| Fashion magazines target people every day with lists | | | | similar color family - don't wear shades of beige or |
| and charts telling them the latest trends and | | | | brown clothing with black shoes or a white belt. As a |
| techniques to look better, skinnier, smarter, where to | | | | rule of thumb, make sure your belt, shoes, and |
| buy the hippest clothes or the latest shoes! If you're | | | | watchstrap are in the same color family. Sometimes a |
| a woman, you are probably bombarded more often | | | | strikingly different purse or shoes can make a |
| than you like, and if you're a man, you may not get | | | | statement, but it has to be well planned. The article in |
| the information that you really want to know! Due to | | | | question must be of good quality and in good |
| the glut of information available, most people know | | | | condition, since you want people to notice it. |
| the obvious things to do to look elegant or well | | | | 4) Your socks or hose must match either your shoes |
| groomed, such as getting a good haircut or wearing | | | | or your pants. Do not EVER wear blue socks with |
| certain brand name clothes. However, this may lead | | | | brown shoes, or black socks with sneakers! If you |
| people to overlook some simple, basic things that can | | | | are wearing sling-back or open-back shoes, make |
| be done RIGHT NOW to add that subtle flair and | | | | sure your socks or hose are the color of your shoes |
| polish to your everyday look! | | | | or nude-colored. If you are wearing sandals, do NOT |
| Renu Dalal-Jain, a certified image consultant and the | | | | wear hose unless it is patterned (think fishnets) and |
| owner of Flair Consulting in Philadelphia, PA, works | | | | "deliberately worn to make a trendy statement". |
| with men and women to help them put their best | | | | 5) Wear the highest length socks you can (at least |
| personal face forward in social or corporate settings. | | | | mid to high calf-length). NOBODY wants to see shiny |
| She maintains that there are seven essential things | | | | shins peeking out when you sit down! |
| any man or women can do, and often overlook, to | | | | 6) Polish your shoes and clean your sneakers! The |
| help them present a well-groomed, neat, and elegant | | | | number one thing people forget to do when going |
| appearance to the world! And all this without | | | | out is to check their shoes for scuffs or dirt. Polished |
| spending a dime! | | | | shoes show that you care about your appearance. |
| 1) Keep your skin and lips well conditioned. Ashy | | | | The most expensive shoes in the world will look |
| knees, flaky skin and chapped lips do not look nice, | | | | horrible if they are dirty or scuffed! |
| and will make your skin look old and tired. This is | | | | 7) Keep your wallet or purse organized all the time. |
| especially important in colder weather. If you wear | | | | Nothing makes you look disorganized like an |
| lipstick, it is imperative that you keep your lips moist, | | | | overstuffed wallet hanging on for dear life in your |
| because chapped lips are even more apparent under | | | | back pocket, or a purse bursting at the seams! Make |
| color. Keep lip balm in your car and your bedside table | | | | yourself a system to keep the business cards, credit |
| and apply it whenever you get in the car and before | | | | cards or receipts you don't need all the time, in your |
| going to bed at night. | | | | briefcase or at home. |
| 2) Make sure your nails are well shaped and all a | | | | And a bonus: an understated use of scent |
| similar length. Nothing says you don't care like ragged | | | | (aftershave, cologne or perfume) shows that you |
| nails or nails that are different lengths! (Ladies, I know | | | | take an extra step with your grooming and can have |
| you worked hard to grow those nails but just | | | | a positive effect not only on your own mood but on |
| because only one broke, you shouldn't think nobody | | | | those around you. According to the Social Issues |
| would notice!) If you polish your nails, keep your | | | | Research Center in Oxford, UK, subtle fragrances can |
| everyday color one shade brighter than your | | | | have dramatic effects in improving your mood and |
| skin-tone. This looks professional and clean and | | | | sense of well-being. In addition, in experiments, |
| makes your hands look elegant, especially if you | | | | subjects exposed to pleasant fragrances tend to |
| wear rings. If you like brighter colors make sure you | | | | give higher 'attractiveness ratings' to people in |
| repair chipped polish right away! Chips in bright polish | | | | photographs. The regular use of pleasant fragrances |
| are extremely noticeable and make you look sloppy. | | | | helps to reduce mood disturbances in men and |
| 3) Make sure your clothes and accessories are in a | | | | women. |