Check out this article from Forbes.com that provides great tips about dressing for the office.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/09/workplace-office-clothing-women-style_0209_suit.html
When buying a new wardrobe piece, determine its versatility by calculating its cost per wear. Cost per wear is the original cost of an item divided by the number of times or ways it can be worn.
Let’s say you find the perfect trench coat for $300. It is classic in design and neutral in color. This coat can be worn all year round and will be a wardrobe staple for years to come. During that year, even if you only wear it twice a month, its cost per wear would be $12.50.
Cost Per Wear: $300 Trench Coat/ 24 Times Worn = $12.50 Per Wear
Cost per wear is a helpful tool during the allure of a killer sale. A $60 top on sale that you can only wear twice might not be such a great deal. That top has a cost per wear of $30 and won’t help you figure out what to wear on a daily basis.
Calculating cost per wear is often thought of as an advertising tool to get people to spend more money that they normally would be comfortable doing. For me, it just makes good sense. It forces me to analyze the versatility of each item I buy to determine if it will be a good investment for my personal style, lifestyle, and wardrobe.
Charleston Style Concierge believes in the importance of creating a versatile wardrobe. Contact Charleston Style Concierge to get great versatile style.
Often, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Effortless style however, sounds good, is good, and can be true. Creating an effortless style takes some work and discipline, but the reward is a style that makes you feel confident, happy, and proud of who you are every day.
There are plenty of skeptics who don’t believe great style can truly be effortless. Yes, it takes effort to achieve effortless style, but a little effort upfront will make your life and style much easier on a day to day basis.
Imagine never having to try on three different outfits each morning before work. You could sleep in 30 minutes longer! Imagine if you didn’t have to frantically rush from store to store in search of something to wear for an unexpected social event? Life would be easier, and getting dressed would be EFFORTLESS!
Creating an effortless style isn’t about having a lot of money or a lot of clothes. You can create an effortless style simply by doing five things.
For help developing your own effortless style contact Charleston Style Concierge. We can help you develop your style in one hour with our Virtual Style Consultation. Feel great every time you walk out the door. Don’t settle for anything less.
Do you think your image doesn’t matter? Close your eyes and picture yourself in the produce isle of the grocery store, choosing apples. Without any real thought you pick up one apple after the other until you find the perfect one. Some of those apples may be bruised or old, but some of the ones you discarded simply had an image that negatively impacted you. Lucky for us, we can be aware of our image and make changes that ensure we put our best foot forward each and every day.
No matter your profession, age, or where you are going, image always matters. Like it or not, in our society we only get seconds to make a first impression. In that very brief time period people make split decisions and judgments about you that are hard to undo.
A big part of the image you portray comes from the clothing you wear. Coco Chanel said, “Dress shabbily and they remember the dress, dress impeccably and they remember the woman.” Wearing clothing that fits well, is age-appropriate, and shows your unique style will help you portray the image you desire.
What is your clothing saying about you? If you’re not sure, Charleston Style Concierge can help. Sign up for our monthly ezine and shape up your image with FREE style tips and tricks.
Add some excitement to your Valentines Day with the gift you really want:
EFFORTLESS STYLE.
Enter to win a
($100.00 Value)
Enter to win your Virtual Style Consultation.
During a 60-minute Virtual Style Consultation over the phone, we’ll discuss your style goals, answer your questions, and uncover the best way for you to get effortless style. We will use a style-assessment workbook and digital pictures you send to help develop the personal style you desire.
In your 60-minute Virtual Style Consultation, you’ll learn . . .
Here’s how it works: Using a style assessment and digital photos, we will help you determine the right clothing for your body type and easy ways to update your current wardrobe. All you need to do is fill out our style assessment, send photos, and show up for the call. It’s that easy.
Celebrate you this Valentines Day and enter to win.
Winner to be randomly chosen and announced on Valentines Day, February 14th.
GIFT CERTIFICATES ALSO AVAILABLE
1. There are mirrors everywhere. If you hate what you have on you will be less likely to keep a good spirit and finish your workout.
2. A lot of stylish active wear has wicking technology to keep you cool and dry.
3. There are other people there!
4. Choosing workout clothes that don’t make you feel good about your body will deflate your motivated spirit.
5. Style always matters because it gives you the confidence to conquer anything, including that really hard workout.
Until I met Mel, with Virtual Fitness Coach, I would not have believed that I a)needed a personal trainer or b) could afford one. I started working with Mel about a year ago and discovered why I never got the results I wanted even though I was regularly going to the gym. He creates workouts that keep me coming to the gym and ensures that I will see results if I’m willing to put in the effort. I interviewed Mel so you too could get some insight into the best way to live a healthy and active lifestyle.
