Last week, I admit, I had an Inspector Poirot moment. Really. I couldn’t help myself because as I was having lunch outside at a local restaurant, a young woman at the table next to me was speaking so loudly it was open season on eavesdropping. I suppose I could have moved to another table but my lunch had arrived, my seat was in the shade and I was, I confess, intrigued. Quickly, I rationalized my situation as “professional field research.”

Apparently, the woman had been sent home from work to change her clothes. She was furiously bashing her boss, “Miss Perfect in her purr-fect little cardigan, linen pants and sling backs.”

How could I resist?  There I was with a ringside seat. I leaned in a little closer.

It didn’t take long to sort things out. The self-proclaimed victim showed up for Casual Friday in flip-flops and leggings, prompting her boss, the so-called Miss Perfect, to send her home to change. The tirade continued, “What’s the matter with her? Doesn’t she know Friday’s the day you let it all hang out? It’s the day that transitions you into the weekend. Doesn’t she know anything about dressing down? Doesn’t she ever relax?”

Whew! Quite an outburst and yet the friend said nothing. At the time I thought she should have backed up the boss; after all, sending someone home to change sends a pretty strong message. I guess she knew there was no point. I’ve come to realize that since the young woman in flip flops could read the signals — cardigan, linen slacks, sling backs — but didn’t get the point, she’s probably not the right person for the job.

The moral of the story? Actually, I guess there are a couple:

• Please let this be the last time I say it this summer — flip-flops are for the beach.
• Leggings are ideal for workouts, and that’s where they belong.
• Look to the top for cues about casual dress codes. Where skirt and pant suits rule, don’t even think about showing up in a sundress. 
• Same goes for guys, if suits and ties are routine most days, chances are polo shirts are off-limits on Friday. 
• And finally, beware of boss bashing. You never know who’s listening.

And speaking of bosses, Standford Professor and best-selling author, Bob Sutton, has a new book — Good Boss, Bad Boss: How to Be the Best… and Learn from the Worst —that’s scheduled for release September 7.

I haven’t seen it yet but advance press makes it clear Dr. Sutton has directed his book at employees, not the boss! Should be an interesting read.

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A case in point is the call I received only weeks ago from journalist, TV broadcaster and host of Listen UP TV, Lorna Dueck. She had big news about the upcoming royal tour of Canada — and big questions about the protocols of meeting Queen Elizabeth. Lorna was calling on behalf of Reverend Dr. Franklin Pyles, her Chairman of the Board. He was honoured with an invitation to say Grace at the State Dinner for the Queen, to be hosted by Prime Minister Harper on July 5 at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. A big night and a big occasion requiring more than a little attention to detail.

As President of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Canada, Rev Dr. Pyles leads 400 churches, including Prime Minister Harper’s place of worship, and is obviously, a seasoned communicator. Both he and his wife Gay felt truly blessed by this great honour — but dinner with the Queen is far from an everyday experience and requires some coaching, along with glamorous, special-occasion clothing.

We made quick progress with the royal protocols, next step, a real evening gown for Gay. Together, Gay and I visited award winning Canadian designer Ross Mayer. For over 20 years, Ross has dressed a fiercely loyal clientele. From chic daywear to sleek eveningwear, his reputation for hitting just the right note for every occasion is justly deserved. It’s no surprise that Ross scored an A+ with Gay’s elegant gown in deep purple and silver brocade —truly fit for the Queen.

Next step? Sparkling crystal jewels to dramatize the effect. At the Swarovski flagship store on Bloor Street, we met with Maria and Store Manager Ryan for a tour of what must be the world’s biggest jewel case! So many choices and only one occasion — we finally decided on a necklace, earrings and bracelet. The final finishing touch was a perfect “bijoux” evening bag.  Little wonder Gay said she felt like Cinderella!

And Rev Dr. Pyles, perfectly turned out in his tux, had a brocade vest to match Gay’s gown. But the crowning touch, if you’ll pardon the pun, was the Monarch’s Protocol Officer complimenting Rev Dr. Pyles’ for both his saying of Grace and its appropriateness.

It was a magical evening. Congratulations Rev Dr. and Mrs. Pyles. Thank you for including us in this very special event.

