“HIGH HEELS WERE INVENTED BY A WOMAN WHO HAD BEEN KISSED ON THE FOREHEAD.” -Christopher Morley

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We went to the Kennedy Center over the weekend to see South Pacific.  It was a fantastic production. It was refreshing to see so many well-dressed people at the show.  Not a pair of jeans as far as the eye could see.  The only unfortunate thing was that there were a number of young ladies in mile-high shoes who couldn't walk in them.  While they were wearing beautiful dresses and had their makeup on just so, their whole look was ruined when they started walking.  They looked horrible - taking too long of steps, wobbling, and clomping along.  Just dreadful.  A definite fashion don't.  Be marvelously well-mannered by caring about all aspects of your appearance, learn how to walk in your shoes, and only wear shoes you know how to elegantly walk in.  

WHAT IS YOUR STYLE?

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"Style is a simple way of saying complicated things."  Jean Cocteau

Your outward appearance -clothes, deportment, carriage - tell much about your character.  On the clothes front, we should not strive to wear an outfit that everyone notices.  Nor do we want to be a walking logo billboard (my obsession with Burberry outerwear notwithstanding).  Rather, shouldn't we want people to notice us?  Wouldn't it be nice if someone said about you, "I don't quite remember what she was wearing but she looked absolutely lovely."  How marvelous is that?  What is your style?  What do you strive for it to be?

"A GOOD LATHER IS HALF THE SHAVE." WILLIAM HONE

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Driving into work this past week I caught sight of a man shaving while behind the wheel.   I guess I  should just be thankful he went with an electric razor and not the traditional razor and shaving cream route. 

It was obvious that this guy was ill-mannered and a bad driver (his car looked like it had been in a demolition derby).  And I have to wonder how good a shave he gave himself.

Be marvelously well-mannered and do personal grooming at home and in private.  Be marvelously well-mannered and be a driver who is considerate of others on the road. 

What inappropriate personal grooming in public have you witnessed?

Clothes Make the Man and Woman



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Do you strive to dress with taste? Our society's tilt toward the casual has unfortunately resulted in a corresponding decline in modesty, appropriateness, and taste.   I am not advocating that everyone should dress like a schoolmarm.  Rather, I wish men would dress like gentlemen and women would dress like ladies.  Think 40s, 50s, and the early 60s. 

Do you think you choose your clothes so others think you dress with taste?  Do you want to dress with taste? How do you define it?  It means different things to different people - but to me, a large part of taste has to do with consistently choosing quality and what is appropriate - for the occasion, for the weather, for your body, and yes, for your finances.

Gentlemen should keep in mind that ladies do notice your work clothes (so use collar stays) and your casual clothes (find an iron and wear something other than T-shirts and sweatshirts).  You will instantly have a leg-up on your fellow man. 

I haven't always dress consistently well but it is something I am striving to do.   Like it or not, we are all judged (and judge others) on our appearances and your wardrobe plays a big part of it.  We also feel better about ourselves when we know we are pulled-together.  It need not be expensive, but it must - at a minimum - be clean, pressed, and without need of any repair (fallen hem, broken zipper, lost button, a hole - fix it or get rid of it).

Let's all try to take it up a notch.  No more sweatpants on the weekend!  In that regard, I have taken a play our of our dear friend, H's, playbook by wearing more dresses.  A dress makes you look a bit more put together and stylish and it is a real time saver in the morning.  Just remember to only dress for your body type.  What looks fabulous on your friend may look unfortunate on you. 

Tell us about that one outfit you remember wearing where you felt completely pulled together and confident.  A great outfit can help protect you from feeling insecure and getting in your own way.

"Nothing Succeeds Like the Appearance of Success"

Did you know it only takes five seconds for people to form a first impression of you?  What message is your body language sending?  If you are slouching you are signaling you are weary, dreary, and probably a bit self-conscious.  Talk about having lackluster presence.

Show some self-confidence, elegance and grace by standing up straight.  This means your head held high, (chin level to the ground no snooty noses in the air, please) shoulders rolled down and back with your shoulder blades pulled closer together, and your weight evenly distributed between your feet. 

We all could be better with our posture.  How to practice? Well, we could do what a business associate recently mentioned over lunch one day, when she exclaimed, "I have to practice my posture ...my mom is coming into town."  She envisions someone gently pulling up on an imaginary ribbon affixed to the top of her head.  Or you could take up yoga or pilates which help with posture.  Or you could keep in your mind's eye someone of grace you want to emulate - maybe Grace Kelly,  reformed sloucher Gwyenth Paltrow, or Audrey Hepburn and Chelsea Clinton with their ballet-trained perfect posture. 

The bonus for all your trouble? Not only will you look more self-confident and positive, you will feel better and you will look five pounds thinner.  Sounds marvelous to me.