Today’s clothing choices are driven by the fashion industry, media and celebrities. It’s rarer to see folks dress their age. Instead, we see folks who try to look younger when they really can’t mask their age any longer. Of course, you have the opposite situation—people who try to look older. They end up looking like kids playing dress up or looking just plain silly.
We saw one of the young female stars at the Oscar’s last night who tried to dress older. It only made her look younger and a bit foolish. I will say 99% of the stars including men, looked age appropriate. I especially liked that the men wore the correct cut tuxedo (jacket and lapels) for their age and body type. I also liked how we saw every man over 40 wearing a properly tied bow tie – no clip ons.
So, it does not matter what the occasion is. You will always look smarter when dressing age appropriate.
It is amazing how someone’s facial expression can affect us. Also, it can give you some insight about what they are thinking.
Recently in the “Live” section of the Chicago Tribune, Julianna Margulies, who stars in the CBS show, The Good Wife, was measured for facial expressions and eye movements. She engages the audience so thoughtfully that she connects her viewers to her and to the character.
As I mentioned in one my recent blogs, Bill Clinton locks his eyes on whomever he’s speaking with. This, plus his facial expressions and manner, places the conversational partner at center of his universe.
We know for a fact that when a complete stranger smiles at you, it can make your day. At the same time, the person who looks right through you sends the signal you are invisible, which can make you feel worthless.
So, we want our facial expression to be one that suggests to others that you might be a good person to know.
A belt is a flexible band, typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worn around the waist. A belt supports trousers or other articles of clothing, and it serves for style and decoration. Belts have been documented for male clothing since the Bronze Age. Both sexes used them off and on, depending on the current fashion, but it was a rarity in female fashion with the exception of the early Middle Ages, late 17th century Mantua, and skirt/blouse combinations between 1900 and 1910 (from wikipedia.org/wiki).
Today the belt has become a fashion accessory. They come in many shapes, colors and fabrics. For women, wide belts look best on thin bodies if the belt is a different color. If you do not have a thin shape, choose a belt that is the same color as the outfit you are wearing.
For men, it is always about the buckle. Simple is better for professional dress. If you’re seeking fun, go for it with various sizes and color.
Your belt choice should always be a fashion statement not a fashion disaster.
How many times have we made mistakes or hurt someone’s feelings to the point where we had to apologize for our transgressions? Apologies have credibility only if they’re followed by consistent actions.
An apology, whether by Tiger Woods or by a person who is always late, will only be valued if the offenses are not repeated. Of course, the words of the apology have to be meaningful and sincerely delivered.
So, when you make a mistake, apologize with sincerity and back it up with the appropriate action.
