The Style Expert

“Black Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving as it is typically known, is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year.
Stores open in the wee hours of the mornings, offering great discounts to the consumers who often line up early to get bargains. CNN Money.com predicts the number of people shopping on Black Friday will pick up more than 16% this year, according to a survey released Tuesday.  A staggering 57 million people said they would “definitely” head to stores on the day after Thanksgiving, up from 49 million in 2008, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation. On this day, shoppers can anticipate huge savings on electronics, apparel and toys.  Many retailers have already announced their deals to the public. Sights such as: www.Black-Friday.net lists many of the deals consumers can expect. Today, Forbes listed the ten best Black Friday bargains: http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/19/black-friday-sales-business-commerce-thanksgiving-day-discounts.html

To make Black Friday as stress-free as possible, iPhone has added an app for Black Friday. For $2.99, owners of Apple’s (AAPL, Fortune 500) popular smart phone and its iPod Touch player can download Mall Maps – You Are Here, a portable database of mall floor plans, store lists and other information intended to help shoppers avoid headaches this holiday season. Tech-savvy holiday shoppers are hoping the new iPhone application will help them beat the rush on Black Friday. This Mall Maps app (Trying saying this ten times fast), which is useful for those who want to get in and out as quickly as possible, offers information on more than 1,000 malls nationwide.

And if you miss the discounts offered on Black Friday, there is always Cyber Monday.  Cyber Monday, the Monday immediately after Black Friday, is the symbolic kick-off to the online holiday season.  Shop.org, a division of the National Retail Federation, officially named this shopping day “Cyber Monday” in 2005.  Cyber Monday is the day retailers use their online shopping hubs to offer special discounts to its consumers. The website www.cybermonday.com lists the many deals and coupons various online retailers offer.  Whether you shop on Black Friday, Cyber Monday or both, hopefully you will be able to enjoy tremendous savings this holiday season. Tis’ the Season!

written by admin \\ tags: Black Friday, CNN Money, Cyber Monday, Forbes, Holiday savings, Holiday shopping, iPhone Mall Maps, National Retail Foundation

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I recently purchased Margaret Visser’s latest book, “The Gift of Thanks: The Roots and Rituals of Gratitude.”  Anticipating this would be a light and educational read about Thanksgiving and its traditions, I was pleasantly surprised. The book was filled with so much more. Visser explores virtually everything one could ever imagine in relation to gratitude and thanks.  Margaret’s book is an examination of what gratitude is and how it functions in our lives. “Gratitude is a moral emotion of sorts,” explains Visser, “one that is more complicated and more vital than we think.”

In “The Gift of Thanks,” Visser acknowledges that simple politeness is the grease that keeps society running.  She also believes being grateful is not natural but, rather a learned behavior.  Visser writes about the humility required to be genuinely grateful and carefully details the kind of gratitude that is not compulsory or self-interested.

“Gratitude is always a matter of paying attention,” Margaret writes, “it’s deliberately beholding and appreciating the other.”  She admits that gratitude is fundamentally, about not taking things for granted. “Gratitude arises from a specific circumstance – being given a gift or done a favor – but, depends less upon that, than on the receiver’s whole life, her character, upbringing, maturity, experience, relationships with others, and also on her ideals, including her idea of the sort of person she is or would like to be,” exclaims Visser.

This was a timely and influential book and I am “grateful” to have read it.

written by admin \\ tags: "The Gift of Thanks", Gratitude, Margaret Visser, Thanksgiving

When families come together, rudeness is often served with cranberries and yams. From New York Times, posted 11/20/09
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/garden/19manners.html

written by admin \\ tags: Holiday etiquette, manners, Thanksgiving etiquette

The way you dress sends messages and affects how others view you. Women are often judged by the way they dress and present themselves at work.  Many professional women are guilty of several fashion mistakes when it comes to getting dressed for the office.  Often their lack of judgment can lead to being passed over for a job or promotion.

