Sleep and skin

It is during the night that our skin restores itself from the effects of daily stress. When we do not get the required sleep, our skin suffers. This is especially noticeable in the fragile skin under the eyes. The under-eye skin is almost 50 per cent thinner than the skin on the face. Sleepless nights leave behind fine lines, dark circles and puffy bags. Cosmetic treatments can soften the effects of sleep deprivation but preventive medicine is the best cure. Eye treatments are limited in their ability and cannot reverse stress marks that lack of sleep cause on the skin.

Sleep experts say that we need eight hours of sleep every night—the best time being between 10pm and 3am. However, the latest research shows that men and women average six hours and forty minutes of sleep during the week and seven hours on  weekends. This means we generally sleep a lot less than is required. If you can’t sleep well naturally, there are some things you can do to sleep well.

Sleep inducers

Sometimes you need to make an effort to ensure that you have a peaceful and sufficient sleep. Here are some things that will help:

Serene ambience: Often the surrounding noise is responsible for a disturbed sleep. So, the first thing you do is to ensure that you create a serene atmosphere conducive for sleeping. For that, eliminate disturbing noises like that of the clock, fan or AC. Any noise in the bedroom itself should be low and consistent. If you live in a noisy neighbourhood, wear earplugs.

Computers and televisions should ideally be left out of the bedroom. Watching television before you fall asleep will over-stimulate your brain leading to a disturbed sleep. Keep your room dark and cool. A bright room can be darkened using opaque fabric for curtains on your windows. If that is not possible, use eyeshades.

Pillow talk: Even your pillow may affect the quality of your sleep. Use natural-fill pillows such as those with soft, fine feathers as they are most adjustable. If you suffer from back pain, put a pillow between your knees for a more comfortable sleep. Get a queen-sized mattress if you don’t sleep alone. Give yourself room to move.

Routine rest: Establish a regular sleep routine. Our bodies work better when they are set on a regular schedule of sleep and wakefulness. Plan a time to wake up every morning, no matter what time you go to bed the night before.

Relaxing measures: Having a relaxing, warm bath before you go to bed will help induce sleep. Get a guided mediation CD that will lull you into peaceful sleep. Counting your blessings [no matter how small] evokes feelings of satisfaction which help you sleep better. You can also try some aroma therapy to initiate slumber. Sprinkle a little lavender oil on a pillow close to where you sleep or put a few drops on a cotton bud and place close by.

If you fret during the night or make the next day’s to-do list in your head, write your tasks and worries down so you can deal with them in the morning. You’ll be amazed at how well this works.

Sleep demons

Now that you know how to help prepare for a peaceful sleep, learn to eliminate habits that do the opposite. Avoid napping during the day; a fifteen-minute nap can be a pick-me-up but anything longer will interfere with a good night’s sleep. Stimulants such as, cigarettes, alcohol and caffeine [coffee and cola], will activate your system and keep you awake if consumed four or five hours before going to bed.

This was first published in the April 2009 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

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Essentially, how others judge us has more to do with how we look than who we really are. This is not necessarily fair, but it is reality. The good news is: we have control over the image we project to the world and how others view us. Change what you wear and how you wear it. Learn power dressing.

Power dressing explained

Beginning in the late 1970s and continuing into the1980s, ‘power dressing’ was a term used to reflect a style of clothing worn by women in particular but men as well to look competent and authoritative. The style was influenced by popular television shows at that time, and was followed by influential people and people in the public eye.

The concept was popularised by the book Dress for Success by John T Molloy in 1976. It is during this decade that the connection between success and image was made. Women and men began to pay attention to their image and style of dress to move up the corporate ladder and to convey an impression of assertiveness and competence. From it emerged a style of dressing, aimed at giving the wearer an appearance of more power. Women power dressers or who ‘dressed for success’ donned themselves in clothes made from expensive materials such as silk and wore jackets that had a masculine shape.

Today, things have changed. Although image is still an important part of appearance and moving ahead in a career, the styles are less rigid and have more variety and colour. Also, the idea of power is beginning to change. Power is no longer seen as an outward force, but as an internal strength.

Power dressing for men

The original term ‘power dressing’ for men was less distinctive and leaned more toward a more expensive business suit. Today, power dressing for men focuses on a sharp, clean, polished look. The first step in power dressing is to take into consideration your working environment and the image you want to present. For example, a man who is the president of a bank will want to communicate that he is intelligent and trustworthy. He is delivering a different message than a man who works in a training and consulting company and wants to make a statement about commitment. Both will want to be impeccably dressed, but in a way, that demonstrates their messages.

