Illustra Image Consulting Blog

The Professional Woman’s Fall Wardrobe Checklist

As the weather gets cooler it is the right time to review your wardrobe checklist and find those essential pieces to layer up your look in style that keeps you warm. This is my updated list for every businesswoman looking to lightly layer while being more fashionable – whether at work or during off-time.

A Great White Modern Blouse – The key word here is “modern.” Look for a classic-white blouse that has some latest fashion details on it like ruffles, pin-tucking, or a new style sleeve. This one item can be layered with a business suit, skirts, pants, or jeans and with a belt, scarf, or sweater.

An Updated Jacket – This season don’t be without a few new jackets. Look for statement jackets, boyfriend jackets, modern jackets, or suit jackets - but layer them with everything in your closet. It’s a must-have in your wardrobe this season – so don’t go without one.

A Silk Blouse – This season a silk blouse or camisole is a key essential for adding some shimmer and texture to your ensemble. Buy a few and wear them under suits for a pop of color or with cardigans and pencil skirts for a modern look.

A Statement Coat – This season if you live in a colder climate be sure to find a great winter coat that you love and feel fabulous wearing. If you think about it you’ll realize that you wear it every day – so invest in a classic-modern style that has some fashion flair. Dark neutrals like black, navy, or charcoal will not show signs of wear as quickly as lighter tones. If you can afford two coats also shop for colors like winter white or red to have a dress coat you don’t wear as often.

Dark Denim – Every professional woman needs a pair of the new dark denim jeans. While premium denim is a little pricey you can now find dark denim finishes in all stores. This great number will slim you down instantly. If you have curvy hips balance them out with a boot-cut style.

Cardigans – This season cardigans have become colorful and modern. You will see great ones in dark neutral tones, colorful bright colors, and modern prints. Shop for a few neutrals to give you greater versatility but don’t forget the fun bright hues and prints for a pop of color.

Modern Day Dress – Dresses are back at last. When you are tired of hiding your legs and want to feel more feminine, opt to wear a dress at work or play. Shop for wrap dresses for work or a fun sweater dress for an updated casual look. Pair these with opaque hosiery and a great pair of tall boots to give you a high-kick fashion look.

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You may, as long as you include this complete bio with it:

Sarah Hathorn is a professional image consultant, certified personal brand strategist, speaker, and author.

Her company, Illustra Image Consulting, works with high-achieving future leaders and large businesses by enhancing their corporate and personal brand image to take their businesses and careers to the next level.

Blog, Ezine & Website:  www.illustraimageconsulting.com

Copyright 2009, Sarah Hathorn, AICI CIP, CPBS

The Professional Man’s Fall Wardrobe Checklist

Every season men need to reevaluate what is in their wardrobe. This season I’ve compiled the latest checklist to ensure you have a polished appearance both at work and at play. Here are a few of my latest fashion favorites that were recently spotted in the stores:

A Modern Suit – This offers a classic-hip way to appear innovative for our changing times. There are some great new fabrics that update that classic look for this winter season.

A Navy Blue or Camel Blazer – A blazer is a key wardrobe piece to wear with dress trousers on business casual days or with dark denim on date nights.

Straight Collar Dress Shirts – A few great dress shirts in colors like white, ecru, and blue made with a fine cotton weave will update modern suits and can be worn with or without a sport coat.

Button-down Shirts – Basic button down shirts are great to wear when you want a more relaxed, casual feel. Buy two or more to pair with a blazer or sweater for a cozy, comfortable look.

Dark Finish Jeans – This is the new replacement for khakis or other casual pants you may have worn during the weekends. I call these the new black pant and they are dressier than the faded washed denim we all wore years ago. Another tip is that the dark color instantly slims you down.

A Great Shoe Assortment – Every man needs a pair of dress shoes and some casual slip-ons in both brown and black. For weekend wear shop for a pair of modern leather shoes to wear with jeans and corduroys. Leave your gym shoes for yard work or going to the gym.

High Quality Accessories – You will need both dressy and casual belts in both brown and black to match the tone of your shoes. Try to add a little texture to these by shopping for work belts created out of fine leather like snakeskin, crocodile, or lizard.

Do you want to use this blog article?
You may, as long as you include this complete bio with it:

Sarah Hathorn is a professional image consultant, certified personal brand strategist, speaker, and author.
Her company, Illustra Image Consulting, works with high-achieving future leaders and large businesses by enhancing their corporate and personal brand image to take their businesses and careers to the next level.