We headed for our local public transit station where we encountered unexpected track and switch work. The place was hopping and as we waited for our rerouted subway train, we fell into conversation with a transit operator. We talked about the drivers, women and men, who work for the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) and their job challenges — one being the life altering, traumatizing experience tunnel operators face when a “jumper” leaps in front of a moving train.

As tragic as this is, another challenge drivers face is personal assault and it’s on the rise. Rude passengers all too frequently display discourteous, anti-social behaviour.

Coincidentally, the next morning just as I was leaving for work, I heard on the news that a TTC bus driver was attacked with fireworks after Victoria Day celebrations. According to reports, a man approached the open door of a bus and threw a Roman candle at the driver.  A senseless act of meanness.

Imagine my surprise when I arrived at work, started opening emails and the first thing that jumped off my screen was the subject line from the New York Times: When Passengers Spit, Bus Drivers Take Months Off

In the article, the journalist considers if passenger behaviour is the result of frustration with the system or reflects a general decline in urban civility. I guess after repeatedly hearing about transit drivers as targets, I tend to side with the “decline in urban civility” theory. Sad but true. That said, I remembered The Baltimore Workplace Civility Study: 

“As organizations have flattened and gone ‘casual/informal,’ there are fewer norms as to what constitutes proper business behavior. Research has shown that most acts of workplace violence originate with uncivil behavior. Moreover, an uncivil work environment can have an economic impact on an organization. Employees encountering workplace incivility have reported less commitment to their company, lost productivity, and some have left their jobs.”

The study makes a strong case that incivility in the workplace is very costly.
No wonder so many job postings typically read: Exceptionally strong interpersonal skills required. I encourage you download this report and share it with your co-workers.   Download the study.

A case in point is customized corporate apparel, or so-called logo wear. Corporate golf tournaments, for example, may include polo shirts with the company’s logo, as part of the day’s package. But there’s another category of T-shirts — a far cry from Clubhouse-appropriate attire — and that’s the Promotional T-shirt. Known in the trade as “blanks,” these wholesale blank t-shirts  provide an ideal canvas for presenting company logos, slogans or messages in an informal way.

Jody Steinhauer of The Bargains Group Ltd is an expert when it comes to promo T-shirts. Her firm sells literally thousands to companies in search of high quality, pristine white T’s with a full size range and I might add, a magic price of $2.00 each, before printing.   Custom T-shirts Canada

Conventions, picnics, product launches and fund-raisers, all these events are perfect for what Jody describes as her “walking billboards” and to ensure company employees stand out in a crowd. As Founding President of The Bargains Group and CBO (Chief Bargain Officer), Jody is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to printing her product. The Bargains Group will arrange for eco-friendly, water based printing at one of Canada’s largest print facilities.

The Bargains Group stocks a massive range of apparel from the $2.00 T-shirt blanks to ubiquitous golf shirts, team wear and athletic wear, all at discounted prices. Then there are the seemingly endless other categories: canvas totes, duffel bags, sport bags, water bottles, corporate gifts  — and many products can be customized.    Personalized promotional products

Jody is an interesting anomaly in the realm of discount wholesaling. For starters, she’s a fashion graduate with a keen sense of style and a high taste level. She started her business on a shoestring — with only a phone, fax machine and $1,000 — at her dining room table HQ. From these humble beginnings, Jody has grown her business dramatically and in 2001 she was selected from over 1,200 nominees in the Report On Business nationwide search for the Top 40 Under 40 Award. The same year, she received the Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award, in the Innovation Category.

Jody is adept at balancing her high-powered career with her marriage, children and family but there’s another chapter in this remarkable woman’s life that deserves recognition — her commitment to community and focus on “giving back.” Jody has received numerous awards for her humanitarian achievements and her innovative approach to social concerns. She is the driving force behind two very special charities, Project Water and Project Winter Survival.

In the ten years since Jody originated Project Water, her team of volunteers has distributed over 1 million bottles of water to homeless people over the course of Toronto’s extremely hot summers. Project Winter Survival offers essential items including scarves, hats and even sleeping bags to people living on the street.

Learn more about Jody’s charitable missions:
http://projectwater.ca/
http://projectwintersurvival.org/

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Every winter right about now, I start to think about our annual March ski trip to the Canadian Rockies. This year, with Vancouver’s Olympics only a heartbeat away, thoughts of “schussing” came a little earlier.

