An Attitude of Gratitude

How Can I Thank You?   Yes, it is proper and necessary for the well-mannered to write a thank-you note for all gifts and out-of-the-ordinary deeds of kindness and thoughtfulness.  A rule of thumb:  if you think, "I should thank Bill/Susan," then get out your writing paper or thank-you note.  That established, what to put in that handwritten, snail-mailed note?  Don't be aloof and generic: Susan, Thanks for picking up the check the other day.  Great to see you. Bob Take the time to personalize your note: Susan, How kind of you to treat me to lunch Friday.  It was wonderful to catch up on how your family is doing and hear about your recent vacation.  It's always a pleasure to enjoy your company.  Next treat's on me. Warmly, Bob I thought I'd include the text of one of my young children's thank-you notes, un-coached, for a recent gift.  She has learned well! Dear Claire, Thank you so much for my necklace.  It is so beautiful!  I wore it to my first dance!  People complimented me on it, and I said, "Thank you! It is from my cousin Claire (whom I love!) [yes, she wrote 'whom'!]  Thank you again. Love, Katerina Remember, it doesn't matter if the deed or gift was pricey or simple.  Send that note on your mature, refined stationary or note card. And be prompt about it so that you're less likely to forget.  You'll be glad you expressed your gratitude and offered the small gift of your time in return. Thank you kindly for reading this issue's image tip.  Until next time, my best, Beth

You Are NOT a Rock Star!

http://carlosrocha.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/i-wanna-be-a-rockstar/

Is there anyone one who does not want to get what they pay for? Is there anyone who wants to be sold a bill of goods (that old expression for not getting what you pay for)? Although I doubt that anyone fits into these categories, I’ve seen hundreds of people show up at events that promise them the world and deliver a dump-truck-sized load of empty words. And it seems to be an epidemic. Not a month goes by that I do not receive an invitation for such an event. The speaker’s are sometimes regionally well known, and I would like to think that they are well meaning. However, often what they really sell for the price of admission is mostly cheerleading (“You go girl--you're a Rock Star!”) with a dose of nonsensical advice: “Tap into your ultimate essence and put it out to the universe.”—WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!!. Lest you think I’m out of line, here is a bit of content from an invitation I recently received (grammar/semantics altered to protect):

With an investment of just 45 minutes (and an undisclosed fee) attendees will be given the key to the mint that will give them what they need to obtain:

·         A life of success

·         A life of passion

·         A life of purpose

·         A larger home

·         A family vacation

·         A new car

·         The freedom to do whatever you want

·         The freedom to do whatever you want whenever you want.

Seriously?!  In just 45 minutes?!  I’m more than willing to be educated about the factual efficacy of these kinds of offerings—as long as I don’t have to pay for it.

As someone who has in the past attended a few of these seminars and who has even been on the speakers’ list at one, let me just offer a few words of advice for seminar goers. Check the credentials of the speakers before paying your entry fee. Has the person you are paying to hear actually accomplished the things they are purporting to offer you? Are their promises hard to believe? Do they use a list of buzz words or are they offering concrete solutions? If they have written a book, bear in mind that not all books are created equal. I applaud self-publishing and recognize that many self-published books are of great value, but bear in mind I could publish my grocery list if I wanted to spend the money to do it.

Outlet Shopping: Nirvana or Mirage

No one (I mean, no one) likes bargain shopping more than I do. So whenever I have a reason to, I head to the outlets, you know, those treasure troves of high fashion at dizzingly low prices. Really? Over the past few years, my dizzy spells have been fewer and farther between as I have noticed that more and more the prices have seemed disturbingly similar to those in the mall and other local stores. Could it be, I have wondered, that the outlets are really not the treasure trove they purport to be?

Recently, I had my theory validated by an article I read, "Dirty Secrets of Outlet Shopping,"  (http://www.learnvest.com/author/the-learnvest-staff/>). According to the authors, my suspicions were well founded. Here are some facts that we should know before we load up and drive over the river and through the woods to your nearest outlet center. 

1.  You usually have to travel some distances to get to the outlets. Think about how many outlets you know that are in semi-rural areas or small remote towns. Is it really because they need all that space in order to accommodate the myriad of bargains? Actually, it has a lot to do with shopping psychology. When getting to the outlets is a major endeavor because of distances (people take tour buses to get there!), do we really want to leave without purchasing something? In fact, we feel obligated to buy.  We think, "I came so far, I shouldn't go home empty handed."  In fact, we probably started out thinking about coming home with a bounty of bargains.   So even if the prices are not great, we are inclined to buy anyway.

