.
5. If you have more length than width in your face; then you should have a wider spread collar to balance your features. The opposite is also true - if you have more width than length, then you need a long point collar and a knot that is in scale with your face.

The tie is a signature piece for a man (or woman!) It's a chance to express your personality; presence and brand. It should enhance and support you, never distract or confuse.

That's all for now. Nothing like tying up some details..........

Wearing White Well

As I watch the longest EVER match in Wimbledon tennis history; I'm struck by the notion of wearing white. How do you wear it well? What does white as a colour mean? And frankly, should any of this matter?

In Western culture, white is associated with purity; in Eastern culture it's associated with mourning.

In North America, there are unwritten rules about not wearing white before Memorial Day (end of May) and after Labour Day (first Monday in September).

Different cultures; different countries; different rules; but the same colour. So, what does white mean when it comes to clothing?

Combining white with a deep colour (e.g. black, navy, slate grey) for clothing creates a powerful and authoritative look. For both ladies and gentlemen, combining deep and light colours in our clothing enables us to look our most formal and professional.

White reflects light and so is more comfortable to wear in warm weather than black (which absorbs light), and in which we feel the heat more easily.

To wear white well means knowing what TYPE of white suits us best. If you have glorious warm colouring, then actually cream will look better on you. Cream is in fact a warm white - and by that I mean it's a white which has yellow in it. Cream and chocolate brown (which is high contrast), will look much better on you than black and white.

If you have 'salt and pepper' colouring in your hair, then probably a muted white (i.e. it has grey in it), will look better on you than a bright, sharp, clear white. And by the way a clear bright white looks glorious if you have high contrast between your skin and hair colour, or if you have gorgeous, bright eyes. I love wearing a bright white, and combine it often with black; because it matches my hair colour. If you have white hair; wearing white will suit you!

Knowing your best white is extremely useful to identifying some superb staples for your wardrobe - shirts, blouses and tees for example.

Why do some women typically hesitate over white trousers? Because white is a light colour and will increase the perception of size - so great if you want to wear a white top and make your bust appear larger - less good if you have a larger bottom and want to make it appear smaller.

As soon as any of your whites appear tired (e.g. through washing, piling, dullness of colour); replace them. They're not worth keeping and if you wear 'tired whites' in a professional environment, then beware of communicating tired and dull through your clothes. Nobody wants to say that do they?

FINE HATS AND FRIPPERY

As it's Ladies Day at Royal Ascot, it seems only right to talk about hats. Big hats, small hats, silly hats, sassy hats will all be out in force today.............and most women love to wear them.

Why?

It's a chance to express our individuality, creativity, femininity and drama.....all through an accessory which, outside of a wedding, has vanished from our daywear wardrobe.

So what are the dos and don'ts?

1. A hat should harmonise and balance with your face shape and size- not overwhelm it or might your face look 'bigger'.
2. Most people wear the hat incorrectly - it should sit on the crown of your head.
3. I'm all for wearing a hat at a jaunty angle - but make sure it's fixed on properly. There's nothing more damaging to the delight and look of wearing a hat than having to spend your whole day with your hand on your head trying to keep it on as the wind blows.
4. A great alternative to the hat is the 'fascinator'. These gorgeous creatures come in all shapes and sizes and can attached to the hair with a slide or clip.
5. Don't feel that you have to match all the colours of your accessories - so for example - cream bag, cream shoes, cream fascinator, cream pashmina etc. This can all look too 'matchy matchy' and can look dated.
6. You can pick a colour as an accent to wear for the hat/fascinator, or if you are wearing a pattern in your clothes, then choose one of these colours as the colour for your headgear.
7. Don't do pattern in the hat or fasinator AND in the outfit. You'll look like a pair of curtains.
8. Dark colours and bright colours suit ladies with high contrast (e.g. dark hair; light skin). Low contrast colouring suits lighter colours for the headgear.
9. Decide on which part of your outfit is the focal point - is it the hat or is it something else? Don't have too many in the whole 'look' - the eye likes to be deceived - but not confused.
10. Whoever thought that wearing a fruit bowl; telephone box, a kitchen utensil or any item of furniture on your head looked great......clearly needs their eyes testing.

