It's More Fun this Way!

My September newsletter (finally!) went out yesterday. The theme was organization and the title was "Monkeys in the Closet." Remember, I blame my disorganization on the monkeys.

It always amazes me that the more I go out on a limb (no pun intended) with the articles I write and the programs I create, the more praise I receive for being entertaining and innovative at the same time that I'm educating. It's crazy.

When I started my image consulting business, I saw other people in the industry writing and speaking on topics they called "The Power of Color" or "What is Business Casual?" or "Dressing Appropriately for Work."

YAWN!

Somewhere along the way, I gave myself carte blanche to do whatever the heck I want. The image industry is so 'inside the box'. So stringent. People assume an "image consultant" represents and creates corporate cookie cutter images.

I get to prove that stereotype completely false. How fun!

From my program "Is Your Career a Fashion Victim?" where the title looks like it was written in blood - seriously - to newsletter themes this year which included Kelly, Wendy and me being fashion pirates ("Sailing the Seven Seas of Sale Shopping", "Beauty Booty"), CSI's (Crimes of Style Investigators) "Fashion Personality: Decoding Your Style DNA", "Makeup Under the Microscope"), and we got to play drinking games in "A Sip of Summer Style" - my article was "Wardrobe Mixology").

For my men's newsletter, I got to review Dwight Schrute's (from The Office) awful wardrobe and I wrote an article called "ESPN Knows it. Do You?" about contrast in men's clothes.

It's really cool that I am in a position where I am free to amuse myself and apparently, and it amuses others as well.

Now my next step is topping myself, and I think my book concept will not only help young women with dressing for work, which is what I intend, but it will also push the envelope a little, and in contemporary society, that's highly desirable.

And the more edgy, quirky, absurd, silly, or just plain weird something is, the better I like it. And it seems other people like it better too.

Asked the etiquette expert (LML, of course!)

So, of course I sent the previous blog entry to the lovely and talented LisaMarie Luccioni, Queen of Tact. Here is her response....

***

Hiya, Doll:

Actually it's interesting you blog on this topic. This past Friday, I lectured on interviewing to my honors-PLUS scholars. I highlighted how people like to have their first and last names both SPELLED CORRECTLY and how doing so was an "attention to detail" issue...this speaks to professionalism and going the extra mile.

Luccioni often gets blundered or when people write my name, they'll separate it without noticing...I prefer it one word, thank you very much. God love the people who will ASK me my preference if there is confusion: "Do you prefer Lisa or LisaMarie". I'll get that often. Good of them for asking.

I agree with you...we all make mistakes and are fallible, but in terms of perception (especially those oh-so-important first ones), this can be a deal-breaker.

love...the one-worded....

LisaMarie

LisaMarie Luccioni, MA, AICI, CIP
Adjunct Associate Professor
Certified Image Professional
Department of Communication
University of Cincinnati

(Isn't she the best??)

It's K-R-I-S-T-E-N!!!!

I have to do this right now. My apologies if you're reading this, but my blog gives me a safe haven to rant once in awhile. It's my right.

Know what perhaps my biggest pet peeve is? I hate when people DON'T SPELL MY FIRST NAME CORRECTLY!!!! If they have no way of knowing how to spell it, that's one thing (or they can google me - duh!), but when I've known someone for several years and she is still spelling it wrong, that's a clear sign of either ignorance or disregard. And the person I'm talking about is clearly not stupid. She just spells my name wrong every time.

I know that KRISTEN comes in a lot of different varieties. But take the time and care to find out how I spell mine and use it if you're going to write to me, please.

Today I was called "Kristin" by the person I mentioned above and then "Kirstin" in an email response I received from someone else. My name was right in front of both of their faces!!

Just pay attention, people! I am extra careful to spell first and last names correctly, which is why I get so perturbed when people don't care enough to spell mine right.

Locally, people don't do it much because I am fairly well-known - besides Kim Crow from the PD (who regularly spells it "-in"). But the two in question today are not local....

Still, I am irked, and this definitely gives me a poor impression of them, whether a new acquaintance or someone I've known for years.

But what do I do besides blog about it and make sure they see my name again and again. And again. Makes me want to continue building my brand better and stronger.

Do you think many people misspell "Oprah"???


P.S. I only allow a handful of people call me anything other than my given name or "K" or "KK".

My dad calls me Cupcake, Dan calls me Kiki (took awhile to get used to that one, but I finally started embracing it), and Kelly (and ONLY Kelly) can call me "Kris."

A Major Fashion (Almost) Risk

I was was considering taking one of the biggest fashion risks of my life tomorrow.

I was seriously thinking about wearing jeans (very dark, dressy denim) to lunch at the Union Club. I have a lunch meeting there and then a much less formal meeting afterward, followed by some possible work with Dan, which will be incredibly informal (remember, he wears Microsoft 95 shorts).