Blog, Ezine & Website: www.illustraimageconsulting.com
Copyright 2009, Sarah Hathorn, AICI CIP, CPBS

Professional Image and Brand Strategist

678-528-1239

www.illustraimageconsulting.com

sarah@illustraimageconsulting.com

Fall 2009: Accentuate with Accessories

This fall the stores are bursting with stylish new accessories every woman needs to add to her wardrobe. Here is a quick list of some great ideas to give your wardrobe a boost:

Accessories give the style accent needed to complete your look with an interesting finishing touch. Think about what kinds of accessories you especially like to wear to communicate your accent style statement. If you love shoes, buy several pairs in different heel heights and various bold colors and textures like suede or animal prints. If belts are your favorite accessory you’ll love adding a few to your wardrobe – and they are great layering pieces to spice up a sheath dress, classic suit, or wear over a cardigan sweater. I love the current look for a business casual environment that pairs a white shirt with a cardigan and leaves it open in the center about six inches. Belt the whole look. Wear it with a pencil skirt or a light plaid dress trouser and viola! You look casually polished. I also love the skinny leopard print belts or the wide leather croc ones to give all my outfits a little more pizzazz. Shop for belt styles that offer lots of personality, versatility, and originality.

Those who have a penchant for vintage jewelry can go through their mother’s jewelry drawer and look for long gold chains, strands of long pearls in different lengths, or a cache of angles to add to the 2009 fall jewelry collection. Remember that earrings and necklaces don’t always have to match as a set, but they do need to complement one another in a way that blends and looks intentional.  Here are some of fall’s latest accessory and jewelry looks:

•    Shoes: Colorful, with Prints and Textures – Bold Colors, Suede, Animal Prints
•    Belts: Narrow to Wide
•    Bracelets: Multi-Bangles in Mixed Metals or a Hammered Large Cuff
•    Necklaces: Long Layers of Multi-Stand Pearl Necklaces – Very Chanel Looking
•    Statement Handbags: Leopard, Textured Neutrals in Suede or Crocodile
•    Scarves: Long or Short in Length in a Variety of Colors, Textures and Prints

I hope you have found this list insightful. I recently worked with a client where we found a few things in each category that resonated with her unique style to look fashionable as she walks into Fall.

Fall 2009: Seven Must-Have’s for Professional Women

This week I wanted to share with you my seven must-have’s for every professional woman who desires a little wardrobe versatility. I’ve personally incorporated all of these tips into my wardrobe for fall to add some modern style to my current wardrobe. Here are my seven favorite items:   

Tailored Classic Suits or Jackets – Select one or two versatile suits or jackets this fall that go with everything in your closet. Look for waist-defined styles that are semi-fitted with a bolder shoulder. Yes, this season we’ll see the return of the slightly more molded shoulder line.

Cardigans – Find some great cardigans in different styles, lengths, and colors to layer up your look. Pair these great finds with pencil skirts, dress trousers, or dark trouser denim to look casually updated for work or play.

Feminine Blouses – Shop for pretty blouses with a high level of sophistication like small ruffles or soft colored floral prints. Coordinate these great pieces with a wider-leg dress trouser or a long pencil skirt for a romantic office look.

Sheath Dress – This trend continues from spring ‘09 but in an updated way. Shop for versatile styles you can wear to work with an updated cardigan or a modern jacket worn over the top for more coverage. Styles with small belts can help to define those with a tiny waist – so if you have one, show it off in this style of day dress. Wear your dress with a pair of stylish high heels to show off your great legs while appearing taller and slimmer.

Pencil Skirts – This season the newest pencil skirts will be offered in updated prints like animal, herringbone, or tweed – versus the usual matte black. You will also find feminine details on pencil skirts that give them a new kick, like ruffled trim hemlines.

The Stylish White Blouse – Another returning item this season is the tailored white blouse. Look for a white blouse with a more modern edge – like one that wraps around the waist, is ruffled, has French cuffs, or comes in a fitted style. This is another one-purchase item that can take you directly from work to play with grace and ease. Don’t forget though that white blouses tend to look old quickly, so be sure to stock up with a few fresh ones this season.

Metallic Shoes – These shoes are great to use as a neutral shoe in your wardrobe, but they can also dress up any look. Shop this fall for one or two pairs in a sling back, pump, platform, flat, bootie, or evening shoe. Look for the latest colors like anthracite, butter metal, dark bronze, copper, gunmetal, and pewter. Metallics give you an easy way to update your existing apparel because they are versatile – and I predict that the metallic trend will be with us for a while.

 

I hope I’ve inspired you to think about adding a splash of color and incorporating a few modern trend items into your wardrobe. The choices will be great in the department and specialty stores, but decide which ones are really for you and will give your existing wardrobe more varied looks this fall. I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and explore a few items you would have never ventured to try on in the past, because that’s the 2009 autumn and winter trend. Those items also give you that extra boost for a more vibrant and breath-taking presence. Go with a few of these trends to look professionally modern and confident and make a positively stunning entrance into the fall and winter season.