Finally - never buy hats....rent them. Much cheaper and much more practical!
Happy hat hunting.

Celebrate International Women's Day

Monday 8th March is the day to celebrate women - all of our qualities, capabilities and achievements. It's International Women's Day.

Today also seems appropriate and timely as the day to acknowledge the success of Kathryn Bigelow, who won the Oscar for Best Director and also for Best Picture at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles. Amazingly it's the first time that a woman has won in either of these categories. So - much to celebrate but also a reminder of how far women still have to go when it comes to being equally recognised for their talents and skills.

The recent research into pay equality in the UK revealed that the gap between men and women's pay isn't closing. It's not right; it's not fair but it's how it is. I have a wide range of amazingly talented clients for whom my mantra is 'success is a combination of style and substance'. Being good enough for a role isn't actually always enough; you've got to consistently look, behave and communicate in a way that says to others: 'I'm the one for the new job opportunity/pay rise/project responsibility'.

Women everywhere take note: it's not about style over substance...........you need both to succeed. Enjoy International Women's Day and always remember - stand out from the crowd for the right reasons and never blend in with everyone else for the wrong ones.

Blue Is The Colour

Did you know that colours evoke different emotions and associations with all of us? We speak a language of colour (e.g. seeing red; feeling blue; green with envy; yellow-bellied etc.) which connect colour to emotion - and it's everywhere.

I read an article recently which talked about the colour BLUE. Although scientists believe we associate it with being calm; research now suggests it makes us more creative and imaginative. Who'd have thought that?

A Canadian study found that volunteers who had blue walls and furniture took more risks and were more creative - whilst RED helped concentration. Interior designers have long used colour to influence our mood through the use of pale, muted tones.

Interesting, but who cares you might say? Well, think about it in the context of your hair, clothing and accessories. I have clients who 'feel pretty' in certain colours - or more confident or more sexy.....and I believe them. For sure you will have colours which you don't like with a vengeance (Yellow anyone?) Some colours we just don't 'do' - and it's different for everyone. I'm not a fan of grey - but that's just on me. On others it can look gorgeous.

The point is this: yet again it shows that when we wear something which we positively emotionally connect to then we feel better/more confident/more like ourselves. So, whether it's blue, green, red, yellow, purple, brown, black, white, orange, cream or any other colour under the sun - go wear it - enjoy it and feel better and more like the real you.

Should We Be A Slave To Fashion?

It was extremely sad news to hear of the death of Alexander (Lee) McQueen last week. 40 years old and in his prime. Much has been written about his work - his was a huge talent and yes, we all know he was the bad boy of British fashion. But the reality is that he knew how to dress for women's shapes, cut fabric exquisitely and experiemented with pattern, texture and detail to wonderful effect.

The question I'm often asked by my clients when it comes to designers 'though is: 'but what about the outfits which appeared on the catwalk?' You can't wear that!! It's true of course - but catwalks are a theatre of expression - a place to be creative, frivolous, expressive, joyous, mischievous and sometime shocking with a 'look'. The themes, trends and ideas are interpreted in cuts, shapes, details for clothes which subsequently do appeal and can sell by the bucket load.

So what about the fashion shows and seasonal trends when it comes to the 'Stylish Woman'? Should we all rush out and buy 'luxe sportswear' for Spring/Summer 2010 for example? Hmmm. The reality of most women's lives (and wardrobes) is that they do not have the money, time or energy to continually change their closets to suit the 'trend'. And the good news is that you don't have to.

As the fabulous Coco Chanel said: 'Fashion comes and goes; style is forever'. Have 'fashion items' in your wardrobes by all means - experiment with pieces that are 'on trend'. You may find they become old friends; but you may also find that they do their duty and then need to be retired at the end of the season. So - don't feel obliged to spend vast sums of money on very fashionable pieces, and know that the good news is you don't have to - there are plenty of high quality fashion pieces in shopping malls the world over. Having between 10-15% of your wardrobe for high fashion is plenty, plenty, plenty.

