Nowadays, if you were to ask 100 people their opinion about what to wear to an interview, the majority would answer, “Dress on the conservative side.” With that in mind, here are some suggestions on how to avoid fashion blunders.

Anna Soo Wildermuth, an image consultant and past president of the Association of Image Consultants International, says, “Clothes should be a part of who you are and should not be noticed.” She cites 10 dressing faux pas to avoid when interview time comes around:

Wild Nail Polish: This tip is for women or men. Extremely long or uncut nails are a real turnoff, too. Your nails should be groomed and neat.

Jangly Jewelry: Don’t wear more than two rings per hand or one earring per ear. And no face jewelry or ankle bracelets allowed.

Open-Toed or Backless Shoes: And mules are a definite no-no. Out-of-date shoes should be thrown out or kept for other occasions.

Bare Legs: Wear stockings, even in humid summer weather. Stockings can be in neutral colors or a fashion color to match your shoes.

Out-of-Date Suits: These have lapels that are too wide (three inches or more) or too narrow (one inch or less). A good tailor can alter lapels. The style for men’s jackets is full-body and looser rather than fitted or tight.

Short Skirts: Hemlines should not be more than three inches above the knee. Don’t wear capri pants or leggings to the interview.

Leather Jackets for Men or Women: Even leather blazers are not good for interviewing purposes. They look like outerwear.

Turtlenecks for Men: A tie is preferable, at least in the first go-round. At the very least, wear a collared shirt.

Printed or Trendy Handbags: Purses should be conservative and inconspicuous.

Red Briefcases: Briefcases, purses and shoes should all be conservative in color and in good condition.

Conservative colors in various shades of blue and gray are best. Wearing black to the interview could be viewed as too serious. If you do wear black, make sure another color is near your face to soften the look. Brown is still considered questionable as a business color and probably should be avoided. Change your outfit’s look for a second interview by wearing a different color blouse, shirt, scarf or tie.

An interview is not the place to make a fashion statement, though those in the creative/design field and the very famous can be more adventurous. Everyone else should opt for a conservative look. “More and more companies are returning to traditional professional dress,” Wildermuth says.

Whatever you wear should accent the fact that you’re a professional who’s ready to get to work at a new job. Let common sense guide you, and it should be easy to avoid fashion blunders that could damage your chances of getting to the next step in the process. In this market, it is essential that you look good and your appearance is right for the job.

Check out the full article here! Your Wedding Dress: Find the Right Fit for You

Like most new moms, Erin Correale wants to whip her wardrobe back into shape.

Correale has it easier than most. At 38, she’s within 10 pounds of the weight she’s been since her teenage years. But her clothing size isn’t.

“I wear a size two in Ann Taylor, a four in Banana Republic, a six in Old Navy, a four at Coldwater Creek and a friend told me about Chico’s, but told me I would have to look at a size zero,” she says. “I never like size zero—it’s encouraging people to be waifs. That doesn’t make me feel good.”

Sizes zero, two, four and six all for one woman? Is Correale lost in the looking glass, growing and shrinking at every turn like Alice, or is there something seriously askew with the sizing of clothing?

It’s no mistake. The American apparel industry has created an intentional system of “Vanity Sizing.” The increasing use of the smaller sizes—a size 12 in 1970 is now in the size four-six-eight range—is meant to make consumers feel better about buying clothing.

Standards—or Lack Thereof

When it comes to sizing, there are no universal standards. A woman with a traditional hourglass figure with 36-24-36 measurements can wear anything from a size zero to a size ten, depending on the brand and whether it’s sold at the designer, contemporary, junior, bridge or mass level.

The only standard that does exist is to con the buyer into believing she’s smaller. Over time, sizes are getting roomier, allowing women to believe they can still squeeze into a more desirable size two, four, six or even eight.

“At this point, sizes are meaningless. They’re more relative than anything else,” Bill Ivers, chief operating officer of MSA Models told YouBeauty. His agency specializes in providing fit models for designers and brands.