Lee: “Mel, tell us a little bit about yourself and why you started Virtual Fitness Coach.”
Mel: “I’ve experienced what most people who want to lead a fit and healthy lifestyle have experienced. I’ve allowed work and life to get in the way of exercise and healthy nutrition. I have been severely overweight and unfit. Not anymore. I learned what I need to do and have practiced and preached that for the last ten years. Now as I approach my 50th birthday, I’m fitter than most people half my age.
While working as a personal trainer, I realized that for every person who can afford to hire me one on one, there are thousands of others who need my knowledge and skills that can’t afford to hire me. That’s when I set out to ‘virtualize’ myself and create an affordable option for the masses through Virtual Fitness Coach.”
Lee: “What is the best way to lose weight and get fit?”
Mel: “There really isn’t one ‘best way’ to lose weight or get fit. I think the biggest challenge to losing weight or getting fit is acknowledging the fact that it’s a permanent thing in your life. A little like children! If my 16 month old son decides to get up an hour earlier than planned, I can’t just ignore him because I’ve got something else I need to do. The same goes for eating healthy and exercising. When you acknowledge the fact that what you do or don’t do today for your health and fitness affects your future quality of life, you’re on your way.”
Lee: “You are a busy entrepreneur, a father, a husband, AND a personal trainer. What kind of advice can you give to help people make fitness a lifestyle choice they keep forever?
Mel: “You can’t let your life keep you from exercising. Over the last 25 years, there have been a few years where you would barely recognize me because I was so fat! And now as I hit 50, I’m in the best shape of my life. I’m able to look back at the mistakes I made and see that I allowed my life to get in the way of exercise. Today I’m ten times busier and in great shape compared to my fat days. So there’s something missing from that observation. Simply stated, it’s goals. And by goals I mean something with an end point that you work towards. I just signed up for the ING half marathon in Atlanta at the end of March. So did my wife. Which means we’d better get running!”
Lee: “How can you get fit if you can’t afford a gym membership?”
Mel: “Sometimes joining a gym isn’t the best option. Especially if you can only go at peak hours when parking is impossible and you’re fighting for equipment. It makes the decision not to go and work out a lot easier. But if you buy just a few simple items such as: resistance bands, a jump rope and a pedometer you can have some of the best workouts you could ever imagine. Just ask some of my clients who I take outside to jog/walk and exercise with resistance bands.
Lee: “I’ve heard a lot of people say they don’t lift weights because they are afraid they will bulk up. Is this true?”
Mel: The old saying among trainers is “abs are made in the kitchen”. Which means if you want to lose weight and have a flat belly then the majority of your effort should be focused on what you eat. It’s even more of an issue if you want to ‘bulk up.’ In my 30 years of training I’ve helped less than 5 women gain muscle size. And all of them came to me with that as their primary goal. And they all realized that for them to get bigger it was a simple matter of eating more food than they could ever have imagined. So, if you’re leery about lifting weights and bulking up just take a look around a gym and seek out the girls with the best physique and I can bet you they are the ones lifting the heaviest weights.
Lee: “Why hire a personal trainer?”
Mel: “The best way to describe what it’s like to hire a personal trainer is to use a GPS device as an analogy. A GPS takes the guesswork out of the equation. You plug in your destination and then sit back and relax as this voice guides you until you’ve reached where you want to go! That’s a trainer. Whether that’s one on one, or as a virtual coach.
Jessica, an activewear expert, and owner of Looking Glass Outfitters, weighs in on some Dos and Don’ts of what to wear while working out.
Activewear should be comfortable and allow you to move freely, but there is no reason it can’t be attractive and stylish. Today’s activewear allows you to pop in the store or meet a friend for lunch right after yoga, still looking and feeling great. Fabrics containing synthetics like Supplex and Lycra will wick moisture during your workout and keep their shape and color through repeated washings.
Activewear Dos
-Pair clothes that flatter your body type, allow you to move freely, and do not expose more than you should.
-Don’t be Joe the Plumber. Pants should stay put as you bend and stretch, ensuring a comfortable and flattering fit through out your workout.
Activewear Don’ts
-Dressing like a frump. Just because you are exercising, don’t let your personal style go out the window. Pair the outfit smartly, and you won’t panic when an impromptu errand or coffee date pops up.
-Wearing regular bras when you need a sports bra. Even if you wear an A or B cup, it is distracting to tug on bra straps while you exercise. Find a sports bra that is comfortable and offers the support you need for your cup size and activity level.
-Expose endless numbers of straps. Today’s sports bras and tops allow you to show off your best features -toned arms and abs- without the distraction of unnecessary straps.
