Just planning and staging so many events is a challenge in itself. Add to this mix the delicate balancing act of blended families —the groom’s parents divorced and remarried— and you have boosted the factor wedding planners call the sticky-situation-quotient. With both biological parents and their spouses in attendance, who gets invited to what? Who sits where? And what about the photo sessions?

But for the bride and groom there was an effortless ambiance at every turn. Clearly, top of mind for family and friends was to ensure this long-anticipated wedding-weekend flowed seamlessly. This is a first marriage for what I call “Today’s Couple,” both well educated, professionally established and each possessing an inherent sense of style. Naturally, there was an aura of sophistication. Even the guests — many actors and members of Vancouver’s art scene — contributed to this sense of chic. But what struck me at every event was the graceful blend of elegance with warmth, not so simple to master.

The actual wedding dinner illustrates this perfectly. Imagine a Merchant-Ivory film set (A Room with a View, Howards End) and you have a sense of what I mean. The bride’s silk bustier gown was a pinky-cream colour and the flowers — roses and hydrangeas in the same colour palette, arranged in a collection of delicate vintage pitchers and teapots — had a just-picked-from-the garden quality. The room itself was beautiful, with hints of days gone by but with nothing pretentious about it. Sparkling candlelight created an atmosphere of romance and even intimacy, rare indeed for a reception of this size. Everything was soft, almost delicate and captured, indeed, the bride’s vision of a sophisticated “fairytale wedding in the woods.”

This took months to plan, as everyone who has ever attempted to arrange a wedding understands. But what I hadn’t known till weeks after this special evening, was that there really had been magic in the air. Or perhaps a magician or two. Because of the inevitable glitches that seem to precede events of this significance, unexpectedly, the wedding planners had only thirty-minutes to set-up, install and transform the venue from an empty shell into an enchanting magical kingdom. Not so much as a whisper about what was going on before la grande fête. That’s what I call grace under pressure.

Merci beaucoup, bravo et felicitations!

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Life in downtown Toronto is fast-paced. Perhaps not by New York City standards, but more oil and gas companies are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange than any other exchange in the world. Just stand in the underground walkway beneath the financial district at lunchtime to get a taste of the energy that defines this city. My work is very much a part of this intense and exciting atmosphere. Every day I meet new people. New connections are made, new alliances formed. And although corporate associations last for years — my private consultations are usually one-offs. I work with these clients on a very intense basis for a short period of time and then poof — mission accomplished and time to move on.

Such is the case with Pamelia. I will never forget the day she walked into my office. Tall. Blonde. Great presence, tons of positive energy and a radiant smile. She was about to turn fifty and wanted to update her look. It was obvious from the first few minutes that we were going to work well together. We made a date to meet at her place for a thorough closet run-through.

The big day arrived and before we tackled the tough editing process — there are always more discards than “keepers” — Pamelia showed me her beautifully appointed home. She had high praise for her neighbour, Mel, a deft hand at constructing numerous enhancements throughout the house and explained that since retiring, his accomplished skill-set had worked many small miracles.

Then, it was time to get to work. We started with the bedroom closet and were making great progress when Pamelia opened her armoire. I stopped in my tracks. There, in front of me, on the inside door panels, all Pamelia’s jewellery was beautifully arranged and hanging from a series of hooks mounted on large boards. This was simply the most brilliant jewellery storage system I had ever seen. Courtesy, once again, of gifted Mel. Forget the usual tangle of necklaces and jumble sale of earrings. I nicknamed it “accessories central” and immediately filed away the concept for my own armoire.

But Pamelia was a step ahead of me. While I organized and sorted her clothes into groups, she quietly slipped away. Of course, at the time, I wasn’t really paying attention but about a week later the whole picture became clear. The day of our final official meeting arrived and as Pamelia welcomed me at the front door, her radiant smile was replaced with a mild-wide grin. “For you,” she said, “from Mel,” as she presented two beautiful Tiffany-blue jewellery boards. My very own accessories central!

I knew offering payment was off-limits — Pamelia had told me Mel’s projects were his pleasure — so a few days later I delivered a bottle of bubbly. Their generous gesture still has me smiling. Working with positive people is, indeed,
a blessing; they bring joy and brighten the day. It’s like a gift of sunshine. I’ve thought long and hard about how to share this sentiment with Pamelia and Mel and finally decided. I’ll send them this blog to simply say it was wonderful to meet you … Mes chers amis, merci bien pour tout.