“Sizes are not standard by design,” he explained. “It helps brands be unique and offer an edge over the competition. Brands are looking for brand loyalty and if last season you were an eight and this season you’re a size six, that’s a sales tool. We all look to apparel to make us look good, feel comfortable and confident.”

Full Article

Tailored suits are individualized and customized specifically to fit at its best for each man’s different body frame. Business suit is one that is tailored for working professionals rather than trendy. Formal suits are defined as those meant for formal evening wears like tuxedos. So business suits that are suitable would be navy, charcoal, or gray suits. Whether to have stripes or check patterns is up to personal preference. But it is advisable that you go for subtle stripes or check patterns rather than very well-defined patterns that can show an overpowering feel.

Off-rack suits, on the other hand, are readily available and possibly designed with the latest trend in mind. However, it might not be able to fit you as perfectly since it is produced base on the frame of an average man. Mass-produced off-rack suits usually cannot match in quality against individualized tailored suits.

Most men today hate wearing suits. There are two reasons for this. Many men grew up wearing jeans, t-shirts and running shoes. As such, any “dress” clothes seem uncomfortable to them. Secondly, men who wore “dress” clothes from time to time in their youth wore poorly constructed, poorly fitted suits, jackets and trousers made out of inexpensive materials. The perfect interview suit must fit right, be the correct color, the proper fabric and feel comfortable.

The Cut.

There are two acceptable cuts for men’s suits. These are the traditional European cut which is a bit fitted and the classic American cut which is looser and more boxy. Both cuts are available today in two or three-button jackets (never wear one or four buttons). The American suit is usually more traditional looking. The European suit is more fitted and looks tailored. While I like and wear double breasted suits, they are not appropriate for interviews – even with law firms or the State Department.

The Right Color.

There are two colors that are acceptable for men’s suits: dark blue and gray. The blue is navy blue. Grays in dark (or charcoal) and medium are fine. Light gray is questionable for interviews. The suits can be solid, pin stripe or chalk stripe. Regardless, they should look classic and muted – not like those worn by race track enthusiasts or mob bosses.

Fabric.

The best fabric is year round weight 100% wool. In the dead of winter heavier wool is acceptable. Summer weight wool or even poplin (dressy cotton) can be work in late June, July and August. The fabric should not shine or have a patterned texture.

The Right (Comfortable) Fit.

For a man’s jacket to fit properly in must be the right size and cut. Also, it must be tailored to adjust it in various places. Try on suit jackets until you find one that is comfortable in the back, chest and shoulders with the top (if two button) or middle (if three button) button closed. The fingers should be able to just curl under the hem (bottom) of the jacket if it is the right length. If the jacket fits properly in the chest, shoulders and back (look at the 3-way mirror in the dressing room), now try on the trousers. Invest the time to go to a men’s clothing store that deals with just that, men’s clothing. A trained sales person or tailor will gladly help you find the correct fit and make sure it lies correctly on your body

Trousers whether plain front or pleated front need to fit in the waist, crotch and the seat. The length will need to be tailored. If the pockets pull, the trousers are too small. If the pants droop much below the belly button, then the wait is too big. You need a dress belt and dress shoes to wear when trying on the suit trousers (not running shoes!). More on that below.

Tailoring.

The suit jacket should be tailored in several areas. The back should not have a bubble, wrinkle or hump. The collar (or “cape”) and lapels should lie flat and not “wing out”. The sleeves should EACH be measured from the tip of the thumb. Whether to show some cuff shows is a matter of personal taste. I prefer to show a little shirt cuff. Nothing else on the suit jacket should need to be tailored if it is the right size and cut.

Trousers.

The trousers must fit at the waist. Try them on with a dress belt. They also must fit at the seat. Try to sit in them unless you stand all day. They should not pull in the front. The length of the trousers is important. Dress shoes are necessary to get the proper fit. Running shoes or flip-flops are not to be worn when getting fitted for an interview suit. Some men prefer the trousers to just touch the top of the shoes with NO break (think of a dent in the front crease). This looks best with cuffs on the trousers. Some men like to have a slight break in the front of the trousers. This looks best with a plain hem and no cuffs. It is a matter of personal choice and style. Too big a break looks sloppy and says the suit is cheap or does not fit right.