Although I now consider myself a true Torontonian, sadly, the ski locations close to home are less than ideal. Typically, the queue for a chairlift means a minimum 20-minute wait on weekends. And whoosh, the run is so short you’re back in line two minutes later.

But over the years, I’ve realized that skiers everywhere, when forced to move at a snail’s pace as they wait in lift lines, become cold and cranky folks. Sometimes, these skiers rise to the occasion with truly nice behaviour and other times they disappoint; simply put, they’re not so nice. So with skiing on my mind, here’s a shortlist of suggestions to help keep the queue moving, minimize the impatience factor and keep everyone safe. Remember ski instructors with one or more students have priority and always move to the front of the line.

Queue do’s:

• Pick up the pole — or glove dropped by someone standing in line beside you.
• Offer to help — the parent right in front of you who’s struggling with two kiddies.
• Say hello — acknowledge the single joining you and your group for the ride up.
• Smile — when another skier apologizes for inadvertently knocking your skis.
• Step aside — to let friends ride together BEFORE you reach the loading area.

Queue don’ts:

• No butting in —never cut the line, doesn’t matter how young or old you are.
• Keep the line moving — avoid pile-ups and climb aboard, even when your friend didn’t make the same chair.
• No smoking! Please don’t lineup and light up.
• Swearing and bad language — strictly verboten.
• Keep your skis on snow — don’t step on the tails of your neighbour’s skis.

Ski instructors spend all day “on snow” — or on lifts. I recently caught up with a ski instructor for a chair-side chat and some tips to ensure a safe ride:

• Line bashing or line cutting is an accident waiting to happen. Be patient.
• Respect the lift operator and always do what he asks. Remember, he’s the expert.
• When loading, always hold your poles vertically with the inside hand. At most resorts, regulations prohibit riding with straps on.
• When loading on the outside of a 4 or 6-pack, keep your eyes away from your seatmate — and turned to the outside bar so you’re ready to grab it.

And finally, as the chair starts to climb, keep these rules in mind —
Rule #1:  Remain still. Tapping your feet together to remove snow could result in a dropped ski.
Rule #2:  Keep your gloves on! It’s a long way back down the mountain with one glove. Or none.
And finally, relax; enjoy the view.

When my husband and I are at Lake Louise, the gondolas and numerous chairs keep the lines moving but when we ski the Laurentians or Camp Fortune near Ottawa, the wait is longer and I keep myself entertained with the passing fashion show. Remember that what works for kids, may be out of place on adults — funky hats come to mind. And please, no jeans on the slopes.

Here’s an article on ski fashion I really enjoyed:

Personally I always wear a helmet and underneath, a lightweight toque —when the weather’s cold. Not great for my hair, so I always have a backup cap for lunch and après-ski. Yes, that’s me at Lake Louise, Alberta.

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How Is Your Personal and Professional Image?
Is your style congruent with your brand? Are you confused about what suits YOU best, how to manage trends, dress age appropriate?

Join me for my new Image Enhancement Course for the Professional Woman – a 4-part course where I will teach you how to create your own look of success!  It all starts on Monday Feb. 1 and continues every Monday until Feb. 22.

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Simple truth #1
Eyewear is the most obvious accessory.

Simple truth #2
The right eyewear is crucial to the right look.

Simple truth #3
Eyewear is tricky.

The time had come to address this most obvious — and functional— accessory with Liz. No doubt about it, at Freda’s she received an “A” in Accessorizing, but picking the right glasses presents a real challenge. There are thousands of frames to choose from. The right choice enhances the appearance, while the wrong one becomes a costly mistake —rather like buying an expensive coat that doesn’t keep you warm.

My recommendation is to take a trusted friend to help with the selection process. It’s very difficult to be objective on your own and in my experience, many people rely on opticians. Trained to determine the right kind of lenses for your prescription, few opticians understand face shapes and the nuances of skin colouring — important factors when it comes to choosing frames.

Let me explain:

• Your face shape is the starting point — square, round, triangle or oval. Say for example, that your face is square; you’ll want to avoid square-shaped frames that mimic your face shape and choose instead oval or round glasses. In other words, try frames that contrast or “contradict” your face shape.
• The size of your face and features play a critical role. Delicate features disappear with frames that look amazing on a larger face with stronger features.
• Same story with the nose — slender and small takes a different bridge than long and prominent or short and broad.
• Moving on to the eyes — close-set versus wide-set, drooping or tipped, dark circles or crow’s feet, there are so many considerations.
• Cool or warm skin tone and eye colour can make the difference between whether to choose anodized metal, “tortoiseshell” or even gold or silver trim.
• And then there’s the entire issue of personal style. Which category do you fall into: dramatic, classic, natural, romantic, gamin or ingénue?

