How to Wear Patterns

Yesterday, while going to the office I noticed a gentleman wearing striped trousers and a checkered shirt and it got me thinking about wearing patterns. Indian clothes and patterns are very vibrant and many a time we see people wearing several colors, textures and patterns combined together. This is nice but if we keep in mind some pointers when it comes to patterns, we’d be better off. 

Patterns create illusions about the size, shape and weight of the body. Patterns attract attention. For example thin vertical stripes can make you look taller and thinner whereas thick vertical stripes and horizontal stripes can make you look wider. Small scale closely space patterns will be better than large scale widely spaced patterns that make you look bigger.

Patterns can be classified as classic or traditional and trendy. Classic patterns are ever green and include pin stripes, chalk stripes, pin dots, polka dots, coin dots, paisley, floral, tweed, herringbone, gingham checks, houndstooth, plaids, argyle. Trendy patterns are the ones in fashion for a while. These patterns tend to fade out quickly.  

How to wear patterns?

Scale – The most important point to remember while pairing patterns is the scale. Combine big and small patterns to create a balance. Generally, wear patterns that are mid or small scale. Large scale patterns attract attention. So wear small patterns in areas you want to draw attention away from. 

Add solids/neutrals to your outfit – Break the visual space by adding solids or neutrals to your outfits. You do this with bags, shoes, accessories or another article of clothing. 

Choose a color palette – Using colors from the same family or one main color when mixing patterns can be visually stimulating. Prints in similar backgrounds also look good. Try a monochrome colour palette. Prints in a black and white color palette are great for a classic look.

If you are a big fan of patterns, it’s advisable to stick to small scale geometric patterns at work, if not solid colors. One can experiment with other patterns, perhaps on Fridays at work and for casual wear. Choose patterns that will camouflage your body variations and enhance your body shape. 

My pinterest board http://bit.ly/1bwc46f  has more options.

How to make monochromatic work for you

Monochromatic literally means having or consisting of one color or hue. 

In fashion it means dressing from head to toe in one color. However, it’s not as boring as it sounds. Wearing a monochromatic outfit makes a bold statement and can really make us look chic. The best part is we tend to look slimmer and taller in monochromatic outfits. We are familiar with the date night ritual of all black.

How to pull off a great monochromatic look?

• Different shades of the same color works well. Try shades of brown and rust or light and dark blues.

• Play with textures and create an interesting effect.  Interesting texture combinations can be created using - Silk (which has a natural sheen), Wool (the dull, more subtle texture), Lace, Leather (whether used for a jacket, skirt or as trimming for clothes). A beige silk blouse or shirt paired with a leather jacket in the same color will look attractive.

We can make this work in the office too. Formal dressing works well in this scheme and the textures make an interesting statement. Use the duller fabric from the part of the body you want to draw attention away. The eyes get naturally drawn to the brighter fabric and this can be effectively used.

• The key to pulling together a great monochromatic look is in the accessories. No outfit is complete without the right shoes and accessories. Accessories should ideally be of the same color but you can get away with a touch of another color. For example if you dress in a blue outfit, a silver necklace would be perfect.

Of course, we are comfortable trying neutrals but do try combinations beyond neutrals like reds, pinks, oranges, rust. 

Look into your wardrobe and pull out tops, bottoms and accessories of the same color and experiment with a new look.

See my pinterest board for more monochromatic outfits http://bit.ly/1xecjg0

Wear Colors Of Spring - Holi Hai!

When trees sprout brilliant green leaves and the koels start cooing, we know spring is here. And it’s also time for the festival of colors – Holi. We Indians enjoy wearing bright colors most of the time and are perhaps most experimental with our color selection. However, some basics need to be kept in mind when wearing colors. One can wear almost any color but it’s the combination of colors that makes the difference. Its not only what you wear but how and where you wear it.

So why do we need to pay attention to colors? Colors draw attention to a particular part of body, they create illusions and they communicate moods and messages. For example Navy Blue communicates authority, stability and is classic, dignified. Orange communicates activity, adventure, creativity and is joyful, lively. Generally the lighter color attracts the eye, so if you want attention away from a particular area, wear a dark color there.
 It is recommended that 80% of our wardrobes comprise of neutral colors and 20% accent colors.

What are Neutral colors?
·       Muted or less bright a color is neutral
·       Adds versatility to your wardrobe by helping mix-n-match
·       Can easily combine with other colors that are brighter or darker
·       Neutrals go with a wide range of occasions and moods
·       Examples - Colors in tints and shades of cream, beige, brown, olive green, blue, grey,               black and white, etc. These colors build the basis of your wardrobe.

What are Accent colours?

·       Colours that add pop to your outfit are accent colours

·       Brighter than the wardrobe neutral combined with it. They are strong, intense,                         flamboyant.

