I still cant understand it. After all these years, I cant make a lick of sense out of what folks consider to be in or out of fashion appropriate or inappropriate attire or appearance. What was in last year, might be out this year or it might be in but you need to change what you wear with it. What was OK for spring and summer probably wont work well for fall and winter - weather considerations aside. And what is in was likely already in somewhere around 20 or so years ago but then it went out so something else could be in. And why dont they just come right out and say FAKE fur instead of trying to dress it up with a fancy foreign word?

Thank God for jeans

I gotta find the Fashion Holy Book. I know there has to be one out there somewhere that says that its a sin to wear the same thing as you wore last year. Or maybe its just sometimes that its a sin. I dunno. All I know is that the ladies section has to be really big. Like maybe everything but the last seven pages. Guys dont seem to matter quite as much. Its sort of like an afterthought thing just so we wouldnt be offended. They whoever they is could have left us out completely for all I care.

Thank God for jeans

I cant understand it. Why sometimes looking layered is good and sometimes it isnt. Why sometimes croc (apparently they couldnt spell the entire word) is good and sometimes it isnt. Why big old-looking broaches are sometimes good and sometimes they arent. And why anyone would ever frown on micro-minis is beyond me. OK, so Im I guy. Ill let that one go.

Thank God for jeans

And how can pleats be in or out? What about tweed? Is it good or not? Why do ladies handbags need to match their shoes? Can summer shoes be the same as winter shoes? Probably not, huh? And whats wrong with tie dye for cryin out loud? Looks cool to me. And whats the deal with buying jeans brand new, mind you - that look like theyve already been worn for two years? I never have been able to figure out that one.

But yeah, thank God for jeans

I cant understand it. Are guys dress jackets now supposed to have two, three or four buttons? Are pleated dress pants in or out? What about casual slacks? Cuffs yes or no? Tuck or dont tuck? Why cant neckties be any width we dang well want? And why do we even wear the silly things in the first place? Why is it important for all the men to look like penguins when they dress for formal occasions? A zebra look makes just as much sense to me.

Thank God for jeans

And have you looked at underwear lately? (Do I need to rephrase that?) Now I understand that the ladies like to do all sorts of push up, push out, accent, emphasize, enhancement stuff. But guys were getting out of control! Holy smokes. I thought the intent of our under-layer was to keep our goodies in place and prevent excessive scuffing against whatever outer-layer we happened to be wearing. Ive even seen articles describing what kinds of underwear the celebrities are wearing. Why would we care? Im just not understanding any of this.

Thank God for jeans and good old briefs

I guess I never will comprehend any of this fashion in style stuff. Seems to me that if were clean and comfortable including warm, cool or dry depending on the weather were good to go. I just cant see that anything else matters much. Of course, Im just an old country boy. What do I know?

Gene Simmons, through NuPathz.com, provides an easy reading self-help blog, articles, quotations, thoughts and links along with affordable self-help and self improvement books & materials - all designed to help folks find the road to a more enjoyable lifestyle, to pass on some of lifes secrets for survival in a chaotic world & offer a few smiles along the way. It’s a down-to-earth, simple approach to discovering a better life. You can visit Gene at http://www.nupathz.com/

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Do you ever wonder where all the dress rules have gone? Depending on when and where you are on any given business day, the words distant past might come to mind. It’s difficult to decide if people don’t know what to wear to work or if they have lost sight of the relevance of appearance to professional success.

The Queen of England is reported to have told Prince Charles, Dress gives one the outward sign from which people can judge the inward state of mind. One they can see, the other they cannot. Clearly, she was saying what many people are reluctant to accept; that people judge us by the way we dress. In all situations, business and social, our outward appearance sends a message.

Try going to a busy restaurant at lunchtime. Look around you at what people are wearing and see if you don’t make judgments about who they are, their line of business, their personalities and their competencies. Think about how you feel when you are dressed in your usual business attire as opposed to casual dress. Your choice of business apparel speaks to your professional behavior and credibility. It is important to understand how to dress for business if you wish to promote yourself and your organization in a positive manner,

How you dress depends on four factors: the industry in which you work, the job you have within that industry, the geographic area in which you live; and most importantly, what your client expects to see.

Professional Dress for Men

In men’s clothing, fashion does not change significantly from season to season but business attire is about being professional and not about being fashionable. It’s about presenting yourself in a way that makes your clients feel comfortable and confident with you. Dressing for success is still the rule. The professional businessman should keep in mind these few points when deciding what to wear to work.

Choose a conservative suit in navy, black or gray either pinstripe or solid. The quality of the material speaks as loudly as the color and can make the difference between sleaze and suave.

A solid white or blue dress shirt with long sleeves offers the most polished look. The more pattern and color you add, the more the focus is on your clothing, rather than your professionalism.

Ties should be made of silk or a silk-like fabric. Avoid the cartoon characters and go for simple and subtle if you want to enhance your credibility.

Socks should be calf-length or above. Make sure they match not only what you are wearing, but also each other. A quick glance in good light before heading out the door can save embarrassment later in the day. Check for holes as well if you’ll be going through airport security and removing your shoes.