A final checklist:
 Replace your frames at least every four years.
 Check yourself in a full-length mirror before finalizing your frame choice — you want to be certain the proportion is right.
 When in doubt about the right frame, look for an almost universally flattering oval shape.

Liz has a few thoughts:
“My old glasses will need to be replaced this spring and although Diane approved of the shape, she showed me how to choose a colour more becoming to my eyes and complexion. She also walked me through the initial frame selection process and showed me how to avoid the wrong shapes. Thank you Diane, another mission accomplished!”

Stay tuned!   (Note that you can now have our blog posts delivered to your Inbox by clicking on the Subscribe link on the right side of this page.)

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How Is Your Personal and Professional Image? 
Is your style congruent with your brand? Are you confused about what suits YOU best, how to manage trends, dress age appropriate?

Join me for my FREE, 55 minute pre-training class:  Style for Women Virtual 4-part course where I will share tips on how to create your own look of success!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 3:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 pm Pacific

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It was going to be a long day. Extensive editing left Liz with a minimal wardrobe; we were starting from scratch. Experience told me that Liz — like many clients — could be overwhelmed by the great number of choices. I reassured her that I did, indeed, have a plan.

More than a shopping spree, this was going to be a hands-on learning experience. Liz would make endless changes as she tried on all the various colours and styles we had discussed. Her budget was limited so my first stop at Freda’s was the sale rack— just in case a hidden treasure lurked there, waiting to be discovered. I reminded Liz that regardless of how tempting the price was; a bargain didn’t qualify for consideration unless it met all the criteria:
• Item on the wardrobe plan
• Right style and colour
• Quality fabric and workmanship

Liz remained calm throughout the entire process and changed from one outfit to another as we discussed the finer points of tailoring, fit, mixing and matching. I stressed the importance of good accessories — sacrifice quality and the art of accessorizing is lost.

When the day was finally over and the shopping bags filled, I was delighted to realize — Liz discovered she loves to shop!

“I usually find business attire uncomfortable (I don’t think I’m alone on this!) and although everything I tried on at Freda’s wasn’t as comfortable as my ‘lululemons’ — most things paired fashion and comfort brilliantly.

I immediately saw the difference in quality between what I typically wore in the past, and the new standards Diane has instilled in me. She had me try on some things that weren’t particularly flattering — not my favourite part of the day, but a necessary evil and terrific learning experience.

Each outfit Diane developed was finished with accessories.  She found an amazing suit and paired it with a large silver necklace for a gorgeous, classic look. Then she gave the suit a dramatic edge that I love, with a tortoise shell belt and a pair of industrial earrings — what a transformation! This exercise showed me how important it is to use accessories to set the tone of my outfit and achieve my desired look. Before I wore belts for practical reasons but now they’re my new favourite accessories!

Although I’m far more confident about shopping, I’ll take along the Personal Style Guide Diane prepared. In the meantime, I can’t wait to show off the new me.”

A final note: I’m always looking for the optimum suppliers for my clients. I need to feel confident that when my consultations are over, they’re in good hands as they continue to build their wardrobes. My standards are high:  I look for knowledgeable staff, impeccable service, tremendous variety, excellent fitting and alteration capabilities. Freda’s is the perfect problem-solver! All the must-have elements are there. This remarkable store carries designs by Freda, manufactured on site, and numerous other designers. Every category is covered from fun casual wear to business attire — even cocktail clothes and evening gowns. There’s a wonderful, varied selection.

One of Freda’s unique features is the large and sophisticated in-house manufacturing facility. Imagine you’ve spotted the perfect suit, but want a special colour — or great dress but want a lighter fabric. No worries! Because all the designing, sewing and finishing are completed upstairs. This makes shopping a dream come true for anyone with “challenging” body proportions. At Freda’s, the possibilities are endless.  www.fredas.com

Stay tuned!   (Note that you can now have our blog posts delivered to your Inbox by clicking on the Subscribe link on the right side of this page.)