 2. Much of what we buy is not a store irregular, overstock, or last year's merchandise. Stores are now manufacturing items specifically for outlets. In many cases, only a small percentage of merchandise actually comes from the local stores. More often than not, the outlet products are made from lower quality materials and with lower quality workmanship specifically for the outlet store.

 3. Because much of outlet merchandise does not come from the main stores, the price tags announcing drastic price cuts off store prices is a sham. We are actually paying full price for lower quality goods, so instead of getting a bargain, we are paying too much. 

If you are like me, you are not about to stop shopping at outlets because of these dangers. After all, the thrill is in the hunt, and if we are prepared, we can still bag our share of bargains without getting taken. Just remember these points:

1.  Just because you traveled a long way to get to the outlets, don't feel compelled to justify your trip by spending money on things that may not be good quality bargains.

 2. Don't get caught up in the deceptive numbers on the price tags.  Pay particular attention to the quality of the merchandise, and then decide if it is really worth the price you will pay. Do not make your decision based on the original retail price, which is probably an inaccurate and meaningless number anyway.

 3. Make a list of things you want to buy before you go, then check out the retail prices at the mall, online or in your local stores so that you won't be fooled by bogus markdowns.

 Outlet shopping can be a fruitful experience as long as we are armed with an understanding that the phrase “outlet store” does not always mean "a place where high-quality merchandise is sold for ridiculously low prices."

Featured Article: Where Have All the Nice-Looking People Gone?

by Judith Rasband, AICI CIM  www.Conselle.com Beth Y. Stange AICI CIP is a Licensed Conselle Affiliate Photo: maurilioamorim.com They've gone the way of their nice-looking clothes! Most are just plain gone! Many people look pretty awful in today's casual, uniform dress-ill-fitting jeans and T-shirts! And I'm no longer alone in stating this observation. The idea that dressing down has gone too far has been gaining concern, say those who engage in people watching as a profession. Photo: chaosmanorreviews.com Betty Halbreich, author of Secrets Of A Fashion Therapist, was asked, "How do you think women are dressing today?" She answered in alarm, "They look awful! People, both men and women, have become very sloppy. We're just too casual." Referring to Casual Friday she added, "It should be blown off the map! It's become so casual . . . they're coming to work in their pajamas." Even cartoon character, Dilbert, agrees. "I love the 'Business Casual' looks for the way it combines unattractive with unprofessional while diminishing neither." It's interesting to do a little people watching for yourself. Sitting in a wonderful, well designed and well decorated office building I made a few notes. So many employees looked so out of place wearing faded cotton polo shirts and khakis or jeans. I was shocked at seeing women who looked like they just came in from the farm--followed by full-figured women, invariably the ones to wear a short top, leggings, and hiking boots or pointy-toed-heels. And so many men were wearing a knit or ill-fitting shirt and pants, the focal point becomes their belly. "Why bother with the cost of a beautiful building when the people inside look so awful!" declared another observer. Photo: DailyMail People may want a more relaxed, casual attitude and behavior, therefore the casual image. But why go to the point where we compromise our integrity, lose our dignity, and look like a slob? Wendy Cheslea, Canadian image management consultant, reports, "People look terrible. They just don't care how they look! They'll spend $10 on a tacky T-shirt and call themselves dressed. They spend their money on boats, cars, and other toys but not on their clothes! When did this happen?" asks Cheslea. "Where is it leading? And what can we do about it?" Since the 60s and the attitude of "down with the establishment," traditional ways of dress have been giving way to more casual dress on all occasions. It's part of the casualization of America. And Canada is right on our heels. "People have become lazy", asserts Halbreich. "People don't want to have to think about what goes with what. Jeans and a T-shirt is a no-brainer. And that's what the people look like-like they don't have a brain." "I don't have to worry about looking nice anymore," declared a frumpy looking woman. "Don't worry," chimed in Cheslea, "you don't." "It doesn't matter what I wear," stated a disgruntled consumer at the thought of image improvement. "I don't have to impress anyone." And again, adds Cheslea, "Don't worry, you won't." According to a recent Harvard University study, productivity on casual Fridays has dropped 30 percent. Citibank reversed earlier casual dress policies, claiming that "chains of command had broken down, productivity was sagging and chaos reigned in the workplace." Photo: middlesexcc.edu So it does matter. We know that the way we choose to look affects the way we think, the way we feel, the way we act or behave, and only then the way others react or respond to us--all of this affecting the achievement of our goals--or not. I talk with so many who tell me about feeling depressed. We can lift that load by simply getting up and dressing up to some degree. A colored shirt with a collar does wonders to lift your look and your mood. For those who do still dare to dress nicely, we find that someone in casual to sloppy dress is sure to challenge them with a sneer, saying "Why you so dressed up?" Even youngsters are known to censure nicely dressed classmates with comments like, "Who do you think you are, Miss Priss?" The questions are crafted to put you down and make you feel like the one who is out of place, while they build themselves up-and it's working. In this post-modern day we are allowing people to take the liberty of taking away the right to look nice, to dress to a higher level. Additional reports are typical, of people being told not to come to work in "good clothes anymore. You make the rest of us feel uncomfortable." Or, "No one dresses up for the theater anymore, so don't bother." It has become the accepted assumption that it is the nicely presented person who must make the change, the one who must conform to lower standards. You, we, and our youth need some one liners already in our heads, ready for response, allowing us to more easily stand for higher standards. You need to stand or walk tall, smile politely, and say something like, "Because it makes me feel so nice." Other one liners to consider include: "'Cause I'm worth it." "'Cause I know better." "Today's a special day." "Because I respect myself." "So I get and keep the job." "Because I'm nicer to look at." "I like the way it makes me feel." "So you'll notice me--and you did." Photo: JNY.com Turn the question and the pressure around. Practice saying, "Why are you so dressed down?" Chances are the person will likely come back with something like, "Cause it's more comfortable." To which you can add, "I'm both comfortable and lookin' so good." Someone might easily say, "'Cause it's in fashion." And so you ask, "Why is it in fashion? Who's driving the fashion?" While there are fine and responsible fashion manufacturers and retailers "out there," there are also disreputable and irresponsible fashion Moguls and media that present rude and crude images for shock value-to attract attention, viewers, readers, and buyers of what they want to sell-be it attitudes, behaviors, or products. Giving into that sort of fashion, you become a "fashion victim." Well, I want none of my readers to fall victim to fashion. We can take action in the form of image management. If we are not already looking and feeling the way we want to look and feel, again I say, it's never too late to become who we want to be. Make 2012 the year you get yourself and your wardrobe the way you've always wanted them to be.

