A New Uniform Style For Men

Coiffed, yet rugged, the new uniform style for men seems to have taken hold in cities like New York and San Francisco. But is it a look for all men?

Coiffed, yet rugged, the new uniform style for men seems to have taken hold in cities like New York and San Francisco. But is it a look for all men?

If you believe everything you read about men’s fashion, you might have been falsely led to believe that there is a new uniform style for men.  You can spot this trend on a guy with a coiffed hairstyle, juxtaposed by scruffy facial hair, and granddad styled clothes made to look youthful, outdoorsy, and deep in thought.

As you might expect, I do a lot of reading about men’s style.  As well, I do a lot of observing and evaluating people on the street, in stores, and at events.  Some would also argue that I am instrumental in helping to create a cultural shift in how men conceive of their style in Silicon Valley.  And because I’m an independent thinker, I’m skeptical about this new ‘uniform style’ for men.

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Feeling Good Enough Should Not Come at the Expense of Others

Feeling good enough should not come at the expense of others. Instead, set positive intentions to honor your own outer and inner beauty.

Feeling good enough should not come at the expense of others. Instead, set positive intentions to honor your own outer and inner beauty.

I’m a life long student of self-image.  And if you’re a regular reader of my blog, you probably are, too.  So, whenever I have an opportunity to learn something new, I take it.  Last week, I attended a healthy living class for adult learners at Stanford University focusing on helping others to find ways of feeling good enough about their self-image under the leadership of a licensed clinical social worker and a sexual health instructor.

It was one of the most bizarre classes I’ve ever attended.

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Sheryl Sandberg – A Profile In Style

On the cover of "Time" magazine upon the release of her new book, Sheryl Sandberg wears a "safe" but well tailored dress.

On the cover of “Time” magazine upon the release of her new book, Sheryl Sandberg wears a “safe” but well tailored dress.

Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg is a force of nature, making waves with her new book, “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.”  She’s also a wife, mother, and now a published author.  The point of her book is that women should not make excuses and justifications because their companies don’t advance women’s positions at work.  To “lean in,” she means that women should give their all to their careers, while also believing in their ability to combine the responsibilities of work and family.

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Working From Home In Sweats

Just now, while opening up my computer to write this post, I quickly realized that I am working from home in sweats.  I’m actually recovering from an acute case of food poisoning.  Fun times.  I’m not even back on solid foods, yet.  But while in the same sweats I wore to the urgent care doctor yesterday, I just had to write about the notion of working from home in sweats.

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Jack Dorsey – A Profile In Style

Jack Dorsey regularly wears a Dior Homme cotton poplin reverse collar shirt, making an iconic design a consistent everyday look.

Jack Dorsey regularly wears a Dior Homme cotton poplin reverse collar shirt, making an iconic design a consistent everyday look.

For those who don’t tweet or swipe credit cards through a small white cube, Jack Dorsey is the creator, co-founder of Twitter, and is the founder and CEO of Square, a mobile payments company.  He’s 36.  And he has style worth profiling.

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Looking Like The Best You

This guy is a cultural icon of social media. But does his personal style impact yours?

This guy is a cultural icon of social media. But does his personal style make looking like the best you seem like it’s too much?

Time after time, both clients and non-clients tell me that it’s almost too much of an effort to look their very best.  But why is looking like the best you so hard to do?

Let’s review a few key things that come up for a lot of people who have been brave and vulnerable to share their reasons with me.

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Freaked Out In The Closet

Shop Your ClosetWhen is the last time you freaked out in the closet?  Was it just today?  Or is it an everyday occurrence?

I’ve been working with several clients who have been doing just that.  One recently realized that she wanted to look fashionable, but that her clothes were not.  Another client had a closet full of clothes but couldn’t figure out how to create outfits.   One more client has been preparing for a trip and is feeling lots of pressure because she realizes that her existing stylish clothes won’t all work for the type of vacation she’s taking, and she’s got just two weeks to get it all pulled together.  They have each freaked out in the closet.

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Inspiring Styles Define Your Unique Personality

While considering new wardrobe items for a number of clients during the past week, I was struck by their many different yet inspiring styles.  I provide my clients with a great deal of guidance on which clothing and accessory items they should consider adding to their wardrobes.  Even though these particular clients share some overlapping personality traits, each has their very own unique style.

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True or False – Weight Affects Your Perception

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie

It’s practically impossible to see New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on TV or in person without reacting to his obvious obesity, isn’t it?  At the same time, do you feel that your opinion about Governor Christie’s weight affects your perception of the job he does as governor?

A recent Wall Street Journal article, “Want to be CEO? What’s Your BMI [Body Mass Index]?” got me thinking about how weight affects your perception.

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Marissa Mayer – A Profile In Style

TechCrunch Disrupt NYC 2012 - May 23

I’m launching a series of monthly posts dedicated to profiling the style of well-dressed Silicon Valley executives and entrepreneurs.  The landscape of the community is evolving, and so are the mindsets of its business leaders when it comes to their personal style as an extension of their brands and of the companies they represent. Starting with a profile of Marissa Mayer this month, each month a different business leader will be profiled, through November.  Then, in December, I’ll recap the eleven profiles and give you, the reader, an opportunity to vote on who you believe is promoting their best personal style and brand.

Marissa Mayer, President and CEO of Yahoo, deserves A Profile In Style because she visually defines what is possible in Silicon Valley.  A north central Wisconsin native, Mayer has become one of Silicon Valley’s most public female corporate executives.  Okay, so there aren’t so many female tech executives.  And that makes Mayer’s public image that much more important and impressive.

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