“No matter where you are on the career ladder, a polished image will put you a step ahead of the competition.”

Julie launched Lara Executive Image in 2008. This career shift was a natural choice for her – since high school days, Julie’s been the one friends turned to for advice when they needed just the right outfit for a special occasion, a class reunion, a promotion at work or a job interview. Julie loves bringing the lessons learned – through her formal training, her 14-year stint as a business owner, and her corporate career – to her clients and audiences.  She has developed a step-by-step process to move her clients from “before” to “after,” whether mastering wardrobe planning, interview skills, color analysis, or another aspect of image refinement.

Charcoal Grey: Accountable, dependable, and trustworthy. Good to wear when attending to legal or financial matters. A color commonly worn by important leaders and CEOs.

Medium Grey:  Indicates your emotions are under control and you are good at mediating. Dress in this color when you want to neutralize a potentially volatile situation.

Navy Blue:  Credible, trustworthy, capable and effective. In a suit, navy blue makes a positive professional impression. Wear it to chair a meeting, conduct interviews or attend a conference.

Medium Blue:  Friendly, energetic, approachable. Medium blue, turquoise and French blue make most skin tones look healthy.

Light Blue: Means you can be subtle. This color puts others at ease, helping them to relax. Wear this color when conducting an exit interview.

Black: Authoritative, powerful, leader, good decision maker. It can make you appear unapproachable and stern so wear it with a color such as medium blue to offset its harshness.

Burgundy: Refined, mature and experienced in your field.  An especially helpful color if you are new to an industry or younger than many of your colleagues.

Red:  Powerful, memorable, worth listening to.  Good to wear, in small doses, in front of a group when you want your message to be remembered.

White:  Clear, clean, reliable.  White is an elegant color which creates the appearance of being refreshed and puts others at ease.

Brown:  Reliable and dependable. Not exciting but you can count on this person.

Green: New, fresh ideas, growth. Wear this when people are looking to you for a new, invigorating idea, plan or product.

Post a comment here or email julie@julielara.com with any questions about using color in your wardrobe.

Avoid too much head nodding. Women nod their heads to indicate they’re listening and understand what’s being said. Men interpret head nodding as agreement with their ideas. Too much head nodding may result in miscommunication and may be perceived as weakness since it creates a subliminal message of submissiveness.

Pay attention to vocal inflection.  A rising inflection at the end of a sentence sounds tentative, as if posing a question and may diminish your credibility. Practice bringing your voice down at the end of a sentence.

Use more powerful language if you want to be heard and respected. Women often end their sentences with a question, “That’s a good idea, don’t you think?” weakening their conviction and authority. Eliminate modifiers, words such as just, guess, hopefully and some. Statements like “I’m only a beginner,”  “I guess I have a question”, “This is just a thought”.  This language signals a lack of confidence and tells the listener your message isn’t very important.

Apologize only when you’ve done something wrong. Constantly apologizing will have the same effect as weak language and is not appropriate unless you’ve actually made a mistake.

Discourage others from interrupting when you are speaking.  Men jump in and say what they think, interrupting more often than women. Don’t allow someone to cut you off unless you want them taking credit for your idea. Instead say, “I’m not finished,” “Please hold your questions until I finish.” Or ignore the interrupter and continue speaking until you’ve made your point.

Clothing and appearance are visual shorthand.  Women who wear spiked heels, low cut blouses, heavy make-up and mini-skirts are communicating sexual availability not career mobility. Consider the importance of your career goals when dressing for work and make your choices accordingly.

Contribute to the conversation, don’t wait for someone to call on you or ask your opinion. In our business culture people who don’t speak up are perceived as not knowing anything. Commit to making one contribution at each meeting, even if you are just underscoring a point or adding to what’s already been said. You must be heard to count.

Embrace public speaking.  You’re making one of the biggest mistakes of your career if you avoid public speaking. It’s an opportunity for visibility and equal exposure. Confront the fear, get some coaching and just do it.  Join a Toastmaster’s group in your area to improve your speaking skills, it’s a safe environment filled with others just like yourself and is very affordable.

Let me know what strategies work for you by commenting on this post.

When I was young I loved the bright dresses, lace socks and white patent leather Mary Janes that I wore to church on Easter Sunday. The annual shopping trip with Mom to choose an Easter dress was a ritual as important as placing cookies and milk out for Santa each Christmas Eve. I’ve always been a tomboy, preferring pants to dresses, but I loved my Easter dress and never felt more girly than when I proudly walked into Church in all my finery.  So it’s no surprise that even now that I’m all grown up, I still long for a beautiful spring dress to launch the new season.

Buying a new dress now isn’t as easy as it was in fifth grade. I no longer fit perfectly into a specific size and the typical spring dresses at the department stores are uninspiring. Often, when I find the perfect dress, it isn’t even available in my size. So! What’s a girl to do?

