The Good Wife is a Good Role Model

My corporate clients often ask me “Who is a good clothing role model?  Who would you point to that always looks stylish and professional?” Alas, in many companies, there are fewer and fewer role models to follow. For men, I usually recommend looking to Lester Holt on the NBC Nightly News.  Williams, like his predecessors Brian Williams and Tom Brokaw, never fails to be impeccably dressed.

For women, however, the news desk is less consistent and television programming in general “sexes”’ up the female talent so that their authority and credibility is questionable -- at least visually. However, there is one standout television show that provides excellent role models for female corporate dress. The Good Wife, on CBS television, is not only worth watching for the story line, and the incredibly cool way Julianna Margulies plays her character, Alicia Florrick, but also because the show provides amazing wardrobe examples if you are serious about professional presence. It also shows three possible models for corporate life that never resort to a boring blazer. Christine Baranksi’s character Diane Lockhart wears the most luxurious suits as well as dresses that perfectly match her credibility as head of the law firm. 

Baranski's styling is always perfect!  She looks rich and successful.

A power dress at the office.  Rock it!

Margulies’s wardrobe of conservative suits has grown in sophistication, color palette and tailoring as her standing with the firm has increased (and as she clearly has more $$ to spend) 

Alicia's all business without being mannish in her wardrobe.

Archie Panjabi’s character Kalinda Sharma (the firm's investigator) shows an edgier side with leather jackets and high boots. This works for her particular job, and potentially for anyone in a more creative corporate work environment.  The key is that she never goes too bare...shirts are short but she's wearing hosiery and there's never too much skin showing elsewhere.

Kalinda's the coolest.  

For dramatic entertainment and an education on how to dress corporate, enjoy the first three seasons of The Good Wife. Note the impeccable fit and clean lines in the wardrobe worn by the female leads as well as the female guest stars.  Also pay attention to their use of a business color palette that suits each individual’s coloring and their role within the firm, without every being boring.

If you love The Good Wife and want to know more about the clothes, check out these interviews with Daniel Lawson, the show's stylist.

Image and Introversion

Most people are surprised to learn that I am an extreme introvert.  I do a fairly good job masquerading as an extrovert when it really matters – at business functions, during my own training sessions, when meeting new people, etc. etc. But there’s no denying my natural tendency toward solitude and quiet, and my great need to recharge after being around people.  I used to wonder what was wrong with me, but after reading The Introvert Advantage by Marti Olsen Lany, all became clear. Some people are hardwired to gain energy from being around people and others (like me) lose energy in the same situations. (OK, there’s more more to it than that, but you get the gist…)

The problem is that introverts get branded with many unattractive and often derogatory adjectives like "shy" "reticent" "loner" or "stuck-up".  And I have found after 11 years working as an image consultant that introverts may have particular challenges with many of the appearance, behavior, and communication skills necessary for impactful professional and executive presence.  If you live and work in a country like the United States that celebrates extroverted personalities, introverts need a little extra help understanding what behaviors to adopt in order to compete more effectively, influence more easily and communicate more robustly. Helping these individuals find more professional success has become my stock-in-trade.

More evidence that introversion is a hot topic is Susan Cain’s book Quiet – The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking. Check out NPR’s coverage of the book here and take the handy quiz to see if you tend toward the introvert side of life…. Cain suggests that 1/3 of people tend this way. If you, one of your loved ones, or someone you work with is introverted, it's worth learning more about this topic and, in particular, reading The Introvert Advantage, a book that literally changed my life.

Upgrade Your Shave

We openly acknowledge that visual image management is generally easier for men!  What with fewer fashion options, no makeup to wear, and no cellulite concerns, men generally have less to worry about than women when it comes to appearance. However, there's one area where guys must expend much more energy – on the daily shave. 

  

So, gentlemen, are you getting a close shave with no irritation that makes you look both rico and suave? 

   

Check out this excellent and comprehensive article “How to Get That Perfect Shave” and note three key elements:
  
1) A Good Brush -- genuine badger hair makes a difference!
2) A Good Razor -- not disposable!
3) A Good Shaving Cream  -- not alcohol based!
   
On the final point, the author emphasizes that Europeans have made excellent shaving products though the ages.  I highly recommend the Proraso products from Italy (affordably available from Amazon)  Proraso's been around for over 100 years from a unique recipe handed down through generations.  Smooth, soft and cool -- using Proraso will upgrade your shave and your image!

New Year-New Experiences!

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions when Jan. 1 arrived? Ours here at Image Matters is to get back to our blogging! Mine personally is to try new things this year-from new and different foods to new and different experiences. It should be interesting to see what this year brings!

And here’s one thing I didn’t think I would ever try. Crocs. Yes those awful ugly clogs that make you look like you have clown feet! I know they are “comfortable”, but really, you can find “comfortable” shoes that are not so ugly! They were first introduced in 2002 but as of late the company hasn’t been turning the profit they were back then. No great surprise to us Croc haters! The only person I know who was ever “allowed” to wear Crocs is a friend who had foot surgery and needed something to wear so she could get around. The foot has since healed and now she only wears them to tend to her dogs when it’s muddy outside. That’s as it should be!

But now Crocs are on the rise again. To mark their 10^th anniversary, they are embarking on a new marketing campaign that is highlighting Crocs with a new twist. The campaign is being introduced on an electronic billboard in Times Square on Thursday and in April issues of some magazines.  The tag line reads “New styles on the outside-Crocs comfort on the inside”.  The campaign shows models wearing the new Crocs styles as part of a stylish outfit. Well well well-just maybe I’ll have to take a look at these new Crocs! I’m all about comfy shoes (what woman isn’t!) and stylish shoes too. They look pretty cute in the pictures! It’s my New Year’s resolution-I’m trying new things! I’ll keep you posted and if you try these new styles, let us know what you think. We always love hearing from you!