 

Men’s Fall Trends 2009: Suit Up In Style

Professional men should drop the timid wardrobe this autumn in favor of boldly debonair fall flair.

Fall 2009 arrives with styles reminiscent of the old Hollywood glamour of the 1940s. You will find looks similar to the essential pieces that Clark Gable and Spenser Tracy wore in vintage movies. While most of my male clients hate to shop and want to do so swiftly if at all, they tend to stay in the safe zone. But as long as you’re investing in your look, you should at least get your money’s worth by adding a dash of fashion that gives your look the upper hand and gives you a cutting edge feel. When you wear a classic suit or dress shirt, don’t be afraid to mix it up with a modern trend piece that shows you have your own authentic style.  Here are three of my favorite trends for the professional man this season:

 

Modern Classic Suits/ Sport Coats

This season it’s about classic patterns with a modern cut, so if you need a new suit or sport coat look for timeless styles. Those include two-button suits or sport coats in neutral prints like glen plaid, windowpane plaid, herringbone, or a faint pinstripe. View the new hit TV show “Mad Men” to see exquisite fabrics with a classic fit that are worn with confident style that means business.

 

Silk Ties with a Twist

Handmade silk ties are the best because they hold their shape and tie a great knot with a perfect dimple. They cost more than the polyester blend ties, but are well worth the extra investment. Elegant silk can be tied with greater ease than a bulkier fabric tie, so update your tie selection with a small print, geometric, diagonal stripe, strong paisley, or large print medallion style silk tie.

Attention to Detail Gets the Job Done

The essential accoutrements are the vital ones that finish off your look and put it all together for an outstanding ensemble. Shop this fall for belts in pebble grain leather, supple calfskin, or crocodile skin – paired with sleek modern buckles of brushed nickel finish. Choose interchangeable buckles for a two-tone variety, and if you love wearing French cuff dress shirts, consider a new pair of cufflinks to celebrate the season. The latest styles are classic silver woven knots, bar styles with various mixed metals, or classic cable cufflinks.

I hope you can find it in your style personality to adopt a few of these fashion trends to energize your professional wardrobe. Doing so conveys that as a savvy businessman you understand the importance of adding a little flair to your look to always be the best-dressed man in the room. 

Make A Fashion Style Statement

With it being mid-September, now is the time to liven up your look for fall. This season consider ways to enhance your wardrobe that aligns with your authentic personality and gives you that positive image to approach the fall season in style. Everyone has a personalized style statement to make, and it can be inspired by history, nature, or current events. Here are a few modern conceptual themes that let you add an item or two to give you some fashion flair and polish-up your professional presence:

Go Retro Glam: This season you will find 1940s inspired suits from old Hollywood glamour like peplum or waist-cinched styles with larger shoulder pads, beautiful colorful gloves, and elegant wraps. Here the style statement is about exquisite fabrics, tailored curves, and uptown elegance.

 

From Mild to Wild:  The safari look uses large to small bold animal prints like leopard, cheetah, and jungle prints to add energy to scarves, shoes, booties, handbags, blouses, dresses, sweaters or a great winter coat. If animal prints feel a bit too bold for you, shop for the more muted prints or combine one small animal print item with several colors in it to a basic brown or black trouser. You will find unusual colors in animal print scarves this year – like black and purple – and they will look great when paired with a gorgeous black suit.

 

Become a Modern Classic:  The return of the timeless classics with a new twist dominates this season’s looks. We’re talking camel wool coats, menswear trousers, classic suits, and polka-dot print blouses.

 

Give Red a Green Light: Red returns as the power color this year. You will find it in dresses, suits, coats, shoes, wraps, cardigans, and pretty silk blouses – plus nail color and lipstick that ranges from bright to muted and to rich darker shades of red.

 

Fall in Love with Romance: The pretty ruffles on silk blouses, puffy sleeves, or a floral print will give your ensemble a more romantic feel. This trend allows you to emphasize your upper torso with the attention focused more upward toward your face.

 I know from being in the fashion industry for many years that you will find many of these looks in department, specialty and discount stores. Try on a few of these style trends and see which ones make you feel confident and chic.

 

 

Five Must-Have’s Every Woman Needs in Her Summer Wardrobe

Women today are afraid of spending a lot of money on their wardrobe thinking it is a luxury. Having a nice well-rounded wardrobe will affect your attitude during today’s difficult times and make you feel more confident and beautiful, which is an investment in you! Spending a few dollars on something that makes you feel wonderful can counteract the amount of stress you have going on in your life. It’s like clothing therapy for your soul.  You can find many of these items at stores like Target, Kohl’s and outlet stores because now major designers are finding it is more chic to be offering their designs at lower-priced stores. 

