The following is an excerpt from The Bra Book: The Fashion Formula to Finding the Perfect Bra (BenBella Books, 2009) by Jené Luciani, available in bookstores, lingerie, department and specialty stores and Amazon.com.  Jene is a dear friend of Pampered Passions Fine Lingerie and we truly appreciate her sharing this wonderful knowledge with us.

1. Choose a store that has a wide selection of bras and trained bra fitters on hand.  Measure yourself first as a guideline.

2. Go to the store armed with a list of what you need and plan to buy:
i.e., two nude bras, two black bras, one strapless, one sports bra, one bra without underwire for comfort (this will vary from person to person). Remember: nude goes under nearly everything.

3. Be aware of your body type so you know what bras to look for. For example, if you are more of a top-heavy “apple,” you likely will be looking for fuller coverage bras, not demi-cups.

4. Wear or bring a thin t-shirt to the store so you can see what each bra looks like under the sheerest of circumstances.

5. Be open-minded about your size. If you’re surprised (or disappointed), remember that size is just a number (and a letter!). The proper fit of the bra is most important.

6. If you’re in a bind and there’s a bra that you really love but they don’t have your size, it’s usually OK to go up a band size and down a cup size – or vice versa.

7. Don’t be afraid to put the bra on and face yourself in the mirror with a critical eye. If you see any gaps, spillage, digging in, or other signs of poor fit, it’s not the right bra. Turn around and look at the back as well. The back band can be very telling too when it comes to proper fit.

8. Don’t forget to pick up some bra accessories, too, so you avoid any faux pas! Breast petals and double-sided tape are always good to have on hand.

9. Don’t get stuck in a size rut. Write down the date of your visit and be sure to plan another one six months to a year later (our sizes fluctuate due to weight gain, hormonal changes, aging and other life changes so it’s important to get fitted at least once a year!) Our bras also need to be replaced every 6 months to a year due to wear and tear so it’s a good rule of thumb.

10. Be sure to properly care for your bras!  It’s best to hand wash but if you must put in the washing machine, make sure it’s encased in a protective garment bag. Always air dry – never put your bras in the dryer!



My husband and I are remodeling an old house. One home designer was highly recommended by our realtor so we put our faith in her despite a mediocre first impression.  It’s not that she dressed so bad but she didn’t make an effort to dress beyond what she’d normally wear around the house. Her nail polish was chipped beyond the limits. I don’t recall a business card, website, or brochure.

I realize sometimes a person’s appearance does not always reflect the quality of their work, but I think those cases are rare. If someone does not care enough about themselves to spend an extra 15 minutes putting themselves together before they meet me, how can I expect them to put the extra effort into their work?

Over the next 5 weeks, my theory proved valid. One missed deadline after another. When we finally got to see initial drawings, well, they were unimpressive.

So we started interviewing other designers this weekend. Despite being a Saturday, a designer came dressed the part. Not a suit or anything expensive – jeans, high heel sandals, a tank with a little short sleeved sweater. That’s the power of the third piece I always talk about. I knew the brand of sweater because I wear them all the time – “came from Nordstrom Rack” she told me, as if I didn’t already know. I commented on her leather-looking bag that held her laptop, brochures, etc. “Bought this at Target”, my new BFF said. What amazed me most was when she whipped out a checklist showing all the steps, how long each phase takes, and costs.

There’s research that says your first impression ends up being 70% of others’ final, lasting impression of you. I hired the 1^st designer despite a lacking impression, because she was recommended – a decision I regret. If I didn’t know of her through someone else, I never would have even given her a chance. Normally, if your appearance keeps you from clearing this first hurdle, you’ll never get someone’s business.  So if how people view you can be a deal maker or breaker, you’d better think again before you head out to that next client meeting in your “comfy clothes”.

Do you think your products or services are so impressive that your clients won’t mind your sloppy branding and rough-around-the-edges style? If you’re a woman who’s the face of your company, you won’t want to miss my next workshop with branding strategist, Pecanne Eby. In this hands-on workshop you will learn how to create your personal brandtopia—that ideal place where your personal image and your business’ brand identity marry up in a perfect way!

brandtopia^™ for Women Workshop: Secrets to aligning your personal image and business brand

Co-Hosts: Pecanne Eby, MBA and Denise Rehner, AICI

Date: October 16, 2010 (Saturday)

Time: 9am-12:30pm

Location: Denver Athletic Club, 1325 Glenarm Place, Denver, CO 80204

 1. Not having a good sense of what works on their bodies: These are the purchases we get home, perhaps wear once, and never feel great wearing them but we’re not really sure why. Don’t fight your natural shape and size. Learn what works for your body. A great resource to determine your body shape and best clothing shapes is www.myshape.com. Highlight and work your best features. Not sure what those are? Ask your partner and friends what they notice about you. You might be surprised to learn you have a fantastic neckline or shoulders.