Think Before You Ink

From Time Magazine: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1675620,00.html#ixzz0yyLR6oyx

There are two things Ed Soares is devoted to. One is his job as a detective for the East Palo Alto, Calif., police department, where he has worked for five years. The other is a large garish tattoo of St. Michael casting the devil into hell that adorns his forearm. The image is a work in progress, and Soares, 33, has spent three years and $5,000 getting it just the way he wants it. So he faced something of a test of allegiances this summer when the department forbade all its officers from displaying tattoos on the job. "It is not fair. I have spent a lot of time and money on my tattoos," says Soares. "But I am in the business of taking orders, so that is what I will do."

East Palo Alto's prohibition may seem like a quirky, isolated incident but in fact is a sign of the times. Over the past six months, tattoo restrictions have been imposed on at least a dozen police departments around the country, and the Marine Corps placed a ban on "excessive body art" for new recruits on April 1. Oddly, the crackdown is occurring at a time when large, excessive tattoos are more popular than ever. Last year a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that 89% of the men and 48% of the women who wear tattoos have conspicuous and sometimes outlandish designs on their hands, necks, arms, legs, toes and feet. "We are seeing more tattoos than ever before," says Ronald Davis, chief of police at East Palo Alto, where officers are required to hide their ink with clothing or bandages.

Since the Stone Age, tattooing has been seen as a spiritual ritual, used to mark a right of passage. During the Civil War, getting a flag emblazoned on the arm emerged as a patriotic symbol for soldiers. But in the past few years, the garish body-art trend has taken on an increasingly negative connotation as it has become a signifying mark of street gangs and prison inmates.

The East Palo Alto ban was sparked by community complaints about a group of officers, known as the "Wolf Pack," who wore tattoos of the animal. "The uniform needs to reek of professionalism," says Larry Harmel, executive director of the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association. Several departments in his state have already initiated bans. "People can draw negative conclusions by looking at big, bold tattoos."

Few organizations are more committed to the image of professionalism than the Marine Corps. "Marines hold themselves to a higher standard than everyone else," says Sergeant Major Carlton Kent. Although new recruits can't enter the service with sleeves, as large inked designs are often called, Marines already in the Corps can keep the body art they have. But a commanding officer must document those tattoos to make sure nothing is added. "My tattoos express who I am," says Sergeant Adam Esquivel, a Marine serving at Camp Pendleton, near Oceanside, Calif. But he's resolved to follow the new order. "I chose to be a Marine. So I have to take the good with the bad."