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How Is Your Personal and Professional Image? 
Is your style congruent with your brand? Are you confused about what suits YOU best, how to manage trends, dress age appropriate?

Join me for my FREE, 55 minute pre-training class:  Style for Women Virtual 4-part course where I will share tips on how to create your own look of success!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 3:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 pm Pacific

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Last week I was asked to explain the difference between a “fashion victim” and a “fashionista.” Bottom line, the former aspires to be the latter — but has taken things too far! The fashionista follows trends closely and may even work in fashion’s inner sanctum, as a designer or promoter.

The fashion victim is her own worst enemy and often, her biggest stumbling block is colour. Magenta, for example, is a so-called “hot- trend” colour this holiday season but it’s extremely tough to wear head-to-toe. The fashion victim will select a magenta, cocktail dress, regardless of her colouring — skintone, hair, eyes. The fashionista, on the other hand, knows which colours suit her best and her dress will reflect this. Now here’s where the fashionista’s cleverness comes into play; she’ll accessorize with magenta — a jewelled magenta cuff and magenta satin party-shoes or maybe one of the new tiny handbags.

The point is that once you know which colours suit you best, you’ll resist the temptation of making costly wardrobe mistakes — like becoming a magenta party-dress victim! Your best colours, or palette, determine not only your best clothing choices, but also your makeup —everything from foundation to blusher, lipstick, even eye shadow — and your hair colour, including highlights and lowlights.

Our fashion victim could choose to accessorize her magenta dress with matching lipstick, maybe hair extensions, even eye shadow. Our fashionista, on the other hand, is holding firm with her magenta minimalism — strictly cuff and shoes — or the tiny perfect bag. (Let me be perfectly clear that the shoes could have five-inch heels and the cuff could be what our grandmothers would call “over the top” and the bag is probably too small for anything more than a lipstick. Fashionistas are not known for understatement.)

When I hear comments like:
• My makeup doesn’t seem to work 
• My lipstick colour is off 
• My hair colour isn’t right 
• Sometimes I look blotchy or sallow.
• Every time I wear this top, dark circles appear under my eyes
 
Experience tells me colour is the root cause of these problems. Let’s examine a couple of all-too-familiar situations:

A woman with warm-coloured eyes, hair and skin tone purchases a cool-coloured lipstick; it’s a very close match to her new suit. Unhappy with the outcome, it’s back to the makeup counter for another lipstick. No luck. Next step, a new necklace and earrings —thinking they’ll do the trick. But all she’s doing is compounding her suit mistake. Doesn’t matter if the suit is the most flattering shape in the world, wrong colour cancels out the benefits of cut.

Another woman — with cool-coloured eyes, hair and skin tone — has her hair coloured and highlighted — an expensive undertaking.  At first glance, it’s perfect; with a warm base and red highlights, it’s exactly like the magazine picture she brought to the salon. As she re-applies her lipstick, she suddenly realizes that this wonderful new hair colour is looking brassy and that it clashes with her makeup. Her solution? New foundation and blusher and eye shadow and pencil and lipstick and liner and gloss — that in the end don’t remedy the problem.

So much time, effort, energy and money wasted. Around and around in circles, hair and makeup and clothing are connected. The absolute starting point is determining if you’re cool or warm. See how vibrant and alive Liz looks in the cool palette, versus the draining aspects of the warm colours.

 Thoughts from Liz
“I knew that I was a ‘winter’ but it was interesting to see how drastically my look changed as Diane held different colour palettes against my skin. I also discovered colours I didn’t know were part of the cool palette that works for me. This process definitely made me aware of my best colour choices and opened my eyes to a new, expanded palette. Thank you Diane — now I can’t wait to go shopping!”

Stay tuned!   (Note that you can now have our blog posts delivered to your Inbox by clicking on the Subscribe link on the right side of this page.)

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How Is Your Personal and Professional Image? 
Is your style congruent with your brand? Are you confused about what suits YOU best, how to manage trends, dress age appropriate?

Join me for my FREE, 55 minute pre-training class:  Style for Women Virtual 4-part course where I will share tips on how to create your own look of success!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 3:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 pm Pacific

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Adobe Photoshop® is the software that enables designers and photographers to reduce chubby thighs and chins, buff up arms and chests and eliminate facial lines.  In short, this digital editing technique manipulates images with safe, non-invasive, touch-up surgery.

