No shoes – great service

Tags

"One day without Shoes", children, clothing, Community, dress code, fashion, TOMS

Participants of the One Day Without Shoes event walk barefoot through Amsterdam.
to raise awareness for children without shoes, on April 10, 2012

One of the growing movements in business, today, is the emphasis on giving back. More and more companies realize they can make a difference in people’s lives while still improving their bottom line.

Here’s a terrific example: The shoe company TOMS designated “One Day Without Shoes” in 2007. Since then, their efforts have resulted in 2 million pairs of shoes donated to children in more than 50 countries. April 29, 2014 is this year’s designated day.

It began when TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie — who also answers to the title Chief Shoe Giver — traveled to Argentina in 2006. He saw just how many challenges children face when they grow up without shoes, from infections and injury to reduced education opportunities (since many schools require children to wear shoes.)
So no shoes, no education, no future.
The TOMS tagline, “Leave Your Footprint,” reflects how much we, as individuals, can be part of something bigger than ourselves.
This week, why not skip the pedicure and buy a child a pair of shoes, instead?

For more information on raising awareness visit http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com.

On the heels of fashion week

Tags

5 inch heels, clothes hangers, dress code, fashion, New York Fashion Week, runway surfaces, style, wardrobe

Watching professional models (essentially, living clothes hangers who are paid to walk) stomp down a runway in stilettos can be interesting. However, when the professionals can’t manage the death-defying heights and/or weights of their shoes, it’s time to reconsider the term “fashionable.”

Granted, designers may feature 4- or 5-inch heels in their runway shows as a theatrical overstatement. Commercial interpretations – the shoes sold in department stores to folks like us – are far less dramatic. It’s similar to sheer clothing appearing on the runway that, ultimately, is manufactured with a nude lining for the general public to buy.
Unfortunately, many young women don’t make the distinction and attempt to wear shoes that might be described as “a podiatrist’s dream.”

Most runway surfaces are hard and white, but every now and then designers get more creative – which makes it even more challenging for the models. (Waxed wooden floors can be treacherous and Phillip Lim offered a runway made of salt crystals for fun.)

That’s why it’s nice to hear a voice of reason, like Trish Wescoat Pound, the founder and creative director of Haute Hipppie, who recently told the Wall Street Journal, “Fashion doesn’t have to be uncomfortable.”

Amen.

The Sunshine Award

Tags

Architecture, Awards, clothing, Conversation, Dreams, dress code, environment, Family, fashion, Humor, Memories, mood, Writer

I want to thank the wildly creative Kate at MasonBentleyStyle for nominating me for this lovely award. The international fashion press will soon be writing about her vintage-inspired designs!

My 10 questions from Kate:
1. Who is your style icon?The elegant, glamorous and ageless Carolina Herrera, who was elected to the Best Dressed Hall of Fame in 1980 and remains there to this day. Her signature crisp, white shirt – with cuffs turned back and collar turned up – is impeccable. (Hell, I’ve watched the woman chew gum elegantly!)

2. What are you wearing right now?
A “Simply Vera” Vera Wang dress for Kohl’s. Ever since Target Corp. successfully broke the mold and asked Isaac Mizrahi to design a capsule collection for their stores (a one-time product partnership between a high-end designer and a retail chain,) others have followed: Who could imagine Versace for H&M or Georgina Chapman of Marchesa designing prom gowns for JC Penney? It’s a treat for those of us who can’t afford couture.

3. Where was your best holiday?We spent 10 lovely days in Villefranche sur Mer while our son attended the University of Monaco. The lavender and rosemary-scented air was so fragrant…I’ve never been able to replicate it at home. Life moves at a more leisurely pace there (which gave me more time to enjoy the delicious café crème!)

4. And your worst?
We were staying on Useppa Island, off the west coast of Florida and my husband had to return to Tampa for business meetings. He left by boat and literally abandoned me with our 5-year-old daughter and infant son on an island without electrical power or generators. I was sitting in the dark (actually candlelight) when my sweet friend called and asked, “Renee, have you ever seen “The Shining?”