I hate dressing up these days! Isn't that weird for someone like me to say?

I truly loved the idea of "sticking it" to the stuffy club. (I am always a true rebel at heart.)

But then I looked up the dress code, which specifically states no denim. Then I remembered Michael DeAloia saying that he had jeans and a sport coat on in the bar there once before a Cavs game and another club member complained -- oh please. In the grand scheme of things, does it really matter?

(This is a place that has only let women in the front door for the last handful of years, so to say they are a little behind the times is an understatement. Don't get me started about the wait staff!)

So I nixed the dressy denim (grrrr!) and have to alter my lunch ensemble for my more fashion-forward meeting afterward.

This means pairing my cardigan with a T-shirt instead of its shell, putting on a pair of dark wash jeans and some exciting shoes and being myself: Fashionable and fun.

I'm much more interesting when I get too be (and dress like) me.

Assaulted at the Browns Game

I was fortunate to be at Sunday's Browns game with my good friend Dan Hanson. He has some great season tickets. I was with him last year at the best game of the year (vs. Chiefs at the beginning of December) and again yesterday for what will definitely be one of the highlights of this season (they have a lot of work to do for the next 14 games if they want to top this outing).

So yes, I am sensing a pattern here. Kiki = Good Luck for the Browns

Last week against Pittsburgh was such a trainwreck, it (almost) put Britney at the VMA's to shame. Surely one of the worst embarrassments in Browns history....

My highlight (??) was getting knocked in the head by one of Dan's 4-ton elbows. He was standing up cheering and I was in the process of standing and all I remember was seeing stars and severe pain. Today, I have a big lump on the top of my head, a headache, ringing ears and my eyes look funny. Minor concussion perhaps?

Despite the head trauma, it was a good day. The Browns won, it was a beautiful day to sit outside, and as always, we laughed a lot. Despite the obvious visual differences - about a foot in height, one who is a Cleveland Fashionista, the other is the Great Lakes Geek and proudly wears 12-year old sweat shorts, Dan and I are eerily similar. What did I call our friendship? Strange and unexpected? It's pretty accurate.

***

Sunday was a good day for others as well:

1) I am so proud of LisaMarie for speaking to the masses at the University of Cincinnati's Convocation yesterday. She was the keynoter. You made your University, your family, your AICI Chapter, and your dear friend KK very proud, Professor! Congrats!!! (Being invited to keynote the UC Convocation is a BIG DEAL.)

2) I was delighted to hear that my favorite show, 30 Rock won the Emmy for best comedy last night! I always think back to seeing Tina Fey and Rachel Dratch at Second City Chicago in 1996 and Jason Sudeikis (from SNL and a guest star on 30 Rock) at Second City Vegas in 2003.

Who knew?!?

(Yes, I still love The Office, but 30 Rock is a stroke of absurdist brilliance!)

Celebrity Name Dropper

Having nothing better to do (besides about a thousand things), I took an online quiz about celebs and their stage names. I scored a semi-impressive 16/26.

(The not-so-nice side of me also loves knowing that not everyone was born with a name that slips off the tongue -- see Goldie Hawn -- I also had a last name I didn’t like and couldn’t wait to change it!)

Did YOU know these real names?
(* means the ones I knew – I actually made a few good guesses too)

Jodie Foster........................................ Alicia Christian Foster

Natalie Portman................................... Natalie Herschlag

*Nicolas Cage..................................... Nicolas Coppola

*Jennifer Aniston ............................... Jennifer Anastassakis

*Tom Cruise...................................... Thomas Cruise Mapother IV

*Demi Moore..................................... Demetria Guynes

Jamie Foxx........................................ Eric Bishop

Phoebe Cates.................................... Phoebe Katz

*Carmen Elektra ............................... Tara Leigh Patrick

*Elle MacPherson.............................. Eleanor Gow

*Ashley Judd .................................. Ashley Ciminella

Chuck Norris ................................... Carlos Ray Norris

Jennifer Jason Leigh.......................... Jennifer Lee Morrow

Tea Leoni....................................... Elizabeth Tea Panteleoni

Kal Penn........................................ Kalpen Suresh Modi

Winona Ryder................................. Winona Laura Horowitz

Charlie Sheen................................. Carlos Irwin Sheen

Christian Slater ............................. Christian Michael Hawkins

Joan Rivers.................................... Joan Molinsky

*Jane Seymour.............................. Joyce Frankenburg

Goldie Hawn.................................. Goldie Jean Studlendegehawn (yikes!)