But does it makes sense for the Corps to take such a stiff stand on an aesthetic issue at a time when the nation is at war and it's already tough enough to persuade young people to enlist in the military? Marine officials claim the new policy isn't hurting recruitment. But it is telling that last year the Army relaxed a similar tattoo policy to help bolster its numbers. There are no statistics indicating what effect the bans have had on law-enforcement hiring, but there is evidence that cops aren't happy. A few months ago, the police-officers union in Anne Arundel County, Md., filed a grievance against the department. So far the courts have been staunchly anti-tattoo. Last year a federal appeals court in Hartford, Conn., upheld a ruling that required officers to cover up spider web tattoos--a symbol of white supremacy--setting a precedent that such ordinances do not violate the First Amendment.

But departments like East Palo Alto are banning not just tats that are racially offensive--they are prohibiting them all. "Tattoos are an icebreaker," says Soares, who thinks society is generally accepting of tattoos. "Civilians know we are normal people, not robots."

Source Time Magazine: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1675620,00.html#ixzz0yyLR6oyx

Your Social Media Image

Social media is a both a blessing and a curse. We can now communicate more rapidly and in more different ways than most of us ever imagined just a few years ago. Communication has also become portable. My husband and I like to watch a lot of the old 1980s detective series, e.g., Remington Steele, and Magnum P.I.  When the hero is trapped in a drain pipe or beneath a hail of bullets with no cell phone with which to call, twitter, or text, we realize how far we have come in so short a time. On the other hand, along with the blessings of instant access to a potentially huge audience have come some curses, some unavoidable and some rectifiable. It is one of the rectifiable ones that is on my mind today--and every day. I refer to those inane and narcissistic comments that cram my Facebook page.

Let me start by saying that I have Facebook pages for two reasons. The first is personal: as four of our seven children have grown and left the nest, Facebook allows to me follow their adventures, see photo galleries of grandchildren and my son's latest girl friend, and keep up to date with many old friends with whom I had lost touch. My second purpose for joining Facebook was to enhance my online presence for business purposes. I can post image tips, keep abreast of trends in the image management field, share information with other consultants and my clients, and even prescreen perspective employees.

However, every time I log onto my page, I have to wade through a sea of entries such as "Only one more day until the weekend" (I know what day it is!), "Yow, this coffee is hot!" (Call out the National Guard!), or "It's 8:05 and I'm out the door" (Please, tell me when you get to your car, then work, then your first coffee break, then the potty, of course). These types of comments posted to Facebook are problematic for two reasons: first, every entry has to be mentally evaluated (for example, crucial, important, interesting, a waste of time). I skim over the "waste of time" entries, but evaluating and skimming take time. Similar to junk email and phone solicitations, meaningless Facebook drivel is an invasion of my consciousness and a purloining of my time.

I know, I know. Why don't I just unfriend the violators? I can't. I like these people and some of them I even love. Unfriending sends such a negative social message, and I don't want to hurt people whose love and friendship I cherish. I do want to know if Tom got that great job he was hoping for, if Mary is responding well to her medication, and if Louie really has found the love of his life. I just don't care that one of them just sneezed so loudly that he or she scared the dog. There is a distinct difference between news and self-absorption. I'm not on this crusade only for myself. As an image consultant, I don't want those I care about getting reputations as mindless, egocentric, bored, or dull.

I'm well aware that my cry in the wilderness against Facebook flotsam and jetsam may fall on deaf ears, but at least I have struck a small blow for reason and good sense.  And I’m not alone—I’ve read similar sentiments in Facebook posts!

Over-Exposed = Under-Paid, by Dr. Duff Watkins and Jean Woo

Over exposed = Under paid

Dr. Duff Watkins and Jean Woo

"Clothes make the person. Naked people have little or no influence." - Mark Twain

Would you rather be seen as serious or sexy? Promoted or picked up?
Are you headed for the boardroom or the backroom?

At work, your success is significantly influenced by how much skin you display. Just as photographic images can be ruined by overexposure, so too your image can suffer from overexposure. Studies show that a 20% variance in remuneration can be attributed to appearance, so it pays to get the right exposure.

Whether pole dancing or climbing the corporate ladder, you wear specific clothes for a specific purpose. Appropriate clothing always helps create the desired effect.

