A designer or brand name does not denote a quality suit.  It’s the components that make a good suit; fabric, quality of construction, choice of interfacings, lining, style of garment and fit.  For instance, the best wool suits are made of merino wool.  The fabric has a “wet” or silk like feel, not dry, coarse or prickly.

It is made of a two-ply, densely woven weave.  Fabric should never appear like “clear wrap” or porous.  Fabric needs to be woven tight with enough stitches to retain shape.

Next, interfacings, linings, thread and buttons are all important.  It what goes inside the garment that makes the garment not just a suit, but a good one.  A good test is to look at the front of the coat and make  sure there are no ripples on the coat, collar or lapel.  Take the front of the coat and shake it, make sure it is pliable, not stiff. Continue reading →

It’s true. Thank you for teaching me about the importance of good fabrics. I now know what to buy and how long I should expect to keep it! It’s already helped me choose a suit that I love!– A Fan, Bridget Wayson

Fabric is the foundation of your professional, business casual and casual wardrobe. It’s all about the fabric. Bad fabric detracts from dress and image because it won’t ft, it doesn’t wear well and it doesn’t last. Knowing about fabric before you start building your wardrobe will enable you to purchase pieces that mix-and-match well and will last.

Nobody is going to grab you and search your clothing to fnd a label. Buying clothing in this manner is not the way to build a wardrobe – garments accumulated without a plan are a waste of money and are often left hanging in the back of the closet collecting dust. The end result? Nothing goes together and you have wasted a tremendous amount of money.

The purpose of this book is to emphasize how important your image is. If your clothing, especially the fabric, is causing major obstacles for you, then you will not be taken seriously. You never want wrinkled or ill-ftting clothing to be a hindrance in your communication or diminish your appearance. The quality of fabric is critical in your working wardrobe because all of the fabrics you choose should work together for your various dressing needs. Know the various types of natural and manmade fabrics. This chapter will explain them in detail.

For more information or further help, contact Bel Air Fashions at 402-493-5160 or belairfashions@belair.omhcoxmail.com .

Questions from Workshops

What is the difference between Shopping and Wardrobe Planning?

How many times have you gone to your closet and find its hard to put an outfit together? It happens a lot.  Do you find lots of clothing hanging? Wasted?  This is the aftermath of shopping without a plan.  Wardrobe Planning is based on your needs.

It doesn’t take a huge closet filled with clothing to make it mix-n-match.  First, your wardrobe needs to be based on your daily and weekly schedule.  Your wardrobe should be flexible.  Have a wardrobe that is year round, not based on spring/summer or fall/winter, but twelve month wear.

Fabrics selected should drape and hold their shape.  Styles of garments should be classic, not the latest fashion trend.  You want your wardrobe to be timeless, not dated.  Planning a clothing purchase should be based on what you do, where you go and who you see.  You need to ask yourself will the clothing you are considering work with what you have, mix-n-match and dress up or down?  If not, don’t buy.

Wardrobe Planning should be viewed as strategic purchases.  Does your wardrobe allow you to dress properly for day-to-day and is it ready for unexpected clients and meetings?  This is how your wardrobe should be planned.  You never want to get caught unprepared.

Unfortunately, many wardrobes are filled with clothing with tags still attached.  These spontaneous purchases get shoved to the back of the closet.  Much of the time this clothing is discarded to charity without ever getting worn.  It is too expensive to go shopping without a plan.

Wardrobe Planning is a wardrobe that gets used, eliminates waste, mix-n-match and allows you to dress up, dress down, but dressed right.  It is clothing that pays you dividends many times over.  If you want a wardrobe that has ROI, return-on-investment, that is the power of Wardrobe Planning.

If you are interviewing this is a great way to plan your wardrobe to get you through the interview process and transition into your new career.  If you going for a job promotion, this is how to leverage your wardrobe to the next level.

It doesn’t take a lot of money to assemble a good working wardrobe, it just takes good wardrobe planning.  If you need help with this call Bel Air Fashions at 402-493-5160 or email belairfashions@belair.omhcoxmail.com.

Women:

Professional Dress: (Find out before the interview, if professional dress is a skirted or slack suit)

Navy or black wool or micro-fiber skirt or slack suit separates.  Single-breasted, 2, 3 or 4 button, center or non-vented Jacket.  Choose a 3 gore solid plain skirt (solid one piece front, back with 2 panels) with or without waistband, knee length, back kick pleat.  White point collar long-sleeve cotton blouse. Wear either a necklace, strand of pearls or scarf (only one item around neck).  Belt is optional (color and leather same as purse and shoes), neutral hose (never bare legged when wearing a skirt) and black closed toe pumps.  Purse should be small not large, carry only what you need.

