Regina Gershman Image Consultant

May 11, 2010

A Key To Men's Fashion 

 Color

Do you want to invest in color this season? Look for neutral and classic colors such as navy, gray, pewter, olive, brown, tan, white and black. For a smart, put together look incorporate similar shades into one outfit. Try a coffee brown pinstripe blazer, a latte tan colored shirt, khaki pants and a cream-colored lightweight cotton scarf. Or combine the following: white dress shirt, cream-colored khakis, greenish-gray soft plaid jacket and a pewter-colored linen scarf. Or go classic with a black sports jacket, a crisp white dress shirt and jeans. Add a great leather belt to complete the look.

Are you interested in wearing more color? Add a strategic splash of color such as salmon pink, tangerine orange, fresh green or lemon yellow in a sports shirt, knit shirt, handkerchief, or tie if it suits your style.

Suits and jackets

The double-breasted suit is being reintroduced in soft grays, pinstripes or the classic navy. The single-breasted suit hasn’t disappeared. Make sure yours has stood the test of time and fits you at the weight you are right now. This may be your year to invest in one. Dress shirts are seeing military detail in the pockets and shoulders. Some have piping that resembles traditional British college uniforms.

Sports jackets in tropical weight wool or a silk/linen blend are an easy wardrobe addition when paired with khakis, jeans, or slacks. Solid black is a great staple, subtle plaid in earth tones is a nice choice, or go with a bolder print if you’re ready for the attention. With a great sports jacket, you can create casual chic, business casual, and weekend social wear.

Prints

Men’s shirts are appearing in gingham and plaids this spring. You will also see ties and accessories showing up in plaid patterns. The color choices for these busy tops tend to be in neutral or classic hues and are paired with a khaki or other solid-colored pant. Shirts are also appearing in sheer looks in linen and thin cotton this spring, but this sheer look may be more appropriate as beach attire.

Accessories

The messenger bag is popular seen in cotton canvas with leather trim in tans and lighter browns. This bag looks great paired with a sports coat and cuffed jeans. Casual shoes such as Jack Purcell Converse or the deck shoe are also paired with shorts or cuffed pants. Add a newsboy cap to any casual outfit. Ties in contemporary colors have a narrower cut to them. 

Give your trends the under thirty/over thirty test

If you’re under thirty, wear cuffed pants in the city.

If you’re over thirty, wear cuffed pants only at the beach.

If you’re under thirty, wear a messenger bag and newsboy cap.

If you’re over thirty, choose one of the two or skip these accessories altogether.

If you’re under thirty, mix plaid with gingham. 

If you’re over thirty, be classic and chose to wear either plaid or gingham.

If you’re under thirty, wear an orange tie.

If you’re over thirty, and it’s a good color for you, wear an orange tie.

Can I help you with your work wardrobe? Let’s determine what appropriate attire is for you and your job, plan your week’s wardrobe, shop for a new wardrobe, or put together interview outfits. Your work wardrobe solutions are just a phone call away. 

Call Regina at (780) 901-7065 or email me at regina@reginagershman-imageconsulting.com.

For more information visit us at www.reginagershman-imageconsulting.com .

May 25, 2010

Step 1: Using Colour to your Advantage
Colour is the most powerful component of a wardrobe and can be the most confusing. The choice of colour for your wardrobe can be the major reason someone looks professional or not professional, appropriate or inappropriate. Tip: The more serious the business the more serious the clothing. Darker shades will project more credibility and authority. Navy, black, and dark gray are excellent choices for corporate business wear. In selecting colours for your business wardrobe stay within the basic colour range and accent with contrasting colours.

Step 2: Accessorizing
Quality accessories such as great shoes, belts and stunning jewelry are essential embellishments. Great accessories can upgrade an outfit and turn a simple classic wardrobe into one that turns heads.

Step 3: Your Personal Style
Have your own unique look and get to know your personal persona. Every fabric has a personality that is just right for each season. Do you know what works best for you? An Autumn look best in fabric of texture-tweeds, corduroys and Winter’s are complimented with bold or geometric prints for example.

Step 4: What are your gestures are saying?
Small things like eye contact and posture can greatly influence the impression that you are making. Too little eye contact can signal low self esteem or be a sign of lack of trust. Poor posture can also signal your lack of confidence.