5. Did you learn much at school?
Certainly the basic tenets of journalism, but I also learned success is not something you HAVE. Success is something you DO. It’s something you experience when you wake up and act accordingly.

6. Could you predict your life?
Heavens, no, but I suppose that’s a blessing. I graduated from college with a journalism degree and established a career as a writer – that prediction came true. I supposed I intended to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, but if I’d pursued that I might not have had time or energy to raise my amazing son and daughter. What is that saying…”Life is what happens while you’re making other plans?”

7. What was the first album you bought?
Sooooo long ago, but I’m guessing it might be James Taylor’s “Sweet Baby James” or Carole King’s “Tapestry.”

8. Could you live in another country?
I’d move to the south of France or Tuscany in a heartbeat!

9. If you could change your first name, what would you change it to?
I would be called “Spring” or “Summer.” I love the colors and growth associated with those two seasons. Every time I hear the Olympic swimmer Summer Sander’s name, I smile.

10. If you could have any person be your mentor, who would it be?
After her husband’s suicide, Katharine Graham led her family’s newspaper, The Washington Post, for two decades. She was unsure of herself but totally sure of her principles: The Pentagon Papers and Watergate are milestones in journalistic history. Kay Graham understood two rules of business: Surround yourself with talented people , then nourish them with responsibilities and gratitude. Her memoir, “Personal History,” won the Pulitzer Prize in 1998.

And now, my 10 Questions:
1. What was the best advice you ever received?
2. What inspires you?
3. What is most important in life, to you?
4. Who is your style icon?
5. Can you describe your perfect day?
6. Where was your best holiday?
7. Have you ever had an Oprah Winfrey “Aha moment?”
8. Do you have any regrets?
9. Does religion/spirituality play a significant role in your life?
10. What would your epitaph be?

I’ve nominated these blogs for the Sunshine Award:
1. YumandYummer – You’ll love Kerry’s cooking and travel adventures!
2. Rose of Bohemia’s World – This Manhattanite is a fabulous tourguide of what to see and where to eat!
3. Digging Archaeology – Someday I’d love to assist on a dig with her!
4. Sadie and Dasie – A photography blog featuring two darling dogs.
5. Crooked Halo Catholic blogspot.com – Nanette muses about spiritual issues.

The Rules:
Include the award logo in a post on your blog.
Link to the person who nominated you.
Answer 10 questions about yourself.
Nominate 10 bloggers in the post and comment on their blogs to let them know they have been nominated.

Defy conformity: Dress up

Tags

business casual, dress code, fashion, silicon valley companies

Slip into your jeans, T-shirt and hoodie – you’re ready for work, right?
Unless you’re Mark Zuckerberg, maybe not.

To truly defy conformity, many West Coast companies have instigated “Formal Friday” when they don their Sunday best. It’s hard to believe the same nonconformists who pioneered the “Casual Friday” trend now are ready to free themselves from the flip-flops that have become standard weekday dress.

(Apparently, sloppy attire is no longer seen as a way of transcending corporate politics.)

Business-etiquette expert Lydia Ramsey is delighted.

Ramsey wrote the book, “Manners That Sell,” and blames Microsoft Corporation for cementing the casual dress code so common among technology companies, but says startups today have “taken it to a new low.”
The Savannah, Georgia, resident is excited to see more companies putting the A-game back in their dress and believes employees are more productive when they dress in formal attire.

At some Silicon Valley companies (like gaming giant Zynga Inc.) small groups of employees have begun to dress up on Fridays. Even the employees at Peet’s Coffee Shop in San Francisco’s financial district reportedly started Formal Fridays about a year ago: Baristas don bow ties and top hats to brew customers’ coffee.

“Friday’s the best day of the week anyway, right?” said employee Kyle Serpa, dressed in suspenders and a tie. “Why not celebrate it with some style and grace?”

Those of us who live on the East Coast wholeheartedly agree.