The second step is to take care of details; details make the difference. Always choose quality clothing items. This says you care about yourself and you make good choices. Don’t misinterpret this to mean you should visibly wear designer labels. It could send a totally different message—the message that you are unsure of yourself and are trying to appear confident. For men, power dressing means always dressing appropriately and staying well-groomed.

Power dressing for women

Today power dressing is less severe and more polished, colourful and friendly. The idea is not to dress for authority and push to the limit, but to let others see that you are competent and reliable. The business professional look [for those who work in banking, law or government] still includes a classic suit in a solid colour, such as, navy, dark brown, black, grey or pinstripe. The lines are softer and colours are more acceptable.

An informal professional look includes wearing colourful jackets, sweaters and blouse styles. You can also wear print dresses and skirts combined with tailored jackets and sweaters.

It is important to be aware of your company’s dress code when selecting your wardrobe. Look at what the top brass in your company wears to make decisions about what you should wear and ask yourself this question, “What message do I want to portray”?

Power dressing with colour

In business settings you can use colour to create an impression of power, understanding or security. Generally, the darker the colour of the suit the more authority is bestowed upon the wearer. For example, navy is the universal colour for authority and power. This is a great colour to wear when making business presentations. Charcoal is a colour that creates a sense of security. It is a colour worn by those who want to be seen as honest and trustworthy. Earth tones create a feeling of understanding—a great colour to wear if you want to build rapport.

Colour is one of the most important aspects of looking great. The colours we wear have an effect on how we look and how others view us. Some colours have a calming effect while others arouse. For example, blue has a peaceful, calming effect, while red arouses. This is something to consider when choosing colours for your wardrobe and the occasion on which you will wear them. Wearing yellow will make you seem joyous; while blue creates a feeling of calm.

At the same time, the wrong colour will make your skin look dull, lines and wrinkles more apparent and dark circles darker. The right colours will make you look radiant, make your eyes sparkle and make the lines, wrinkles and dark circles less noticeable.

Colours are either warm or cool. For example, candy apple red is cool and rusty red is warm. If your skin has yellow undertones, you will look best in warm colours. Yellow will make your skin look radiant and your eyes shine. If your skin has blue undertones, you will look best in cool colours. Blue will make your skin look radiant and your eyes shine. Usually, we get drawn to colours that look best on us, but if we pay attention to how different colours blend with our skin tone we will make better colour choices.

Even though colour is divided into categories, you don’t have to be stuck in one, you can wear any colour as long it matches your skin tone.

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In addition to style, they have an indisputable power, when it comes to appearance. They can make us look taller, our legs look longer or shorter, our ankles look thick or thin; and above all, they have the ability to add the finishing touches to a great look.

Shoe rack staples

Women

When it comes to footwear, women have many more choices than men. This can be a good and a bad thing. Having more choices is great but having more choices makes knowing what to wear, a bit trickier. Shoes are an essential part of a pulled together look and not to be worn haphazardly.The sneaker is a must-have for any woman’s wardrobe. For physical activity, choose running or walking sneakers. Canvas sneakers or flat casual sandals are great to wear with shorts, capris, or cargo pants.

Pumps [low or medium heel, closed or open-toe] and sling backs, are suitable for business. A two-inch pump with a low vamp creates a longer looking leg and a stacked pump is the perfect fit for pants. High elegant heels and dressy sandals are appropriate for evening and festive occasions.The loafer looks best when worn with slim or straight leg jeans or pants. Do not wear loafers with long skirts or wide-leg pants.

Long boots can be worn with jeans, dresses or pants. Long or ankle boots can be worn with pants. Long boots look great when worn with skirts. Avoid having a gap between the top of your boot and your skirt. If there is a gap, cover it with a dark hose.

Shoes with a low vamp, such as pumps, create a longer-looking leg. Large clunky shoes and shoes with large bulky heels make small ankles and thin legs look smaller and out-of-balance because the largeness of the shoe overpowers the leg. Thin, delicate heels, thin soles and ankle straps, make thick ankles look larger. It is important to choose shoes that are congruent with ankle and foot size.

Men

Casual wear is an important part of every man’s lifestyle. When we think of casual dressing, we usually gravitate toward the sneaker. Sneakers come in many different styles. To look their best, they must be in harmony with the rest of the outfit.