Business Casual Dress:

Navy or black wool or micro-fiber suit jacket, charcoal gray, medium gray, taupe or tan

flat front wool or micro-fiber slack, blue, ivory or pink cotton solid or pattern long-sleeve blouse, black belt,  slack length socks similar color to slacks or neutral hose (do not go bare legged), black belt and black close toe pumps.  Small black leather purse.

Casual Dress:

Blue, ivory, or pink cotton solid or pattern long-sleeve blouse, black, charcoal gray, medium gray, taupe or tan wool or micro-fiber flat front slack,  slack length socks or neutral hose, black belt and close toe pump shoes or flats.  Black small purse.

Look like the professional the employer is looking for.  Make your age as asset, not a liability.  Let your Dress, Appearance and Image be your edge.  In a difficult economy this has worked for others, let it work for you.

If you need further help please call Bel Air Fashions at 402-493-5160 or email belairfashions@belair.omhcoxmail.com

College graduates are facing heavy competition for limited good paying jobs.  Another factor, many students lack full time work experience.  It is important their personal packaging showcases maturity, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Getting dressed for a Job Interview is not about the latest fashion, it is to meet and exceed the expectation of the future employer.  Your first impression should make a compelling statement about you.

Make a list of companies you want to interview with.  Ask what is the expected dress is.  Find out if the interviews will be professional dress only or a combination of business and casual.

Your wardrobe should allow you to dress up, dress down, but dressed right.  It should allow you to mix-n-match.  Have enough changes so you are not wearing the same outfit at follow-up interviews with the same employer.  Develop a core interview wardrobe that will get you through the interview process and transition into your new career.

Core Wardrobe:

Examples:

Men:

Professional Dress:

A navy or black solid wool suit.  Single-breasted, 2 or 3 button single-breasted suit, side or center vented.  Slacks, flat or pleated front.  White point collar long-sleeve cotton shirt, red or burgundy solid, paisley, neat or medallion multi colored tie. Black belt, black over-the-calf socks and black tie shoes.

Business Casual Dress:

Use the black or navy solid suit jacket coordinate with a charcoal gray, medium gray, taupe or tan wool or micro-fiber slack, blue, ivory, or purple solid or pattern cotton long-sleeve shirt, black over-the-calf socks, black belt, black tie shoes.  Tie not required.

Casual Dress: 

Blue, ivory, or purple solid or pattern cotton long-sleeve shirt, black, charcoal gray, medium gray, taupe or tan wool, micro-fiber or tan cotton slack, black belt, black socks and black tie or slip-on shoes.

In our Wednesday post, we’ll highlight examples of Women’s attire.

If you need further help, please call Bel Air Fashions at 402-493-5160 or email belairfashions@belair.omhcoxmail.com.

More Questions from Workshops

Fabric – why is it so important?

It can make or break you

What you wear is what people see.  The question is, how do you want others to see you?  You never want your clothing to be a barrier to your dress and appearance.  It all begins with the fabric.  It is the foundation of your wardrobe.  Whenever you put on a garment you don’t want to look like you slept in it, five minutes after you put it on.

There is a wide range of fabrics, from cheap to expensive.  Merino wool is the choice for Professional and Business Casual garments.  The key is the make up of the fabric.  The following is what to look for.

Choose wool garments that have a smooth “wet” or “silk like feel”, not dry, coarse or prickly.  The fabric should be 2-ply; each vertical and horizontal thread is wrapped twice.  Weave has good density, not loose or porous; doesn’t crush and springs back to original shape.  Hold fabric up to the light, you shouldn’t be able to clearly see through it.  The more porous the weave, the fabric becomes a problem holding its shape and will sag and bag.

Micro-fiber is another fabric used for women’s separates and men’s slacks.  Micro-fiber can be 100% polyester, viscose/polyester or viscose/polyester/lycra.  Fabric should have good body, drape, not cling and a matted finish.  A good micro-fiber holds it shape and will not wrinkle.

Having a good fabric is just part of building a quality garment.  Interfacings and linings, the things you cannot see inside the garment, are just as important.

