TLC’s What Not to Wear hosts, Stacy London and Clinton Kelly, insist you should always be able to button your jackets. While I love Stacy and Clinton, I completely disagree! I never button my jackets…ever! It’s not my personal style, nor do I like the uber-constricting way it feels. Typically a size 8 jacket fits me well. Because I have a wide torso and back, if I wanted to button my jacket, I would need to purchase a size 10 and have many costly alterations made. It just doesn’t make sense to do this, as I’m just not a buttoner. Are you a buttoner or a non-buttoner? As an image consultant, I  always like to find out if my clients prefer to button their jackets or leave them open, as it will many times determine our choices. Whether you’re a buttoner, a part time buttoner, or a non-buttoner, here are a few considerations:

• If you button your jackets, even part time, you should never have any pulling across your back or at the buttons. When pulling occurs, you will need to buy a size larger and have the jacket tailored

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Recently someone commented on my blog asking for more tips on being gorgeous and stylish without sacrificing comfort. As a personal, fashion consultant, I can’t say enough about the importance of being comfortable at work or personal pursuits. Truly, it’s practically impossible to concentrate on anything other than your waistline when your pants are too tight. Here are a couple of tips in regard to comfort. 1. Clothes that fit well are comfortable. I know this might sound trite, but I have so many clients who tell me their professional clothes are uncomfortable. Typically, what we find out is that those clothes aren’t fitting well. Obviously, things that are too tight bind. On the other hand, clothes that are too large can also be uncomfortable. Skirts that are too big twist and move around all day long, creating a lot of friction. Likewise, tops and jackets that are too large can make you feel like you’re carrying around a lot of extra fabric that sometimes gets in the way or creates bulk. Go through your closet. Try on your clothes, specifically focusing on fit. If something is too big or too small and can't be altered, get rid of it. It doesn't (Read more...)