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A Better You
by Jo Ann
Fore
Dress the Part
It’s
a fact: Some people just dress funny.
Maybe they
don’t know better. Maybe they do,
and just don’t care.
But if you
want to make a good impression, it’s
important that you learn to dress properly. When you
dress the part, you send the message that you care
what the other person thinks. And while you don’t
have to have an incredible selection of clothes in
order to impress, there are a few simple guidelines
you can follow.
Christy
Taylor — licensed aesthetician and cosmetologist
from Nashville, TN — has made it her passion
to know fashion and to make people look good.
For Men Only
To the men – who Christy has often found to be
more fashion-challenged than women – she offers
the following insight:
» Find a good pair of jeans that fit properly,
not too tight or too loose. When shopping, don’t
hesitate to ask a sales associate for help. And, there’s
a reason those name brand jeans cost a little more;
most often you will find they fit and look better on
you than the others. The jeans also need to be boot
cut and cover half of your shoe laces – otherwise,
the pants look too short.
» Your
belt needs to match your shoes. If you have a brown
belt on, wear brown
shoes. Wear a black
belt
with black shoes.
» You
should own at least 3 pairs of shoes: Brown casual
shoes, not shiny ones (Sketchers
makes great ones);
Black casual shoes; and tennis shoes (New Balance
is a brand that looks great on men).
» Pay attention to your
shirts. Whether going dressy or casual, you can wear
a button up collared shirt
with jeans. Leave it untucked. It should come down
right below your hip. If it comes any further, it’s
too long. If the shirt covers your butt, it’s
too long.
» T-shirts are great. You should own several
plain, short-sleeved T-shirts. Combine a plain colored
T-shirt with a color
that compliments it. Leave the shirt unbuttoned or
button just a few buttons at the bottom of the shirt.
Also, invest in vintage T-shirts. American Eagle has
some great ones – some with logos or numbers – wear
them untucked.
» Cargo
shorts are a basic necessity in your wardrobe.
Find a pair of khaki brown cargo
shorts that hit right
at your knee. Not any shorter or any longer. If
you have cargo shorts or denim shorts and an assortment
of T-shirts, you will always have lots of choices.
» Socks
should never be seen. Buy ankle socks – preferably
low rise ankle socks that actually fall a little
lower than the ankle.
» Find
a good black or brown blazer. A basic staple to
your wardrobe is a casual blazer,
not a suit jacket.
Christy
closes out her advice to men with a carefully constructed, “Things Not to Do” list:
» Do
not pull your pants up too high.
» Do
not wear your belt too tight.
» Do
not tuck your shirt in.
» Do
not wear knee high socks with shorts.
» Do
not wear dress shoes with shorts.
» Do
not mix plaids with stripes.
» Do
not wear busy patterns, florals or Hawaiian themes.
» Do
not wear pink.
For Women Only
Because women have more of a natural
bent towards fashion, sometimes it’s harder to offer constructive
criticism to them. But Christy has timeless tips that
even women can’t oppose.
» Get
measured. You should know the size of your bust,
waist and hip measurements. It is crucial
to know your measurements in order to purchase
properly fitted clothing.
» Look
for stores with knowledgeable staff. Good customer
service is imperative for
the latest trends
and help
with putting together looks.
» Find
a good pair of jeans that fit correctly. Jeans
shape your body; they
can either complement it or make
it appear less flattering. You can also dress up
your jeans with a pair of heels and a string of pearls.
» Tuck
your shirt in to show off your waistline.
» To
shorten a long neck, wear high-collared shirts.
» To
appear slimmer, wear vertical lines, and/or black.
» Use print patterns
to enhance or detract. Wear a larger print pattern
in an area you want to draw the eye to,
like a slim waist or a large bust. Wear a smaller print
pattern in an area that you don’t want attention,
like a larger mid-section. Also, prints around the
neck and shoulders make the shoulder look wider.
» Wear
clothes that fit. Often women who have some weight
to lose will wear oversized clothes to cover
their figure, but clothes that are too large actually
make
an individual look larger.
For
the women as well Christy has composed a “Things
Not to Do” list:
» Do
not wear jogging pants and T-shirts if your goal
is to impress.
» Do
not wear horizontal stripes if you are trying
to minimize a larger frame.
» Do
not wear belts, unless you have a slimmer waist
line
» Do
not wear tight blouses with sleeves on the pockets
that fall right at the bust line.
» Do
not show too much skin. If you want to show off
your shoulders, keep
other areas covered up. Showing
too much skin diverts from the look.
» Do
not wear thick fabrics, unless your goal is to
look heavier.
Christy Taylor currently works at a medical skin care
center that specializes in laser hair removal, removal
of varicose veins, and removal of sunspots, uneven
skin tones, and lines or wrinkles. You can reach Christy
at ctaylor1980@hotmail.com with questions about fashion
or skin care.
Christy
reminds us, male or female, it’s important
you don’t neglect the way you dress. The reason
is simple: People notice when you dress the part. Make
them look twice and take you serious.
Jo
Ann Fore welcomes your comments about this article or suggestions
for material you would like to see in future articles.
Email her at: JoAnnFore@msn.com. A
Better You is published every Saturday.
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