Professional businesswomen aspiring to step up their images and
make their personal brands shine under the leadership spotlight need to
understand which fashion trends are appropriate for the business
environment - and how to incorporate them into ensembles that convey
professional expertise. Do that and your image will help you become a
recognized celebrity within your particular profession or industry.
I
never advise my top-level clients to invest in fads for their working
wardrobes, but instead I recommend classic-modern styles that are
simultaneously contemporary and timeless. But as a senior level retail
executive and your professional image and brand strategist, I've done
all the research for you! Using my latest trend report you can easily
navigate your way through the department store to select your fall
wardrobe while saving both time and money. I'll show you how to invest
in what works for your personal brand to keep you looking unique,
innovative, and contemporary. This season is all about timeless pieces,
structured sophisticated silhouettes, and exquisite fabrics and shape
accessories that give your nine-to-five look a memorable signature that
spells success and charisma.
I reveal a dozen top new trends that
communicate professionalism for every woman leader and high achiever. No
matter what type of work environment you find yourself in - from formal
to business casual or even ultra casual - you can capture the essence
of these trends and incorporate that style into your business wardrobe
to look outstanding as you enhance your personal brand and professional
reputation.
Fall Fashion Trends to Celebrate Your Personal Brand
It's
important to realize that a contemporary wardrobe is like a uniform or
an actor's costume. What you wear and how you wear it is definitely an
extension of your professional brand and every day your wardrobe
broadcasts messages to others over the business airwaves. Your clothes
speak to your level of inner confidence, express your unique style, and
symbolize your expertise and character. One of the most common
complaints I hear from clients before they work with me is that they
look like everyone else in the same suit or cookie cutter outfit. But I
know that they simply lack the knowledge of how to leverage fashion
trends - not fads - to make them unique and memorable so they will stand
out from competitors in a dynamic and positive way. Your head to toe
look tells the story of your brand through a visual narrative. So it's
important that the story you are telling is one that others will read as
an engaging and convincing "Celebrity with Credibility" news flash.
Fall Fashion - Into Neutral Colors with Grey and Camel
This
season no professional can go wrong wearing shades of rich heather grey
or camel in their business suits, jackets, skirts, pants, dress coats,
and accessories. Look to incorporate these two tones with a suede pump, a
quilted Chanel bag, or in monochromatic tones to communicate you're a
classic-elegant woman. I love the streamlined silhouette look that is
accomplished by dressing in monochromatic tones of either grey or camel
from head to toe. Wear the same basic tones in a wool coat, sweater,
trousers, belt, and shoes or boots for those business casual days. But
be sure to add some rich texture to this look - otherwise it can appear
boring. A suede belt or shoes would easily do the trick. You can also
look to mix and match these two tones of camel and grey together. With a
charcoal grey suit, for instance, opt for a camel and grey print silk
blouse that adds some feminine interest to your power suit.
Who Wears the Pants Now?
This
season, it's all about the pant suit and you will see many styles
resembling the menswear silhouettes from yesteryear. But it takes a real
lady to enhance the look with a few strategically powerful feminine
details. Do that and you will dramatically modernize your look from head
to head - and you'll be ready to compete successfully while going
toe-to-toe with male counterparts in any business setting. A great
feminine blouse or shoes is one simple but effective way to add ladylike
style and grace to the design profile of the traditional men's uniform -
the power suit.
The Statement Jacket - Your Quintessential Go-To Item
Every
professional woman knows that when she wants to gracefully glide up the
corporate ladder or attract more elite clientele, a few statement
jackets will empower her work wardrobe. This season the statement jacket
is about sophisticated, structured silhouettes made out of exquisite
fabrics with a hint of texture like brocade, tweed, boiled wool,
tropical wool, or cotton. Anchor your wardrobe with modern styles like
collarless, asymmetrical zip, peplum, 2-button, ruffle trim, or shawl
collar styles. Every woman leader needs to exude trustworthiness,
strength, and confidence - and statement jackets that you can coordinate
with various professional skirts and pants to multiply your ensemble
possibilities are the answer this fall.
Beautiful Feminine Details
You
will see beautifully refined dressy blouses and shirts in fabrics like
crepe, satin, sateen, silk georgette, metallic, and silk charmeuse this
fall. So you can have the best of both worlds by powerfully showing your
softer side. The fashion focus is on showing off the fine details of
this season's blouses, high up on the neckline. Those include
professional wear styles that have, for instance, a draped cowl
neckline, a subtle neck chain detail, ruffles on collars and down
through the torso, pin tucking details, small neck ties, and pleated
round necklines.
The "It Dress" Refined for Fall
One
great advantage that women leaders have that our male colleagues don't
is the flexibility to wear easy options like a great dress. This season
the "It dress" styles are sheath dresses with either a split neck or a
knot tie at the shoulder; dresses with any type of neckline details;
solid dark neutral knit dresses; wrap style jersey knit dresses in an
array of colorful prints; trench shirt dresses; Pointe knits with
princess seams; belted sheath dresses, or simple styles with peplum
details. All of the modern styles will be ladylike and nipped in at the
waist, giving just the hint of a waistline. Shop for luxurious fabrics
and unexpected prints - because when you only wear one item it needs to
combine fine quality, texture, and detail to make it a stand-alone look
you can wear to work.
