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..........