A brand or designer name doesn’t mean the garment is quality.  If a jacket, skirt or slack is cheaply made, no amount of tailoring will give it good appearance.  If the fabric, interfacing and lining is not good quality, your garment will be ill fitting and appearance will not be good.

Invest wisely in quality garments.  It better to buy less and have better quality. Be consistent with your appearance.  If you got the knowledge, abilities and skills, do not let inferior fabric make you look rumpled or disheveled.  Can you afford to take that chance?

If you need further help, please call Bel Air Fashions at 402-493-5160 or email belairfashions@belair.omhcoxmail.com.

…continued from Monday

Micro-fiber is another fabric used for women’s separates and men’s slacks.  Micro-fiber can be 100% polyester, viscose/polyester or viscose/polyester/lycra.  Fabric should have good body, drape, not cling and a matted finish.  A good micro-fiber holds it shape and will not wrinkle.

Having a good fabric is just part of building a quality garment.  Interfacings and linings, the things you cannot see inside the garment, are just as important.

A brand or designer name doesn’t mean the garment is quality.  If a jacket, skirt or slack is cheaply made, no amount of tailoring will give it good appearance.  If the fabric, interfacing and lining is not good quality, your garment will be ill fitting and appearance will not be good.

Invest wisely in quality garments.  It better to buy less and have better quality. Be consistent with your appearance.  If you got the knowledge, abilities and skills, do not let inferior fabric make you look rumpled or disheveled.  Can you afford to take that chance?

If you need further help, please call Bel Air Fashions at 402-493-5160 or email belairfashions@belair.omhcoxmail.com.

More Questions from Workshops

Fabric – why is it so important?

It can make or break you

What you wear is what people see.  The question is, how do you want others to see you?  You never want your clothing to be a barrier to your dress and appearance.  It all begins with the fabric.  It is the foundation of your wardrobe.  Whenever you put on a garment you don’t want to look like you slept in it, five minutes after you put it on.

There is a wide range of fabrics, from cheap to expensive.  Merino wool is the choice for Professional and Business Casual garments.  The key is the make up of the fabric.  The following is what to look for.

Choose wool garments that have a smooth “wet” or “silk like feel”, not dry, coarse or prickly.  The fabric should be 2-ply; each vertical and horizontal thread is wrapped twice.  Weave has good density, not loose or porous; doesn’t crush and springs back to original shape.  Hold fabric up to the light, you shouldn’t be able to clearly see through it.  The more porous the weave, the fabric becomes a problem holding its shape and will sag and bag.

…continued Wednesday

If you need further help, please call Bel Air Fashions at 402-493-5160 or email belairfashions@belair.omhcoxmail.com.

Questions from Workshops

Personal Packaging, What is it?
Why is that important?

Personal Packaging is your personal definition, it defines you; it is how others see you.  It is especially important going through Job Interviews, it can be the difference why you are chosen over somebody else.

Often times the question comes up, doesn’t a company hire you for your abilities and then train you?  That is true, but you have to get your foot in the door to get hired, first.

Your Personal Packaging is the combination of your resume, abilities, knowledge, skills,

dress, appearance and image all wrapped up in one.  If you have all the “assets” let them come through in your personal statement.

Look like the professional the employer seeks.  When you walk through the door your image should tell the employer, “ I am the one you seek.”  There is something to be said about the power of non verbal communication.  Your image represents 55% of your non verbal communication.  It is that important.

Stated another way, it shows your attention to details, you are highly productive and organized.  You get one shot at first impressions, no second chances here.  You got to do it right the first time.

Personal Packaging is not just for Job Interviews, it works the same way when you are up for a promotion, or those you come in day-to-day contact.  You can’t afford to have a barrier to your image.

It comes down to people who look for professional are sought after and those who don’t get passed over, can you afford to take the chance?

For more information or if you need help, call Bel Air Fashions.  Phone number is 402-493-5160 or email belairfashions@belair.omhcoxmail.com.

Questions from Workshops

Personal Packaging, What is it?
Why is that important?

…continued

Stated another way, it shows your attention to details, you are highly productive and organized. You get one shot at first impressions, no second chances here. You got to do it right the first time.

Personal Packaging is not just for Job Interviews, it works the same way when you are up for a promotion, or those you come in day-to-day contact. You can’t afford to have a barrier to your image.

It comes down to people who look for professional are sought after and those who don’t get passed over, can you afford to take the chance?

For more information or if you need help, call Bel Air Fashions. Phone number is 402-493-5160 or email belairfashions@belair.omhcoxmail.com.