Enjoy and experiment with fashion; have fun with it; see how it can transform an outfit. But don't be a slave to fashion - remember that not all trends will suit you anyway (no matter how hard you try). Finding your style - loving and living that through your clothes is always the best way to go.

Can Women Wear Black?

What is it with all this talk of wearing black? Spring is supposed to be around the corner and we should all be reaching for that jaunty nautical sailor look soon (er - not actually). Maybe it's because the catwalk shows are upon us again....who knows.......but real life women don't tend to respond well to being repeatedly told what they 'can't' do. I keep opening the paper to articles screaming 'Don't wear black past the age of 40!' For goodness sake. What nonsense.

When it comes to colour; we can have emotional as well as physcial reactions to it and one of the most common questions I'm asked by my clients is: can I wear black?

Given that I work with women of all ages; leading busy, challenging lives let me offer the short answer: 'YES'.

• Any woman can wear black on the lower half of her body - skirts, trousers, shoes, boots, hosiery, knits. Knock yourself out and have fun with it.
• Black is a 'receding' colour. This means it appears 'further away' when we look at it and it's why we reach for black when we're having an 'I feel fat' day. We feel slimmer and we look slimmer. Fact.

But here's the slightly longer answer to the question 'can I wear black?'. 'YES - WITH SOME CONSIDERATION'. Read on if you want to know how to wear black (and ESPECIALLY if you thought that you couldn't).

• Go see a professional who has been trained in colour analysis and get your colours analysed. It will give you lots of ideas for hair, glasses, make-up and clothing colours. (Oh come on - of course I'll recommend that). Your colouring changes as you get older. Get over it. When you can see that wearing colours that compliment your natural colouring make you look younger, more refreshed, less haggard and with a more defined jawline - with not a hint of Botox or surgery in sight - you'll think, "what's not to love about that?"
• Back to black again - it all depends on if you want to wear black near your face (in jewellery; hair colour; glasses; tops; knits; shirts; jackets; dresses; coats etc.) Because if you do - your skin/hair and eye colour are important.
• If you have high contrast colour between your hair and skin (e.g. dark hair; pale skin) - you can wear black with gusto. You can also wear black if you have very bright colouring or as a woman of colour - black will look gorgeous on you.
• But what about red heads? Grey hair? Blondes? If you know you don't look your perky best wearing black usually - then the chances are you need to 'lift' the impact of wearing black. What do I mean? You need to offset the downside of the black. You can do that by:
• Well applied make-up with colours that suit you
• Wearing the collar of a shirt of blouse outside of a black jacket or coat
• Wearing a scarf which matches your eye colour
• Gorgeous jewellery (necklaces, ear-rings) which matches your eye or hair colour (or one of the other colours which a fabulous colour consultant will advise you to wear as a 'basic'.
• Breaking up the black by having it in a pattern - with a colour that works for you. It's less overwhelming that way

Let's go back to black. Wear it when you want; with pride and with a twist if you know you need to 'lift' it.

Black is back. Enjoy it.

What Goes On Inside The Fitting Room?

This weekend I went shopping with a very dear friend who I have known for 20 years. She is also a client of mine. During our gloriously precious time together, I was reminded of what happens when women get into fitting rooms inside shops. We become the most critical, intolerant, harsh -sometimes even cruel - observers of ourselves and our perceived physical flaws.

No amount of cheerleading by a loyal friend will do the trick - we're on a "my bum looks the side of a house" kind of a roll and nothing is going to stop us. We lose perspective, patience, enthusiasm and often head home feeling frustrated and fed up...........as well as fat. It seems that as women, we're really good at beating ourselves up and really bad at being objective about our appearance. I've seen it so often with my clients.

