Image Tips | JMP Image & Style Group, LLC | Jacqueline Peros

The right to air grievances online – right or wrong?

By Jacqueline Peros, on November 15th, 2010

Is it really a question of freedom of speech or just a matter of manners and intelligence?

Last week a woman took up issue with her boss and went to Facebook to air it. Allegedly, her disparaging comments got back to her supervisor and as a result, she was fired. Her employer says this is not the case and the reason she was fired was due to her failure to adhere to company policy which is “against employees discussing the company on the Internet, including social media sites.”

According to this article, the situation has “prompted a debate over whether or not these comments are protected speech under labor laws.” To me, the question isn’t whether they are protected or not, the question is whether or not, she was right or wrong in taking the risk to air her negative feelings in a public forum which happens to be a social media site her company has a policy about.

It seems so easy today for people to absolve themselves of accountability and hide against laws that weren’t intended to protect them from being ill mannered and irresponsible. Did this woman think it was right to talk negatively about her employer who is paying her paycheck each week? Did she not think of the ramifications of her actions? Did she not think of the risks involved and how she could be potentially lose her job? Let’s say she wasn’t fired from her job but her employer found out that she wrote those disparaging remarks on Facebook; did she think she would have a good working relationship with him? Would he be an advocate for her career? No he would not. If she thought through what she was doing (which many people don’t these days) she could have opted to speak with her supervisor in a professional manner and defend herself in person.

With a 10% unemployment rate (and higher in some states) why would someone be so cavalier about their job or career? I’m not suggesting that one should not report ill treatment in a workplace but I don’t know any employee who doesn’t have an issue or two about their supervisor or company.

What do you think? I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter.

The Power of Petite Dressing

By Jacqueline Peros, on November 10th, 2010

Catherine Schuller and me before our fashion show - Photo courtsey of Madison Plus

Being a “special” size has always presented unique challenges for me in developing a wardrobe that helped achieve my personal and professional goals. I learned at a very young age, 3 important strategies in building a “workable” wardrobe: planning, tailoring and shopping my shape. So I was thrilled Lord & Taylor invited me to speak about these “strategies” in celebration of their newly (and gorgeous) renovation of their flagship store in Manhattan. I along with my colleague, Catherine Schuller (former plus size model & now Image Expert), presented “The Long & The Short of It; Special Sizes Figure&Fit Shape Shopping.” The premise of the presentation was based on the fact that petites and plus are now on the same floor and although these sizes are at different ends of the spectrum, our wardrobe challenges are very similar.

Whether you are a petite or plus, there are frequent challenges we face when shopping so our presentation and fashion show focused on the following issues and explained how to dress for each.

1. Long waisted, short legs or short waisted long legs – The goal is to find the overall proper proportions for your body type.

Long waisted with shorter legs – you want to create the illusion of a higher waistline & longer legs in order to achieve proper proportions.
Petite Model illustrating how to dress for a longer waist and shorter legs

So a few tips you might want to take advantage of are: wear higher waisted bottoms with shorter tops / jackets. Moreover, choose belts that match your bottoms to help raise the waist.

Short waisted with longer legs – you want to create the illusion of your waist being lower. How do you do that? Think long over short; A tunic paired with skinny jeans or leggings. Long blazer over short skirt – these wardrobe techniques help create the long illusion of a longer waist which brings the leg and waist into proportion.
Petite model to the left wearing long blazer over tunic paired with leggings creates the illusion of a longer waist. Photo courtsey of Madison Plus

2. Camouflaging the mid section – The goal is to draw the line away from the middle section to the face (with open necklines or detail around the top of the dress) or to the legs with slits or hem detail. Moreover, all over pattern or print is a great way to force the eye to not look at one specific area.

Petite model wearing an all over muted print dress that will help distract the eye from resting on one place. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Vincent

3. Volume Dressing – The goal is to select clothing that complements your frame and height versus overwhelming your overall body shape. For petite women, it’s important to look for apparel details in smaller proportions that complement your body frame such as smaller lapel widths, epaulettes, belts, buttons, buttons & sleeve widths. Moreover, choose light to medium fabrics vs. heavier chunky fabrics so that you don’t add “bulk” to your petite stature.

Petite Model on the left wearing proper volume for her frame. Faux fur vest on Plus size model wouldn't work for her. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Vincent

4. Accessorizing – The goal for choosing accessories is to ensure you select items that are the right scale for your body. The body scale of most women 5 ’4 and under is small to medium so it’s important to select wardrobe and accessories that compliment your scale vs. overpower your scale. The key in selecting accessories is to practice moderation! Because your scale is more small to medium, accessories should small to medium as well and if you want to go bold, keep it to one accessory as bold and rest smaller.

This smaller Michael Kors handbag is a better accessory choice for a petite body frame. Photo courtesy of Lord & Taylor.

This large Buddha Bag is more appropriate for a larger body frame. Photo courtesy of Lord & Taylor

So, the next time you go shopping in the petite department, remember this tidbit: the goal is to create the illusion of longer legs and creating a vertical line from head to toe!

10 Budget Saving Tips to Achieve a Polished & Professional Image

By Jacqueline Peros, on June 15th, 2009

1. Shop for fit, not size – for every U.S. size there is approximately 12 variations in that size and this does not take into account the variations in color dyes which can alter the size (some shrinkage can take place).

