Last night I had the opportunity to participate in a focus group that was reviewing women’s ideas about brands and what makes a good community experience.  I’m being vague because I’m not sure how much I want to share about the project but suffice it to say that it’s about building a shopping and community experience that involves high-end brands and luxury.  MMMM….I know how to pick a focus group, don’t I?  by the by, if you never done  a focus group try it, it’s fun and interesting, although mind you…not all of them provide luxury settings with hors d’oeuvres and champagne.  Like I said, I know how to pick ‘em!

So as I went home I got to thinking about the amazing challenge for any business that wants to focus on promoting brands that not only speak to luxury but also have a certain level of social consciousness, while steering clear of potential PR nightmares (imagine if you aligned with a group that turned out to be of the ecological-saboteur ilk).  There’s a demographic of well-heeled consumers who want to feel like they make a difference in the world while they drive their $175,000 car and wear their $2,000 shoes that were hand made out of sustainable products (does this make sense to anyone by the way?) by a small community of Indians in the remote Andes.  Ah yes…the days of the Ferrari in the driveway, the house in Aspen and the country club membership are indeed changing.  Now you can have that AND save the planet.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I find it fascinating to look at how companies grapple with this dynamic.  Take for instance the whole “green” craze.  If I had some extra time in my 80-hour workweek, I’d love to understand more clearly what that means exactly.  ”We’ve gone green!” is all over marketing campaigns.  Frankly, it smells of “All our products are lite!”.  Remember that craze in the early 90’s, when everything was “light” or “lite” and when you realized it was all marketing hype you were like 15 pounds heavier?  Ah, hello…consumer beware.  Small wonder that people were confused about gaining weight from “light” potato chips!  The only thing “light” about them was the color!  Anyhow. 

Point is, that I find this new age of branding fascinating and if as a business person you could leverage this into your own life, well, done in the right way and in integrity, it really could make a difference in the world, in your personal life and in your business. 

And the cool thing is that a lot of people are jumping on the band wagon with the same thought.  For instance, in the realm of the beauty products world there are companies such as Kiehl’s, that partner with Moroccan women to produce their “Superbly Restorative Dry Oil”, which is made out of a nut from trees found in the  Sous Valley.  Not only does the initiative help the Cooperative in terms of establishing and growing local businesses but it also aids in the teaching women how to read and write and how to run the their own businesses.  The oil by the way is said to be very effective to treat scars and split ends.  Many other companies develop innovative beauty products using rare ingredients from far-flung places while taking care to use fair-trade practices and implementing business practices that help the local communities from which they get their products.  Here in the U.S., high-end handbag designer, Nancy Gale, has co-founded an initiative called “In True Fashion” that encourages American school children to explore entrepreneurship by giving them the opportunity to design handbags, which are then voted on by the public.  The winning design is then mass-produced by the handbag line, JAMAH (which incidentally means “Be Who You Are” in Swahili).  Pretty cool stuff, this creating awesome products and making a difference in people’s lives.  I LIKE this kind of branding.

Tip of the Week
See how many of the products that you use in your life are from companies that have cool and interesting community involvement initiatives.  You may not be independently wealthy and have an extra three weeks to volunteer in Somalia building schools, but wouldn’t it be cool to realize that you buy coffee at a coffee shop that promotes small farmers so that they don’t have to say for instance, plant illegal crops in order to sustain a good standard of living?  Or that the company that makes your body lotion is providing funds to help establish a community of businesswomen who in the past had zero opportunities to keep their families out of extreme poverty?  Something to think about.

Viviana M. Rueda
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista

I often hear people say that men have little choice or variety in their fashion choices, which launches me into one of my favorite topics – that being the breadth of creativity that men can engage in with fashion-related self expression.  I want to dedicate some attention to the man’s necktie, otherwise popularly known in the U.S. as the “tie”.  Other variations of the name include cravat, ascot, bows, and bandanas.  Although I tend to this think that these are really more styles of ties than alternate names.

In terms of longevity, the tie seems to have quite a history.  If you are familiar with the Chinese emperor who chose to be buried with 7,500 terra cotta soldiers, (personally I think this guy was scared of the dark) you may remember that each soldier is wearing a neck cloth.  Think of it as the BC (as in Before Christ) necktie.  Who knew there would be Fashionistas in the afterlife?  Apparently this Emperor thought they should be prepared just in case the fashion police was there to greet them in heaven, hell or whatever there is on the other side.  The Romans also sported neckwear – Check out Trajan’s column, it depicts soldiers with neckwear. 