7 Mistakes to Avoid:

1.  Too Much Cleavage

Revealing too much cleavage at work is one of the biggest mistakes women make. This can be inappropriate, distracting, and often sends the wrong message.

“Dressing too sexy can also have psychological effects on your peers,” according to Peter Glick, a professor of psychology at Lawrence University in Wisconsin.  A study by Glick  published in Psychology of Women Quarterly, indicates that women in high-level positions who dress in what is seen as sexy attire are viewed as less competent–regardless of their skill sets. These women are passed over for promotions more often than their more modestly dressed female colleagues.

2.  Dressing in Fashion Trends

Another faux pas working women make is modeling the latest fashion trends in the office.  Even if the short skirt with leggings is the “in look” for the season, it is not appropriate for the executive woman to display at work.  As Coco Chanel stated, “Fashion fads, only style remains forever.”

3.  Ill-Fitting Clothing

The classiest outfit can be an eye-sore if it is too baggy or if a shirt button is pulling. Ensure your clothes have fluidity –no snug pants or too-narrow skirts.  Find a great tailor to adjust clothing as needed.  Many department stores have on-site tailors.  Just a few tweaks to an ill-fitted suit can make you look more authoritative.

4.  Undergarments Showing

With the abundance of specialized undergarments available to consumers (Spanx’s seamless power panties, for example), there is no need for bulging panty lines, unsightly bra straps, or thong tops. Many department and specialty stores have trained staff to assist with proper fittings.

5.  See-Though Clothing

Sheer materials such as organza, chiffon, or liquid jersey may look and feel cool and comfortable, but in the light of an office they can be too revealing.  Before leaving for the office, check your ensemble in a bright, naturally lit room and in front of a full length mirror.  Always wear conservative camisoles under transparent blouses or jackets.  Wear a slip or Spanx under sheer dresses and skirts.  Pants and skirts with linings are always safe bets.

6.  Over-accessorizing

A rule of thumb when it comes to accessories in the workplace: Less is more.  Costume jewelry, when worn in bulk, tends to look tacky.  Wearing too many diamonds may be interpreted as pretentious. For the boardroom, consider one statement piece plus subtle accessories.  For example, if  you wear a chunky beaded necklace stick to understated earrings.

7.   Casualty Fridays

Nothing says “unprofessional” more than wearing beach attire to work on “Casual Fridays.”  Sundresses, hot pants, terry clothed sweatsuits, spaghetti straps, and flip-flops all convey that you are dressed for the beach rather than business. Wearing a “third piece” like a jacket, neutral blazer or cardigan will help make your casual outfit look more professional.  Trade the tube top for a silk shell and the Crocs for great ballerina flats.

Before you get dress each day think… what impression do I want to  make on my boss, clients and  co-workers?

written by admin \\ tags: business dress, powerful dressing, professional dress, women dress for success

When Ivanka Trump married Jared Kushner one week ago,  her dress was the talk of the town. Instead of wearing a trendy strapless, very Hollywood wedding gown, Ivanka chose a tasteful, elegant and modest dress created by Vera Wang. The beautiful lace sleeves were the highlight of the dress. Ivanka’s dress resembled the dress Grace Kelly wore when she married Prince Rainer of Monaco in 1956.  Helen Rose, the MGM costume designer, made Grace’s iconic wedding dress. According to Ms. Wang, it was the lace and the royal factor of this dress that impressed Ivanka.

Ivanka’s dress consists of three layers of different kinds of lace, including Lyon and Chantilly. The bottom layer was embroidered and each layer was pieced together by hand to create a different pattern in the lace. “You could see the layers underneath when she moved,” said Ms. Wang, who had about a month to make the gown.

Will Ivanka be a trendsetter with her “sleeves?” Ms. Wang hopes this is the case. She stated, “Nothing would make me happier. I’ve been doing strapless dresses for 15 years. It’s tiring.”

Hopefully, Vera’s prediction is correct; this would be refreshing.  

written by admin \\ tags: Grace Kelly, Ivanka Trump, Vera Wang, wedding dress