Put simply: overexposure kills your credibility. If you expose too much skin in the world of business, you won’t be perceived as a credible person worthy of promotion. Overexposure diminishes your authority, stalls your career, and prevents pay rises.

It’s nobody’s fault, really.
Blame the brain.

Ever since we humans started walking upright we’ve had trouble interpreting displays of skin. The problem is that the brain sees skin display as a sexual signal. Sexual signals are so powerful that even the biggest, smartest brains get distracted by them.

That’s one purpose of clothes: to dampen sexual signals. Wearing clothes allows you to send intended signals without sexual overtones.

In the business world, exposing too much skin confuses your audience. Male colleagues are especially confused due to their brain’s hardwiring. For men, the more skin you expose, the more sexual the signal. In the corporate world, overexposure will cost you credibility because the more sexual signals you send, the less likely you are to be taken seriously.

Distract = Detract

Nowadays casual business dress is common and so too is overexposure. It’s not just the obvious visual distractions of bare midriffs and deep cleavages. It’s also bare arms, bare legs and visible toes. The point to note is that anything that distracts a viewer detracts from your image.

True story: A female executive and two male colleagues enter a meeting. The two males wear neckties and long shirtsleeves. The woman wears a collarless, short-sleeved blouse which exposes her arms and neck. The other people in the meeting immediately assume that the woman is subordinate to the men.

She’s not; she’s a partner in a law firm and the two males are her assistants. Big mistake by the other people? Sure, but understandable given how the brain works.
The biggest mistake, however, was made by the female lawyer who forgot this fact: you influence what others think by what you wear. She diminished her own authority and confused her audience by the way she dressed. Having failed to make an accurate first impression, she now has to reclaim her credibility. That’s bad for business and bad for self-esteem.

It doesn’t matter who you are. The more flesh you display, the less status you will have. So cover up or be prepared to take lots of orders for tea and coffee.

Exposure = Vulnerability

Clothing is also protection. We say ‘exposed’ when we mean vulnerable, defenseless or needing protection. In business, men don’t expose much. In the corporate work, the only male flesh you see is face and hands. It’s now the rule: in order to convey competence, cover up. Even in the most relaxed office, no man shows up to work in sleeveless t-shirts or sandals. That’s why in a world where men wear suits, women decrease their authority if they expose more flesh than the men.

Five ways to boost your credibility: Match the male: Expose no more skin than male colleagues. If they expose hands and face, do likewise. Simply adding a neck covering (eg, necklace, scarf) creates a different image, and increases your authority. Cover up: The more skin you display, the more vulnerable you look. Appearing defenseless and needing protection may get you more dates but it won’t propel you up the corporate ladder. You won’t be seen as serious or perceived as credible if everyone in the room is wondering where the rest of your outfit is. Leave the lingerie: Save the peignoir for the boudoir and limit your lingerie to private showings only. When bra straps, camisoles or undergarments sneak into view, you appear to be unaware and ‘switched off’. Instead of exuding competence, you appear to lack attention to detail and ignorant of the difference between public and private display. Put bluntly, it’s called underwear for a reason. Don’t mix messages: In the eyes of others, you are as professional as the least professional component of your appearance. If one part of your image states ‘career woman’ but another part screams ‘party girl’ guess which part is heard by others? Mixing business with non-business images confuses your viewers and undermines you professionally. Show only the unadorned: Enjoy your tattoos and body piercings? Fine, but don’t assume others will. Body decoration has negative associations. Conceal them. In business, the only safe piercings are pinholes through the earlobes. Even then earrings must draw attention to your face discreetly, not upstage it.

Remember, expose your skills not your skin.

Dr Duff Watkins dw@execsearch.com.au is Director, Asia/Pacific of the Cornerstone International Group. His articles appear in Men’s Style Australia, Sydney Morning Herald, Company Director Magazine, Melbourne Herald Sun and many others.

Jean Woo jean@personalbrand.com.au is author of Executive Style. dress essentials for men and women. Once a corporate lawyer, she is now Director of Personal Brand Management. They are co-authors of Dress For Effect.: secrets of sartorial splendour

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Image-Tip--An-Attitude-of-Gratitude.html?soid=1102270633130&aid=tHowGbiAUps

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Image-Tip--An-Attitude-of-Gratitude.html?soid=1102270633130&aid=tHowGbiAUps

An Attitude of Gratitude

How Can I Thank You?