What’s so beautiful about the tie is that men have so much variety!  You can choose from woven designs to prints and from there the creativity abounds.  Not so surprising then that I’ll have plenty to write about in future Blogs as it pertains to ties.  You’ll see future Blogs on necktie styles, how to wear neckties, how to tie neckties, what to wear with neckties, what not to wear with neckties….blah, blah, blah.  I bet you never thought there could be so much content dedicated to the tie.  But this piece of men’s clothing has a long and colorful history.

For now I want to share a story about the striped tie.   The striped tie has been associated in modern history with true and tried conservative attire.  This is most probably because striped designs were appropriated for a variety of uses by many military groups.  The Brits for instance used stripes for regimental colors.    In fact, all British regiments had a specific color scheme that belonged to only them.  The direction of the stripe was also very specific.  It had to run diagonally from the left shoulder down toward the right side of the body.  This was for very logical aesthetic reasons (shocking that the Brits would be so orderly).  Men’s jackets traditionally buttoned left over right so that you could easily reach your sword.  Brilliant design!!!  Then the Americans came along and changed the stripes to go the over way – oh, HOW gauche!  As you can imagine, there for a time the British were a tad annoyed to see their long-time respected colors being abducted by Americans. 

The striped tie is pretty much a standard issue tie that should be in any man’s wardrobe.  Firstly, the sumptuous array of colors and fabrics for striped ties give you a great deal of levity for self-expression plus the striped tie allows you to leverage the play of stripes against your body and face.  The diagonal line helps to lean out and soften a broad face, neck or chest. 

So, next time that you go to pick out a striped necktie, you’ll be much more appreciative of its history!
 
Tip of the Week
For this Spring/Summer you’ll find that as to be expected, there are lighter colors, although Summer tends to be running to the range of medium colors rather than pastels.  The necktie also continues to lose width (I would recommend you to stick to a standard width unless you’ve the interest and budget to indulge in trends).  This is the time of the year to explore floral patterns if you can carry them. 

Happy Tie-Wearing!

Viviana M. Rueda
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista

I recently had the opportunity to participate in a training program that re-affirmed my dedication to making a difference.  For most of you, hearing  me say “I want to make a difference in people’s lives” is standard operating procedure.  I.e. this is not an unusual thing for me to say.  It’s why I do what I do.  I know that my natural skill set of seeing the true essence of people, i.e., their “Personal Brand” will make a significant if not profound difference in their lives.  But for those who don’t know me, it’s a realization that gets people thinking.  What does “making a difference” really mean?  I believe that it’s about self-realization, self-empowerment and the ability to self-express.

This should set the context for this Blog.  A few weeks ago I participated in the Bukido Institute’s B.L.A.S.T.™ program.  B.L.A.S.T. is an acronym for Basic Ladies Assault Survival Training.  It is a scenario-based training program that connects you with the reality of being assaulted, which as most women know, is not that unusual.  I won’t go into scary statistics but it wouldn’t be unusual for most of the women in your lives to say that they, a. have been assaulted or b. have fended off an assault. 

Right now you are probably thinking “how is this different from martial arts training”.  Well, martial arts training takes years to perfect, is a dedicated practice that is not only physically demanding but also emotionally and spiritually demanding.   The skills that the B.L.A.S.T. training teaches women are instinctual, you can be any age to use (well almost any age, a 1 year-old might have some trouble with the drills, yes I’m being facetious), and you can be at various levels of fitness or lack thereof.  You don’t have to train for weeks, months or years.  And there is no spiritual practice associated with it, it is intended to be used for your protection and the protection of the people that you love and hold dear.

How does this all tie into self-empowerment, self-realization and self-expression?    Simply put, the skills that you learn in this seminar tie into these traits as naturally as breathing ties into oxygen.  As a woman, wife, mother, sister, aunt, or niece do you know that you matter to the world?  Enough to protect yourself?  Enough to keep fighting when an aggressive 200-pound man has a vice-grip on your throat and is telling you what he is planning on doing to you?  Will you shut down, or will you remember that you are worth fighting for and that there are so many things to live for in order to make it through this assault?  As a man reading this, this should resonate with you loud and clear.  Do the women in your lives, have enough self-empowerment, self-realization and self-expression to be able to use their voice and body to fend off an attacker?  If you aren’t sure, then I strongly encourage you to have the women in your lives explore this question.

I walked away from this seminar with a newfound respect for the power that my voice and intention carries.  I have to say that the B.L.A.S.T. is truly intense and challenging, which I personally enjoy being a person that likes to set a high standard of achievement, but beyond that, it reminded me that my ability to protect myself allows me to protect my family and what I stand for.  If I don’t put myself first then I can’t make a difference. 