*Whoopi Goldberg.......................... Caryn Johnson

*Diane Keaton.............................. Diane Hall

Audrey Hepburn............................ Audrey Kathleen Ruston

Ben Kingsley................................ Krishna Banji

*Woody Allen.............................. Allen Konigsberg

Tim Gunn's Guide to Style

I just finished watching Tim Gunn's Guide to Style on Bravo. I wasn't sure what to expect, only knowing Tim from Project Runway, his blog on BravoTV.com and the copious interviews I have read with him.

I have no idea why, but from the first time I ever saw Tim, I said, "Wow, this guy has something here." It's the "IT" factor. He comes across as sensible, stern and compassionate, but with a very dry sense of humor and an unusual charisma. He's very real, but at the same time is unlike anyone I have ever run across.

So when I heard his book was coming out, it was a must-have for my style book library, and when his show premiered tonight, I knew I needed to watch. And I was there...taking notes, believe it or not.

I was so thankful that he took this makeover candidate through the process of image development, not just making her into a fashion plate. There are a lot of stylists who will add more clothes to a person's already overflowing closet. In my own practice, I always feel like I am the doctor, diagnosing the underlying "illness" beneath the clothes that are being stockpiled but not worn.

Supermodel Veronica Webb, one of my runway faves from the 90's is his co-host. One thing she said really struck a chord with me -

"That rut is so deep there's, like, magma down there."

I happen to be writing an article for Pure Romance's sales magazine about getting stuck in a rut called From Drab to Fab: How to break out of your style slump, so of course it stood out to me.

Tim sent the young lady, Rebecca, to a "life stylist" named Jared, who put her in a garbage bag top. No, I am not kidding. I will have to ask Coach Joelle her thoughts on that. But the one thing he said that I liked was to "always walk like you're listening to the soundtrack of your life." Wow, profound. I like that.

He also had her repeat the mantra,

"I cannot control how I am perceived,
I can only control how I am presented."

Very cool. It's what image consultants preach on a daily basis! It's called "impression management" and is a fundamental principle of image development!

Tim has a list of his TEN MUST-HAVES (Don't we all? Mine are about 2/3 the same as his!)

Here's Tim's list:

1) Basic Black Dress
2) Trench coat
3) Fitted blazer
4) Sweater
5) Classic white shirt
6) Day Dress
7) "Sweatsuit alternative"
8) Classic dress pants
9) Jeans
10) "Trendy indulgent item"

In conclusion, it was an enjoyable show. It was a lot like a low-key, more educational What Not to Wear. I like that it is done on film, which makes it look more classy and expensive.

I also realized that if I wanted to go all out and buy a bunch of designer pieces, my clear choice would be Catherine Malandrino. She designs for the Romantic fashion personality. And I am accepting more and more my place as a Romantic.

The dress she gave Rebecca the makeover candidate was perfection. Wow....

Notes from Labor Day

I didn't do too much today. Good thing. I feel like I am getting sick. Thanks, mom. I don't get to see my mom or grandparents terribly often (my fault - they all live less than 10 miles away), but I went out to dinner with them on Friday night. My mom felt a cold coming on, and by last night, I was getting it too. Ugh.

Fast forward to today and I have been drinking tea and eating Cold-eeze like candy. I am trying like crazy to keep it away.

Spoke with LisaMarie tonight. Lots of stuff that makes one want to say "GRRRRR" going on down in Cincy. A little anxiety and frustration. But it's always good to connect with my dear friend. She is one of the few people with whom I actively seek out phone conversations. I know, I'm a girl, right, I'm supposed to love talking on the phone. I am definitely one of the exceptions.

Maybe it's the out of town factor. I had a long conversation with Kel last night because she is far away again. Back at FIT in NYC. When she's here in town, we usually connect over coffee.

I gave her a mantra that she is using in her senior year: Last year, last year, last year (keep repeating...)

She can't wait for this school year to end.

I wish Lisa lived closer. Ugh. Seeing her a handful of times every year just doesn't cut it :(

Look at how cute we are partying it up at Sunset Lounge a couple of weeks ago!
KK & LML: Both born at Fairview General Hospital! A very strange coincidence since Lisa's family is from PA (as is my Gram) and she has lived all her life in Cincinnati! Go figure....

And now back to me actively seeking out video from Dateline: To Catch a Predator online (it's not on right now on MSNBC).

It's not like I have a book or articles to write or anything....disgusting predators come first!

By the way, I have caught a couple of episodes recently of the Style network's "Life in the Fab Lane" with Kimora Lee Simmons.

I find myself disliking her intensely. Part of me says it is just her playing to the cameras, but I really do believe we are seeing her and her world fairly accurately. For all of us future magnates out there, this is clearly NOT the way to behave - whether there are cameras following us around or not. I am all for being rich and fabulous, but I don't think one needs to be a diva and loudmouth to be influential and feel important.

Some of us still respect class and dignity.