Athletic sneakers, for instance, are meant for sports and are to be worn only with athletic shoes. If you are not involved in some sort of physical activity, then running shoes are not suitable.

The retro sneaker is meant for casual wear, usually worn with jeans. Retro sneakers come in a variety of colours, which makes them easy to fit into a casual wardrobe. Casual shoes, in the form of a lace-up-shoe with thin sole, loafers, the ankle boot, or moccasins are also suitable to be worn with jeans. The key is to make sure they match the outfit in colour and level of dress.

For business or formal occasions, the black dress shoe is the shoe of choice. Oxfords are good, all-round dress shoes. However, it is also important to own brown dress shoes to make matching easier. Wear black with black pants and suits and black or brown Oxfords with navy pants or suits. Brown shoes will automatically make your look appear more casual.

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The problem of having lots of clothes, none of which are suitable to wear is because of bad shopping habits. When you shop for clothes haphazardly, and impulsively without proper thought, your closet becomes a place of confusion. This is a predicament that continues to build unless dysfunctional shopping habits are replaced with well thought-out, organised routines.

When you change the way you shop, your closet changes too. You can wake up to a closet that inspires you to get dressed simply by following these guidelines:

1. Clear out and take inventory
2. Mix and match
3. Restock.

Clear out and take inventory

Begin by removing everything from your closet. Start this task when you have lots of energy and at least a day to do it. It is best to begin in the morning while there is natural daylight so that you can see colours better.

Prepare a space [box or bag] and separate your clothing into four piles:

• Items that are worn out, badly stained or unfit to wear: these are to be thrown out.
• Items that are too big, too small, too itchy, of the wrong colour, those you don’t like and those that you haven’t worn in a year or more: these are items that you give away.
• Items you like but require mending or altering; keep them.
• Clothing you like and looks good on you and items that need something to go with them to complete an outfit: they will go back in your closet.

Now you are left with only the clothing items you like and wear. The next step is to make a list of all the items you have. For example: black pants [2], white shirts [3], blue turtlenecks [2], black-print shirts [3], grey-tweed jacket [1] black skirts [2], grey pants [1].

Now that you have identified all the keepers, put them back into the closet and arrange them in an order where they can be easily found.

Mix and match

Take the list items you have and decide how many different looks you have by putting tops and bottoms together that match. For example, using the inventory mentioned above, adding a royal blue shirt [or royal blue blouse] will make three new outfits. The royal blue shirt can be worn with black pants and grey-tweed jacket, grey pants and grey-tweed jacket and black skirt and the grey-tweed jacket.

Make the same decisions using accessories. For example, taking into consideration the colours you have in your wardrobe [which shouldn’t just be different shades of one colour but several colours that suit you], you will be able to decide on the colour and type of accessory you will want to add.How many separates can you make into interesting looks by tying them together with a necktie or a scarf? Make a shopping list of all the items you need to complete outfits. It is much easier to make shopping decisions when you are looking at the clothes you have right now.

If not knowing how to coordinate is where you fall short, enlist the help of a friend or professional—basically, someone who knows.

Restock

The key to having a functional closet—from where everything gets worn—is to have items that fit well together and are easily seen. There is more than one way to organise a closet; however, the most popular way is by garment—a separate section for suits, pants, jackets, skirts and shirts. Hang ties on horizontal tie racks where they are easy to see. Put accessories in a place that is visible. Organise sweaters, knit shirts and jeans on shelves or store them in containers at the top of your closet.

Those who have functional closets have put time and effort into their wardrobes. Simply having an organised closet will not fix the problem of having nothing to wear, unless all the clothes in the closet are items that fit well, look great on you and are the one you like. When you have that settled, then is the time to add to it again and stay organised. Only add pieces to your wardrobe that look great on you and match at least three other items.

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This is how it works: clothing is created from fabric, And a fabric has colour and lines. The colour of an item of clothing can influence what we see by making the person wearing the clothing look smaller or larger. Also, our eyes automatically follow the lines of clothing. Depending on whether the lines are long, short or stop, we look either large or small. At any given time, there are more people who want to look slimmer than people who want to look larger. And if you are one of them, try these tricks to achieve your goal.

Fit facts

To look slimmer, wear clothes that fit properly. Jackets that are too big across the shoulders, sleeves that are too long, or waistbands that fall too low will make you look like you are wearing someone else’s clothes. Sometimes people try to look slimmer by wearing big clothes—women wear over-sized dresses and men wear ill-fitting jackets and pants—because they think it hides their weight. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Not only do they look larger, but they also draw attention to themselves by looking sloppy.