I hope this stirs some curiosity in you.

Tip of the Week:

Naturally it is about the Bukido Institute.  Bukido, by the way, literally means “The Path of the Warrior Spirit”.  You can learn more about Bukido at their website where they’ve a good deal of information on their training system and their Training Opportunities.  The next B.L.A.S.T. training program is June 14th-June 15th.  I highly recommend and encourage every woman that I know to investigate this training opportunity.  For more information, you can talk to Christopher Hicks who runs the program (along with a dedicated, very-well trained and highly professional team) and he may be reached at christopher@bukido.com

Be Safe!
Viviana M. Rueda
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista

The theme of “self expression” seems to be a recurring one in my life and given that this is what I’m dedicated to bringing out in my clients, well, it’s only natural that it’s a recurring theme.

This Blog is dedicated to encouraging women to tap into their self expression through their personal brand.  Since “personal brand” is such a broad topic, let’s narrow it down to fashion and femininity. 

This past week I was reading through fashion magazines (sucks to be me, I get to actually enjoy my work-related publications) and I noticed that in the “Editor’s Letter” section of the magazine, the editor wrote about the fact that Hilary Clinton declined to appear in the magazine for fear of appearing “too feminine”.  Funny, because I’m just guessing that the fact that she is female, has probably not escaped the world’s notice.  Yes, I’m being sarcastic because this is a theme that I truly feel strongly about. 

Have we not escaped the notion that a successful, intelligent, contemporary woman must look and act like a man in order to achieve respect and the ability to lead?  Apparently not and this is scary.  So, I invite you, women of the world, to take a stand.  What on earth is wrong with being feminine?  In case anyone has failed to notice, some of the world’s most powerful people were/are women and feminine at that.  I don’t need to rattle them off, surely you can think of more than a few and I know you can think of the ones who’ve by their own choice (or in their mind, lack of choice) slinked into the dark side and now appear more like men than women.  God bless the 80’s power suit, where you too could have a Max Headroom cartoon-block figure.   If you don’t remember Max…check him out here Max Headroom.

Look it, I’m not implying that there is a form of power dressing that should not be adhered to.  Also, there is a time and place for everything and this applies to fashion.   I’m a Personal Brand expert and not a novice to what it takes to climb the “power ladder” having spent 17 years doing just that in the corporate world.  However, there is POWER behind self expression and if you are a woman, please express yourself as one! 

Some Tips on how to do this:
1. No more baggy suits for you!  Yes, I’m the Suit-Nazi.  No, don’t wear a skintight suit like the model in Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher” (I seem to be stuck in the 80’s in this Blog….which should be giving you a hint -  that if you are still dressing like a man…please leave the 80’s).   If you can’t remember how the model was dressed - Think super tight pencil skirt, heels meant for a runway, and I’m not talking a couture fashion runway, and a very tight, button-down that was unbuttoned to just-barely-legal.  Tailored suits are what you should be wearing and yes, this means that you’ll probably need to see a tailor – Surprise, surprise.  The odds are really low that an off-the-rack suit will fit you like a glove…so make friends with your tailor.  Need a tailor?  Call me, email me…etc.  Just ask.
2. No more “I’m going to not wear makeup to the office” look because maybe the men won’t notice I’m a woman and they’ll take me seriously-No really, they’ll just notice my work.  Trust me, they’ve noticed and they are wondering why as an adult, professional and successful woman you don’t seem to know how to apply makeup.  Seriously, if you are working in a corporate environment this is MUST.  Make sure you look polished.  If you are concerned about what a “polished” makeup look is for the corporate world, please contact me and we’ll handle that in an expediant manner.   By the way, polished also doesn’t mean a makeup death mask….”let’s-go-clubbing” makeup should be relegated to the nightclub, not the office.
3. The same goes for hair ladies.  Not having a clean, sophisticated haircut not only makes you look sloppy, but outdated and dare I say…old.  For instance, if you are over 16 and you are still wearing your hair like Guinevere from King Arthur’s Court, PLEASE, PLEASE, stop that.  YOU ARE KILLING ME, and others.  Call me and we’ll do a hair intervention.  Hair color is equally important.  The shade of your hair can affect everything from making you look unkempt, older and unprofessional.  In some people’s cases, age-inappropriate hair extensions and color need to be considered, as in, don’t go there.  Unless you are an actress or model, reconsider the Paris Hilton-toned hair extensions – Even then, use careful judgment and if necessary an outside professional opinion.

