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.

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

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.

Layer Up: Transition Your Summer Wardrobe Essentials

This time of year the weather begins to cool down, but when you are out and about it’s not unusual to go to a work environment or restaurant that still has the air conditioning running during those early fall days. I always look for ways for clients to wear their clothes a little longer into the next season to achieve longer wear out of their summer essentials. 

Here are three layering techniques to carry your current summer wardrobe essentials into early fall to keep you comfortable and looking polished in this transitional weather:

1). Wear your tank top layered with a cardigan or short jacket with a scarf tied around your neck. This is a great way to feel more comfortable wearing your tank top into the fall, but being comfortable with a jacket or sweater to keep you a bit more covered.

2). If you have a sleeveless light-colored print dress blouse, wear it with a darker suit to add a touch of color up by your face. A print adds interest and draws the eye up to your upper torso.

3). Take those brighter citrus cardigans of summer and coordinate them with white shirt,  a black dress pant, or pencil skirt to add a pop of color to your ensemble.

When you add layers to your look, it appears as though you took some time to create an outfit versus wearing separates, which can be perceived as most basic level of business casual.

How to Transition your Wardrobe into Spring 2009

In many parts of the country like Atlanta we are experiencing some transition days of 50 degrees and sunshine. We don't want to dress like it is November but we do want to look as though we are ready for spring as the days become brighter and longer. During the next month feel free to start looking at different ways to wear your current  wardrobe. 

Here are a few of my tips to transition your current wardrobe and prepare yourself for that gorgeous spring weather.

• Wear lighter wool jackets, pants and skirts which are softer than those heavy woolens. 
• Add a dash of spring colors like lemon yellow,  sage green or salmon-rose or  in your blouses, jewelry, shoes and handbags to update those charcoal grays and black ensembles. 
• One of my favorites is to trade in those wintry sweaters worn with dress trousers for a cotton/Lycra tailored shirt or a long sleeved medium knit top.
• Continue to wear your lighter colors in fine wools and light knits like camel, tan or winter white, which prepares you to start lightening up your look. 
• Begin to start storing those winter boots and begin to wear pumps, flats, wedges or kitten heel mules on those sunnier days. 
• Trade in your heavy woolen coats, hats and scarves and start to wear a great trench coat. 
• For fun, start wearing nude colored fishnets with your colorful peep-toe heels. Store those dark opaques until next fall.   

 

By starting to transition your wardrobe, you begin to feel more stylish and ready to greet Spring when it arrives!

Spring 2008 Dresses: Monochromatic Secrets

This season dresses are very classic and beautiful in their styling. You will see gorgeous sheath dresses in great neutral colors. In this article I want to share with you how to dress beautifully in monochromatic dressing with some of spring's hottest dresses.

Monochromatic Dressing Tip
When you choose to dress head to toe all in one hue, you need to wear texture and interest so that the outfit looks like it was meant to be worn together. If you don?t wear texture and interest in your clothing or accessories, you tend to look boring.

Champagne Neutrals
In this example I am showing you how this model is dressing in blonde, champagne colors that enhance her hair and skin tone. If I were dressing this model in this beautiful silk-blend sheath dress and matching coat, I would definitely offer some accessories with some interest and texture. To this outfit I would add this great champagne colored bag made out of soft leather with quilted accents and a gold chain - very Chanel looking. I also love the shoe I selected made out of silk fabric with a gold accent on the toe. With this outfit I would add some simple gold jewelry like earrings, a necklace and a bracelet for a very finished look.

Black Evening Dress
The little black dress never goes out of style and here is an example of dressing in shades of black. This is an elegant sheath dress worn with a great patent leather belt. I added a black clutch bag with a rhinestone-studded clasp in a shimmery fabric for eveningwear. A simple black high-quality leather pump in black adds to the mood and feel of the outfit. It would also be acceptable to add either a patent purse or pair of patent peep-toe shoes. I just like to mix up the textures of patent, shimmer fabric, silk dress and matte leather shoes. To add jewelry with the same feel, you could add black and silver chandelier earrings and bracelet cuff. These would tie in beautifully with the black and silver accents on the clutch bag.

