Image consultants and stylists are asked all kinds of fashion questions in the never-ending quest to feel confident about the way we look.  Without a doubt, knowing you are “doing it right” and looking good  increases your confidence.  Here are the five most frequently-asked questions.

(1)  Should my socks match my shoes or my trousers?

The established “rule” is that they should match your shoes. This comes about because most men wear black dress shoes with their dark suits, so they wear black socks with their navy blue, black and grey suits. However, the question arises with brown suits. Let’s assume you are wearing tan trousers and brown shoes. If your look is more professional, wear brown socks to match your shoes. However, if you’re wearing khakis and a polo, you might be wearing Dockers, so you can opt to wear socks that simply blend in between the shoe and trouser color.

(2)  It is okay to wear open-toe shoes to the office?

It depends upon where you live and your profession, plus the established formality of your office. If you are in a sector where formality is the norm, the answer is a firm No. This includes law firms and those involved in financial services, such as banks and mortgage lenders.

(3)  What is the rule for wearing stockings/hose to the office?

As with the above question, it depends upon the city in which you live, your profession, as well as the established formality of your office. However, throughout the country, more and more women are going bare-legged to the office these days. My rule of thumb is this:  if your legs look like you are wearing stockings, then go bare legged. However, if your “imperfections” are prominent – bulging veins, discolorations, broken capillaries at high arches, spider veins, etc. – then you would be wise to wear very sheer stockings to prevent them from being a distraction.

(4)  Can you describe Business Casual attire for men?

The term “business casual” is actually contradictory, because you’re either dressed for business or for casual activities. Offices that permit casual attire actually risk hurting their credibility, because their employees send the message “my comfort is more important than impressing you.”  A “dressed down” look for the office would be dark trousers, a crisp French blue shirt (white is formal, so it is meant to be worn with a suit) and a great tie. You needn’t wear a jacket, and you can loosen your collar until the moment you meet with a client. In studies over 20 years, large corporate audiences have voted (when shown a slide with two photos of the same man) that the man in the shirt and tie looks more credible and dynamic than the one in the navy blazer, dress shirt and no tie. You’ll dramatically lower your credibility with khakis and polo shirt.

(5)  Can you describe Business Casual attire for women?

It can’t be said enough that “business casual” attire is an oxymoron, because “business” and “casual” imply two entirely different activities and states of mind. Furthermore, university studies have proven that employees who dress casually are less productive and less ethical, so dressing down can hurt your career. A proper “dressed down” look for the office would be a pantsuit that looks less formal, comfortable low heels or flats, and smaller earrings and other accessories. An alternative is low heels worn with a skirt and blouse; but give it a professional look by adding accessories like a leather belt and chunky hoops or other great earrings. Club attire or anything that looks suggestive must be avoided, as gender bias experts say it will destroy any chances of getting ahead, because you’ll be labeled a bimbo.



A lot has been said about the image of Hillary Clinton, and there are some recommendations I’d make if I were to meet with her. Color makes the difference. Hillary is a Summer in terms of a color category, so she looks best in bright cool colors, often called jewel tones. She doesn’t look her best grey-toned Winter colors or Autumn colors like brown and orange. Brown is a matronly color for most women, and it’s not a power color. Brown is Mother Earth, so it suggests baking cookies instead of changing the world. In addition, most women think that they should wear warm makeup in peach and tawny colors, including brown-toned  lipstick, when they wear brown. These colors are highly unflattering and not the least bit feminine.

Hillary’s best color, by far, is True Red – not burgundy, and definitely not orange-red. In the brown suit and orange-toned makeup, she looks harsh. In the beautiful red jacket, her makeup looks natural and is very flattering. Orange and red-orange wash Hillary out, as it does most fair-skinned people, and it also magnifies imperfections. Look at the photo below of Hillary in the bright orange suit and you’ll notice that when the background is blue, her advisors put her in orange. Now that’s a nice concept for decorating, but it’s a big price to pay when you WEAR orange, because if it weren’t for the blue background, Hillary would blend into her suit and look orange all over.  It’s far better for Hillary to wear blue rather than having it as a background. For one thing, it makes the face the focal point, not the background.