First, don’t worry if you haven’t found a new spring outfit you love. All too often there is a great option hiding in your closet and it just takes a little creative thinking to pull it together. Split up the matched suit hanging in your closet and create new outfits. Wear the jacket over a sleeveless dress or pair the pants with a tank top and a bolero style jacket.

If you own a solid color dress, consider wearing it with a colorful cardigan and a belt or drape a pashmina over your shoulders and pin it in place with a cluster of 3 broaches. For accessories, layer several bangles on one arm, wear a pair of dangling earrings to create movement and sparkle near your face and throw on some metallic sandals to complete the outfit. For less than $40 you can purchase a brightly colored belt, a few bangles and a pair of earrings at places like Target or Steinmart.  When shopping for a new outfit, remember that fit is the most important thing to consider. A stylish dress that fits poorly will create an unattractive look and detract from your beauty.

Separates are always more versatile, allowing you to create a multitude of outfits from a few pieces. Mixing bold colors is a big trend this season so consider pairing an orange skirt with a bright blue blouse, strappy sandals, dangling blue jewel earrings and a fun bangle. White slacks with a bold print blouse, cork platform heels and a straw handbag is a great look too.

Whatever you decide to wear, it should be comfortable. Don’t wear it if it’s too tight, too short, your bra straps keep peeking out or you can’t walk around safely in your very high heels!  You’ll be distracted and may find it difficult to relax and enjoy the moment. How we adorn ourselves is important but the experience is what really counts, so dress accordingly.

Handbags are a great way to add a pop of color to an outfit and an inexpensive way to keep your look modern and current each season.  Like your clothes, handbags need to be in balance with the proportions of your body shape and size. And keep in mind the functionality of your bag. If it’s too small you’re not likely to use it often enough to justify the expense. On the other hand, a bag that’s large enough to pack for a weekend trip isn’t a good choice for day to day use. We tend to overfill large bags, increasing the weight so much that it puts unnecessary stress on our shoulders which may lead to chronic back pain over time.

I like a medium size bag for everyday use, but to meet the needs of my busy schedule I store two small purses in my trunk, safely wrapped in cloth bags. One is a metallic gold cocktail bag and the other is small, leather cross body bag.  The cocktail bag has a dainty, short gold chain that hangs over my arm, leaving my hands free to hold a drink in one and shake hands with the other at networking events and luncheons.  I use the cross body bag when I’m shopping with a client and on my feet for several hours. Both bags are only big enough to hold my keys, business cards, smart phone, lipstick and credit cards. Perhaps you’ll find a couple of bags amongst the Top 10 Handbag Trends that will meet your varied needs and personal style.

First up are knitted bags in bright colors and patterns. These bags add great texture to any outfit. Choose one that seems sturdy and won’t be unraveling or catching on anything.

Clutches continue to be popular and this season they’re bigger than ever. You’ll notice the black clutch in the photo looks very similar to a briefcase and could actually serve that purpose if you carry around lots of files and paperwork.

Next on the list are printed hand bags in floral and geometric designs. When selecting a print bag, be sure it will mix and match with several outfits so you will use it often. Pair a geometric print bag in similar colors with a floral print dress for a modern look. Or choose complimentary colors, for example an orange floral dress may look good with a printed bag in shades of blue.

Small shoulder bags take up much less space and are very functional. Your hands are free to do whatever is needed and they’re not likely to give you a back ache.

These tiny hand bags are very cute but certainly have limited use. I can see carrying them for a special event when you may only need a lipstick and credit cards since I don’t image they’d hold a smart phone as well.

Fold over bags are another trend this spring and come in a variety of leathers, fabrics, patterns and colors. They’re a chic addition to any wardrobe.

Satchels showed up on the runways again this season in designs to suit most any style. I especially like the brown satchel shown here with the tiny studs and straps. Its business appropriate but the studs make it a bit edgy and more modern looking.

Wristlets are everywhere! This style has been growing in popularity over the past several seasons and you’ll find them in really bold colors for spring. There are lots of inexpensive options in the $15-$35 range.

Totes and weekend bags can carry you from the boardroom to an afternoon at the beach, holding all the essentials for each scenario. This is a great option for Mom’s on the go that need a combination of kid’s activity bag and a purse with a lot of style.

And the final style of our Top 10 Handbag Trends is the chain handle bag. Michael Kors uses chain handles in many of his bags, but in my opinion they’re just too heavy and add too much additional weight to the bag. Those pictured here have smaller size chain links and are much lighter.

Bags are as important to your wardrobe as clothes, shoes and jewelry. A handbag adds that final touch to your look so make your selections carefully.  Let me know if you have any questions or need advice in selecting a new bag!

If you’re over 40, perhaps the idea of wearing a crop top makes you cringe. I know I certainly wouldn’t bare my chubby tummy but I also realize there are lots of women out there that are still in great shape. Today, 50 is the new “40” and many 50+ women are in the best shape of their lives. If you have the body for it, bare a little midriff in an age appropriate way with fashions like these.

