Spring Cleaning Can Boost Wardrobe

If spring has arrived without enough “green” in your pocket to make your work wardrobe blossom, consider plumbing the far corners of your closet to resurrect old favorites.It might be time to start mixing and matching in new ways that will provide the appearance of a whole new wardrobe, but without actually spending a dime.Today’s colorful styles and new fabrics, combined with the new wave of style trends, have opened lots of options when it comes to making old items look new. Here are a few tips to follow as you take a fresh look at your old closet:* Dress down your dress-up clothes. You can tone down a satin or sequin-embroidered shirt by pairing it with a pair of casual khaki pants or cords and a simple pair of shoes. Using some of your more dressy clothes to spiff up your career wear will open up a whole new range of possibilities.* Indulge in color combinations that used to be forbidden – just be careful that the colors you mix together are distinctly different in shade. For men, try wearing that melon-colored sweater under a dark-brown cord blazer. For women, consider your pear-green blouse and a nice pair of pumps to fancy up your boot-leg pants.* Don’t worry about matching your socks to your shirt, your lipstick to your purse, your purse to your shoes, or your shoes to your belt. Choosing pieces that complement each other without color matching will enhance your wardrobe possibilities rather than restricting them. Just remember to keep these color combinations easy on the eyes.* Make your suits work triple-time as separates. Wear your grey pinstriped suit jacket unbuttoned over a lavender V-neck knit top with a pair of dressy black pants and a pair of black pumps. Switch it up later that week by wearing the pinstriped suit bottoms with a pink sweater set and a pair of black mules. Then go to town in the whole ensemble, with a lacy tank top underneath the suit jacket. For men, do the same by switching your sport jackets, sweater vests, suit pants, and elegant silk turtle necks.* Finally, don’t forget that the little things can make all the difference: your grandmother’s antique brooch, a colorful scarf, or an edgy tie can spruce up an old outfit and make you feel fresh and ready for spring. Now, for this week’s letters.Dear Jordan:My legs are my best physical asset, but should they be showcased on a sales call with high heels and a skirt or dress, or saved for social occasions? Is Secretary of State Rice setting a precedent for all women to be attractive and smart, or are we pushing the envelope when it comes to everyday settings?– Naomi, Roseland, N.J.Dear Naomi:If you’ve got it, flaunt it. Secretary of State Rice looks sharp and professional, but people are still paying close attention to what she says. That said, there is a line between looking attractive and looking sleazy. It’s hard to define, but in the words of Supreme Court Justice Stewart on the topic of pornography: “I know it when I see it.” You will, too.Dear Jordan:I was in a meeting with a diplomat last week and noticed his cuff-link shirt sleeves fell below his suit jacket. Did his shirt not fit properly, or is that appropriate wear? Please advise.– Elliot, Washington, D.C.Dear Elliot:It is perfectly acceptable and expected that a man’s shirt sleeves will peek out below his jacket sleeves. How else to show off those 18-karat gold cuff links from your wife?Ms. Speer is the senior editor of an apparel business magazine and has been writing about the industry for more than nine years. Readers should send workplace or corporate fashion questions to styleforsuccess@aol.com.

Spring Cleaning Can Boost Wardrobe

Spring Cleaning Can Boost Wardrobe

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