Yes, it is proper and necessary for the well-mannered to write a thank-you note for all gifts and out-of-the-ordinary deeds of kindness and thoughtfulness. A rule of thumb: if you think, "I should thank Bill/Susan," then get out your writing paper or thank-you note. That established, what to put in that handwritten, snail-mailed note?

Don't be aloof and generic:

Susan,

Thanks for picking up the check the other day. Great to see you.

Bob

Take the time to personalize your note:

Susan,

How kind of you to treat me to lunch Friday. It was wonderful to catch up on how your family is doing and hear about your recent vacation. It's always a pleasure to enjoy your company. Next treat's on me.

Warmly,
Bob

I thought I'd include the text of one of my young children's thank-you notes, un-coached, for a recent gift. She has learned well!

Dear Claire,

Thank you so much for my necklace. It is so beautiful! I wore it to my first dance! People complimented me on it, and I said, "Thank you! It is from my cousin Claire (whom I love!) [yes, she wrote 'whom'!] Thank you again.

Love,
Katerina

Remember, it doesn't matter if the deed or gift was pricey or simple. Send that note on your mature, refined stationary or note card. And be prompt about it so that you're less likely to forget. You'll be glad you expressed your gratitude and offered the small gift of your time in return.

Thank you kindly for reading this issue's image tip.

Until next time, my best,
Beth

Executive Accessories Principle #7: Less is More

Choose a Purse or a Briefcase – Not Both
For women, a big accessory mistake is to carry both a briefcase and a purse –this can get cumbersome. Instead opt for a stylish briefcase. Today many designers make feminine yet sophisticated cases that can serve as your purse and hold your papers, or even your laptop. You can always stick a small evening bag in the briefcase if you need to go from day to evening. Just leave the case in the office when you go out to that dinner or cocktail hour.  Men, too, are best to use just one carrying accessory.  Invest in a quality briefcase and save the backpack for hiking.

Accessories are a vital part of an effective executive wardrobe. Whatever your professional role follow these ideas to ensure you always feel confident, and look fantastic.

Executive Accessories Principle #6: Quiet!

Watch the Noise

While most shoes make some noise, notice if yours are unusually loud. This can distract those around you and will be sure to make you uncomfortable. Be sure that sling backs are not clicking. The same also goes for jewelry. Save the bells and chimes for the holiday parties and keep them out of the office. Another important tip here is to remember to take off all but one bracelet if you are doing a presentation. You do not want your noisy bracelets to distract from your powerful message.  Your colleagues and clients want to hear only from you, not your clothing or accessories.

Executive Accessories Principle #5: Check Again!

Do A Double Take

As a final step, always take a good look at yourself in the mirror before you leave each morning. Are your clothes clean and pressed? Is fit and style appropriate?  Are your shoes clean and polished? Are your accessories simple and classic? It is helpful to have a second set of eyes give a final nod before you head out the door, to make sure tags are tucked in, hair is removed from shoulder fabric, and loose threads are removed.  When you look and feel well put together, you are conveying the professionalism that your colleagues expect of you.

Executive Accessories Principle #4: Try Outs

Do A Test Run


Take the time to do a “test run” on any new accessory or garment you add to your business wardrobe. Wear it first to run errands or to meet a friend for lunch before you wear it to work so you will not be surprised by an earring that keeps falling off or a necklace that keeps catching your hair. You want to be aware of any challenges and resolve them away from the office.  Again, that honest, competent feedback before hand can be a valuable insight into whether your business accessories are working for you or against you.

Executive Accessories Principle #3: Neutral is Nice

Keep Your Bags and Shoes Neutral

Remembering to coordinate with your chosen core wardrobe neutral(s), choose suede or leather in neutral colors for your bags and shoes. Patent leather is a great way to add flair while still being neutral. Also, choose classic styles rather then the latest trends. Classic shoes and bags in high quality materials and workmanship are good investments and will look great for seasons to come.  Flashier colors and styles are best saved for recreation and socializing.

Executive Accessories Principle #2: Be Jeweled Appropriately

Principle #2 Any Old Necklace Will Not Do

Just because it is real gold does not mean it is working for you. It is important to wear jewelry that compliments your personal coloring, the style of your clothing, and is in proportion to your body size. Too many women wear very dainty necklaces in the workplace, and this does not enhance their authority. Pick jewelry that is an appropriate size for you and specifically complements the outfit you have on.  And remember that trendy pieces are best left for social events.  Style magazines and catalogs are not the best place to get accessory advice, as they are marketing products for sale.  You're safest for business when choosing timeless, classic pieces.