The New Trousers
Pants this
season will be sleek, long, and lean - with a menswear-inspired look in
straight or pencil leg styles. That kind of design lets everything else
on your upper torso do the talking and instantly helps to balance out
your proportions. Once again you can't go wrong with colors like camel
or grey to round out your wardrobe. There isn't a woman's body type on
this earth that doesn't look fabulous in straight cut pants! I always
advise my clients that if they ever find a pair of pants that fits their
body type they should purchase them in numerous neutral colors to
easily look polished in every business casual environment. With the new
menswear styles be sure to wear a high heel because that will contribute
a more feminine feel to those otherwise rather masculine fabrics and
cuts.
Fuller Skirt Silhouettes
Look for skirts this
season in luxurious fabrics and modern silhouettes. It's the return of
old world glamour - similar to the secretary styles you see on the hit
TV show Mad Men. Those fuller skirts from the 1950s are new again. The
pencil skirt has an updated style too, and the flared hemline will make
every leg shapelier and add some sway to your walk. Now I call that
making a silently classy but memorable entrance!
Fall Fashion Tips - Fall 2012
Wrap Yourself in Sophistication
Give
a warm welcome to the new statement outerwear. Coats for fall come in
animal prints, brocade designs, suede, faux fur, and classic wool
styles. The silhouettes will be stronger, with bolder shoulders and
slimmer silhouettes to give you a refined sense of sophistication and
elegance. If you work in a more business casual environment, you may
want to try out one of the new cape coats that offer stylish fluidity
when you wear them with a great straight cut trouser pant. It's the
counterpoint to a streamlined silhouette, so remember that you need to
wear that wide cape over a slimmer lower torso in order to keep your
proportions balanced.
Animal Feline Style
Animal
prints have become a classic print, and they are one way to jazz up your
classic wardrobe items. Add a touch of an animal print in a handbag,
shoe, silk blouse, scarf, or trench coat. These can be small statement
pieces that add some interest but you will want to keep these to a
minimum. Otherwise you can call too much attention to yourself with a
clothing statement that has so much of the animal element in it that it
becomes a little difficult to tame.
Ladylike Handbags
This
year the handbag is back. It has a more structured look with
architectural details and silhouettes and there is a perfect style for
every lady. The bags of the season are: the drawstring bag - which is a
throwback to the 1970s that resembles the long-handled bucket bag; the
clutch style with sharp edges - to take you from day to night without
missing a beat; and the smartly structured handbag - like, for example,
the classic square bag with a large signature clasp (worn with a strap
over the shoulder messenger style). That was a favorite of Jackie
Onassis.
In tote bags you'll see an array of multi-handled carry-alls in
alluring snakeskin. They come in tones that range from tomato red to
warm cognac. Or you can opt for the color of the season by purchasing a
grey suede tote bag that keeps you looking professional and also does
double duty as the ideal travel bag.
Don't Just Talk the Talk but Walk the Walk
Walk the classic route that speaks volumes about your style by wearing
the new pointy-toe heels or bold and colorful peep-toe pumps. Then
downshift into my favorite - the kitten heel. This fall shoes will be in
colorful tones, and that offers you a great way to quickly add a pop of
color to your basic suit. If you are wearing a pantsuit and work in a
more casual environment, then consider a suede shoe bootie to add some
heel height, texture, and interest to your long, lean look. This season
it will be a breeze to add variety to all your casual looks with the
wide selection of boot styles that are coming to stores for fall.
Accessory Magic
One
of the wisest investments this season is pearls - either layered or
worn alone. You'll continue to see statement necklaces in multiple
strands this season but be cautious. You don't want your necklace to
upstage your presence, so try to keep it simple and elegant. A textured
cuff is also a great way to add some jewelry and intrigue to your solid
work dress.
Follow these trend tips and fall fashion guidelines
and you can save time and money shopping this season while also adding
some noticeable innovation and unique style to your core wardrobe.
Knowing what to buy - and how to incorporate it into your overall image
and branding strategy - is not just fun but it can also pay huge
dividends on your clothing investment, both personally and
professionally. You'll feel better, look wonderful, and will always
stand out above your peers and competitors in a way that invites greater
success.
Sarah Hathorn is a professional image consultant, certified personal brand strategist, speaker, and author.
Her company, Illustra Image Consulting, works with high-achieving
future leaders and large businesses by enhancing their corporate and
personal brand image to take their businesses and careers to the next
level.
Get your FREE Special Report - "5 Secret Strategies to Empower Your Professional Presence" at
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http://www.illustraimageconsulting.com
Phone: 678-528-1239 Email:
sarah@illustraimageconsulting.com
Copyright 2007 - 2010, Sarah Hathorn, AICI CIP, CPBS