A new office party

Tags

Christmas, clothing, dress code, fashion, Holiday, office parties, style, sweaters, ugly holiday sweaters

The season for funny pictures with Santa and ugly Christmas sweaters is fast approaching…

C’mon – we’ve all worn them. (Kindergarten teachers still do.)

Mom probably bought your first one, but I’ll bet you’ve paid for at least one more: One of the most popular holiday parties thrown in college is the “Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.” Students don their tackiest and funniest holiday sweaters (usually purchased at thrift stores) and some even wear holiday hats, shoes, and accessories. During the party, guests to vote for the best holiday sweater, and winners receive a prize.

In recent years, hideous holiday attire has practically been elevated to an art form: Mario Batali and Jimmy Fallon cooked some wine-stained garganelli in “ugly holiday sweaters” on ABC’s “The Chew” last year. Who could forget the one worn by actor Colin Firth (“Mark Darcy”) in “Bridget Jones’ Diary?”

Killington, Vermont, resident Anne Marie Blackman even based a business on the trend. “My Ugly Christmas Sweater,” incorporated in 2010, offers customers a vast selection of tacky sweaters in collections ranging from retro 80s embroidered items, to embellished over-the-top sweaters with lights. Blackman’s website received over 2 million page views last holiday season.

 
Not surprisingly, employers have come to appreciate low-key alternatives to expensive, energy-consuming office parties. This year – perhaps well on its way to becoming an annual tradition – many corporations will designate a day for employees to wear and enjoy their favorite glittery, holiday-only, ugly sweaters. Selected and loved with poor taste and abandon, the ugliest holiday sweater contest should spark fun and laughter all day long.

I can’t wait to see the pictures.

Teachers shop, too.

Tags

dress code, fashion, shopping, style, Teacher, wardrobe

Students aren’t the only ones doing back-to-school shopping. Teachers also are hitting the stores, looking for choices that balance professionalism with comfort.

According to an informal poll, several factors influence teachers’ choices: their age, their students’ age and climate.

For those who teach lower grades, the Gap and Express are favorite destinations since slacks with a trendy top appears to be the uniform.

“Usually my pants are functional while my tops are more stylish,” admits second grade teacher Lois Fitzgerald of Orlando, Florida. “But I also invest in good quality shoes. Footwear is so important. If you don’t have comfortable shoes, you’re going to be miserable because you’re on your feet all day.”

Unlike student dress codes, which can inspire groans of frustration at the outlawing of the flip-flops, tank tops and miniskirts that monopolize teen departments, teacher dress codes often are aimed at setting an example for their students and gaining respect. Many schools have rules that include no spaghetti straps, no flip-flops and no overly revealing clothes for teachers.

“It depends on the school district, but when I taught in Texas, tattoos had to be hidden under clothing or a bandage,“ notes Sue Harrell who currently teaches third grade in Plant City, Florida.

Harrell learned early in her career that teaching elementary school can be hazardous to her wardrobe. A math and science teacher, Harrell spends a lot of time outdoors – doing experiments and observing nature – with her students.

“I’ve learned not to spend too much on my work wardrobe,” Harrell says. “If you care about it, it will get ruined.”

Those who teach older grade levels report that Ann Taylor and Banana Republic provide business casual looks that appear polished and professional.

“I am 28 and I look young, but I try to stand apart from my students,” says Carly Jenkins, who teaches ninth grade in Jacksonville. “It’s very important to maintain that distance. I am not their friend, I am their teacher.”

That is a distinction every parent can appreciate.

Timely fashion

Tags

dress code, fashion, wardrobe, watches

When it comes to developing your personal style, remember: It’s all in the wrist.

With a wide variety of styles and prices to choose from, watches are a good way to inject some personality into your professional wardrobe.

Ira Krieger, president of Miami-based Krieger Watches, says his diver and pilot watches are two of his most popular styles. Krieger’s Oceana Watch – which tells the tides of the ocean – retails for around $2,000 but he doubts that most men use that function.

“Men love technical pieces, whether they use the functions or not,” Krieger says.