·       Can combine with very few other clothes

·       These depend on personal preference and even the current fashion trends

·       Examples – fuchsia, shocking pink, lime green, canary yellow, tangerine, etc

How do you use/combine neutral and accent colors?
·       You can add accent colors to your neutral outfit by using bright colors as scarves, ties,             necklaces, dupattas and other accessories.
·       At the workplace accent colors should be used in very small proportion to neutral                     because you don’t want to distract co-workers. You need to be taken seriously.
·       On social occasions – one can use slightly larger amounts of accent colors

Someone who uses neutral and accent colors really well is Mr. Navjot Singh Siddhu.  We also admired Kate Blanchett's Oscar gown in black with the aquamarine accent piece.

Wearing colors also depends on other factors like personal hair and skin color etc.

Try creating different color combinations using different amounts of accent and neutral colors depending on the occasion and make your outfits chic and colorful. It is the festival of colors after all!

For interesting options on using accent colors in outfits check my pinterest board http://bit.ly/1GXATCe

Jackets: the new Indian obsession

I know for sure one thing you have discussed in the last few days - Narendra Modi’s jacket with his name used in the weave. The country has developed a renewed interest in jackets. Wearing suits and jackets used to be special occasion wear for our Dads worn for weddings or formal parties. Over the years the jacket has evolved, become more affordable, flexible and fashionable. It is has become part of a style statement worn by both men and women for formal, semi formal and also casual occasions.

A jacket adds color, style, formality, pizzazz to your outfit and makes you look sharper.

Whatever the kind of jacket - sports jacket, blazer, suit jacket or even a vest – the fit is what make or breaks the look. Large oversized jackets with big lapels are for grandfather’s closet. How does one know how to select a good jacket? 

Here are some pointers to give you that edge when you choose a jacket for yourself -

Fit: A well fitted jacket will be soft and draping at the hips and shoulders but brought in a bit at the waist and chest. You want the jacket to be stationary while you move. The fabric should not crease, tug or billow with movement.

Vents: The movement of the jacket is dependent on the venting - the presence and number of slits running upward from the base of the jacket. The double vented jacket is the one that offers the best and comfort fit that helps with movement.

Length: The bottom of a formal jacket should cover the bottom curve of the buttocks. This is largely for men. For women, it will depend on their body shape.

Sleeves: Ideally half inch of shirt cuff visible under the jacket sleeve.

Lapels: Lapels are the folded pieces of cloth that cover the chest. For a timeless jacket the lapels should be 3 inches to 3 ½ inches wide. Narrow lapels are more contemporary. Wider lapels are old school.

Getting the fit of the jacket right will enhance your body shape and overall image instantaneously. One can pair a jacket with crisp shirts or kurtas and well fitted dark jeans or trousers.

A wardrobe must have is a blazer which is a navy blue jacket that is cut more casually, has patch pockets and usually gold or silver buttons. For a more casual look, pair a blazer with jeans or chinos in a lighter colour. A suit jacket is to be worn with the suit only and is usually made of finer fabric.

Go ahead and add vests and jackets to your wardrobe. The colour, texture, pattern, fabric can be chosen according to the occasion (informal to formal), place and weather. Light cotton and Linen jackets are great for summers while blends work well for all seasons.

Check out interesting jacket looks on my pinterest boards http://bit.ly/1A7VLXU and http://bit.ly/1uyeEAO . If you have any questions around blazers or jackets do write in.

Introducing women at the workplace and socially

Do you believe in New Year resolutions? I do. One of my resolutions is to write more often and share my thoughts, ideas and experiences. And so I got down to doing just that a couple of days ago.

I was in a meeting earlier this week and when the introductions were being made, I sensed that there seemed to be an awkward moment of indecision (and fumbling) by a gentleman about how to introduce a lady to the seniors attending the meeting. Have you experienced anything similar sometime? We are all confused at some point on how to introduce a lady in the workplace. Should the lady be introduced first or the seniors or colleagues? What is appropriate? What about at a social gathering?

Let me share a few simple pointers to make things easier for all of us. Here goes...

The formal way to make all introductions is - 

Speak to the person you wish to honor first

What this means:

• Your boss or senior to be addressed first then a junior person in the company.
• Younger to older
• Clients are always to be addressed first. Then your boss or someone from your company.
• A woman will not be perceived as a competent professional if she acts or wants to be treated according to chivalry. A man who treats a female client or colleague in a chivalrous manner will be perceived as condescending.
• Socially it is appropriate to introduce a man to a woman. So a woman will be addressed first. 
• Within a work environment, consider only seniority and position of the person while making introductions.

Do add a point of common interest for both parties involved.  In a formal business meeting that would mean a brief background/role of the junior member being introduced to the senior. Socially too this ensures recall and the start of a conversation.

So go ahead and make those introductions with ease socially as well as at the workplace. My module on Business Etiquette covers this and more.

Have more questions or want to share some experiences? Feel free to comment below and I will respond.

What really is Image Management?

Whether we like it or not, whether we want to or not we communicate messages about ourselves. It is therefore a good idea to step back and take a look at ourselves, our perception, our image, what messages we subconsciously communicate to others around us. A conscious effort to ‘consider’ ourselves outside & inside will not only offer us insights but improve our relationships.

