Overdoing Black in Your Wardrobe

I recently did I style analysis and wardrobe audit for a woman who works in a conservative financial company. Her wardrobe was predominately black. While this is certainly a great color for the conservative environment that she worked it, it was not actually best color for her individual coloring. With her warm skin and hair color I advised her to add tops and even scarves to wear under her jackets with touches of colors like coral, aqua, warm red, yellow, apple green, camel and beige. Wearing warm toned jewelry such as a gold chain, warm toned pearls, and stones in earth tones would also lessen the effect of black next to face. Note how the blond pictured here in a Carlisle jacquard black suit has a scoop necked top under her jacket allowing her skin to show and a gold toned necklace to accent her hair color.

Personally, I also have a warm Spring's coloring. When I wear black I never have it near my neck. I wear a darker eyeliner and deeper eye shadow. In addition I usually wear a soft red lipstick and deeper shade of blush. Without intensifying my usual makeup I look washed out in black.

So while black is such a basic neutral in many women's wardrobes, it may not be your best neutral. You may want to consider navy blue or chocolate brown as a base for mix n matching.

Wardrobe Planning Math

When I give corporate presentations and discuss wardrobe planning, I often suggest that you do some math. If you live in a warm climate like Southern California, and you were building a jacket or suit wardrobe you would need mainly transitional weight garments. That is, fabrics that can be worn most of the year. Therefore if you had 5 jackets, 3 should be transitional, 1 should be for cool weather, and 1 for hot weather. That's a proportion of 3:1:1. This formula would change according to the climate you live in. It should also help when you are doing a closet audit and deciding what to eliminate or add.

The jacket illustrated is a good transitional piece. With a white scoop neck tank, white pants and open toe shoes, it would be a great summer look. With a navy turtleneck, navy skirt, tights and boots, it would now be a great winter look. As pictured here with the navy pants or with a navy skirt and pumps instead of sandals, it's a perfect year round business look.

What to Wear at a Job Interview

The photo here shows a very feminine business suit with it's belted waist, the scoop neckline and 3/4 length sleeves. Minus the fashion gloves, could it work for an interview? Well that depends on the company's culture and the position you are applying for. If the company was very conservative with men in suits this would work with pumps and conservative earrings. Dangling earrings would distract. Perhaps the hair might be pulled back.

If the company was more polished business casual, the jacket belted with black classic pants would be less formal. At a very informal company you could wear the skirt with a black cardigan set. If the company was in the artistic field, the jacket with a wide belt, slim cut pants and fashion heels might be the look. Regardless you need to research the company culture and dress code before going to an interview.

Professional Women and Hosiery

To wear or not to wear? I am often asked this question at my corporate trainings. The answer depends on your business culture and clientele. In some conservative cultures like the financial fields older executives, managers, and clients would expect hosiery to be part of the traditional attire package. Women wear hosiery and men wear socks with their suits.

This said, hosiery sales are down as the younger generation is going without hosiery. Personally I tend to go without hosiery in the summer especially, though never professionally. Once my legs loose their tan I still like how hosiery hides alot of the blemishes on my legs. Plus with certain outfits I need the body sculpting pant hose provide.

I like to stock up and often order on line. Here are a few sites:

http://www.barenecessities.com/

http://www.onehanesplace.com/