After Tailoring.

After the tailoring is complete, try on the entire suit with a dress shirt and shoes again. Make sure it has been pressed. Try on the jacket and trousers. Look at them in the 3-way mirror. Then take off the jacket and look at the trousers front and back. If you see any wrinkles, bags or pulls or if the sleeves or legs are uneven have the tailor mark it again and have the suit sent back for additional adjustments.

Don’t get us wrong; we love Boss, Cerrutti and Zegna, but you can buy a tailor-made suit that really fits, for the same price or less. If you’re worried about not being trendy enough, just cut out a magazine picture and let the tailor duplicate the style you’re looking for.

Follow these 6 easy steps to get your hands on the finest tailor-made suit.

Step 1: Find a reputable tailor
Good tailors are usually found in major department stores or in the high-end shopping districts. Friends, family and influential colleagues might also refer you to a trustworthy tailor. Ask around and inquire about references.

Step 2: Choose your fabric
Once you’ve chosen a highly regarded tailor, the next step is to settle on a suitable fabric. The suit’s fabric will make the difference between a $1,500 suit and a $6,000 one. That’s why many popular designers use fabrics with a grade of 100s or 110s (quality of fabric) to cut costs and increase markups.

Because you’re not paying for the brand name, you can opt for higher quality grades and still pay the same price or cheaper. Anything above a grade of 110s is guaranteed to make a respectable-looking and durable suit. As you may have guessed, higher grade equals better quality and an elevated price.

Grades range from low 80s to high-end super 180s. At the price you’ll pay for the super 180s, you’re better off just putting a down payment on a brand new BMW.

Step 3: Measure for fitting
At this stage, your tailor will take all the required measurements to make your suit fit like a glove. It’s important to maintain open communication at all stages of your suit’s fabrication. Chances are your tailor has made thousands of suits and he knows what he’s doing; nevertheless, ask questions and provide feedback.

Tell him how you’d like your suit to fall on your shoulders, waist and shoes. That’s the beauty of a tailor-made suit: You won’t need to have it altered several times before it fits perfectly. We all know how frustrating it is to have a piece of clothing that falls awkwardly, especially when it costs you an arm and a leg.

Customization is especially attractive to those with distinctive body types. Tall men won’t have any problems with short sleeves or pants that don’t fit. Chubby men, on the other hand, can have suits made to make them look thinner and more attractive. All these little perks definitely override buying a popular brand name.

Step 4: Determine the style
Two-button or three-button? Double-breasted or single? It all depends on the current styles at the time of your purchase. If you are more conservative and don’t follow fashion trends, opt for a classic suit. You can discuss your options with your tailor, as he has probably seen every suit style and knows every trick in the book.

If you’re looking for something a little trendier, look through fashion magazines and see what designers recognize as being trendy and stylish. Just bring the magazine to your tailor and he’ll be able to tell you what type of fabric you’ll have to purchase for him to reproduce the suit. A tailor can also tell you what best complements your body type to make you look better.

Step 5: Personalize it
The beauty of a tailored suit is that you can add personal touches to make your suit look genuine and unique. Whether it’s specific types of buttons or pockets just ask and you shall receive. These simple touches will impress your colleagues and really make your suit stand out from the rest.
Step 6: Final fitting
At this stage, you’ll have to look over every detail. Don’t hesitate to ask for a little adjustment because you’re paying for the suit, and you should make sure that everything fits to your liking.

The tailor will ask you to try on the suit, while he personally checks every angle to make sure your suit is perfect. Unfortunately, at this stage, it’s also time to pay the bill. We suggest that you pay with cold hard cash because we all know that cash is king and the price might become somewhat more, let’s just say, interesting.

We value our loyal customers and their opinions, please leave us a message on your experience at Angel’s Tailor Shop!

Thank you,
Angel