2. Practice the 80/20 rule – 20% of the clothes in your wardrobe are worn 80% of the time, so reverse this statistic and start wearing the other 80% that has been lying dormant in your closet. It will not only preserve your favorite pieces that you’ve been wearing repeatedly but also give you new options to wear.

3. Streamline your wardrobe – donate articles of clothing you know you will never wear again. This will help you see more clearly those items you forgot you had because you couldn’t see everything.

4. Separate your suits – mix up your suits and use each piece as a separate ensemble. Pair your suit bottom with a sweater and a different textured type of jacket (i.e., leather or corduroy blazer). Alternatively, pair suit jacket with your denim jeans for a modern casual look.

5. Use friends & family – borrow or swap clothing and accessories with family or friends. This helps to inject new pieces into your wardrobe without spending any money.

6. Be kind to your feet – take footwear to get polished and if necessary, resoled. It is less expensive to get your shoes/boots fixed than to go out and buy a new pair.

7. Invest in new accessories – purchase scarves, handbags or fashion jewelry in the newest trends or colors to help keep you current and modern looking. Purchasing a few new accessories is less expensive than investing in a whole new outfit.

8. Care for your fabrics - don’t feel the need to take everything to the dry cleaners all the time. Many dry cleaning solutions break down fabrics quickly. Be sure to immediately remove dry cleaner plastic wrap when the garment comes back from cleaners; leaving the plastic wrap on breaks down the garment’s fabric more rapidly.

9. Imitation is the best form of flattery – get ideas about how to pull together outfits, colors, and patterns by taking notice of store mannequins or visiting retail websites.

10. Befriend your tailor – find a great tailor in your area and be sure to take any clothing to him/her for alterations. Proper fit is everything and you will look polished and professional at all times.

Differentiation: The Key to Getting Hired

By Jacqueline Peros, on September 27th, 2008

New York Unemployment rate reached 5.8% in August and this figure does not even take into account the recent Wall Street woes. This economic downturn has propelled many people into the job search arena. For many, the thought of interviewing is overwhelming and intimidating. The simple truth is that if you don’t prepare properly, you won’t do well. And it’s not just about preparing properly, it’s about differentiating yourself amongst the many individuals you will be competing against to secure the job.

Here are a few guidelines that will help differentiate you before, during and after the interviewing process.

The Prep

Research, Research and Research
I cannot stress how important this component is to a successful interviewing strategy. Yes, we all know the importance and need to do our homework in regards to researching the company itself but there are two areas that many candidates forget to take into consideration; the interviewer(s) and the competitive landscape. Familiarize yourself with all three areas and you will differentiate yourself amongst the many other candidates vying for the same job opportunity.

- Company Information -check out the company’s website, recent press releases and other current information. Resources such as Skyminder and Wolff Worldwide can provide tremendous insight into a company’s profile and financials. Moreover, talk to individuals working in the industry and get their perspective on the company’s strengths, challenges and culture.

- Competitive Landscape – use business resources to understand the competitive landscape. Visit Hoovers and learn how competitors differ in their business strategy and positioning of products and services.

- Garner Information on Interviewer(s)- I compare this concept to developing a successful marketing campaign. Marketers must understand the demographics and psychographics of their target audience in order to craft a relevant and compelling message. Applying the same strategy to interviewing will help you communicate your message more effectively. Fortunately we have a access to a plethora of information at our fingertips. Google your interviewer(s) and obtain as much professional information as you can. Check out their profiles on business networking sites such as Linked In or Plaxo and review their career path, accomplishments and associations they belong to. Moreover, you should reach out to mutual contacts to better understand what the interviewer is looking for or how they run their departments.

The Interview
Keep in mind that the interview is a two way street and as important as it is to a company to select the right candidate, it is equally important for you to ensure the company is the right place for you.

- Attire – be sure to select the appropriate business suit for the interview. For men, this includes a dark suit, dress shirt and tie and laced up shoes. For women, a skirt or pant suit with blouse or sweater and pump (2 -2 1/2″) is appropriate. Cologne and Perfume should be kept at a minimum or not worn at all. Too much of a scent is distracting.

Be aware of your body language
- Have a strong hand-shake
- Maintain good eye contact at all times
- Remember to smile
- Maintain good posture (slouching translates into “I’m not interested”)
- Keep arms open (crossed arms depict defiance)

- Asking the right questions – we have all been on interviews where we are inevitably asked “So, do you have any questions for me?” Here is where all your research will pay off. Change the “interview” scenario to a “conversation” scenario. Too often, interviews begin to take on an inquisition feel because the interviewer and candidate are just trying to get through the process as quickly and painlessly as possible. You as the candidate should take the initiative to change that. Begin an interesting dialogue with the interviewer about the current company opportunities and challenges and where you feel your skills can be applied. Ask questions regarding the competitors you have researched and offer your perspective or insight. Providing value and key insights will set you apart.

The Follow-Up
Timing is everything. Be sure to send a Thank You letter immediately following the interview. Email and handwritten letters are both acceptable formats.

In the follow up letter be sure to summarize the challenges and opportunities discussed during the interview and clearly articulate how your skills and expertise can be applied to these areas. Remember, always be relevant, articulate and on point. Lastly, include a specified time line on when you will follow up in order to check on the status of the job opportunity.

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The right to air grievances online – right or wrong?

The Power of Petite Dressing

10 Budget Saving Tips to Achieve a Polished & Professional Image

Differentiation: The Key to Getting Hired

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