January 2009 – The blog has a new year’s resolution – to write about fashion ideas.

So where do you start when you need to update your wardrobe? Most of us in the professional world need to start with the foundation suit – most likely in black, navy or a rich gray. Who wears a matched suit in today’s casual environment? Approximately 30% of our economy is based on financial businesses – banks, investment firms, credit unions, insurance, real estate, etc. Most people in these businesses still wear a traditional suit. In addition to the financial people, there are the attorneys and political people who wear suits. This varies by region; Los Angeles is less formal than New York City.

How do you decide what color to buy? If you are a woman over 40, be careful of a dark black suit unless you plan to wear a bright colored blouse or scarf with it. Dark black around the face of an older woman (don’t be offended – I am one) tends to be harsh, especially for medium to fair skinned women. Try it for yourself in front of a mirror – hold black fabric around your neck/face area, and then change it to your favorite color. If the black makes you look splotchy, your skin turns sallow, or your face looks washed out, don’t wear it as your primary color or around your face. Also, fair blonds should avoid gray; it will wash them out. Brown is a good additional suit but is a bit too casual for the foundation suit. If you are not in the financial industries, make sure that this foundation suit has good mix-and-match pieces.

Not knowing your coloring or industry, my all-round recommendation for a foundation suit is navy. Navy can be won by most people, in most environments. Happy suiting!