Here is my list of 5 top items every woman needs in her wardrobe for Summer 09:

1). A Great Summer Dress – I’m not talking the little black dress, but a fun, colorful dress that makes you feel feminine and sexy. Every woman’s figure type can wear a dress and actually look slimmer by showing off her legs. Look for a great dress that makes you feel fabulous this season.

2). Statement Jewelry – This season look for a large awesome necklace in a chunky turquoise or a multi-link chain of coral, or a multi-colored cuff. Show off being bold and some bling to make you feel elegant.

3). The Statement Shoe – There are multiple colors of bright patent leather shoes out this season. It doesn’t have to be a high-heel, it can be a wedge or a flat that draws attention to your style.   

4). A Flattering Jean  – Jeans are that great items that is an essential all year round. This summer opt for a pair of white jeans, which look fresh and summery. As always, the jeans do not have to be expensive, it’s the fit that makes them look great. Pair your white jeans with a bright T-shirt and look crisp for and casual occasion.

5). The Cardigan – This season stores are stocking cardigans every shape and color. Try a bright yellow, green or blue to add some color to your business casual wardrobe or pair with a shorts and T-shirt on a cool summer evening.

I hope you will think about your current wardrobe and evaluate if you have these five items for summer. If not, head to the mall this weekend when the summer sales are already happening!

2009 Golden Globe Fashionistas

Sunday evening the 2009 Golden Globe Awards was televised. I always love to watch these award shows to see how the Hollywood stars will interpret this seasons fashion trends. I love to watch the winners as they stride toward the podium to make their acceptance speeches. Reading their body language is always interesting. I was curious with our current dismal economic forecast how the celebrities would interpret downsizing their image so that the people would better relate to their sensitivity of the situation. I think the stars did a great job of minimizing the number and size of the jewels that they have worn in prior years. You did see see on many of the female nominees either a large statement necklace and no other jewelry, or a great pair of dramatic chandelier jeweled earrings worn alone. A large cuff bracelet was another accessory item worn - but it wasn't like the stars were dripping in diamonds as in years past. 

The color of the evening was oyster, which is a beautiful light tone. The celebrities wearing this color were Sandra Bullock, who worn a beautiful romantic long gown, Selma Hayek worn a Grecian style oyster dress which showed off her voluptuous figure  and Penelope Cruz wore this color in a tight-fitted beaded dress. The other stars wearing this oyster hue were Beyonce, Miley Cyrus and Eva Mendes. It was great to see a new beautiful color which is the new pastel neutral versus the traditional black evening dress.

On the other end of the spectrum Mickey Rourke was definitely in need of an image update. He looked very disheveled in his tux and his hair was long and stringy. Since he looks as though he is on the comeback, he definitely needs to elevate his image to reflect the professional actor status he has not achieved. 

The Rules of Wearing White After Labor Day

Many times women will ask me “is it inappropriate to wear white after Labor day?” My answer is always yes, but it depends on the tone of white, the fabrication and how you plan to coordinate the piece to transition into fall or winter. The rules have changed on wearing white after the holiday. It use to be a "fashion don’t" to wear white shoes, suits, and pants year ago, but times have changed. As fall season approaches, you don’t want to wear a bright white dress or linen suit that looks fresh and clean on a hot July day. But here are the new rules.

It is now appropriate to wear a softer, more muted shade of white like an oyster or winter white tone. You definitely want to find a light wool or heavy knit to transition into the cooler weather. To look stunning in white during the fall/winter months, wear it with darker tone accessories like chocolate brown, black, or midnight navy to look fashion forward. You can also mix some great jewelry metals like copper, pewter or gold, based on your personal coloring to add some pizzazz to your outfit.

Another option I love for fall is the great white tailored shirt. Everyone should have one or two of these great essential blouses in a modern style that accentuates your body type. On a crisp fall day, nothing looks more classy and elegant that a pair of dark denim jeans paired with a crisp white classic shirt, ankle boots and some diva jewelry. In winter, a beautiful winter-white professional suit can look sophisticated and dressy for those after-hours events. Celebrities wear white jeans now into the fall months and coordinate them with cozy, autumnal tone sweaters and dark tone boots.

Remember you have many clothing options as you venture into fall season. Everyone can wear certain shades of white and use it to add contrast to a neutral outfit or wear a more muted shade on a heavier fabrication to walk fashionably into fall.

Sarah Palin’s Eyeglasses Set New Fashion Trend