Gray the New Black

I wanted to show you the example of how to look stylish and elegant in a great neutral color like gray. I love this portrait style dress with the striking neckline, a great way to show off your neck and shoulder line. I also love this medium-gray color on this person with medium contrast and it really adds to her red hair. To this simple dress I added a great gray handbag with crocodile embossed with nubuck leather with contrast stitching and gold accents. For a shoe I added some extra interest by a great gray in two tone snake-skin to add some pizzazz to the look. With this dress a simple gold earring and bracelet would be all you would need. I always let the beautiful collars like this stand-alone ? so the attention is on the collar detail.

I hope this article has given you some great ideas when heading out for a dressy occasion to think about dressing in monochromatic tones with style and interest.

Academy Awards 2008 Style

The actresses at the 80th Annual Academy Awards this year were wearing elegant gowns and old school glamour. We did see a lot of red this year on the red carpet, which was beautiful. Below I have critiqued what I liked about her of the star's dresses and how they are accentuating a positive feature. At the academy awards, you want the celebrities to wear the dress, not have the dress wearing them. Their dress must tie in with their coloring, figure type and signature style. I have always admired the stars that wore very classic and sophisticated lines in their dress silhouettes because the dress should never date back to a year, but remain timeless.

When Strutting On The Red Carpet ? You Might as well Wear Red!

       

Helen Mirren looked stunning in her royal red satin gown, which complemented her warm skin tone. The silhouette of this dress gave her waist the definition it needs as we age. Anne Hathaway wore a more neutral red draped in a goddess style with one shoulder bared and the dress silhouette draped on the diagonal. The ruffled section up by her face draws your eye upward to notice her great facial features. Katherine Heigl's dress really accentuates her hourglass figure and it was in a warm red with a Greek goddess style but with a longer drape to the hem of the dress. Heidi Klum wore a stunning dramatic red dress with a turned up collar, which accentuated her great neckline. This dress also accentuated her natural coloring in the warm hues of red. Being the fashion goddess that she is, very few people would feel at home in this much dress.

     

Nicole Kidman looks glamorous in black and barely pregnant she wears this very elegant, simple dress but pulls the attention upward with her silver necklace. Kate Blanchett appears glowing in this beautiful dark blue dress with the U-shaped neckline and detailing on the lower half of her gown. Jessica Alba looks great in this deep burgundy. The feather up at the bust line helps to bring your eye upward and accentuate her bust area and the drape of this dress falls easily over her body silhouette.

Sophisticated Ladies

     

Cameron Diaz looks wonderful in this peachy pink shade. With her light hair color and peach and cream complexion this color looks great on her. Since she has a small bust line, this added trim around the bust area makes it look more in proportion to her great figure. Jennifer Garner can wear this style of dress and the black accentuates her dark brown hair color. The horizontal draping of the dress is very flattering and she is tall enough to wear the ruffling which creates some drama at the lower part of the gown. Keri Russell looks very young and fresh in this light colored gown. With the great back detailing she is thin enough to have the back drape. This look is simple, young, and sophisticated. While Oscar night is always about the jewels, the jewelry must not take away from the dress but adorn the dress to add some level of sophistication and style.

Petite Clothing:Camouflage Tips for the Vertically Challenged

The average American woman is 5'5" tall, which makes being petite the norm. When you have a small petite frame it is harder to hide those few extra pounds because you have less body to shift around those few extra pounds. If you have this body architecture, I always advise my clients to keep things simple. You definitely want to wear prints that are small in design, and refrain from wearing clothing with large buttons, bows, and lots of details. These kinds of embellishments will only look out of balance for your vertical body proportion.