Sounds to good to be true and this month, Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation got caught overstepping the rules-of-reasonable-retouching.

No, your eyes don’t deceive you.  In this ad, only released in Japan, the model’s head appears larger than her pelvis.  Incredibly, even with the image in international circulation and the model, Filippa Hamilton, 23, expressing shock at seeing the “super skinny girl with my face,” the PR gang at Ralph Lauren tried to downplay the furor.  Finally, they conceded that the image was “mistakenly released.” But the story doesn’t end there. 

Filippa, who modeled for Ralph Lauren for eight years and thought of the firm as a second family, was so shocked by the controversy she decided to speak out.  Countess Filippa Hamilton (she’s a member of the Swedish nobility and a French and Swedish national) announced that prior to the release of the controversial image, Ralph Lauren fired her — for being too fat.  Just for the record, Filippa weighs 120 pounds, is 5’10” and size 4.  According to the statement issued by her former employer, she could no longer meet her contractual obligations — Filippa ceased to be a sample size. (Experts say that the industry has “downsized” and the trend is for smaller size models.  Size 0?)

This story is troubling on many levels — there’s no question that the distortion is distasteful — but the real concern is for young, impressionable women, anxious to imitate supermodels.  Presenting this impossible-to-achieve body image is the greatest offence. 

I agree with Yves Saint Laurent who often talked about fashion in terms of illusion. He was a master of proportion and balance long before Photoshop® was even a blip on a screen.  Many of my clients want to achieve the look of a narrower waistline and by working with fabric, colour and silhouette, I’m able to enhance their assets.  I call this Reality-Retouching.

Another French fashion designer has recently been making headlines.  The release of the movie, Coco before Chanel, chronicles the early-life of this iconic designer.  Along with Chanel #5 perfume, the little black dress, costume jewellery and so many of today’s fashion sensibilities, she gave women a sense of freedom.  Her proudest achievement was giving women ownership of their bodies.  With her innovative sense of style, Coco Chanel released the binding corsets that held diminutive waists in place.  Come to think of it, not so far from Filippa’s photoshopped torso.

Watch a TV interview with Filippa

Learn more about Chanel’s legacy with Audrey Tautou (French star of Coco before Chanel)

See a preview of the film Coco before Chanel

Offended by the retouching or just plain annoyed about the potential damage to young girls’ self-image?  Let us know your thoughts.

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The Look of Success by Diane Craig^TM Teleseminar for Women starts on October 20, 2009. Learn how to create your own Look of Success in 4 sessions with Diane.

“I’ll show you how to enhance and establish the best looks for your figure, your budget and your lifestyle.”

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Over time, the extremes got straightened out and many corporations found themselves with more relaxed dress codes — jacket and tie no longer required — every day of the week. But neckties have always been a way for men to personalize their look — so I’m not surprised to report many have turned to French cuffs and cufflinks instead.
Men young and old have embraced this combination with new enthusiasm. Here is a subtle way for a man to express his personality.

The older generation generally follows the formal traditions that dictate both jacket and tie de rigueur with French cuffs and cufflinks. But younger men — most have never worn this combo — show off the look, tie-less, and without a jacket.

Whichever style is yours, keep these tips in mind:

• Ensure your shirt is very high quality cotton. Look for labeling that reads: Sea Island Cotton, Supima, Egyptian Cotton or Two-Ply 100’s.
• Insert the collar stays — they prevent a “flyaway” collar look.
• On stripe or check fabrics (called yarn-dyes) the pattern must “match” — or meet with precision, as shown in this example:

  

• Your shirt should fit perfectly — always try it on before leaving the store. Select a collar to flatter your face. Bypass   long collar points if your face is long and narrow, or spread collars if your face is full.
• Avoid monograms on the shirt itself. Personalize with cufflinks. Learn more and “dress up the moment” — www.cuffwear.com
• Select cufflinks with care — just like a tie, they should reflect your personality and enhance your professionalism. Bankers, for example, should avoid this look:

Consider something subtle such as:

a) I am stylish and like to have fun
b) I like style with a bit of flair
c) I am stylish and conservative

What’s your preference? Please let us know your thoughts.

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Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009, 5:30pm Pacific, 7:30pm Central and 8:30pm Eastern

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