The same holds true for clothes that are too small. Tops that are too small across the chest, sleeves that are too short, pants that are too short, either in the leg or at the crotch, makes the person look larger.

Sometimes women who want to look slimmer try squeezing into dress a smaller than their size and this defeats the purpose. Tight clothing always makes you look larger. It is more flattering to wear clothes that fit well and glide over the body. Lines, not size is what you should be working at to camouflage your actual shape.

Line of vision

The eye naturally follows lines and all clothes have lines. When we say lines, here we are talking of necklines, pockets, sleeves and hems—lines of a clothing item and not the lines [patterns] of a fabric. For instance, a sweater that has v-neckline will draw the eye downward creating, the look of a longer neck, longer face and slimmer upper body. By contrast, a turtleneck creates a short, horizontal line that stops eye and makes the face appear fuller, the upper body bigger and the neck shorter. Using this concept alone you can create a slimmer upper body by sticking to tops with vertical lines that create the look of length; and by stashing the turtlenecks until you feel a little slimmer.

For men, vertical lines created by buttons in a double-breasted suit draw the eye outward and create a larger look. In contrast, a single-breasted suit, which has only one vertical line has a more slimming look. For tall, slim men who want to look larger, a double-breasted suit is better; men who want to hide their middle should go for a single-breasted style.

Colour concepts

Monochromatic colours [all the colours, tints and shades of a single hue] when worn together create a slim look because, as mentioned earlier, the eye follows lines. In this way, colour too can be seen as a line. When there is a change in colour, like when a white top meets a black bottom, the eye stops at the line where both colours meet. Whether you are male or female, this is something to consider if you have a large mid-section. Wearing the same colour from head-to-toe or wearing monochromatic colours does not interrupt the line our eyes follow and we look taller and slimmer.

A basic rule of colour is that black recedes and white advances. In clothing, this is important because it means that dark colour apparels make a person appear smaller and light colour ones make a person look larger.

You can even use dark colours to make specific portions of your body appear smaller. For example, if your shape is like a triangle with a larger lower body than upper body and you want your lower body to appear smaller, wear a light colour top with dark pants or skirt. Men with a large upper body and large mid-section can look smaller simply by choosing shirts and T-shirts in dark colours like navy, royal blue and burgundy.

Refrain from opting for black all the time and try using other dark shades. Wearing black to look slimmer is an over-used trick. Also, wearing too much black can appear dreary and can create a washed out look, if the you don’t back it with proper make-up.

Material world

The material of your dress also has an effect on your looks. Materials too, have a certain lightness or darkness. For example, cotton has a matte look and doesn’t reflect light so it cannot make you look large. Velour or satin has is shiny and will reflect light making you appear large. As it is with colour, when a material attracts or reflects light, it will make you look larger or slimmer depending on its properties.

Satin, velour, velvet, materials with sequins and iridescent colours have a reflective quality. The weight of a material also plays a part in adding or subtracting inches from your shape. Wool and fur are heavy materials so wool sweaters and fur jackets or large insulated coats will create the look of extra pounds.

Shoe shape

Even the shoes you wear can make a huge difference to your overall look. Shoes, like clothing, can be big and bulky, or thin and slim. And like clothing, shoes too have lines. The correct shoe can make your legs look slim, which will make you look taller. How can a shoe do this?

Every shoe has a vamp— the area from the toe upward or the front part of the shoe. If this area, the vamp, is short, like in pumps, more of your foot will show creating a longer looking leg. If the vamp is high, the leg appears to begin farther up, which will make the leg look shorter. The height of the vamp is of utmost importance when wearing dresses or skirts, where you’ll want your legs to appear long.

The colour of your shoes is also important in creating a longer line for the eye to follow. A shoe that is of the same colour family as your pants or skirt will create a longer line and a slimmer appearance. Shoes of a different colour break the line the eye follows and do just the opposite.

Also, to create a slimmer look, match the weight of your shoes with your outfit. If you choose to wear a linen or cotton suit, wear lightweight shoes. Large, clunky shoes draw attention and create an imbalance.

To create a longer, leaner look, men can choose shoes that are the same darkness or lightness of the pant. For example, black shoes with black pants.

