Dressing for a Casual Dinner Party

Been invited to a casual dinner party, and you’re wondering what to wear, fret no longer. A casual dinner party is one of the easiest occasions to get ready for, and it’s very likely that you already have a wardrobe piece or two that will present an image that will perfectly fit the occasion. However, there are some things that you would have to consider before you take out that polo shirt you get as a gift from a friend. Get some tips before you misrepresent yourself at the party.

Get the meaning of casual. Casual is less than semi-formal, and it could cover wardrobe pieces such as (for women) a comfortable, flowery dress with sandals, dressy jeans or slacks, and any flattering blouse; and (for men) dark jeans or khakis with a button-down dress shirt or collared polo. Go with a few timeless pieces and opt for neutrals in classic cuts, and you should do fine.

There are a few levels of “casual”. Remember, casual may mean the ordinary clothes that you wear when you’re going out shopping, but then again it may not. The key here is to consider the venue of the dinner party. If it’s at a restaurant, you may want to dress up a little. If it’s an outdoor dinner or dinner at a close friend’s house, feel free to be a little more casual.

Up the level a little bit. If you’re not sure what type of casual the party is, know that it’s always best that you come a little overdressed, than a little underdressed. How could you level up the casual, without going overboard? First, opt for darker tones such as black, navy and gray, instead of pastel colors. Second, choose solid colors, instead of patterns. Third, go for smooth textures over rugged ones. You should also accessorize a little with pearls and a classic timepiece; this will help you up the elegance factor even if you’re only wearing simple clothing.

 What not to wear. Never go for ill-fitting clothes, such as low-waist pants or too-tight blouses. The key here (for any type of dress code) is to go for clothes that fit you excellently. Steer clear of torn or ripped clothing, even if these tears are intentional designs. Avoid wearing T-shirts that pose risqué slogans or those with violent innuendoes. Avoid wearing shorts and flip-flops: these may be acceptable for brunches or lunch parties, but not as much for dinner gatherings.

 Makeup simple. Avoid over-the-top colors and stick to neutral tones such as beige, tan and coral. A general technique for looking effortlessly beautiful with make-up is to highlight one feature at a time. If you want to emphasize your eyes, feel free to do so, as long as you keep your lipstick simple. On the other hand, you could wear dark red lipstick but keep your eyeshadow barely-there.

There you have it! These are just some of the guidelines you should know when it comes to dressing up for a casual dinner party. Remember, comfort and fit here are key, and once you have these factors down pat, you’d be free to truly enjoy evening and the food! Express your individuality. 

Image is Everything - The Importance of Personal and Professional Branding

Branding and personal image management is the ongoing development of the perceived value of an individual or business, in relation to its competitors, as viewed by an audience -and whether you have a small start up or a mega-franchise or are simply trying to market yourself, branding should be at the forefront of your mind.

There are two main types of branding- personal and professional- and both types are extremely crucial in the success of an individual or business. Here are some tips that can apply to the development of both types of branding.

 Image should not be contradictory- you cannot market yourself or your business as one thing but speak, dress, and act as another. It's important that you stay true to who you are and what you want to portray. As long as you are honest with yourself and others, it won't be difficult to maintain consistency in branding your business and/or yourself.
o Brand should be easily accessible and identifiable- if you Google your name or your business' name what would you find? If there is any information there at all, is it accurate and consistent? If you are less than satisfied with the results, be sure to do what you can to correct it. There are plenty of articles out there that help you figure out how to successfully use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to build your personal and professional brand.
o Be consistent in your brand development- you cannot expect to build or change your brand overnight. Branding is an ongoing process that should be taken seriously and given much thought. Create a daily, weekly, or monthly block of time for you to focus on branding. Once you find a method (or methods) that work for you, stick with them and monitor how effective they are.
o Be careful where you leave your footprint (mouse-print) - although the internet is a great tool to build your business and your brand, it can also prove to be a place where images are destroyed. Pay attention to the pictures you let circulate, the comments you leave on others' blogs, and the social networks you become a member of. With the click of a mouse, anyone can learn all about image, If it fits into your image and brand, then there's no problem. But if it doesn't, it can put a damper on the way others see you.

Personal and Professional branding, if used correctly, can really give you the competitive edge as you grow your business. It's important that you take the time to carefully develop and maintain a brand that will prove to be a positive addition on your journey to success.

How To Choose Accessories that Reflect Your Personality

Typically, people usually wear or add certain accessories to their get up either to enhance the overall look and image or to express their true selves.  Yes, the right accessories can bring out your personality.  This is why most people are taught to look at what people wear to find out little tidbits about the true person behind the fashionable façade.  Sherlock Holmes was good at it and so should you as well.  Anyway, when you want to exude a certain image, you will always turn to accessories.  This being the case, it is important to match the accessories to the personality or image you want other people to perceive.  Here are some tips on how to do just that.

        Know what you want to express.  Before proceeding with the selection, it will be critical to know the kind of image you want to exude.  Do you want to say that you are confident with a tinge of class?  Do you want to appear artsy?  Do you want to seem like the intellectual but cool type of person?  Do you want to appear the athletic and suave type?  Determining your image and what you want others to perceive about you will dictate the kind of accessories you will need to wear, style, color, and design.

         Consider colors.  While most people consider purchasing high end accessories to achieve a certain look or image, this is really not necessary since picking the right color accessory can be the difference you need.  For instance, if you want to combine class, sophistication, and confidence, then going with black accessories will be a veritable option.  If you are looking for the smart casual image, then going with blue and green accessories is

         definitely the smart choice

         Consider design and style.  The design and style of each accessory you plan to wear is critical if you want to exude a particular image.  For instance, wearing a lot of accessories with a modernistic style and design such as a belt with a lot of metal ornaments or a set of stainless steel bangles can actually make you image a little bit more sophisticated.  On the other hand, wearing a lot of rugged leather accessories may make you appear a little bit too country.  Hence, if you don’t want to appear like a cowboy, then consider sticking with modern accessories. 

         Complement and enhance.  A lot can be said about a person based on how his or her chosen accessories complement and enhances the actual clothing he is wearing.  For instance, if you are wearing a lot of black clothing to make you look impressive and confident with a hint of neutrality and you mix it with a mixture of stainless steel accessories, then someone may perceive you to be exactly what you want them to perceive with a dash of sophistication added to the mix.  This being said, make sure that the accessories you choose and wear will mix and match well with your clothing and your personality.

It is quite hard to define the various tips and suggestions on how to choose accessories that will bring out your personality, whether genuine or fake.  It will basically rely on what you really want other people to believe when they see you