Hurry while the sales are still on. If you are a clever shopper you should wait till after New Years and buy a winter coat for next season. You won’t know what colors will be in style next winter, so buy a winter coat in a neutral color, like black, white, gray, taupe etc. Then when the fall colors start showing up in the malls next October, you can choose an accessory set with scarves and hats that match the colors for that season. In other words, to plan out your look for next winter, buy your winter coat in a neutral color that wont go out of style NOW when they are on SALE, then when it is clear what the in-style colors for next winter will be, you can accessories the coat with a scarf and gloves for that season.

So what color will you use to accessorize your winter coat with this year? The standard is white, red or black (see below), but there are many other colors (see above) you can use to accessorize your winter coat. Many of you have probably chosen a black or gray long coat for work to look good with your business attire, but you shouldn’t wear a scarf the same color as your coat. For gloves,  a classic pair of black leather gloves is a good investment, but if you use a set of scarf and hat in a different color every year, it’s less noticable that you are wearing the same coat as last year. If your budget is tight, then stick with last year’s winter coat, but change out all the accessires to a different color.

You will find good quality at Bloomingdale’s (above).

But an inexpensive brand like H & M (above) may also do, as long as it is a matching set.

Here are two examples of two pretty women, with two different body types, in two different white dresses – one for a full figured body and one for a skinny body. Compare the differences, and see how each dress compliments it’s wearer:

Michelle Obama is wearing a white dress that is flaired out at the skirt.

• Body type: Full figured.
• Dress cut: Dress with flaired out skirt.
• Accessories: A wide silver belt, that makes her hips look good.

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is wearing straight dress with a thin belt.

• Body type: Skinny.
• Dress cut: The dress is straight all the way.
• Accessories: A thin black belt.

When you shop, buy work clothes with the right cut for the body type you have, not the body type you would like. We all come in different shapes and sizes. If the clothes don’t look right on you, it is never the body type that is wrong, it is always the cut of the garment that is wrong. There are no wrong bodies, only wrong clothes.

Compare how Michelle Obama’s white dress makes her hips look really good. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy’z hips aren’t so prominent but that belt makes them a little more noticeable. When you have a full figure, a wide belt is better. The thin belt looks better on Carla. The silver belt on Michelle makes a softer look and doesn’t contrast as much, whereas the thin black belt on Carla makes more of a contrast.

Photo credits: AP Thierry Chesnot

What you don’t know about fur coats could harm you. Or someone else. Click on this link to hear some simple fur coat facts explained by fashion guru Tim Gunn.

Facts about fur coats

By Danielle Gonzalez

With Winter receding to the warmth of Spring, it can be a challenge to bring the brightness of the season into the still chilly climate.  By mixing a few basic winter pieces with essential feminine spring items, the look is effortless and flirty.  The dark colored items of fall accent the brightness of the season in a mature way for all business attire.  For casual work clothes grab the long button up cardigan that was your winter favorite and pair it with an airy patterned spring dress.   For a work outfit that goes from day to night without changing one detail, a colorful dress or skirt with the staple black trench, is polished and strong wherever you go. Getting ready for spring doesn’t mean putting away your winter wardrobe, it simply means incorporating it with your colorful and patterned spring pieces.

Clothing from The Limited

By Danielle Gonzalez

Updating an office outfit can be as simple as adding a little white to give your business attire some pop.  White on black especially adds a modern and polished tone to any ensemble. To spice up the classic black suit, a crisp white blouse underneath always does the trick, but to give the woman’s business suit some flair, go for an off white silk, it’s unexpected glamour adds a soft femininity.  A dress with a bold white on black pattern is mature and fresh, paired with a black cardigan and black pumps makes its an understated power outfit.  And don’t forget about the white or creme jacket.  A long coat is more appropriate for dressier occasions and seen during the evening, but a cropped white jacket can be paired with any classic or trendy look in your professional wardrobe.  Even white accessories such as a purse, jewelry, or scarf gives a striking impression that is impossible to ignore in its intensity.

Look at right from The Limited

How about a green suit jacket to alternate with your black suit pants? What color are you in the mood for today? Here are some examples of various ways to wear a green suit jacket, to mix-match career clothes and woman’s business suits. The first one has a long coat-like cut, and when worn indoors looks best if kept unbuttoned so that you see the blouse. The second is a short conservative jacket cut with standard lapels, which looks very cute with a basic white blouse under it. The third is also short, but has a more unique cut in that it is rounded at the bottom, has hidden buttons, and collar style lapels. (With this type of collar you would not wear a blouse showing over the jacket.) When building a professional wardrobe, take into account what type of suit jacket cut best fits your own personality. Which jacket cut do you think is more like your style?

The fur coat is a fashion of the past.

1 2

today’s woman wears faux fur coats.