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It’s one thing to over pack and cram the car for a cottage weekend but come fall, both business trips and holiday getaways require a new, minimalist mindset. As a professional wardrobe problem-solver, I’m on constant alert for what seems to be the unfindable: great, packable clothes. Simple to maintain, uncreasable fabrics are usually contrary to quality, fashion and style. When I learned that Ottawa retailer Marlene Shepherd had developed a “Packably Perfect” concept, a week’s wardrobe (or even two!) all packed in a carry-on, I knew help was at hand.

So last month, during my Ottawa trip, I arranged to meet with Marlene, my friend, colleague and collaborator, for a hands-on session. My mission? Problem solving for a very diverse group of clients — many shapes, sizes and careers but having in common hectic travel schedules. Marlene knows her way around the international fashion marketplace and she has a special skill when it comes to discovering hidden gems within our own borders. True to form, she pulled out all the stops and shared her latest treasures, with travel in mind. We spent the morning fine-tuning; here’s our short list.

1. Trousers, the core component of every travel wardrobe, for work and play. Start with black, charcoal or dark brown and build from this base.

Tailored boot-cut trousers with an impeccable pedigree: a hip-gliding fit in a modern stretch fabric. Cambio, $210.00
Trim, slim-leg pants in dressed-up microfibre. Perfect for arriving crease-free. Margaret M, $98.00

2.  A knit cardigan or vest instead of a traditional jacket. The point I want to make here is that professional dressing doesn’t need to be structured. As Marlene says, “Once a woman discovers comfort, there’s no turning back.”

We focused on three very different collections: Nic + Zoe, Pure & Co., Curio. I was truly intrigued to see some of Marlene’s picks could be worn back-to-front or even upside down! No kidding. Slip into a sweater-vest  “bottoms-up” and suddenly it’s a cropped version with a generous collar. Obviously, these are specially designed pieces, so please don’t try this at home!

3. Crisp 100 percent cotton shirts and NO ironing, ever. A dream come true. White and colours. Foxcroft, $95.00

4. Simpli — sensational! This collection of seasonless jersey knitwear by Vancouver’s Simpli, has more components than a jigsaw puzzle, a zillion colours and endless combinations. Enough variations to go from boardroom to cruise ship. There’s only one fabrication so it’s easy to add components from year to year. Everything is sized but there are also two different fits, snug or relaxed. A perfect 3-piece career look, we agreed, is a pant and matching vest with a contrast underpiece. Some of the combos we came up with:
Base colour         Contrast
Navy                     Peacock
Charcoal              Aubergine
Black                    Wine

5. Clean lines, simple shapes and sensual fabrics form the Eileen Fisher philosophy. Every piece is perfectly designed to skim the body with flattering shape-enhancing style. Although Marlene, a self-avowed Size 16 loves this collection, my friend Kim, a yogini and perfect Size 8, is just as enthusiastic.

6. The icing on the cake — accessories. Marlene’s start in business was with jewellery so it’s not surprising she continues to have innovative ideas. “Wardrobe pieces,” as Marlene calls them, are semi-precious, multi-strand necklaces that detach into single or double strands, often with an optional pendant, providing real versatility — every traveler’s dream. She’s proud of the group of young Canadian jewellery designers providing Shepherd’s with these one-of-a-kind bijoux.

What a morning! Client checklist completed and with time to spare for personal shopping. My own “wheelie” is now perfectly packed and ready to go. I can’t wait.

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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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]]> http://www.corporateclassinc.com/blog/2010/01/29/destination-downhill-skiing/feed/ 3 http://www.corporateclassinc.com/blog/2010/01/18/end-of-2009-%e2%80%94-christmas-in-paris/ http://www.corporateclassinc.com/blog/2010/01/18/end-of-2009-%e2%80%94-christmas-in-paris/#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:41:45 +0000 Diane http://corporateclassinc.com/blog/?p=1146 Last month marked both the end of a dynamic year — expanding our international client base, launching both my blog and image enhancement teleseminar courses, maintaining a heightened role in community service —and a new beginning for Corporate Class. In early December, just before the holiday frenzy began in earnest, we moved our offices to 60 Bloor Street West, Suite 1100.

With all this activity, I welcomed the idea of an interlude before embarking on my 2010 journey. What could be more perfect than Christmas in Paris?

Although I’d been to Paris before, this was my first Christmas celebration in the magical City of Lights and I can truly say everything sparkled —from the shimmering streetlights to the magnificent chandeliers illuminating the city’s finest dining rooms. And what better time to visit this world capital of gastronomy!

On Christmas Eve, we attended Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral and then went to dinner at the Hotel de Crillon’s historic restaurant, overlooking Place de la Concorde. A talented pianist played throughout the evening and despite the romantic setting and glamorous atmosphere, I was disappointed by the absence of Christmas music. When we made our request, the pianist explained that he rarely played this genre but would do his best and he did in fact oblige us with a beautiful rendition of White Christmas. But — I’m still puzzled by his limited repertoire for a Christmas Eve performance. Maybe everyone’s had enough by the time December 24 arrives and perhaps I’m alone when it comes to hearing Christmas music, especially on Christmas Eve?

