You are receiving this electronic newsletter because either you asked me to include you, you have participated in one of my workshops, or you are a valued client and want to be kept up to date. Thank you for your interest in the topic of Professional Presence, which is a passion of mine.

My communications with you will always offer advice, tips and tools for looking, behaving, and feeling your professional best. I’m always happy to answer a question you may have so please feel free to ask. You may contact me at mlgellatly@powerful-presence.com and in the subject line, please state “E-Zine Question”. I will do my best to answer your question in the next issue of Your Powerful Presence.

Call/email Marion today at 831.625.2000 or
mlgellatly@powerful-presence.com with any questions.

Is Your Wardrobe Ready for a Summer That Is Hot, Hot, Hot?

Your pastels and ice cream colors are emerging as temperatures rise. Heat and humidity is dictating your attire, forcing you to confront that difficult issue: how to keep a professional look in spite of the warmer weather.

From the moment you wake up in the morning, think light. Pare down the layers, lighten up the fabrics and cool down or lighten up your colors. Wear lightweight, but not sheer, fabrics in either knits or weaves. For men and women alike, think natural fibers that breathe, like tropical weight wools, silks and fine cottons. These are always cool -- both in terms of the look and how they deflect the heat.

Summer is still a time for suits, but underneath wear upscale cotton fine-gauge tanks and shells. Silk blouses, which do breathe, still get damp and cling. Knit shells don’t…and they never wrinkle or look messy. Twin sets are also a great option. With the cardigan on, they look nearly as finished as a jacket, but much cooler. And you don’t have the synthetic sleeve lining sticking to your moist arms.

Avoid anything with major wrinkles, like linen, for business. And, to prevent wrinkling, be sure to remove your jacket or cardigan before getting in your car. Do what the smart businessperson does: keep a hanger in your car and remember to use it for your jackets.

Color makes a definite difference. Light-value neutrals like white, sand, tan, pale blue and pale gray look and feel cooler than dark ones. Warm or cool pastels are also cooler than their darker counterparts. If you must go dark, stay with the cooler side of the color wheel…cool greens, blues and violets if they look well on you.

Lighten up on your accessories. Ladies, put away the scarves as well as heavy bracelets and necklaces. The less you have near your skin, the cooler you’ll feel.

When dressing professionally, hose are a must. But for a lighter and cooler look, abandon black and navy in favor of a slightly dark nude shade. In more casual business environments, feel free to ditch the hose. Although they are not cool, body shaper nylons make for a trim silhouette, keeping fabrics from clinging to flesh and looking hot and sticky.

As for your feet, sandals may seem coolest -- but shoes that cover the toes look more professional. Open back is fine, however.

Summer is also the time for business socials. Never forget that though the occasion may be a picnic or a barbeque -- it is still business.

The casual look for men is classic, yet stylish, as khaki twill or chino trousers or shorts paired with a knit polo shirt, denim shirt or a short sleeve silk or cotton shirt (all should be clean, pressed and free of fading). Finish the outfit with a braided leather belt, loafers, dock shoes or leather sandals. Stay away from jeans and t-shirts.

It may not be fair, but it is true: women derive much of their credibility from professional clothing. It's vital to consider your attire, even at casual business/social functions.

This means: No jeans or t-shirts. No sheer fabrics, plunging necklines, cleavage, spaghetti straps, tube tops, short shorts, skin-tight styles or overalls. Bras are a must and modesty is expected. If you choose a sleeveless sundress, throw a shirt or cardigan over it. In serious outdoor heat, you can tie the cardigan over your shoulders instead of wearing it. Denim skirts, jumpers, or dresses are appropriate, as are slacks and walking shorts.

Just a few more cool tips: for tough perspiration, try “Certain Dri”, www.certaindri.com for more information. It also helps to carry an atomizer to mist your face, or I use Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner which is a hydrating spritz that increases you skin’s own moisture level as it smooths the surface. Go to www.dermalogica.com for more information. In additional, always stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.

Then relax and be cool as you enjoy the warm weather.

White is White, or Is It?

Especially during summer months, we love to include white shirts and blouses in our wardrobes. But, are all whites created equal? No! Whites can be pure, and they can be soft or creamy. Which white is best for you?

Pure whites usually look better on an individual who has all or some cool coloring. For example, pink skin tone; blue or blue-green eyes; black, white, gray, or taupe brown hair. I also like pure white on summer-tanned skin. Creamy whites look better on individuals that have all or some warm coloring to their skin, eyes or hair color. For example, peach, golden or olive skin tone; brown, olive or golden eyes; warm brown, golden blonde, or red hair.

