Fashion faux pas abound and here are a few suggestions to help you "take it personal"…
Match your socks to your pants, not to your shirt.
DO NOT wear a belt with suspenders.
DO NOT be afraid to add color to your wardrobe.
DO NOT match clothing to your skin tone.
What does "black tie optional" mean? Dark suits are perfectly acceptable.
Rubber soled shoes are Woody's number "1" choice for comfort
Spring Into Fashion
Spring is quickly approaching, and with the change in weather comes a change in wardrobe. Lighter weight fabrics are typically worn when the weather is warmer, and the colors change as well. Pastels are always hot in the spring. They invoke the feeling of warm and sunny days. Powder Blues, Pinks, and Canary Yellows are just a few of the colors that signify the emergence of spring, but are these colors gender friendly?
There was a time when certain colors were thought to be women’s colors. Do you remember when a man wouldn’t be caught dead in pink? Well times have changed. Pastels are all the rage for either sex; they are the colors of spring. Many wear these colors and wear them well.
Accenting darker colors with pastels is a great way to ease into it if you are uncomfortable with the thought of blending color into your wardrobe. For example, adding a colorful tie and pocket square or even cuff links is a good way to get started. Remember skin tones play a significant part in your choice of color. The shades you put next to your skin can make or break an outfit. Darker skin tones tend to look nice in brighter colors, while medium or tanned skin tones do exceptionally well with lighter shades of blue; especially sky blue. Those who have a fair complexion would do better to stay away from bright or over powering colors, but instead stay in the center of the color spectrum. Refer to the color line for some options that may suit you.
Woody Wilson
Is A Personal Shopper for Me?
Most men despise the idea of going to the mall to shop. Often times we need some confirmation that we are going in the right direction with our look. Sometimes our choices for shopping companions are limited to our metro sexual friend whose style tends to tilt a bit from the center, or our significant other who has their own ideas about how we should look. For most of us, that saying, "patience is a virtue" will not apply when it comes to shopping for clothing, so the question then becomes what do we do?
There are many agencies and individuals that offer their expertise for hire. The best personal shoppers, in my opinion have the best of resources to offer you. An array of choices from casual wear and accessories to formal wear and suits should be available to you. For the ultimate professional, a custom clothier would be the way to go. Whatever your choice, make sure the person you hire understands these key points:
How you want to look. Before meeting with a new client, I always suggest they tear pages from a magazine of current looks they like. These pages are commonly referred to as tear sheets.
The ideal fit for your body type. Yes, there is a body type. It is not the obvious large, small and medium build; there are other elements to consider. Skin tone, sloping or square shoulders, long necks vs. short necks and so on. Being able to accurately assess what would be the right look and style for a client is one of a clothier’s greatest assets.
What I would like to spend; budget. Always consider the fee for the service in addition to the cost of the garments you will potentially purchase
Typically a client will be charged by the hour, but in some cases a percentage of your clothing purchase is added on to the final bill. The best-case scenario is for the shopper to get paid from the vendors they represent, so find out this information before you commit.
To Dress or Not to Dress
What Is Now Considered Casual
Have you noticed that the concept of "dress for success" is almost non-existent? Every day now seems to be casual Friday. We have taken a concept reserved for one day a week, and made it into a staple for everyday fashion. When did it become acceptable to wear ratty tees, sneakers and flip-flops to a place of business? There was a time when dressing down was reserved solely for the blue-collar worker, but it seems as if many companies now allow their employees to dress casual. While that is not necessarily an issue, it can become one when the clothes you wear for play are the same ones you wear for business.
Some may ask; what do I do when my industry doesn’t require me to wear a suit and tie daily? There are ways to dress down and still be appropriate for work. There are also areas where being casual is not an option. The question now becomes, to dress or not to dress?
One's personal appearance speaks volumes about who they are. Some seem to think clothes aren’t important, and that it doesn’t matter what they wear to work, as long as they get the job done. However, clothing lends to the overall package that you are presenting. Successful people agree that a good first impression makes a significant contribution to ones success; so let your clothes make a positive statement about you. You should always dress for the job you want and not for the job you have.
Conducting business in a casual environment is not an invitation to come into the office in your jogging suit and running shoes. How do we transition from corporate business attire to casual business attire? There are a few pieces that are staples for every wardrobe that can be dressed up or down and made suitable for work or play.
A dark wash jean can always be dressed up for the office setting. Pair them with a mock neck and blazer and you are ready for the job. They can also be paired with a nice button down and a sweater or vest. It is also a good idea to break your suits into pieces. The slacks can be worn with a more casual shirt and no tie or the Jacket can be worn as a sports coat over Jeans. Cap your outfit off with the right pair of shoes or boots and you are ready for work. Though you are dressing casually, sneakers and flip-flops are never the shoe for the work place.
"Clothing is no longer just a functional necessity but expresses one’s personality, taste and style."