Step 5: Dining with Finesse
Knowing which fork to use and how to handle utensils can make the difference between a successful business lunch and a disaster. More than 70% of business is conducted today over a business lunch and restaurants have become the venue of choice to conduct business. There are two methods of dining – The American standard and the Continental standard. Your dining manners can say a lot about you, from your upbringing to your future within the company.

Step 6: Mingle Ability
Your ability to mingle and make small talk at social and business functions is crucial. Being an ambassador for your company and introducing people to others can go a long way to demonstrate useful and important communication skills. Good eye contact, great posture and a warm smile will create a terrific impression on those you meet. Your body language can speak louder than the words you say.

Step 7: Instant Rapport
Have you ever connected with someone right away and felt instantly comfortable with him or her? We all have had that experience and it was great. What about the opposite, you meet someone and just couldn’t hit it off. Conversation was difficult and the tension was high. People tend to experience the world through one of three senses: sight, sound or feeling. Chances are when you connect with someone and have that INSTANT RAPPORT it is because you are communicating through the same sense.

Step 8: Office Decorum
There are 6 Basic Principles of Business Etiquette - Be on Time, Be Discrete, Be Courteous, and Positive, Be concerned for Others, Dress Appropriately and Use proper Spoken and Written word. People who dress and behave appropriately generally are promoted faster and are well liked within the company. Successful people generally look successful. They are well groomed, speak well and carry themselves with confidence.

Step 9: Telephone Skills
Today’s technology is so advanced, we now have cell phones, Blackberry, beepers not to mention voice mail, call forwarding, and call waiting. The telephone can bring out the worst or the best in someone. Knowing how to answer, respond and communicate effectively is a challenge. Handling calls with respect, consideration, and courtesy is what is required to be a good representative of your company.

Step 10: Congruity - this is putting steps 1 to 9 to practice consistently.

Can I help you with your work wardrobe? Let’s determine what appropriate attire is for you and your job, plan your week’s wardrobe, shop for a new wardrobe, or put together interview outfits. Your work wardrobe solutions are just a phone call away. 

Call Regina at (780) 901-7065 or email at regina@reginagershman-imageconsulting.com.

For more information visit us at www.reginagershman-imageconsulting.com .

Call me and we can set a date to make you happy and peaceful in this season and beyond.                   

June 2, 2010

In this new economy, putting your best professional foot forward is more important than ever. Whether it’s in your current profession where you don’t want to be overlooked, an entrepreneurial career, or a new job interview you’re preparing for, looking sharp is your strongest opportunity for winning in the workplace. When presenting yourself, your clothes are your silent but strongest partner. Let’s explore the choices that count when molding a professional wardrobe that yields natural confidence and strength.

Bring attention to your face

Your face is your best asset in business. It’s your communication center. What can you do to be a better communicator? Start by wearing the right colors.

When you wear colors that relate to your own coloring, you automatically hold people’s attention. Don’t underestimate the power of wearing a shade of green if your eyes are green, or wearing a brown jacket if your hair is brown. Consider having your colors done by a professional so you can wear one of your irresistible colors five days a week. This subliminal color connection makes you appear more credible and capable. Wear a color that is glaringly not one of your best and you appear disreputable, ill-at ease, not authentic. Yes, color speaks volumes about your reputation. Choose them wisely.

Once you get people focused on your face, be sure your face is full of vitality. For men, wear a moisturizer so your skin looks healthy. Keep a clean hairline at your neck. Do your eyebrows need trimming? How about your ears? You want to be sure that nothing is distracting about your face so tend to any necessary grooming. You may not notice these things but other people do.

A well-groomed woman speaks loudly in the workplace. Her appearance sends the message that she’ll take care of details and get the job done. To earn that respected look, keep your makeup looking natural but that doesn’t mean going au naturel. Polished makeup makes you look professional and productive. Get your hair color and hair cut dates on your calendar so you don’t get behind on maintenance. Light nail polish is great for a fresh, healthy nail look. If you go for color, be cautious of wearing a color that is too eye-catching. It takes the focus away from you and your communication center.