To get started, evaluate your current wardrobe and replace clothes that are adding pounds to your look them with items that reveal a slimmer you.

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A radiant, youthful complexion is possible when you take care of your body from the inside out. Start following these simple steps of treating your body with respect and it will begin to respond in kind.

A Healthy Diet

A healthy, glowing skin is a product of what we put into our bodies.

What we put in our bodies shows on our skin. If you eat foods rich in fat and toxins, your skin will reflect that. Give your skin proper nutrition and it will glow. Nourishment for the skin comes from the inside in the form of vitamins and minerals. Eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. Dark green vegetables and orange fruit are the best because they are high in nutrients and fibre. No single food can supply all the nutrients that your body needs for optimum health; so eat a wide variety of foods to get all the nutrition.

Regular Exercise

Regular workouts help the skin by increasing circulation, improving delivery of nutrients to the skin cells and removal of potentially damaging toxins. Health experts say that regular exercise can reduce acne breakouts, by controlling the production of testosterone-related hormones. They also concur that it keeps wrinkles away by creating the conditions for making collagen. For those who don’t know, collagen production supports the fibres that keep wrinkles away.

Know Your Skin’s Enemies

Pollution, stress, smoking, overexposure to sun, and dieting, all have disastrous effects on the skin’s appearance. To protect your skin from pollution, wear a foundation; reduce stress through exercise, meditation and yoga; monitor the time you spend in the sun and avoid dieting and smoking.

Get Proper Rest

Getting 8 hours of sleep per night helps improve the texture and the luminosity of our skin. During the night, the skin is restored from the harmful effects of daily stress. When we do not get the required sleep, our skin suffers. This is especially noticeable in the fragile skin under the eyes. The under-eye area is almost 50 per cent thinner than the skin on the face. Sleepless nights leave behind fine lines, dark circles or puffy bags. Cosmetic treatments can soften the effects of sleep deprivation but prevention is the best cure. Eye treatments are limited in their ability because they cannot reverse the stress that lack of sleep causes to the skin.

Use Skin Care

Instead of searching for a miracle cream, use a skincare programme that is designed for your skin type. A proper skincare programme includes: a daily cleansing, moisturising and protection (foundation). Exfoliate twice a week to get rid of dead skin cells and to uncover softer, clearer skin. The skincare brand you use is not as important as being faithful to a skincare programme.

A healthy, radiant complexion is possible with the right amount of care and dedication. Make note of what changes you need to make, and implement a healthy skincare programme now. A radiant complexion will be your reward.

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Identify your values

There is no time like the present to make a change, and to live a life with inspiration and hope. Decide now to take your life into your own hands. Start by getting in touch with what you value. When you know your values you will have a good roadmap that will help you set a clear vision and identify what you need to live a happy, fulfilling life.

Your values, whether or not you have thought about them, guide how you live your life. If you have never been formally introduced to values, they are ideals that are important to you. A value is something that motivates you to move – it is also something that stirs you. For some people, it is money; for others, it is freedom, love, respect, and so on.

It is very important to get in touch with your values because when they are not clear – meaning, if you were asked your top three values you wouldn’t be able to name them with clarity and ease – they could be in conflict and lead to stress.

For example, you are a new parent and one of your top values is being a stay-at-home mom and raising your child. Another important value is your career and earning money. Since they are both strong values and you either work outside the home and take your child to daycare, or you stay at home with your child and let your career sit, there will be that inevitable conflict.

A person, who is not in touch with her values, will probably give up one for the other, feel totally stressed out and not know the reason. However, if she is in touch with her values, she will see the conflict before it arises and find a way around it.

When we are stressed and feel like we are working hard but not getting anywhere, one of the reasons could be that our life is not aligned with our values. If your values are unclear you run the risk of living with conflicting values, or worse still living by other people’s values and leading a stress-filled life.

How to interpret what happens to you

To live is to have challenges. The difference between the person who gets through them with little stress and those who suffer through, or never let go, is how they interpret the challenge.

When presented with a challenge you have a choice. You can think and worry about all that can go wrong and what it’s going to cost you; or, you can ask yourself, “Is there anything I can do about this?” If you answer this question with a “no”, then let it go. Whatever is going to happen, will happen. You can choose to feel good or bad. If the answer is “yes”, do all you can to remedy the situation. When you are working in the direction of positive change, simply immersing yourself in the action will make you feel better.