As an inveterate shopper, I headed out on December 26 expecting to find the famous Paris sales or “soldes” I’d encountered at summer’s end on previous visits. Not so. Strict government regulations dictate when merchandise can go on sale in France and as luck would have it, January 6 was the scheduled start day for this season.
Information about the Paris timetable for sales

Happily, I didn’t leave Paris empty-handed. While we were exploring Montmartre, I discovered an absolute gem — a fabulous fabric shop — PARIS TISSUS, 15 Rue de Steinkerque, 75018 Paris, France. (Tel: 01 42 54 33 51. E-mail paristissus@noos.fr) I met the owner, Rolland Brami and was thrilled to find an unusual cashmere and mink fabric with a subtle sheen, thanks to the mink, and a silk print by designer Robert Cavalli.

Rolland chatted with us about his business; he’s also a fabric designer of considerable renown. His red Chantilly lace and matching silk satin, with crystal beading, were selected by Dallas clothing designer Michael Faircloth for Laura Bush’s 2001 Inaugural gown. Rolland said that although he was truly proud of his accomplishment, he didn’t feel it was the best choice of colour for Mrs. Bush. I agreed!

Every day began with freshly squeezed orange juice and warm croissants. Lunch destinations varied from bistros and brasseries to the sumptuous assortment of delicacies at Bon Marché Épicerie. Very loosely translated, this is the delicatessen counter at the Bon Marché department store but in reality it’s a gourmet’s paradise. At every restaurant meal, a cheese course with numerous selections preceded dessert, often a deliciously rich pastry. Dinner was frequently fish — always eaten with the special fish fork and knife, long out of favour with North Americans, that the French reserve for fish. The other side of the coin, however, is that France dispensed with bread and butter plates years ago — even in the finest restaurants. And speaking of fine restaurants, here’s a look at Hotel De Crillon’s New Year’s Eve menu. Regrets I can’t comment — we’d left for home.

Alors, following a wonderful week, I’m happy to be back and have already embraced 2010. I have my business plan in hand and my goals are well laid out — I’m excited about the New Year.

And I hope you are, too. I invite you to share with us how we can serve you through our blog and newsletters.

Happy New Year!

(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, 3:30 pm Eastern, 12:30 pm Pacific
Tuesaday January 26, 2010, 9:00 pm Eastern, 3:00 pm Pacific

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There’s no doubt about it, Father’s Day is a triumph of commercialization. In fact, back in the 1930’s, it was a New York City association of men’s retailers that successfully lobbied to legitimatize the holiday. Many would credit this group with turning it into the tie-fest we know today.  The bottom line is, Father’s Day falls on a Sunday, and it’s summertime. Who needs any more excuses to celebrate?

Maybe your style is to toast dad with a big-deal brunch or barbeque.  Perhaps it’s a long distance phone call to a father far away, or sometimes a simple e-mail will suffice. Or maybe you’re not quite sure of the protocol when Dimitri, or Tom, or “Dad” – isn’t really your father.

There are no hard and fast rules.  Here are some guidelines to ensure every dad, daughter, son – and mom – has a great day.

• Parents divorced and your mom remarried
  Clearly, your father comes first, but by definition, your mom’s husband is your stepfather.  If you have a strong bond with him, or even a good solid relationship, consider a card.  He’ll be thrilled and your mom will be over the moon.  A card sends a strong message of approval – you’ll make mom’s day, too.
• Your widowed mom remarried
  Circumstance dictates decorum: Great guy, truly enjoy his company, treats you like his own kid?  This calls for a personalized card, perhaps a gift, or even an invitation to your backyard barbeque. Here is a day to truly show your appreciation.
• Your mom has a “partner”
  If no civil or religious marriage ceremony took place, her partner is not your stepfather.  Courtesy and kindness rule; ultimately, it’s up to you.
• Father figures
  Could be your grandfather, godfather, or father-in-law who come to mind on this special Sunday.  Let him know – a call, a card or a coffee, shared.  As the saying goes: presence counts more than presents.

With all this chatter about barbeques, check out these delicious recipes:

Father’s Day Menu

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Sign up for my FREE teleseminar- How to Create a Professional and Personal Image Plan on Tuesday July 28th 12-1pm Eastern Standard Time- Check your time zone! * You will learn how to create a plan that includes- all of the topics you should be familiar with to get the professional and personal image you want to project.  Register Now

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