It's time to stop this, and here are some practical tips to help you avoid a depressing slump in morale inside the fitting room:

1. Never come out clothes shopping and venture into a store's changing room without doing your hair and putting on some make-up. Why? Because the lights and mirrors are harsh. That's not our fault; that's the store. But don't put yourself through that kind of trauma. It's entirely avoidable.

2. Take whatever shoes with which you want to wear your new clothes. You can't 'imagine' what the outfit will look like on you as easily without your footwear - so think ahead and plan to bring it with you.

3. Always have a compact or small hand mirror in your purse. You want to see what's going on behind you there. The back view is important.

4. Forget the 'communal fitting room' scenario. Past the age of 24 who wants that whole scene? I guarantee that if you do have the guts to undress in public; a very svelte lady will come in who clearly doesn't have any cellulite anywhere and looks fabulous wandering around in her undies. Personally, any shop that still wants to do that to their customers is not a favourite of mine.

5. On the topic of undies - wear nice ones when you go shopping. You'll spend quite alot of time looking at yourself in the mirror wearing just these items, so make sure they're ones that you feel good in - pretty and feminine - rather than big grey knickers that have starting pilling. That's not good for morale. And forget the 'magic-knickers' on shopping days. You'll be in a sweat and and in a state trying to rock and roll in and out of those that's for sure.

6. Keep in mind that your weight isn't important when it comes to looking gorgeous in clothes - but your shape is. The key to successful shopping is all about finding cuts and shapes of clothing that work for your body shape. And staying well away from those garments which are never, ever, ever going to work for you.

Finally - and most importantly - always remember this. When you're inside that fitting room and you look in the mirror and don't like what you see - it's the clothes that are wrong - not the body. Remember that.

Top Ten Tips to Style in 2010

At this time of year, many women face up to the dreaded 'D' word - 'DIET'. A festive season of eating and drinking whatever we want finally catches up with us, and as we breathe in to squeeze into those dresses, jeans, skirts and tops which used fit beautifully, a New Year means a New (Smaller) You and we head for those low fat meals, the gym and a sense of self loathing at some speed.

What's the point? Well, if it makes sense to lose a pound or two, then I'm all for it BUT - many women use this activity as an excuse or a rationale to not look good NOW. This I simply do not subscribe to as a view.

Looking good in your clothes is a matter of creating optical illusions. Women need to understand how to draw the eye to our best features, and away from a wobbly bottom or bloated tummy.

So, here are my top tips:

1. Decide if you want to draw the eye VERTICALLY or HORIZONTALLY with your outfit.

2. If we're trying to appear slimmer, then we want to draw the eye VERTICALLY because this will automatically lengthen and slim our silhouette. Continuity of colour on top and bottom, vertical stripes and darker colours are all slimming and lengthening.

3. Draw the eye horizontally where we have an asset we want to emphasize e.g. a great waist needs a belt; a full tummy can be ignored by an eye-catching necklace or great lipstick to draw the eye upwards.

4. Your size doesn't matter; your shape does. What do I mean? Look at where you carry your weight. Women tend to carry it either IN FRONT (i.e boobs, mid-riff, tummy) of them or BEHIND THEM (bottom, hips and thighs). When you gain weight; it's usually where you least want to; and when you lose weight, it's always where you least want to.

5. If you want to look great in your clothes - they should follow and fit your silhouette. Fit is king. I'm so tired of seeing women in poorly fitting clothes. Get them altered or tweaked to take them from 'blah' to 'wow!'

6. Wearer darker colours where you want to slim and lighter brighter colours where you want to draw the eye.

7. Never underestimate the effect of a great haircut (and keep your colour looking good if you wear any).

8. Always do your make-up and look after your skin and nails.

9. Indulge in the world of accessories - great costume jewellery, bags, scarves, hosiery and shoes litter the high street and shopping mall. Don't shop for new clothes when you're dieting - shop for accessories; which are cheaper and can completely change the look of any outfit.

10. Walk tall - shuffling along and looking miserable is now a good look. Head up; shoulders back; deep breath; smile and off you go.