2. Fooling themselves about their real size: When it comes to clothes, size doesn’t matter but fit certainly does. Some women buy clothes that are too small thinking they have always worn a certain size so they don’t try on a bigger size. Or they refuse to buy a bigger size and hope buying the smaller size motivates them to loose weight. Get into the right size, too tight or clingy cheapens your look. Dress for the body you have today! Don’t put off shopping until you lose weight. You need clothes for your life right now.

3. Choosing the wrong colors: This is another area wear women go wrong, buy an outfit, wear it a couple of times, then donate the item a year later. We often don’t know why something doesn’t work; we just know it does not make us feel great. To wear colors that flatter you, look to your hair, skin, and eyes for great neutrals and accent colors. A great technique is to repeat your eye color in shirts to keep the focus on your face. Also, consider the amount of contrasts between your hair, skin, and eyebrows. If you are a pale blonde with light eyes and fair skin, you have a low level of contrast. Wearing high contrast clothes such as a white top with black pants is not going to be your best look. If you wear black, pair it with a cream or tan to reduce the contrast.

4. Shopping without a plan: Organizing your closet and clearing out what does not work will allow you to see what you really have. Always think in terms of completing an outfit. If you buy an item and you don’t have the right items at home to complete an outfit, chances are it will hang in your closet unused. Try pulling outfits together and seeing what is missing to complete your outfits. Start with jackets and tops and match bottoms, shoes, purses, etc. Make sure you have everything you need including the right undergarments. Make a list of what you need and prioritize the items that will give you the most options.

5. Having a bargain hunter mentality I’ve been victim of sales racks too. We think we can’t pass up a great sale. We may wear the item once or twice and get bored. Ask yourself this before you buy anything, “Do I really love it?” If the answer is “no” it’s not a bargain. Save your money and buy only what you love. I like a deal just as much as the next gal, but I have to draw the line on discounting my self worth. I’ve learned that I’m worth paying full price for things I love. Also, consider the cost per wear. If you love a top that costs $200 and wear it 100 times, that’s $2 per wear. If you buy a top for $20 and it’s still hanging with the tags on, which is the better deal?

• Dress for the body you have today! Don’t put off shopping until you lose weight.
• Get into the right size, too tight or clingy cheapens your look

 2.      Embrace your Age:

• Honor and embrace the stage in life you’re in
• Don’t be frumpy! Be beautiful and inspire everyone around you

 3.      Rock your Body:

• Don’t fight natural shape and size
• Learn what works for your body, myshape.com
• Work your best features. Ask your partner and friends what they notice about you.

 4.   Wear your Colors:

• Hair, skin, and eyes for great neutrals; repeat eye color in shirts
• Contrasts between hair, skin, and eyebrows; high, medium or low
• Textures in hair and skin, smooth or curly

 5.      Got Clothes for your Lifestyle? :

• Roles and activities and percent of time, any changes you need to consider?
• Categorize your wardrobe and indicate: OK, needs work, needs overhaul

 6.      Get your Style on:

• Be honest with yourself and want to want more of or less of
• Is there something new that wants to be expressed?

 7.      Create a Vision Board:

• Pull pictures from magazine without editing
• Style icon: whose style do you love and can make into your own version?
• Notice your trends and label with style words

 8.      Consider your Goals: How do you want people to see you?

 9.      Closet Work:

• Pull out pieces that match your new style vision
• Put together outfits that make you feel fantastic
• List what you need to complete the outfits (accessories too!)
• Clear out anything that does not excite you and find new pieces that do

 10.  Tips for Creating Great Looks:

• Keep focus on your face with collars, scarves, etc.
• Eliminate distractions such as clothes that are too tight or just not right
• Match your body scale frame and features in prints and accessories
• Wear lines that are similar to your body lines and features. i.e. if your body is curvy, look for softer, rounded lines vs. boxy or straight lines
• Match the weight and texture of your hair
• Create ONE main focal point and let everything else support it, such as a bold necklace with similar color earrings that don’t compete for attention

51% founders: bebe trends no longer satisfy a serious woman

Be honest. Emphasize his/her high potential but the fact that his/her appearance is holding them back and sending the wrong message. Here’s the type of information I would share with this employee:

• As representatives of the company’s brand, employees’ appearance has an impact on the company’s image. What message are they sending when your clients visit your office or when your team calls on them? If your employees underestimate the power of their image, your clients could interpret your company as too relaxed to entrust with their business.
• A professional image reassures clients and co-workers they are committed to the company’s goals.
• Image is a powerful tool that can positively impact careers and expand opportunities. Having a professional presence will help employees to look and feel confident, gain influence, command respect, and stand out from the crowd while leaving lasting impressions.
• Note, sometimes it’s easier to have an image consultant, as a trusted 3^rd party advisor, address the whole company rather than single someone out. Then, if employees don’t change, you can refer back to the training in a one-to-one discussion.

Here’s some research to back up these points:

• Studies tell us that a person’s first impression ends up being 70% of their final, lasting impression. Look the Part, Modern Hygienist, June 2007.
• Studies show that women who wear appropriate makeup are perceived as being more competent and therefore higher paid. Look the Part, Modern Hygienist, June 2007.
• A survey by OfficeTeam reports that more than 80% of 972 surveyed professionals said a person’s work attire affects his or her professional image. Business Casual: out of style? HR Focus May 2005.
• Nearly two-thirds of Americans have felt inappropriately dressed at a business or social function. Fashion Foibles, Industrial Engineer, April 2003
• More than two-thirds are uncertain about what distinguishes business attire, business casual, and casual dress in the workplace, according to marketing professor Dennis Tootelian of California State University, Sacramento. Fashion Foibles, Industrial Engineer, April 2003
• Solomon and Scholper (1982) found that both males and females indicated that the appropriateness of their clothing affected the quality of their performance and their mood in the workplace.
• Kwon (1994) found that those who described themselves as “properly dressed” believed that it made the look significantly more responsible, competent, knowledgeable, professional, honest, reliable, intelligent, trustworthy, hardworking, and efficient, than when “not properly dressed”.

• 2-piece jacket and bottom in matching fabric and color. Jackets are notched with sharp points    
• Fabrics: Wool, light-weight wool-blends
• Colors are dark neutrals such as navy, gray, and black. Solids or subtle patterns are fine.
• Sleeves are always long.
• Notched-collar shirt: Long-sleeved shirts, even in summer.

Men:

• Shoes: Leather, lace-up or slip-on business shoes, preferably black or cordovan. 
• Notched-collar shirt: Long sleeve – French cuffs and cufflinks. Choose white or light blue solid, or conservative stripes.
• Tie: Select good quality silk ties. Avoid fashion extremes, like character ties, in interviews. Notice what men in your industry wear on the job, at career fairs, at information sessions, when they meet with clients.

Women:

• Pant Suits: Tailored pants suits are appropriate for women. Pants should be creased and tailored, not tight or flowing.
• Skirt Lengths: Should cover your thighs when you are seated. A skirt that ends at the knee or just above when you’re standing looks classy and professional. Longer skirts are appropriate too; just make sure they are narrow enough not to look like a prairie skirt, but not so narrow that you can’t climb stairs comfortably. High slits are not appropriate.
• Women’s Shoes: Closed-toe pumps are the safest. No open-toed or sling backs. Heels should be 1 – 3 inch and covered (no wood heels). No stilettos or flats. Thin sole. No wedge heels or thick platforms.
• Women’s Hosiery: Should be simple (no patterns), sheer (not opaque), and in neutral colors complementing your suit. Avoid high contrast between your suit and hosiery color.

Business Appropriate: Can also be appropriate for interviews in more casual companies.

• Same as above but jacket and pant/skirt can be separates in coordinating fabric and color.
• Fabrics start to soften: Microfiber-blends w/wools, silk blends, Knit
• Colors can be medium to light or brighter

Women:

• Jacket lapels can be soft rounded points or shawl
• Jacket and shirt sleeve can be long or ¾ length
• Women’s shirt can be softer such as a knit shell or sweater set, turtle necks

Men:

• Jackets are notched with soft rounded points
• Shirts: Long sleeve buttoned with no tie, textured cotton blends, or cashmere (light-weight) sweaters and turtlenecks.

Business Casual: Still business like but a relaxed image.

• Fabrics can be linen, high sheen silk, cotton, jersey, heavy-weight sweaters

• Jackets do not need a lapel and women’s can be short sleeve
• Shirts: Mock turtleneck, soft rounded points, short sleeves
• Colors are softer and can be more creative: earth-tones, khaki, black, greens, browns, purples, coral, aqua

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