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Beautiful lips attract attention. In the 1940s, they went so far as becoming trademarks of some celebrities like Jean Harlow and Marilyn Monroe. Today, pop celebrities such as Gwen Stefani and Scarlett Johansson are being noticed for their perfectly pouty lips.

Luscious lips are not a luxury of only those who have the services of make-up artists. They are attainable by any woman, by following a few simple steps and avoiding common mistakes.

Lip preparation

The foundation for perfect looking lips is the smooth lip area. To keep lips smooth, begin by using a lip exfoliant and always wear lipstick, or lip balm. Keeping lips protected in cold, or hot, weather with lipstick, or lip balm, will prevent them from drying and becoming chapped.

Prepare lips for lipstick by creating a base with foundation. When you apply foundation to your face do not skip the lips. Foundation creates a perfect canvas to prepare your lips for lipstick.

Lip definition

Define lips with a lip liner pencil in a colour that is a little lighter and matches the shade of lipstick you have chosen. A lip liner pencil will keep your lipstick in place, define the shape of your lips, and can make your lips look larger, or smaller. Lip liner will also help prevent lipstick from bleeding. Use lip liner to outline the natural lines of your lips and then fill in your lip colour. Never go outside the natural lines of your lips to make your lips look larger or wear a heavy lip liner that can be seen after lipstick has been applied.

Start lining the lips first by defining the lip “V.” Move from the “V” to the corners of the mouth; then go to the middle of the bottom lip to each of the corners. After the lip has been defined, fill it in with colour using either lip brush, or a lipstick tube. If lipstick application is new to you, use a lip brush to do a neat job.

Choosing the right colour

Decide whether your skin tone is warm, or cool. Warm skin tones have yellow undertones and cool skin tones have blue undertones. To determine whether you are warm or cool, place a piece of gold and silver jewellery next to your face and decide which blends better. If the gold blends better, you have a warm complexion, and if the silver blends better you have a cool complexion.

Cool lipstick colours are: pink, raspberry, plum, cherry, crimson, and so on.

Warm lipstick colours are: coral, peach, russet, melon, salmon, and so on.

For great looking lips continue with touch-ups during the day.

If you are not used to wearing lipstick, it might take a while before you remember not to touch your lips. The plus side to having nice lips, aside from the obvious, is you will never be plagued by dry lips again, and over time they will become softer.

The post Great Looking Lips appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Workplace

All workplaces have commonalities and differences when it comes to the desired type of dress. It is your job as an employee or business owner to understand your company’s guidelines and the message you want to send. For example, accounting, banking and law require business dress; advertising and architecture, corporate creative; real estate, retail and the service industry require dress codes to which clients can relate; and, in medicine/healthcare, patients will feel much more comfortable with a doctor who is well-groomed. All industries have standards and guidelines. Whether you are an employee or business owner your success depends on how you are viewed and your appearance is a major component.

Take a casual approach

Office casual is an accepted mode of dress many companies; however recently, there has been a swing back to suits in certain industries. You need to check because the rules for casual attire are subject to tremendous company-to-company variance. At some, “casual day” is a Friday-only observance, where the dress code is slightly relaxed. At others, it’s shorts and sandals every day. The safest fashion rule for new employees to follow is dress about the same as your most conservatively attired co-worker. As a new hire, don’t try to “push the boundaries” of casual attire.

Wardrobe basics

Most people stand in front of their closet every morning not knowing what to wear. What do they do? They end up wearing the same reliable outfits they are used to – which is usually 20 per cent of their wardrobe. With a little planning, 100 per cent of their wardrobe can be utilised and with little effort. To get to this point requires a little work up-front, but will pay in the long term.

To get your wardrobe organised, start by getting rid of all the items that you haven’t worn in a year and, thereafter, start building a workable wardrobe. If you are starting a new job, changing careers, or simply deciding, to get your wardrobe under control, begin by buying the best classic items you can afford in year-round fabrics.

Dressing smart for women

A new wardrobe should consist of a jacket, skirt, pants, sari and salwar-kameez, in a solid, neutral colour such as navy, beige or black. These pieces should be bought together to ensure that they are all the same fabric and colour. Add a white blouse and two or three tops in your favourite colours and a print skirt and/or a print pant. With these items you will have several different outfits – jacket/pants and white blouse; jacket/skirt and white blouse; jacket/pants and green top; jacket/skirt and green top etc., You can then start adding jackets, pants and skirts that match.

