At a store downtown they have this lady who is a fashion consultant. I just love her! She seemed to understand my love for casual clothes. At my age, hiding the body flaws is difficult! Oh…that’s another post…anyway, I also found a hair stylist and he cut my hair so it’s feathered around my fat chin and my aging face and it looks new and crisp and good! It’s comfortable for me. It doesn’t take a lot of time to “look good.”

I was at an attorney’s office once and he had a box of ties for days in court that he obviously may have forgotten about. I thought to myself, “what a great idea! Wish I could do that.” So, I told the nice lady at the store downtown about the box of ties and “Could I do something like that?” She laughed, but thought for a minute and then said “Yes. You can.” (Told you I liked her.) She said, “buy an expensive pair of black pants and a black cashmere suit coat. Fill your wardrobe with pretty blouses in different colors and when you put that suit coat on, you will always look ready for ‘court’.” Then she said to buy a leather bag, one that is either black and makes a statement and one that is filled with several colors for the summer months. She explained to me that a purse is as important as the jewelry you are wearing. Shoes? Well, find the most comfortable pair of low heal shoes in black if your purse is black. (Just like you said Vickie! It’s just got to look “pulled together”). She told me to buy things little by little if I had to. And I did. I made up my mind that every month, I would purchase a new blouse and save the rest for summer time when I needed a black jacket in a different weight.

I think for people like me, it’s a challenge to always look “professional.” However, like you said, it’s important and we don’t always think of it as nurses. We’ve worn scrubs or uniforms all our lives.

I was able to find several great suits that fit well and looked professional. The hard part was picking which to take home. I decided on a navy suit (jacket and skirt) and also a black suit with a different style jacket and slacks. I also purchased several nice tops to complete the outfits.

This way even if I am wearing the same skirt (or slacks), a different blouse can change the look and it feels like a different outfit. I too purchased new shoes (simple good quality pumps) and only wear them for CLNC^® business.

We shopped a Burlington Coat Factory in our area and they had were great deals on all kinds of clothes. Silly me, I thought they only had coats and had never been in the store. All of the name brands too. Both the suits I purchased were Evan-Picone. When I put on my suit and heels I feel so confident that nothing can bring me down.

Another tip: Look for deals on briefcases at Ross. You may have to go several times to find one you like, but the prices are incredible.

When I was ready to present my first CLE session, I knew that I needed a classy new suit because this session was going to be videotaped and then would be available as a CLE home-study program with a DVD. Like Elizabeth Grace Diaz, I look younger than I really am. So I wanted to look sophisticated and experienced. A neighbor gave me a box of clothes from a friend of hers who is a businesswoman. Inside that box, there was a suit jacket with the price tag still on it, $125.00! It was classy, nice, brand spanking new, and best of all it fit me perfectly!

The evening of the CLE session, I pulled my hair up and put on the jacket with a black skirt and black conservative dress shoes. My husband said WOW! I said WOW! My five-year-old grandson said, “Grandma you look beautiful.”

Whatever the budget, there are money-saving ways to look and feel top-notch.

As my husband told me when I started this adventure (and was feeling over dressed):

“There is nothing wrong with a beautiful, well dressed woman walking in to an office!”

Yeah, he’s a keeper!

Happy Easter Vickie…and thanks for a Blog that is so much fun!

Happy Easter! And Vickie, if you get a gourmet chocolate craving in NYC, don’t forget to check out the cozy Mariebelle’s upstairs on Madison Ave. between 65th and 66th. Wonderful drinks, chocolates, lunch and dessert!

I walk a little taller, head held high, a huge smile on my face, and emit confidence when I put on my favorite suit pieces paired with killer accessories to attend my interviews, meetings and depositions. Not to mention how much fun it is to dress up and get out of those frumpy scrubs even though they have come a long way with the designs!

Anyway, my advice is to spend some good money on one beautiful suit to start (navy or black). I am a huge fan of Macy’s for my suits since they have some of the high end labels, can do alterations for you right there which is always necessary to get that perfect fit, and you can get GREAT deals especially if you have a Macy’s charge and the coupons they put out for sales!

After that, do not skimp on accessories. Look for shells and blouses with some flair to pull your new suit together. Use color, texture, fabric and lace to make your go-to-suit a little more interesting, but tasteful and professional at all times! Save the deep V-neck and cleavage revealing tops for the weekends! Earrings that are noticed but not to big always compliment and polish off the outfit while making you feel feminine and pretty, and again if just starting out buy that one perfect pair of low-medium high heels with a classic pointed toe and save them for your business events to keep them clean and looking good.

The new ensemble may cost a little bit of money upfront, but it is an investment that will be paid for as soon as you land your case because you were looking so good and oozing confidence! Men CLNC^® consultants, this applies to you also! Nothing is more attractive than a man dressed in a fine tailored suit! The Docker khakis, dress shirt with no tie and bad shoes are never a professional look and can make one look just plain ordinary and even sloppy. That is not the image us successful CLNC^® consultants want to portray to our clients! So happy shopping to all and I just inspired myself to go buy something new for my first official out of state business trip to San Diego this upcoming week! Happy Spring to all!