Women, unless you’re in a very creative field of work, your jewelry needs to be quiet. No banging bangles, no chiming earrings. Keep your jewelry more simple and classic. Save the flashy jewelry for your social life.

Color, texture, and pattern speaks

When you write a winning resume, there’s a certain formula to follow. The same goes for a winning wardrobe. There are formulas that work for different professions. For instance, in a corporate setting, clothing criteria is more formal. Colors that match that formal setting tend to be dark such as midnight navy, black, charcoal gray and burgundy. When you contrast dark colors with light ones, especially at the neck, you bring more light to your face. So a light-colored blouse under a dark jacket puts the spotlight right where you want it. If your workplace is more creative, you can wear more creative color combinations or more variety in color.

Pattern is very limited, almost non-existent in formal workplaces. You won’t see large Hawaiian print shirts on a bank executive. Small, contained prints or patterns are more professional. The more uniform the pattern, the more formal it is. Abstract patterns are more informal and can be appropriate for more casual work settings.

The smoother the fabric, the more formal it is. Corduroy and tweed is more casual while silk, fine wool or fine cotton, like Pima cotton is more formal. Mixing formal and informal elements works well for many professions.

How safe is it to go casual?

Over the years, the workplace has become more casual but in these times, it wouldn’t hurt anybody to take his or her wardrobe up a notch. If casual clothes are accepted in your workplace, be sure your work outfits still look put together. If you can wear cotton pants, keep them smooth, not rumpled. Wear a shirt with a collar rather than a crew neck. Collars send a more professional message. Choose a crisp cotton blouse or shirt over a knit one.

Get a second opinion

Is your work wardrobe a winning one? If you’re wondering how to ensure you’re looking your best, don’t hesitate to call on a professional image consultant such as myself. You can count on me to make your appearance your best asset.

If you’d like help putting together your winning look, send me an email and we’ll put a date on the calendar to get you ready for the season. Your confidence will soar once your look is put together.

May 30, 2010

HOW TO FILL OUT YOUR SUMMER WARDROBE 

Dresses

Dress choices go from ultra-feminine to exotic depending on the print (optical, tribal, bold), layers of ruffles, and fabrics. Dresses are belted at the waist or draped to accentuate a woman’s curves. On the other end of the spectrum is the shirtwaist utilitarian khaki cotton dress or shirtdresses in crisp white.

Skirts

Although mini skirts will be popular with young women, find a more appropriate length in a modern pencil skirt. These can be found in fun prints, solid black or soft pastels. These are great to pair with a tucked in collared shirt or a ruffled blouse, tucked in with a narrow belt to finish the look.

Jackets

Military styled jackets in khaki or olive green are great with rolled up jeans or even white denim straight leg pants. Boyfriend jackets return for spring and are fresh over super feminine dresses and high wedges. Leather biker jackets add toughness to feminine ruffles and lace. Collarless jackets are very ladylike and great layered with longer blouses underneath. Cropped tailored jackets look great over long tees or tank top dresses.

Shorts

Sexy hotpants are in but who should be in them is the question. Unless you are a go-go dancer, explore other options. There are also the longer, fuller, billowy shorts that look like they belong in a Huckleberry Fin play. This piece is hard to pull off in real life. If shorts aren’t your thing, look into a skirt or cropped pant.

Pants

Pleated tapered cropped trousers can be found in natural colors as well as wild prints. Looser pants are making headway on the runway and into our thoughts as the skinny look starts to fade. But wait! There’s the legging! Leggings are a big trend but wear them properly. They can be worn under skirts or dresses. Do not wear them as if they were pants.

Blouses

Find blouses in your favorite prints and pair with solid basic bottoms. Tops in billowy sheer fabrics are best layered with t-shirts or underpinnings. Ruffles and bows cascade down the bodice of blouses in prints and solid colors.

Can I help you with your work wardrobe? Let’s determine what appropriate attire is for you and your job, plan your week’s wardrobe, shop for a new wardrobe, or put together interview outfits. Your work wardrobe solutions are just a phone call away. 

Call Regina at (780) 901-7065 or email me at regina@reginagershman-imageconsulting.com.

For more information visit us at www.reginagershman-imageconsulting.com .