Since your basic clothing capsule is a neutral solid colour, you can add a little pizzazz [depending on your industry] with colour and accessories. When your wardrobe consists of pieces that match, it is much easier to make wardrobe decisions.

Dressing smart for men

Start your wardrobe with formal shirts, trousers, ties, suit in dark grey, black or tan in a year-round midweight wool or wool blend; add a sport jacket. Sweaters and polo shirts are great additions for a business casual look. As your career and wardrobe progress your goal is to have two or three suits, a few sport jackets and pants and many shirts and ties.

Building a working wardrobe is an ongoing task that can be made easy through planning and organisation. When you decide you are ready to add more pieces to your wardrobe look at it as an investment in yourself. As a rule of thumb, each item you buy should match three other pieces in your wardrobe; they should also be well-constructed, easy to launder, and in a classic style.

What do your clothes say?

Is it true that clothes make the man or woman? Do people form an opinion about us based on the way we dress? I think so. Does that mean we should avoid any sense of individuality in the workplace? Of course not. But, some types of clothing are inappropriate for certain work environments. In addition, some work environments have a dress code that all who work there must follow. Sometimes you won’t find these dress codes in writing; but, if you look around you’ll find that all employees are dressed in a similar way.

Wardrobe essentials

• Choose styles that are comfortable – that do not itch or restrict movement
• All skirts should fall slightly above or below the knee for a most flattering look.
• Avoid fashion fads and do not wear flashy or noisy jewellery
• Always wear hose, or socks [for men]
• Wear closed shoes that have moderate heel height – nothing too high
• Avoid sleeveless tops and plunging necklines
• Keep fragrances to a minimum
• A full-length mirror is a must — always check the finished look before you leave home.

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The great thing about summer dresses is that they are always fashionable and seldom faddish. This means that each year adding one or two to your wardrobe will give you a great selection to choose from. Summer dresses also make getting ready a snap. Paired with a great pair of sandals you are on your way.

To get the most mileage and look your best choose dresses that are knee length, suit your body type, and are in your best colours.

Knee length dresses and skirts look best on all women. The reason is that a hemline that ends one-inch above, at, or below the knee reveals the most attractive part of a woman’s leg. Wearing dresses, or skirts, that are more than two inches above the knee is risky business – because, a lot depends upon on the occasion, the image you want to project, and the shape of your legs. Dresses or skirts that end mid-calf are equally as risky; in that, they sometimes create a dowdy look. Not always – but, only sometimes.

It is not a good practice to buy any item of clothing simply because it is on sale. This holds good for dresses too. Dresses chosen with your body type in mind will look terrific; whereas, a dress chosen only for the availability, price or fabric, will not only hide your assets, but will probably accentuate your less desirable parts.

There is no better time to wear exciting colours than warmer months. Use accessories – shoes, belts and handbags in your best colours to spice up neutrals. If you are unsure which colours look best on you put it near your face and look in a mirror. If it makes you look vibrant, it’s your colour; if not, keep looking. Pairing your favourite bright colours, with white, will also create winning combinations.

Cool white

White is a great neutral for hot seasons. It not only looks great but deflects heat while keeping you looking fresh and inviting.

Since white reflects light, wear it only in areas that you want to attract attention. For example, if you want to minimise large thighs or behind, don’t wear white bottoms with a dark top, since white will make the bottom look larger, especially when contrasted with the darker top. This doesn’t mean you can’t wear white. The trick is to wear it head-to-toe without drawing attention to any particular area. For example, wear a white top with white pants, or skirt, using colourful accessories to bring attention away from problem areas.

Black and white combinations are excellent creators of dramatic looks. Wear a white skirt with a black top, black shoes, white handbag and black/white necklace. Handbags and scarves that have black and white patterns will also add pizzazz to any all-white or all-black outfit. So, experiment!

Dressing for office

Dressing for the workplace is a challenge in the best of times, but becomes more of a challenge when faced with hot, humid temperatures. Many women view summer as a time of “baring it all,” which can be costly in a business environment where the high outside temperatures seem to over-ride common sense. Low necklines, short skirts, shorts, sandals, flip flops, bare arms, bare legs are better left to outdoor leisure activities. When inside, where the air-conditioning is keeping you cool, it’s more fitting to keep your clothing professional.

When temperatures rise, it is appropriate to make subtle changes in your wardrobe by whether it’s a day-camp or a weekend-away, adventure sports or robotic workshops, miles away or around the corner, camping gives students a fun outlet to learn and grow.

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