Shoes should without question be conservative, clean and well polished. Lace-up shoes are the choice over slip-ons or flip flops. Don’t think for a minute that people don’t notice shoes. Many people will look at your feet before your face.

Belts need to match or closely coordinate with your shoes. Once again, quality counts.

Keep jewelry to a minimum. In a time when men sport gold necklaces, bracelets and earrings, the business professional should limit himself to a conservative watch, a wedding band and maybe his college ring.

Personal hygiene is part of the success equation. Freshly scrubbed wins out over heavily fragranced any day of the week. Save the after-shave for after hours, but never the shave itself.

The finishing touch for the business man is his choice of accessories: briefcase, portfolio and pen. When it comes to sealing the deal, a top of the line suit, a silk tie and a good pair of leather shoes can lose their affect when you pull out the ball point pen you picked up in the hotel meeting room the day before.

Professional Dress for Women

When women entered the workplace in the 1970’s and 1980’s in greater numbers than ever before and began to move into positions which had traditionally been held by men, many of them believed that they needed to imitate male business attire. The result was women showing up at the office in skirted suits or coordinated skirts and jackets with tailored blouses finished off with an accessory item that looked very much like a man’s tie. Happily those days are gone. While the business woman may now wear trousers to work, she does it out of a desire to appear professional and at the same time enjoy the flexibility and comfort that pants offer over skirts. Her goal is no longer to mirror her male colleagues.

The same overall rules apply to women’s work attire as apply to men’s. Business clothing is not a reflection of the latest fashion trend. A woman should be noticed for who she is and her professional skills rather than for what she wears. Her business wear should be appropriate for her industry and her position or title within the industry.

Start with a skirted suit or pants suit for the most conservative look. A skirted suit is the most professional. With a few exceptions, dresses do not offer the same credibility unless they are accompanied by matching jackets.

Skirts should be knee-length or slightly above or below. Avoid extremes. A skirt more than two inches above the knee raises eyebrows and questions.

Pants should break at the top of the foot or shoe. While Capri pants and their fashion cousins that come in assorted lengths from mid-calf to ankle are the latest trend, they are out of place in the conservative business environment.

Blouses and sweaters provide color and variety to woman’s clothing, but they should be appealing rather than revealing. Inappropriate necklines and waistlines can give the wrong impression.

Women need to wear hose in the business world. Neutral or flesh-tone stockings are the best choices. Never wear dark hose with light-colored clothing or shoes. Keep an extra pair of stockings in your desk drawer unless the hosiery store is next door or just down the street from the office.

Faces, not feet, should be the focal point in business so chose conservative shoes. A low heel is more professional than flats or high heels. In spite of current fashion and the sandal rage, open-toed or backless shoes are not office attire. Not only are sandals a safety hazard, they suggest a certain official agenda.

When it comes to accessories and jewelry, less is once again more. Keep it simple: one ring per hand, one earring per ear. Accessories should reflect your personality, not diminish your credibility.

Business attire is different from weekend and evening wear. Investing in a good business wardrobe is an investment in your professional future. For those who think it’s not what you wear but who you are that creates success, give that some more thought. Business skills and experience count, but so does personal appearance and that all-important first impression.

2005, Lydia Ramsey. All rights in all media reserved.

Lydia Ramsey is a business etiquette expert, professional speaker, corporate trainer and author of MANNERS THAT SELL - ADDING THE POLISH THAT BUILDS PROFITS. She has been quoted or featured in The New York Times, Investors’ Business Daily, Entrepreneur, Inc., Real Simple and Woman’s Day. For more information about her programs, products and services, e-mail her at lydia@mannersthatsell.com or visit her web site http://www.mannersthatsell.com

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To rent or to buy, that is the question. It can be a difficult decision to make and both decisions have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you are pulling your hair out trying to decide, this article will hopefully give you some guidance to help you make the right decision for you.

Lets talk about purchasing a tuxedo first. Buying your own tux is great. You will be the only one who has ever worn that particular tuxedo and you will always have one when you need it. In the future if you want to change the look of it, you can simply accessorize it differently to change its appearance. Of course there are some negatives. For example, a decent tuxedo will cost you about $400 so unless you plan on wearing it more than four times, it may be a waste of money. You will also be stuck with one basic design of tuxedo. Yes as I said earlier you can accessorize it but that can only change the look so much.

Renting a tuxedo is your other option. Renting a tux has the advantage of cost first off. You are talking about $100 instead of $400. You can also have the latest style. You can get a more trendy style of tuxedo and not have to worry about it going out of fashion in the future because it isn’t yours. The disadvantages of renting are that you are of course wearing used clothing. Granted they do clean it between uses but if you are picky about that sort of thing, this may bother you. If you will wear a tuxedo often, renting is also a big waste of money. At $100 a pop, the rental charges can add up quickly.

As you can see, there are pluses and minuses to both decisions. Pick the one with the most pluses and the least minuses for you and I am sure you will be happy with your choice.

James C operates the Tuxedo Rental Directory where you can find information on everything related to tuxedos and formal wear.

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