Ceramic Clothing...

Cor Sine Labe Doli presents their new series of ceramic bow ties.

The bow ties are built by traditional ceramicists in the medieval town of Marostica. They present a nice line-up ranging from navy blue to metallic gold, as well as some nice colorways with structure, underlining once again the material used.

CASUAL FRIDAY... CASUAL SUMMER – EXPRESS YOURSELF BUT...

The Corporate uniform is laid to rest awaiting yet another appearance Monday morning. Casual Friday is here offering the opportunity to express that hidden designer fighting for its release within me. Great! I can wear my designer jeans and that fabulous shirt with the peacock feathers my girl friend got me in Hawaii ……. No I can’t! 

Smart casual is about being more relaxed and informal, not about breaking all the corporate dress codes. Freedom to be casual is not a directive from above to wear bold, vivacious or revealing clothing. Casual dress must respect your environment including clients, co-workers and especially your boss. Don’t gain a reputation of standing out because of your clothing. Gain repute from who you are and what you do.

ADAPTING TO A RELAXED DRESS CODE FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS

When dressing for the office always consider the image you wish to project to clients, staff and your boss. The summer months still require a business look but offer somewhat more latitude. Don’t be the banker trying to impress a new corporate client dressed in golf attire looking like he is late for a foursome. And what would you think of the flight crew on your next Trans Atlantic crossing coming on board unshaven and wearing green fatigues (comfortable green fatigues). Most of us would hightail it of the plane.

Look and feel too relaxed and you will loose your business edge along with your productivity. Don’t jettison formality completely for the warmer days. Consider an unstructured suit or sport jacket. Pair it with a nice sport shirt or a relaxed polo shirt and maintain a professional image.

LOOK PROFESSIONAL, FEEL PROFESSIONAL, BE PROFESSIONAL

THE FLIPPED SHIRT LOOK

The look might be in, but I’ll leave this one for the guys on the runway. I can’t imagine wearing a suit with a flipped out shirt when I’m trying to make a positive impression and guys take a little pride in how you place your pocket square.

Q: My husband is 5' 4" tall, has short legs (29") and a bit of a round belly. How do I choose shirts and pants that don't cause his belly to protrude to the point of making him look pregnant??? (other than helping him stick to his diet ;) I LOVED your instructions for fitting dress shirts and the conversion for sports shirt. THANK YOU!!!
Debbie

A: Just follow a few simple rules and your husband will look like he is 6'3" and have the waist of a fashion model. By the way, he should always look 6' 3" to you anyhow, we will try to make him look that way to the rest of the world. A few simple rules to hide a protruding mid section for those who are vertically challenged:

- Never wear prominent checks

- Tastefully selected stripes are good

- Refrain from combining highly contrasting tops and bottoms.

- Do not wear pants that are excessively tapered. The width of the pant should land just before the ball of the foot

- Do not wear tight fitting tops. A slightly loose fit, particularly around the shoulders will reduce the protrusion of the mid section.

- Wearing a sport jacket with a little extra shoulder is a good idea.

- Stay away from cuffed bottoms on pants as well as turned up jeans. They will make the legs look even shorter.

- Keep pants a touch longer rather than short.

Please let me know how this works out.

FINALLY, CLEAN YOUR CLOTHING SAFELY

Dry cleaning can be a risky process for your clothing, the environment and possibly your health. Perc (Perchloroethylene) based cleaning, which represents 99.9% of cleaners in the Montreal area and the vast majority of cleaners in North America, risks garment shrinkage, discoloration, separation of bonded fabrics and more. It is toxic to the environment and several studies claim that it is carcinogenic.

Montreal is now home to a new “Wet Cleaning” process which is safe for your clothing, completely biodegradable and not carcinogenic according to all the literature we’ve read. We highly recommend this process to add life to your clothing and to be environmentally responsible.

We have tried and we recommend Renew System Dry Cleaners located at 251 Bernard West. Call them for pick up and delivery at 514-276-1419. Ask for James, the proprietor, who has promised a discount to all Boutique Jacques customers.
Please let me know how you like it.

To Puff Or Not To Puff?

The breast pocket of a men’s sport or suit coat shouldn’t be relegated to the annals of history. It is an opportunity to show a distinguishing touch of personal style and add a little colour to what might otherwise be an uninspired outfit.

So when should you wear a puff or pocket square - Anytime you are wearing a jacket except if there happens to be a boutonnière on your lapel.  Pocket squares are available in a variety of fabrics. Silk usually works best as it offers more vibrant colour choices and provides a more artful flow when well placed.

If you are not wearing a tie, all the more reason to add a splash of colour. If you are wearing a tie, show a little originality by wearing a square that is not identical in shade and pattern.  Coordinate them so they highlight the more subtle shades of your jacket and shirt.

I’ve seen numerous ways of folding the intrepid square, some are more flamboyant, some are more geometric and others are simply erratic. Need a lesson – drop in anytime.

Today’s Business Attire Terminology - A Must Read

Traditional business attire includes outfits composed of a business suit, dress shirt, and to be safe a tie, leather shoes and matching dress socks. If you like, add a touch of personal style in the form of a pocket square, a pair of suspenders or a watch that may elicit a comment. A successful bankruptcy trustee, one of our customers, always wore his Mickey Mouse suspenders to tense meetings to break the hostile mood.

Business formal is appropriate when specified and is usually for an after 5 event. Business formal is one step down from a tuxedo and calls for a dark tailored suit.  A black suit is preferable, but dark blue or dark grey should be adequate. Wear a solid white shirt or one that has a tone on tone effect. French cuffs with elegant cuff links are classy. Wear a tie in a solid color or with a conservative pattern unless you want to make a statement. A pocket square is a nice touch. Wear dark matching socks in the same color or darker than your suit. This level of dress is often requested for Award dinners, political events, and a variety of dressy evening business occasions that are not black-tie.

Business casual is somewhat of a grey area as it can be a sport coat and matching pant with a dress shirt in one organization or a pair of non jeans and a non T-shirt top in another. If you are heading to a meeting in uncharted waters, to be safe, wear a sport coat and dress pant, dress or moderately casual shirt with a pattern and no tie. You can always remove the sport coat and let your chair wear it. A somewhat casual leather shoe and belt are the way to go. Remember, absolutely no running shoes or heavy socks. When dressing business casual always consider the image you want to convey.

Professionals in the world of business need to be familiar with today’s business attire terminology. Following are some accepted guidelines.