Women also appear to have a growing affinity for mechanical watches and complicated functions. In March, Seiko introduced what it is touting as the world’s first analog solar-powered GPS watch, as well as a new partnership with one of the most recognizable faces in U.S. women’s soccer, goalie Hope Solo.

The “Astron” resets itself to the accurate time in any time zone with the push of a button. More than 100 patents were used in the creation of this watch, which starts at $2,300.

Brushed-metal finishes and brown leather bands top the popularity list for watches in the workplace. But simplicity in design, along with the use of rose gold – which gives a “softer look” than yellow gold – are equally important trends for 2012.

With many companies adhering to casual dress codes, accessories become even more important. If you want to express your identity, watches are a timely way to do it.

Photograph: Breitling Chronograph Unitime

T-shirts: Casual to corporate

Tags

dress code, fashion, T-shirt, wardrobe

Ahhhh, summer – time to search clothing stores for a new selection of white T-shirts.

V-neck or round, long-sleeve or short, a season of washing and wearing often leaves this wardrobe staple looking dingy with unsightly yellow stains under the arms.

I frequently pair a crisp white T-shirt with a black blazer because it feels comfortable yet looks polished. But I didn’t originate the idea: The T-shirt dates back to 1880, when the U.S. Navy issued sailors an elbow and hip-length undershirt. The simple shirt, laid out on a flat surface, formed a perfect “T.”

“Today it’s an important alternative to your basic blouse,” says Andrea Sider, a real estate consultant at Keller Williams Heritage Realty. “Not only can it give a suit a more casual feel, a T-shirt can be dressed up with a scarf or an elegant necklace.”

Petite women, who once avoided the one-size-fits-all size T-shirt of the past, are indulging in new styles which are not only fitted, but also are shorter.

“I found T-shirts used to be mostly oversized, which looks sloppy if you’re only 5-foot-3,” admits Joanne Sullivan, executive director at Florida Hospital Tampa Foundation. “Now I own a preponderance of fitted white T-shirts with subtle differences such as a ballet neck or three-quarter sleeves. And I’m delighted that the addition of Spandex allows them to hold their shape even after washing.”

It‘s been said that you can’t be too rich or too thin. An added piece of advice: In today’s corporate culture, you can’t own too many white T-shirts.

Thou shalt dress properly

Tags

dress code, resortwear, wardrobe

The term “resortwear” was coined to describe clothing worn in the fashionable resort areas of France during the 1920s and 1930s.

“Shorts, beach pyjamas, wrap-around skirts and playsuits all fall into this category,” reads the Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Fashion. “By the latter part of the 20^th century, the word covered all kinds of lightweight garments for summer and cruise wear.”

Undoubtedly, that’s why few issues create as much confusion among passengers as what to wear to dinner. As cruises and cruisers have become more diverse, so has their dress — placing each ship’s staff in the uncomfortable position of dealing with violations from passengers who are confused or simply don’t want to comply.

Today, the Internet Web site cruisecritic.com contains a section on Cruise Line Dress Codes – which can vary widely from ship to ship.

It says, “Just about every cruise line has a dress code of some type. Except for the occasional nudist charter, they all at least agree that clothing is required! But from there on, dress codes range from those where dressing for dinner means putting on a clean T-shirt to those where any male passenger not in a tuxedo might as well be wearing nothing at all.”

Why is wardrobe so important?

“You might offend other passengers,” says Chris Baker of Cruise Connections travel agency. “Most people don’t want to sit across from someone wearing a tank top at the dinner table.”

She suggests first-time cruisers read their ship’s dress code carefully.

“If you’re on a Carnival ship – which is reasonably priced – you’ll see everything,“ Baker adds. But beware: Shorts (including gym and basketball shorts), beach flip-flops, bathing suit attire, cut-off jeans, sleeveless shirts for men and caps are never permitted in the dining room during dinner.

At the other end of the luxury spectrum is the Cunard Line, with its formal, semiformal and elegant casual dress codes. (One might expect to see plenty of Judith Leiber jewel-encrusted purses on those dinner tables.)

But don’t worry: Room service always is an option.