This season you’ll also see dresses and tops featuring bare shoulders.  Since a woman’s shoulders and collar bone are very sexy areas of the body, try this trend on for size and you may be delighted with the results.  Two variations on this theme are the “peep” shoulder designs shown in the photos here and the one shoulder style that also bares your collar bone, a great combination.

Floral prints are popular again this spring. In addition to very literal floral prints, there are many that are more abstract in their design so you’re sure to find a favorite.  Keep proportion in mind when choosing a print. Petite women should select smaller prints while plus size women can wear prints that are larger and spaced a bit wider apart on the fabric. A petite woman wearing a print with sunflowers that are 6 inches round and spaced 8 inches apart will only look smaller because the print will overwhelm her smaller frame. And of course, the reverse is true for a plus size woman wearing a tiny print that makes her look larger in comparison.

Animal prints continue to be a popular trend however this time the prints actually have animals on them as opposed to just looking like an animal’s fur.  I haven’t yet seen one of these prints that I really like.  I especially dislike Victoria Beckham’s cat dress shown in the photo here. What was she thinking? It looks more like something my 10 year old niece might wear to school.

One trend that I do love is described as “chic gloss”.  The fabrics have a subtle sheen that creates just enough bling without being tacky.  This is a very feminine look and is a different take on the metallic trend that has been growing in popularity for several seasons.  Even a small dose of chic gloss in a blouse can elevate an outfit and really look fabulous for work attire or date night.

And finally, the peplum is back. It’s a short overskirt that is attached to a jacket, blouse or dress.  Be careful with this trend and make sure it works on your body shape before wearing one. A peplum can be very forgiving and help camouflage your tummy, but if it isn’t well design for your body shape, it may actually make you look bigger in the hip and tummy areas.  This style is great for a woman with a very straight body shape since it creates the appearance of curves and softens her figure.  As you can see from the three styles here, some peplums are large and stand out and away from your body while others, like the blue dress, lay almost flat against the body.

Stay tuned for more posts about trends in shoes, handbags, sunglasses, swimsuits and more!  And don’t forget to send me your questions and comments.

You’ll notice that about half the spring colors are pastels which look great on women with fair skin and blonde or light brown hair. If your skin tone is warmer, with yellow overtones, your best colors are the varying shades of orange, bold blues and golden shades.  If you have any questions or comments about the Spring colors please comment on the post and I’ll respond asap.

Stay tuned for more Spring 2012 Trends and tips.

If you’re looking for new items to add to your jewelry box, here are some favorites under $50:

Nordstrom’s – Cara Accessories

Crystal Circle Stretch Bracelet @ $48

Casual glamour for everyday wear!

Available online at www.nordstrom.com

Eliza Page Blue Agate and Green Crystal Ring

On sale now for $40 – visit www.elizapage.com

Eliza Page Crystal and Rhinestone Ring

On sale now for $45

One of my favorite earring lines is Jody Coyote

Gold Copper Triangle Earrings @ $23

Item #QM253 available at www.jcearrings.com

Jody Coyote

Blue Bronze Teardrop Earrings @ $27

Item #QN199

Any of these lovely items is a great addition to your jewelry box, so indulge, you deserve it!  Contact me if you have any questions about how to clear out the old and bring in the new for your wardrobe and accessories in 2012.   Email julie@julielara.com

For a triangle shaped body, choose styles like this umpire dress in bold purple. The higher waistline, located just under the bust, emphasizes the smallest part of your body and flows gently over the hips. This minimizes the width of your lower body while the deep V-neck brings more attention to your face, where it belongs.     

This brilliant blue, belted shirt dress  is perfect for an hourglass body shape. It emphasizes your narrow waist and curvy figure without being overtly sexy. A shirt dress is always a good option for work, it’s stylish and feminine but still professional enough to command respect.

For those of you with a rectangle shaped body, try on a dress like this blue,  jersey knit with the asymmetrical ruching. The gathered detail helps create the illusion of a waist while minimizing any tummy issues.                                                     

This black, grey and white dress can help an inverted triangle shaped body appear curvy and balanced.  The expertly placed white and grey colors swirl around the dress visually creating curves where there are none and the black color at the top minimizes broad shoulders.

Never underestimate the value of understanding your specific body shape to help you create a wardrobe that fits and flatters, helping you to look your very best every day.

Second, you don’t have to spend a fortune to look like a million bucks.  It’s easy to inexpensively update your existing wardrobe with a few of the fall trends and keep your look modern and current.  Maybe some stylish booties are just what you need to kick your fall look up a notch or two.

Peppy Polka Dots are big this season and you’ll find them in purses, accessories, skirts and blouses to add a punch to your existing wardrobe.

Third, embracing color is a great way to enliven your look.  Going rouge is a popular trend, meaning clothes and accessories in all shades of red from tomato, scarlet and cardinal to vermillion.  And finally, only buy items that you absolutely love. The garment or accessory should make you feel like a million bucks when you wear it! Don’t purchase something just because you see everyone else jumping on the fashion band wagon. Stay true to your own authentic style and you’ll feel confident no matter what you’re wearing.