How do we know where the fur comes from? The globalization of fur trade makes it very hard to know were the actual fur itself was taken. A fur garment (or other fur product) may have a label that says “Made In France” or some other European country, but the fashion houses who manufactured that garment may not know themselves exactly where the fur they bought came from. Furs are sold through international auction houses and distributed to manufacturers around the world, who make them into pretty coats and jackets to be bought by unknowing fashionistas. An undercover reporter recently discovered fur farms in China where animals like mink, rabbit, fox, raccoon, – even cats and dogs, are bludgeoned in the head with steal rods almost killing them. I thought this was an exaggeration until I saw this video myself. If you have the stomach to see animals being skinned alive while their legs are still kicking, then click here. The animal still breaths, blinks and moves it’s head for a few minutes, while laying skinless and bloody on a pile. More than half of the furs sold as finished fur coats and jackets in the US come from Chinese fur farms were there are no regulations.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: If you see a woman walking down the street in a fur coat, don’t attack her coat with spray paint like they do in San Francisco. Chances are that neither she, nor the sales clerk who sold her the coat are aware of what goes on in those fur farms. Instead, appraoch her and say: “Excuse me miss, how can you be sure where that fur comes from?” But do approach her, and do say something. Emphasize that it’s not about where the coat was made, but where the fur itself comes from. If you have a fur coat in your wardrobe that you are a sure wasn’t made with animal cruelty – still don’t wear it. If you wear it, other women may see it and get inspired to go buy their own fur coat. By wearing any fur garment, even if you are certain it doesn’t come from an unregulated fur farm, you contribute to setting a fashion trend – and that can cause others to purchase fur garments whose origin it is impossible to track. The consumers have power! Dress yourself up in stylish faux fur coats instead.

The above faux fur coats from:

1 http://www.express.com/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&keyword=fur&x=24&y=7

2 http://www.charlycalder.cc/osc/catalog/product_info.php?&products_id=29

Usually we see Anne Hathaway in stunning gowns, like when she received her Palm Springs International Film Festival Award recently. But on some days she wears more casual clothes like the rest of us. These two white coats which Anne Hathaway wore in the film “Get Smart” can give us some inspiration for outer wear. I found this white coat at Macy’s. It has a flattering cut, it’s warm, and can be worn with professional attire. It looks good over a business suit, or with gray or black slacks.

This stylish coat keeps Rebecca Romijn warm, but she might not be going out a lot now that she just delivered baby twins. Rebecca chose a coat that is warm, but that still has a flattering cut. I think she needs to accessorize that coat with a scarf though, for the kind of weather we’ve been having this month. Staying warm and stylish at the same time can be a trick. If you select the right coat and scarf that fits your body type well and still keeps you warm, you could keep it for more than one seasons (if you find a good one, make sure you dry-clean it and take good care of it for extra mileage). And when you try in coats, try it on with your business suit under neath, if that’s what you usually wear for work clothes.

When you shop for a winter  coat, look at the general out line – the silhouette – of the coat, before looking at details. The gray wool coat in the middle has an out line that is the same general style as Rebecca Romijn’s coat, though it has less details. The brown plaid coat on the right would give a good silhouette to a woman with a shorter frame.

All you busy business women should take advantage of the extra leap second we get this year. And we thought 2008 was almost over – but our year is being extended to stay in sync with the universe. To us, that leap second means one more second to get our business wardrobe ready for 2009.

Some of you may have some gifts to trade in at the mall. Then why not continue to build your winter wardrobe with some warm accessories – scarves. We should make sure we are nicely accessorized inside and outside of the office. Having a sharp coat is good, but it needs to be accessoriezed with the right scarf.

How is this for an expression? Spend a little time searching for a coat for your professional wardrobe that is a little bit out of the ordinary, like this leopard print coat. Then pick out a pair of leopard print shoes to complete the theme, for example a pair of sling back pinty toes. This is an expressive way to build on your business suits. This leopard coat is worn with the faithful black slacks, and a classy top that matches one of the brown tones in the coat.

When you wear animal print shoes or clothes, it is easier if you first pick out the animal print item, and then after that match up one of the brown tones among the leopard spots when you select tops and the rest of the items. When you look at this outfits, it is the leopard coat and shoes that strikes you the most, however, the fact that the top matches so well with one of the brown tones in the animal print is what makes the whole impression complete. That is what makes it look classy, instead of just loud. The proffessional wardrobe needs to have both reliable basics, plus a few out of the ordinary items that suit your individual fashion personality.

It’s getting chilly and it’s time to buy a coat. Look at these white, long coats. There are many colors to choose from, but white (or off white) is very classy. I recommend getting one coat in a color, and one in a neutral, like white.

How bold can you get with your business suit colors? How far do you go with color? It depends a little bit on your personality. And on the field you are in. As long as you have your basic black pants covered, then why not get a bright pink jacket? Make a bold move. Cheer people in the office up. Let your professional wardrobe get a little wild once in a while. The rules of business attire are meant to be broken now and then. Don’t let the rules confine you; use them to express yourself.

As an alternative to the traditional woman’s business suit, you can wear a dress or skirt with a long coat over it. If the situation makes you want to feel a little more dressy, this is a great way to alternate your looks. But you may have to keep the coat on for most of the day, because if you take it off you may not look so professional in just a dress (especially if it is sleeveless). So keep that in mind when you plan your day in the morning. The long coat can be worn with pants as well, and you may want to check that you have a pair of pants that will go with it, when you buy it.