It’s an asset for a politician to look attractive, and Autumn colors like the moss green suit above make Hillary look weary and tired. They dull her complexion and her hair, and they make “marionette” lines pop out; but far worse, they dull her persona.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has adopted the pantsuit as part of her brand. Were we to meet, I would  show her how to wear a skirted suit successfully – just as Evita Person did. She had the same “sturdy” legs as Ms. Clinton. But when you do it right, all they remember is the impact you make with your overall feminine but powerful look. Next step for Hillary:  brand yourself with YOUR colors, all the beautiful jewel tones and their derivatives, plus black, white and  navy blue.

Most countries have three major power centers and subsequent influencers. In the United States they are New York financiers, Washington, DC politicians, and Hollywood actors. Also included with the influencers of Hollywood are celebrity athletes and rock stars.

The only group that can afford to dress overtly sexy and outrageous is the Hollywood group, along with the two other celebrity groups. Financiers in any city require the most formal attire, because they need to exude the utmost trust, since they handle your money.

Politicians can appear covertly sexy any time they like, and it’s also good for them to have an abundance of charm, charisma and attractiveness. The line is drawn when it comes to suggestive attire or photos, however.

Were President Putin of Russia the president of almost any other country, he wouldn’t be able to get away with appearing in print in such an overtly sexy pose. It’s nearly impossible to think of JFK posing for a similar picture; however, photos of him bare-chested at the beach, playing touch football with his brothers, or in his famous PT109 are in a different league. They are sexy but not suggestive, as is Putin’s pose.

While not sexy, the above photo of Putin is definitely suggestive and confrontational. It is not appropriate for a head of state – nor for a serious professional. Is it possible that Putin is one of the few men who know that a man’s tie is a phallic symbol? If men were aware of this fact, they wouldn’t be so quick to get rid of their ties. Just don’t strike this pose, fellows!

Actress Susan Strasburg recounted that she and Marilyn Monroe were walking on a busy street one day and she remarked to Marilyn that she was surprised that no one had recognized her. “Oh, you mean her,” Marilyn responded. Then she changed her body language, facial expression and walk, and within seconds everyone was clamoring to meet her and get her autograph.

When you have supreme confidence your attitude and demeanor is not the same as that of a person who is insecure deep down inside. Norma Jean Baker, Marilyn’s real name, suffered from insecurities most of her life, and it is only when she slipped into the persona of Marilyn Monroe that her attitude and demeanor changed.

Marilyn Monroe’s fans were drawn to the sexy film star, but part of her charm was the innocence and naiveté she always exuded. Obviously, her fans didn’t recognize her unless she had her pouty lips, come-hither eyes and slinky walk. That’s branding. When Marilyn didn’t represent her public brand, she wasn’t “Marilyn” to passers-by.

I learned when I was 17 years old and got The Red Dress that when you change the way you are on the outside, people treat you differently. Then you change on the inside. However, when the “new you” isn’t authentic, then there’s a disconnect; and the confidence is only outward – not inward. You must transform you image as well as your attitude about yourself.

Most of my clients are business professionals, authors and speakers – not film stars. A total image transformation can’t make them an expert overnight, so it can’t make them a success overnight. What it will do is keep an outdated or poor-quality image from lowering their credibility dramatically.

Ideally, your image needs to match the caliber of your products and services, and the sad truth is, the image of most people doesn’t keep up with their résumé. Your image needs to be so dynamic that heads literally turn when you enter a room!

Note: We Transform Image and Attitude® at The Image Architect®

Original article by Joanna Douglas of “Shine” from YAHOO!®  You’ll love this gallery of stars and their dresses. This list was compiled by Joanne Douglas after seeing a “Top Ten” list compiled by a British online fashion retailer.

Tell me what you think about her choices – my comments are below.

Audrey Hepburn

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The is the most exquisite of all the photos, and it's no wonder it's iconic, because Audrey creates an irresistible "S" curve with her sleek body and elegant body language. Audrey was dressed exclusively by Givenchy. This is one of two dresses that made both the US and British list.

Photos by IMDB, Getty Images, ADV and AP.

Different styles & patterns, different results!