Here's a few camouflage tips for those who are vertically challenged:

If you are short, try wearing sleeves that are three quarter length and you will appear taller by showing the lower part of your arm. In this photo it shows a bracelet sleeve, which will look great on petite women. Try this technique by standing in front of a mirror and slip on a sweater and have the sleeve come to your top of your wrist bone and then gently nudge it upwards. You'll see the difference.

Another tip is to wear the same color vs. two colors, which will cause the eye to read your entire body, therefore elongating your figure, causing you to look taller. The V-neck of this shirt style dress also makes one appear taller than if it were a high-neckline style.

My third tip is that most petite women look best in shorter style jackets that end at the hip bone or slightly lower. This way of dressing will elongate your legs and make you appear taller. When short women wear long jackets, this makes them look shorter and heavier.

When you are petite, less is more. Remember that small to medium scale jewelry and accessories will look best on you.

The Foundation of Your Wardrobe: Start With Neutrals

If your wardrobe isn't centered on neutral tones, you aren't getting a lot of versatility and mileage out of your clothes. The great thing about neutrals is that they provide you with many options, as they can be mixed and matched easily with other accent colors for impact.

When you are selecting your neutral tones to anchor your wardrobe you want to use the ones that compliment our natural coloring. Depending on whether you are warm, or cool in your personal color harmony, choose tones that will accentuate your natural skin tone, hair and eye colors.

• Neutrals for Cool Coloring
• Black
• Gray
• Navy
• Burgundy
• Forest Green
• Cherry Red
• White

Neutrals for Warm Coloring

• Coffee
• Brown
• Rust
• Camel
• Teal
• Olive
• Tomato Red
• Cream

When selecting your wardrobe, choose quality fabrics in basic pieces like jackets, blouses, skirts and trousers. You will have more versatility with these basic pieces when you build your wardrobe on neutral tones.

Fashionable Coats for Winter 2008

With colder temperatures arriving soon, it's time to consider buying a new stylish coat. The number of coats you own may depend on the climate where you live. Everyone needs a few coats in their wardrobe to look polished and chic while out in the winter weather.

If you are deciding to add a new coat this season take into consideration it's function, your budget and lifestyle. I always feel it is best to invest in classic-trend styles. These are styles with an updated twist to a classic silhouette. Coats are investment pieces so it is wise to invest in one with a classic silhouette that will remain in style for 4-5 years. Your cost per wear over 4 years will be a worthwhile expenditure.

Here a a few of my favorite classic-trend coat styles for winter 2008. I think we all have those leather jackets from years gone by, so now it the time to invest in a more modern updated classic coat.

Belted Coat - this is a new version of the classic coat but the belt is a creative way to show off your waistline or perhaps create one if you feel as though you have lost your waist of younger years.

Updated Trench Coat - The new trench coats come in shiny fabrics, bright colors and new fabrications. They tend to be shorter and sassier than the older? longer versions.

The Shearling Coat - If you live in a colder climate, you will definitely get your investment out of a classic shearling coat. This is not only stylish but extremely warm. You can dress it up or dress it down which makes it a very versatile piece.

Pea or Military Coat - The new military pea coats come in new colors like cream, red, plaid, etc. to add some spice and color to your coat selection. Great to wear with dress pants, or jean for a casual updated look.

Modern Wool Coat - These coats are classier and very sophisticated from decades past. They are shorter but very elegant and great for a new work coat or to pair with denim jeans for an dressier occasion.

When wearing any of these styles, you will feel fashionably chic. No matter what your personal style or body type, you will find a new modern classic coat which works for your silhouette. Don't be afraid to try on various styles and be objective when critiquing how you look in it. You need to look stylish all the time, so why not look polished when you are outside in the winter weather.

Don't forget to add an updated trendy hat, scarf or gloves as accessories to your classic coat. This is a great way to add spice and interest to your coat and give it the finishing touches it needs!