Is there a ‘real’ ‘core’ ‘true’ self? Or is it who we ‘think’ we are? Or is it actually our ‘self image’ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-image), made up of childhood conditioning.

Self image is formed due to our experiences largely during our growing up years. A child is told about him/herself based on someone else’s compass or perception – parents, relatives, friends, teachers, and societal norms. The child forms an image of his/her personality and carries it through life. Reactions, behaviour, attitude, actions, self worth, self confidence stem from self image. For example, a person may be an introvert as a result of him/her being told in growing up years he/she is overweight or underweight or too tall or too short or not so good looking.

At some point in our lives we all decide to take a look at ourselves. The decision for internal introspection and the actions we take for it are itself a positive step towards awarding ourselves self worth. The paths we explore could involve studying a new philosophy, a religion, exploring deep meditation, taking on a guru, physically working out, adopting a new hobby or getting more adventurous and taking more risks. The moment we decide to invest in ourselves we value ourselves more. This becomes a turning point in our growth journey.

I’ve had several interesting discussions on Image Management with a variety of different responses. Some think it’s an outwardly change and there is no reason for presenting a different image than who we are. Its artificial and a less ‘intellectual’ activity.

Is it really an outwardly change? Think about it.

Like I mentioned earlier, we feel a ‘need’ to change. Once we’ve stopped blaming our circumstances, luck and others for not moving in life or for not having what others have, we start looking into ourselves. Initially reluctantly. We are hesitant to admit we need to be worked upon. We are hesitant to get out of our comfort zone. However, those who embrace internal growth & change, those who are more self aware, are the ones who are generally happier. Image Management is actually rediscovering, recognising and accepting who you are. It is being in sync with your personality and projecting who you really are.  There is no right or wrong. We are all different from each other.

Image Management is evaluating and enhancing our image and how others perceive us and therefore respond to us. It is about creating first impressions and more importantly an impactful presence. Image Enhancement includes an understanding of ourselves, our tastes, our likes & dislikes, our personality, our roles & goals. It includes improving appearance, body language, and etiquette. It is about presenting an authentic image of ourselves. The one you are most comfortable with.

We need to introspect before we understand our personality type. The clothes we choose to wear reflect our values. Our mannerisms & etiquette reflect the respect we have for ourselves and others. The colours we decide to wear reflect our mood. Our body language and tone of voice can make or break a situation. Everything about us gives out a signal that is received by people around us.

If you are fine with the way you are, great! If you feel the need to think about yourself more consciously then let go of your fears. See your life change. Go ahead, do it. Press Refresh.

How to make PR work?

It’s always tougher to maintain a relationship than start one. How does one keep it exciting enough for all parties involved to stay interested?  You have taken on a PR agency and/or have an in-house department. Its starts off well with good output initially.

Usually after a while PR exercises tend to lose steam. You take your PR agency/in-house department for granted. PR is an engaging exercise. The success of the agency/dept depends largely on the depth of involvement of the two parties. I’ve seen good PR agencies fail simply because their client servicing team is not spending enough time interacting with Business, Marketing and Sales teams.  It could be because they have too many clients to handle and therefore too little time for a client. On the other hand, clients also assume that PR will self-run and agency/dept will keep getting results out of thin air. It eventually doesn’t work out.

So what can you do to make it work?

For You

• Be sure you need/want PR in the first place, not because your competition or friends have a leading agency on board
• Stay committed and get your team’s ‘buy in’ to the concept. PR and its impact has to be understood by the teams in house first, else there will be no knowledge sharing.  I’ve this seen this several times, the last one being – a new sales team that had no clue of PR – was asked to manage the PR agency and include PR expenses in their sales budgets! Needless to say, the sales team soon decided they don’t need PR (for a growing brand)!
• Get your agency/department to spend time with your key people across teams educating them on PR
• Share business progress, challenges and achievements with your PR team lead from time to time. It will help formulate focussed and meaningful strategies.
• Stay focussed and involved in PR. You need not spend as much time later as you did in the beginning but one has to keep an eye on monthly plans, reports and success rate. It will help if you ask for these and review progress regularly so it’s not too late before you realise it’s gone off track.

For the PR Agency/Dept

• Push the client for inputs even if you feel guilty about taking their time away from other important work
• Do not wait for inputs/info. Go find it. Talk to key people in the organisation. Build relationships with them so there is an easy flow of information. It will be easier for you to spot opportunities and ideas where company personnel may not be able to.
• If you think there isn’t enough dough for PR, have an open chat with key people stating the challenges and find solutions. It also does help at times to take third party expert opinion. Stay connected/clued on to customers, media, competition regularly – you may be able get insightful ideas.

Only a long-term perspective and commitment makes PR really tick (this I say for both clients and agencies). This goes hand in hand with business goals. Short term targeted spurts are nice as long as they are in sync with long term objectives. After all, brands are not built in a day.