Image:   This is the part of you that the world remembers when you’re not there, but not only a mental picture that they have of you; but also the way you’re perceived. Image is your ‘inner core’, your persona, ‘the real you’. Image is as true a reflection of you as the image in the mirror. Developing your true image is what dressing well is all about. Creating the right image is the only way to become your best self. A woman who knows who she is presents a consistent image to the world, no matter how many different roles she plays and the moods she expresses.

Value:   When getting clothes, whether buying, or having it made it is important to consider value. A custom made sheath might cost you $500, but if its of the best quality fabric, made in a classic design and fit your body and you, so that you wear it at least once each week all year long for five years, the actual cost is only about $2 per wear. Do the math. You should not think of cost as the only indication of quality; it’s been said that the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.

Personality: This is your innate, unique ‘you ness’. This is the part of style where you embrace and own your individuality. Are you ‘marching to the beat of your own drum, or are you out of step trying to keep up with another’s beat.’ Express your individuality, whether you’re poised and sophisticated, whimsy or gamin’, cute or quirky, self-assured and outgoing or retiring and conservative. Your clothes should be a non-verbal way of communicating to the world just who you are.

Style:   Often used interchangeably with fashion, can suggest the elegant or distinguished way of dressing, behaving, and so on characteristic of those of taste in a given period. Style, they say is virtually indefinable, but if you have it, you need nothing else; if you don’t, it doesn’t matter much what else you have. Style is having a great walk, your carriage, as opposed to the way you dress. Style is you, knowing yourself well enough to develop a consistent image, and then having the courage to project that confident, self-assured image.

Body:   This is what makes you, you. This is the part you have to accept and work with to make life easier. Study your body type so you can determine what’s best for you. If you have curves, celebrate them and if you don’t, celebrate your assets.

Elegance:   Can be defined as grace or dignified propriety that expresses good breeding or great taste. Like style, elegance is instantly recognizable, a gift to be able to make things picturesque and perfect in the moment. Great elegance is synonymous with, ease and true style.

Fashion:   The appearance or mode of structure that we have to change clothe into clothes, in an act or process of making something beautiful and acceptable to fit the human body. Whether it is trendy, vintage, or somewhere in-between you should make sure you know your best ‘look’.

Dress Code:   Anything goes when you’re young and fashion is purely fun. But if you’re always on a fashion merry-go-round, you follow the latest trend or fad to your own risk. You should dress for the job you want by announcing, intentionally, with your clothing. 30 years after breaking the glass ceiling and finally controlling the boardroom, women have set themselves back with too many dress-down days. If you’re a career-minded professional your clothes should say that about you.

Size & Shape:   The first step towards dressing well is a thorough understanding of your body size and shape. Do not be surprised that clothing does not come in standard sizes, but only approximations of them. Coupled with that is the tolerance levels in modern manufacturing techniques, allowing for wide discrepancies in otherwise identical items, which explains why trying on two of the same sized garment can often yield one that is a better fit for you.