December 2002 Newsletter

Here in the southern hemisphere festive dressing for us includes the on set of summer and warmer weather. Summer clothes started appearing on our shelves from as early as July and back then we were wondering what would the summer look be for us and what should we wear that would be appropriate to take us through these hot, festive months.

Over the coming months and December in particular you can expect to be invited to…Office parties and break-ups…Christmas parties with friends…BBQ’s…New Years Eve Parties…Summer Weddings…Cocktail parties…Beachside weekends away and picnics. The list for summer really does go on much longer but these are the most prominent occasions where appropriate dressing will be important to you.

What is appropriate? For the business functions remember you have to work these people the next day so girls don’t show too much flesh. These people need to remember you as the professional you are and I mean that in a corporate sort of way. A little black dress is great but don’t forget colour. Try a shift in delicate silk pastel shades to enhance your skin tone or flowing floral chiffon to get you through weddings and other formal functions.
Going to a function from work is simple. You can add extra lip-gloss in one of the season’s deeper shades and take off your corporate earrings for something with more swing and size. Change your corporate courts for a sexy, strappy pair of heels.
Remember in the office summer dresses can be ok as long as you have a jacket ready to put on if a client comes in to visit.

Don’t forget if you are going to any outdoors function, BBQ, drinks or lunches to apply sunscreen. There are two very important reasons for this. Not just to protect your skin (and keep you looking younger) but also nothing looks worse than going out the next day or later that night in a strappy dress with builders sleeve marks from your short sleeves and a definite line of sun burn showing at your décolletage.

Guys, and girls for that matter, it is not a time to drink all you can from the complimentary bar, start staggering with your tie half mast, or your lipstick smeared and going up to the boss and telling that person how much you love them.

The peasant look this summer is taking hold. It is lighter and loser and best of all makes us look slimmer. No more thigh hugging micro minis for the moment. Flowing fabrics in pastel colours allow us all to be comfortable and stylish.

Girls a must have for the festive season is a fringed or embroidered wrap to keep out the evening summer chills.

Bronzer for that fresh, no make-up kind of face that is more appropriate for the heat of summer and afternoon BBQ’s.

Lip gloss to give you the fresh-faced appeal.

Great looks are blouses in cotton or broderie anglais. Strapless tubes are making a come back but if you don’t feel comfortable going strapless or even sleeveless there is also the option of the fabulous ¾ length sleeves. Cross over tops and a multitude of V-necks out there for the larger busted ladies and those women wanting to create an enhanced bust line your best bet is anything with gathering and fullness at the bust..
Ladies just take notice where the fringing and frills are hanging as you don’t want to overly accentuate a large bust or hips with frills and flounces.

Floral print tunics over white bootleg pants are a great look that is both comfortable and smart.

The cotton drawstring pant is another loose, flowing and comfortable piece. Which looks great when worn with a pair of canvas espadrilles.

Great looks for the men are leather slides or thongs with a pair of 3/4length pants.
A crisp linen shirt in pale pink is a very popular colour for this season.
Short-sleeved shirts with a large check are still big
Checked shirts and striped ties are in but please wear a plain jacket unless the look has been especially put together for you. The general rule is 2 patterns with one plain when co-ordinating your jacket, tie and shirt. Three patterns generally never sit well together.

Christmas gift ideas for HER
· Anything turquoise especially with silver in ethnic earrings.
· A wrap either fringed or embroidered.
· A plaited or tooled leather belt to sit on the hips.
· Flowing skirts, this will depend on the style of the girl – with either tiers, if she is feminine and girly ,panels, if she is a no nonsense kind of girl or a patchwork finish for that special somewhere who is creative and lively

Christmas gift ideas for HIM
· Leather slides
· Leather thongs
· Brown leather belt with stitching
· Linen shirt, plain collar in a pastel colour.
· Tie – if you must, make sure it matches his personality. Diagonal fine stripes for the serious guy, checks for the creative- stylish guy, plain for the no nonsense kind of guy and cartoons for the guy whose life you want to ruin. No one will take him seriously with a cartoon motif hanging from his neck.

Other great gift ideas
· A personal style solutions portfolio
· A personal colour consultation
· A make-up make-over

These gifts are great for
- The graduate about to enter the work force.
- Husbands/Sons who are looking for a change of direction in their career next
year.
- Wives/Daughters who are entering or re-entering the work force.
- The person who is retiring from work and wants to know how to start dressing
down.

Watch out for next months article
Building Your Corporate Wardrobe Part 1
Business Traditional

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