Check Out:
Consider this jacket a chic replacement to your tired old hoodie or sweatshirt. The smooth-faced fleece exterior won’t attract piles of pet hair like the fleece of yesteryear and the princess seams keep your outerlayer both flattering and out of the way for freedom of movement.
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This pant combines Supplex and Lycra to offer great moisture management, yet the cut – semi fitted in hips and looser in legs ensures a clean, modern silhouette that still allows you to do the trickiest of yoga poses.
· Sleeve Length Long sleeves on a shirt should stop just below your wrist bone. If you are wearing a jacket or blazer the sleeve should stop right in the middle of the meaty part of your thumb.
· Sloppy Shoulders Shoulder seams on a garment should be AT your shoulder. A common fit problem is a shoulder seam that hits below the shoulder, causing a sloppy ill fitting look.
· Jacket Length If the fit of your jacket is the wrong length it can distort the way your body looks. For example, a jacket that is too long will make your legs look shorter, making you look shorter. A good rule of thumb is for your jackets to be no longer than a few inches below your hip bone.
· Shirt Gaps A button front shirt should not pull or gap. If you have a larger chest this is probably a common fit problem for you. Buy the size that fits your chest. If the rest of the shirt is too big, a tailor can size it down for you.
· Pant Length Hem your pants to be ¾ of an inch from the ground helping give you a long and lean leg line.
· Waistband Gap This is a very common problem for curvy women. The gap in the back of your waistband can be taken in by your tailor. Buy your pants to fit the widest part of you and take in the waist.
· Mind Your Rise The fit of the crotch, or rise, of a pant can make or break your look. If you get a lot of pulling and wrinkling across your crotch, your pants are too small. If you get a lot of excess fabric around the crotch area your pants are too big.
· Uneven Skirt Hem Your skirt should have the same length hem all the way around. The curve of our bum can hike up the back of a skirt. Make sure you look at yourself in a mirror from front and behind to combat this fit problem. Consult your tailor and discuss letting the hem out in the back of the skirt or shortening the front.
Remember that great fit is the first step to having great style. Everyone has one fit challenge so discover how to combat yours. For help determining proper fit for your body contact Charleston Style Concierge.
Do you envy the woman who always looks stylish and put together no matter what? You know the woman, the one who looks like she spent hours getting ready with a stylist and tailor at the ready. You will be surprised to find out that many of your style icons (I’m talking real world style icons. Your co-worker, the neighbor, your best friend.) are able to get dressed in minutes with minimal effort, and look fabulous.
A Perfect Fit. Without fit you have no style. A trendy blazer that is too big will look shlumpy and outdated. The same blazer too small makes appears as if you are trying too hard, and will remove the chic sophistication from an outfit. Learn about your body type and dress it appropriately. It is sometimes hard to see our bodies for how they really are. Get advice from a personal stylist or ask a trusted friend to help you examine the fit of your clothing.
Embrace Your Personal Style. Stylish women own their look and exude confidence because of it. Take note of the style and type of clothing that makes you feel like you can conquer the world. This is your personal style. If the trendy item of the month doesn’t fit your personal style, it will just look silly on you. Find a style that makes you feel sexy, confident, and proud. Then embrace it, that’s your style, and what makes you unique.
Flaunt your Assets. The put-together women of the world know what their best and worst body features are. Nobody is perfect, and everyone has at least one hang up about their body. Stop dwelling on the parts you don’t like and flaunt the parts you do. As you study how to play up certain assets you will learn how to downplay you least favorite body parts, and stop worrying about them.
Create a Versatile Wardrobe. French women are a great example of how chic a versatile wardrobe can be. Walk the streets of Paris and you will find women who put together fabulous outfits with fewer pieces than hang on your husband’s side of the closet. Examine your lifestyle and then purchase wardrobe pieces that can be mixed and matched to make different outfits.
Accessorize. Accessories are one of the most important parts of your outfit. The right accessory is the missing link between you and your style icon. Learn to accessorize with unique pieces that compliment an outfit. Add pizzazz to a boring outfit with a colored shoe. Carry a handbag in a pseudo-neutral color like purple, pink, or burgundy. It goes with everything and will save you time from changing back and forth.
Effortless style isn’t just for celebrities. Change how long it takes you to get dressed and feel good every time you walk out the door. For help creating your effortless style contact the Charleston Style Concierge.
More often than not, each piece of your brand image was created when you needed it, but not altogether in a strategic fashion. Your image may look fine, but does fine help you grow?
Eventually as you scale, your image foundation cracks, and the way your business presents itself no longer helps propel growth – costing you time and money to fix.
When you unlock your brand power, you get to pick and choose how people perceive you and your brand.
Our Image Mastery System™ takes the 5 key brand components that you already have and ties them together in a way that amplifies your results and achieves your vision.