But, the best rule of thumb is to choose whites that are keyed to the color of your teeth, eye whites, or skin tone. If your teeth have “yellowed” because of age or smoking, then a pure white shirt or blouse will make your teeth look even more yellow. Same with the white of your eyes. So, make sure you choose your whites carefully.

When to Avoid Wearing White:

• When you have minimal time and budget for care of the garment. White shows every mark, and body oils and perspiration will leave neck soil and underarm stains that must be cleaned frequently and are difficult to remove.
• When you don’t wear makeup or if you have very light or pale skin as you will look washed out.

When to Wear White:

• In a hot, humid climate when you want to look and feel cool.
• For business when you need to project professional authority used in contrast against dark shades, such as navy, black, charcoal.
• For a formal occasion if you have dark skin and hair.

Tips for Caring for Your Whites:

If you’re looking for ways to prevent your whites from turning yellow by Labor Day, here are a few tips to help you achieve that goal:

Wash Frequently & Treat Stains—It’s good to wash whites every time you wear them, even if you don’t think they’re dirty. Perspiration and body oils will turn your white items quickly to yellow. Always use cold water to rinse fresh stains. Treat stains as soon as possible. If a stain sits, it will discolor the fabric.

Soften Your Water—Minerals in hard water can gray your white clothes, so add ½ cup of vinegar to your rinse water.

Use Light—Natural fibers love the sun and hanging them outside to dry is a gentle, natural bleach. However, read the garment label first to determine if the item needs to be kept out of direct sunlight.

Don’t Over Dry—Drying with high heat or too much heat will turn your whites gray over time. Keep it cool and partially dry before hanging for the final dry.

Try OxyClean—For stubborn neck, wrist, and underarm stains, this product has been recommended to me by clients as a great option. On the other hand, household bleaches can break down natural fibers and the optical brighteners that are applied to most white textiles. Overtime, bleach leaves clothes yellowed or gray. So, give OxyClean a try and see what you think.

Have Dry Cleaners Do the Pressing—In order to preserve your white shirts, wash at home using the tips above, then take to the dry cleaners for pressing to give your garments a crisp look.

If You Insist on Black for Summer

If you can’t part with your favorite “color” this summer, there are ways to make Black look cool… as in temperature. As temperatures soar, wear black:

1. In the lightest fabric weight you can find, but one that still gives you a professional appearance. Tropical-weight wools for suits, pants and skirts are excellent as they hold their shape and breathe.
2. In a sheer fabric that you can layer over a lightweight underpinning, like a tank top.
    
3. In linen which cools and wicks body heat and moisture away from the body. For business, linen is not a good choice as it wrinkles in a minute.
4. With a sheen to the fabric finish. The sheen reflects light and is lighter in its look.
5. In combination with white to cool it down. A crisp white blouse or shirt will do the trick, or choose a patterned tie, shirt or blouse with a lot of white.
6. With white or creamy pearls, sterling silver, platinum, white gold, crystals or diamonds draped around your neck or hanging from your ears..
7. In combination with icy pastels. Choose cool colors like ice blue, ice pink, or silver gray if your personal coloring supports these colors.

Care Tips:

If it’s black, dry clean it. Even if you launder your shirts, dry clean the black ones. It will keep the color from fading as quickly. When it comes to washing black cotton items at home, use a cup of vinegar the first time you wash a new article. The vinegar helps set the dye. If that sounds unappealing, you can use WOOLITE Dark Laundry Fabric Wash which is specially formulated to minimize the fading of colors and maintain color intensity. Also, always use cold water with your black items.

Got Wrinkles?

Part of great style and looking professional is having your clothes neat, tidy, and pressed. But, if you hate to iron and hate the cost of drycleaner bills, as I do, here’s a product for you—a Jiffy® Steamer! I have recommended these steamers to my clients for years and, of course, have one in my own closet. Even my husband uses it regularly and that saves both of us time and money. We like that!

As your drycleaner knows, steam is the gentlest, safest, most efficient method to remove wrinkles. Not only is steaming up to five times faster than ironing, it is guaranteed not to scorch even the most delicate materials and fabrics.

I recommend Jiffy® Steamer Model #J-2000 for residential use and Esteam® travel model for my road warrior clients.

To order, go to www.jiffysteamer.com. Use code IMAGE 140 when ordering to receive free shipping. I guarantee you will love this product!!

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This article was provided by Marion Gellatly, AICI, CIM, image and etiquette expert, speaker and author of Your Powerful Presence: 125 Tips to Amplify Your Professional Image..
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Copyright © 2007 Powerful Presence. All rights reserved worldwide.