So what do you do to be a powerfully self-expressed woman, in terms of fashion?
1. With a clear eye and open mind, make an assessment of your Personal Brand, both in your personal and business life.  Are you truly expressing yourself or are you hiding in a shell that you were told you needed to be in to achieve success?
2. Realize that a strong woman can and should still be a woman.  You can choose hair, makeup and fashion styles that will not only highlight you as a woman but will make the appropriate statement.  Again, people don’t necessarily give you more credit for dressing like a man or like a sack of potatoes…they just think you don’t know how to dress and that dressing like a man or sloppily is your default. 
3. After doing item number one (the self-assessment), and you find that there’s something or a lot that you are holding back in your self expression, then take the next step.  Find out why.  What got you to this place and how has it affected your life? What are you losing in your personal and professional relationships by not being self expressed?
4. After doing the above, which you can do on your own or with the guidance of an Image Consultant or Life Coach, then take steps to amend the situation and watch how the world will start to react to you.

I’ll finish with this - Being a powerful and self-expressed woman means that you have it in you to show the world that your capabilities, experience, and confidence are inexplicably, beautifully and infallibly intertwined with your femininity.

Go forth, be bold and revel in being a woman!!!
Viviana M. Rueda
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista

Today is the country’s most celebrated romantic holiday.  Bringing on various levels of romantic stress, an onslaught of online Valentine’s Day cards, boxes of bad (sometimes good, mostly bad) chocolate (I by the way have been inspired by a new Chocolatier, more on that later), many rushed, pre-set dinners and probably the highest selling day for carnations and roses (that’s just a guess, but does anyone receive carnations during the rest of the year?). 

I’m not precisely sure how the holiday became a symbol for romantic love, but I hear this occurred sometime in the medieval ages when romantic love was being popularized in the royal courts of Europe.  But for those of you who don’t know, February 14th is the Saints Day for St. Valentine of Rome and St. Valentine of Terni - Two martyred Christians.  

I digress from my original theme - What makes a Woman Fabulously Sexy?  How do you like that segue, from saints to sexy?  In honor of this fabulous holiday of love and friendship, I recently spoke at a privately-hosted Vivendi Fashionista Style Salon on the topic of “What Makes a Woman Fabulously Sexy?”  The following is quick recap of the evening’s presentation and as usual I’m opting for my favorite format of quick tips.  So here we go!

My top five picks for what makes a woman sexy:
1. Hands down - CONFIDENCE.  You know when you’ve got it going on and it exudes from your pores.
2. Knowing what looks good on you.  This can take years to learn and often times it also means asking for some outside/un-biased assistance to develop this skill.
3. Always highlighting your best features.  Ever notice that there are specific features that people compliment you on?  Flaunt them…in a sophisticated fashion please.
4. Being brave and experimenting a little.  Again, this is best done while under the supervision of - me preferably - or someone who you trust and who will be kind in their honest assessment of how your fashion exploration compliments you - Or not.
5. Dressing your age.  I can’t stress this enough.  It is not sexy when a 40-year old woman wears her teenage daughter’s clothing and it’s not appropriate for a 20 year-old woman to dress like she’s 60.

Whenever a woman wants a little kick start to feeling, ergo looking sexy, I suggest a few things:
1. Choose your fabrics carefully.  Reach for the “touchable” fabrics - Silk, velvet, fur (or imitation if the real version makes you feel anything BUT sexy).  Think of anything that begs to be touched.
2. Sounds too easy but a well-cut classic white t-shirt (think James Perse, and Three Dot), fabulously fitted jeans (no, NOT the stained, torn ones that don’t fit your behind perfectly) and a baseball cap can be wonderfully sexy.
3. The “I can’t believe I’m wearing this amazingly unpractical, unbearably sexy” lacy type of lingerie.  Wearing that under a sophisticated, conservative suit can give you a “sexy boost” that can be dangerous…if that’s the effect you’re looking for.
4. The surprise outfit.  I love this because it’s such fun to watch the reaction.  Dresses or shirts that are low-cut in the back and concealed by a long jacket to be revealed just before dinner, make a stunning effect.  The same goes for the skirt with a high-cut slit or for a mini-dress.   Hide them under a fabulous jacket and then, “surprise”!
5. Delicate necklace that rests just at the collarbone, specifically resting on or around the notch where the clavicles meet the sternum.  Remember the scene in the English Patient where Ralph Fiennes is talking about his lover’s throat?  That area known as the suprasternal notch is super sexy and highlighting it with a delicate necklace draws attention to the area.
6. Your man’s shirt, spike heels and nothing much else.  Need I say more?
7. Pencil skirts.  I’ll never stop insisting that every woman should own one.  So what if you don’t have Charlize Theron’s stems - That’s what sexy boots are for darling.
8. Drapey clothing that looks likes it about to slide off but doesn’t show too much skin.  Sexy is often times not about what you see but you don’t and the mind can do the rest…
9. Sexy Shoes.  Let’s face it ladies, these are very effective.  From fabulous long boots, to impossibly tiny-almost-not-there strappy heels.  I especially adore the red flash of Christian Louboutin soles.
10. Post-workout/post-whatever flush.  Ever wonder why you get hit on after you’ve been on a run or after working out at the gym?  It could be the spandex black workout out pants too.  I won’t lie, those seem to be very effective in the “how to make you sexy” category.  But since that’s 11 points and I refuse to go over 10, it’s getting lumped in here.
 
