Wearing White...When and How to do it Right

Today I was wearing white slacks, a white & black short-sleeved neck-tied blouse, with white pointy toed pumps and a black blazer. My colleague said she doesn't  wear white because she didn't think it fit her. I disagreed. No one really knows the source of the Memorial Day to Labor Day rule for wearing white, but it does appear that us fashion conscious divas from the South adhere to these rules more strictly than other women in other parts of the country. But this is the 21st Century and we shouldn't dwell on old-fashioned rules, should we? 

 

Experts tell us if adhering to traditional fashion guidelines is important to you, then you should select the right shade of white that fits your needs. However, in today's quickly evolving style world, there's no true reason to adhere to these rules.

There was a time when people stuck to the rule that white clothing was only "permitted" between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Of course this was in the summertime when you attended picnics, barbeques and lived a general carefree way of life during the spring and summer months. This rule however, is as old as disco and beehive hairstyles, because the fashionable, especially young people who may wonder, "Why is white not okay to wear after Labor Day?" In my opinion it is okay to wear white any day of the week January to December if you choose the right color scheme. BUT! If you're a traditionalist or just like sticking to style guidelines, even if many believe them to be outdated, or if you're afraid of showing up in white to the wrong event, then you should follow these, "when to wear white" rules:

• Don't wear a white dress or anything else white to a wedding. The only woman in white should be the bride.
• 
  Wear off-white, cream or beige in cool weather. Winter white is O.K. too!
• If you're in warmer weather with 80 degree weather or a tropical environment, and even in winter months, you can pull off wearing white year round.
• Wear the right shoes. Wearing a white or cream colored spring/summer dress with black heavy pumps could be a disaster. Stick to a lighter tan or other light color shoe.
• Avoid white clothes in city environments and bustling cities where public transportation is a must, such riding the subway, buses, taxis, these modes of transportation usually come with dirty seats, leaving your white clothing stained.

Just remember that white is a cool and trendy color that you can wear throughout the year, and can be an unforgiving color if it is not put together properly. So get out there and try something new.

Manhattan and all its Glory!

I am almost always fascinated by the sights and sounds of Manhattan when I'm walking around the busy bustling streets, especially Mid-town near Grand Central Station. I had lunch with my BFF at Le Pain. I was so happy to see and admire her glitzing and beautiful engagement ring. So happy for her.

After our lunch we took a stroll back down Madison Avenue to 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue. I visited a few more friends at the historic library in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.

 

Then I was off to Grand Central to catch my train home. I snapped a few photos.

Lunch with my newly engaged BFF at Le Pain

Outside Grand Central

Inside Grand Central

You Are What You Wear

We're here at the Dutchess Regional Chamber Contact Breakfast at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel. Dee looks great. I like what she's wearing, because it is quite appropriate for a networking event, which included awards and influential speakers. Her scarf is colorful and bright, and draws you in while highlighting a beautiful smile. She paired her black slacks with a long white cardigan, which brings this ensemble together effortlessly.

The way I like to think about fashion is, if the person took the time to really look at what they're wearing and how it may appear to others. Also, you should feel good in whatever you put on. Whether its a red coat, ice blue shoes, a pink scarf, or a dress with Swarovski crystals. Because you are what you wear. What do your clothes say about you?

 

When you walk down the street or are out in public, what kind of attention are you attracting? Do people smile, stare, point at you and laugh, look away, or simply ignore you altogether? People judge a book by its cover, like it or not. This may not seem fair, but people develop an immediate impression of who you are simply by the clothes you wear.

Clothes tell a story about your personality and how you are likely to be perceived by others.

The Worst Fashion Trends of the Last Decade

In the past decade, the movies, stage and television have influenced many of the fashion trends that have made their way into the general public and our wardrobe decisions when it comes to work attire, party wear, and casual wear. Some of the trends we saw weren't that bad. Some were downright fabulous. Then there are these fashion trends. Collect these faux-paux fashions in a box and submerge them in 10,000 feet of water somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle. Goodbye tacky, drab, baggy, ill-fitting clothing. Time to go to the big fashion graveyard in the sea. 

Clogs and Parachutes are out, never to return. I remember wearing my jeans with leg warmers over them (I've come a long way since then). When I think back now, it was just hideous! Now I'm saying we should never have these trends return, but when should not bring them back in the same state as we left them back in the last decade. Hopefully they won't come back ever, but if they should, how about a new updated version. Fashion is a prelude to the future and not some awful trend like the "mom jean" era. It must be original and not a copy of the awful fashion trends of the past.

One Side Flip

Neck Beard

Movies With Great Fashion

Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of the best in style, I think, and Audrey Hepburn was the style icon in that movie. Her looks were drop dead gorgeous and flawless. That film was packed with classic, simple but glamorous fashions. The most famous original “Little Black Dress” can be credited to this film! A total classic that I watched over and over again.

Movies have always taken us deep into the world of fashion. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is one of those iconic movies. Givenchy made Audrey Hepburn a style icon. Her looks are characterized by simple breathtaking pieces combined with glamorous accessories. She had a classic style of elegance and simplicity in all its glory. 

Some have written and many believe that during the 1920s and 1930s, with the rise in popularity of Hollywood movies, screen idols became role models for the masses. Most major fashion trends no longer were dictated only by the top Paris-based fashion houses. The clothes and hairstyles worn by glamorous movie stars, both on and off the screen, grabbed the attention of American and European moviegoers and launched countless fashion fads. Outfits worn in movies were quickly copied by retailers. A woman who found a dress or gown worn in a movie appealing could purchase a low-priced copy in a department store or from a Sears catalog. Magazines published clothing patterns based on film costumes, allowing women to sew their own Hollywood-style fashions.  

Every season, the runway’s fashion trends can be traced to the influences of a particular decade. Last summer was all about ’70s clothing and this winter we were wearing styles reminiscent of ’60s fashion. 

But when it comes to current trends, it’s thanks to influences in television and film, such as the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, AMC's Mad Men, Golden Globe winning silent film The Artist, The Great Gatsby remake, and American Hustle that we’re seeing a revival of these clothing trends today.

Fashion and Your Career

According to Beauty and Style:

Messages are sent through clothing wherever you go. Whether you are out with friends for the evening, working out at the gym, or just plain working at the office, what you wear makes a statement about who you are. Your employer's interpretation of what your wardrobe has to say can have serious implications on your career -- both positive and negative. In fact, according to a recent study released by OfficeTeam, a staffing agency that polled senior corporate executives, 93% of managers say that how you dress at work influences your chance of a promotion.

 

Your clothing choices greatly impact how professional people perceive you to be. The amount of work you put into your work wardrobe will prove that you are ready for a professional career. Wearing blazers, collared shirts and well-tailored pants show that you are committed and responsible.

 

This does not mean that you can't dress in trendy clothing or looks that can easily transform from day to night; just be careful about showing too much skin or dressing like you are still in college.