Many of my readers have requested more information about wardrobes for fuller figures.  I’ve since visited Dillard’s department store in Norfolk, a store I frequent for its great array of collections and quality lines in clothing, with a mission to gather relevant information to result in great decision-making and happy shoppers.

The two summer shirts above are both available at Dillard’s and illustrate a few key points for you to recognize.

The most obvious is the difference in patterns.  The pattern on the left is large and somewhat “rounded.”  Consequently, it not only draws attention to the torso, rather than helping direct it toward the face, but it also helps to create an overall “larger”, more “rounded” image.

The shirt on the right, conversely, is in a solid color. Solids are always more slimming than patterns, even very small ones. The tunic style lets you remain comfortable and at the same times hides any bulges at the midriff, stomach,  hips and thighs.

The second significant difference is in the cut.  The shirt on the left is rather boxy, with a straight bottom and not much of a tailored waist.  Straight-bottomed blouses can be fine, but here it’s paired with white pants, a combination which visually cuts the body in half at the hip.  That’s not a great stopping point for women with large hips because the line will bring our eye to that spot.  If, however, the waist had been more tailored, we’d at least notice a comparatively narrower waist.

The neckline of the shirt on the right is flattering , because it softly frames the face. Also, the “V” that is formed by the white pattern at the bosom area makes the waist appear slimmer. Tunic styles are usually quite flattering because they have an hourglass shape instead of hanging straight and shapeless.

This month’s Webinar, “Plus Size Image Strategies,” will further explore how to shop and dress to flatter your figure.  Details here: http://bit.ly/imaged

Post your thoughts and questions here!

Would you trust this man, who is a former assistant principal of a high school? Trust him to supervise your children, manage your assets, or look after your daughter if she were married to him?

If this man were my client, I would advise him that he looks very “shady” due to his strong “five o’clock shadow.”  His off-white shirt makes it worse; a pure white shirt would have been better. White also suggests purity, hence innocence. His level of trustworthiness is very low. In addition, his tie is gaudy and shouts “going to Las Vegas” rather than to an office, for example. His shirt is ill-fitting and pulls away from his neck, creating a distraction. It can cause one to think that he is sloppy.

This is the photo of Wesley Earnest as he was convicted of killing his estranged wife, staging her death as a suicide. Earnest was very sloppy in the staged suicide. His wife was shot in the back of the head, an angle inconsistent with a suicide. The suicide note he left at his wife’s side was not from either of the computers in her home. He told people he would be out of town on the day of the murder, yet he said in court he was home all day due to seasonal allergies. Earnest borrowed the truck of a friend to drive three hours to his wife’s home, and he installed four new tires before returning it. The tires were bought under an assumed name, and it is assumed that he was concerned that his vehicle may have left tracks outside his wife’s house. Everything about this staged suicide was as sloppy as the man’s appearance.  At a glance, he looks like a shady character.

What do you think?

Simon hated the butterflies–he thought they were leaves–but as part of her “costume”, American Idol contestant Siobhan Magnus chose to wear the whimsical accessories on her shoulder and hand while singing “When You Believe” last night.

Really, the choice was perfect.  Her entire image–whimsical and dramatic–reflected her spoken message, the words she sung.  Perhaps a daring choice of accessories at this stage in the competition, but I think that’s what believing in herself was all about.  And if her image reflects a belief in herself it’s sure to evoke that belief from others.

Your thoughts?

Katie, red’s a good color but color’s only half the wardrobe battle.  Line is at least as important.  This ensemble boxes you in with the masculine lines of the jacket and the “stiff”, all-buttoned-up lines of the blouse.  Even the ruffle is squared off–a masculine look–rather than soft and curvy.  The combination’s also in clear contradiction with the softness of your pearl drop earrings.

Women appear more powerful and dynamic when they honor, not defy, their femininity.

Take the edge off, Katie.  It’s a distraction from the dynamic woman behind the suit.

Readers, care to comment?

Nice green as we enjoy the start of a new season, Katie.  This color looks beautiful on you and the silver chain is a nice complement.  I like the lines of this jacket, too; the collar frames your face nicely.

As always, bolder earrings and lipstick would really pull your look together.  Chunky jewelry really is okay to wear, even as petite-looking as you are.  The right pieces will keep our attention on your face, where it should be.