Things to avoid for the sexy quotient:
1. Visible white bra under white shirt.  Not hot.  Please opt for a nude bra.
2. Visible thongs.  Really?  Why do people insist on continuing this?  Purchase thongs designed for this specific need, or don’t wear them at all.
3. Panty lines.  Hmmm…ever since women staritng wearing pants this has been an issue.  Rule #1 in Viviana’s book of dressing - Never leave your home without looking at your backside in the mirror.  If you see panty lines, change to a thong that won’t do this!
4. Feeling uncomfortable in what you’re wearing.  Goes back to the CONFIDENCE comment from earlier in the Blog.  It’s apparent when you don’t feel comfortable in your clothes and for that mattter, comfortable in your skin.
5. Commando malfunction.  Hi…Britney?  Need I say more?
6. Dressing in your 15-year old daughter’s clothing.  Again with the age-appropriateness.
7. Muffin-topping.  Oh-la-la.  This means your pants don’t fit or the style isn’t a complimentary one for your body.  Reassess wearing these pants.
8. Dressing in old sweats (stained, torn, bad fit).  It’s just not flattering.
9. Dressing in clothes that don’t fit, either too big or too tight.  Again, this does nothing for your image, physique or self-confidence.
10. Not taking care of yourself.  Et voila.  Your body is your temple.  Take care of it.

And that’s a wrap for now.  Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish you a stress-free, enjoyable and wonderful Valentine’s Day.  Ladies, use your sexy tips with care.

Tip of the Week
Recently I had the pleasure of hearing Joan Freeman, the founder of Smile Chocolatiers, speak on a StepUp Women’s Network Entrepreneurial panel.  Ms. Freeman is a classically trained gourmet French pastry chef  and has created a line of sublime chocolate.  Smile Chocolatiers blend rich Belgian chocolate with the subtle and unexpected touch of green tea.  They are well worth the indulgence.  To see where you can can purchase this fabulous chocolate, see their website, Smile Chocolatiers.

Recently I answered a question on a forum for an online business network that brought up the issue of Business Casual dressing.  Basically the question posed to the forum had to do with, if the trend toward casual attire had taken hold in the workplace, did that mean that people didn’t want to dress well anymore? 

I love this question because it an issue that was raised with more regularity than one would think in the corporate environments that I worked in.  You would be amazed, or maybe you wouldn’t, considering what you see in your respective offices, what people believe passes for appropriate casual attire at the office.  For the sake of reference let’s call casual attire “Business Casual”.

We can all acknowledge that Business Casual has been commonly accepted for many years in a broad scope of fields and industries. My premise is that it doesn’t mean that people don’t want to dress well anymore but more that people are intimidated by it in that they may not be able to put together a well-dressed look that represents their Personal Brand.  That’s when hiring someone like Vivendi Fashionista comes into play because you can tackle this problem and easily put together sophisticated looks that not make you feel confident, but also impress upon others your Personal Brand.  But outside of a promotion for Vivendi Fashionista, I want to focus on the topic of what Business Casual means.  Hopefully it will provide some benefit for those of us who live and work in the Business Casual world. 

In many industries, Business Casual is not only frowned upon but prohibited according to employee policies.  This means that it’s important for people to understand their specific workplace environments or they will be scrutinized for their dress versus the quality of their work.  Sometimes it’s a good idea to peruse the Employee Handbook…

Some work environments do not specify work attire requirements but will have an unspoken attire policy. I recommend that you pay close attention to the attire of management as well as the top producers or leaders of the company.  You will most probably benefit from following their lead.

There has been a good deal of research done that if you dress for the part then you will most likely have a better chance to achieve it.  Basically, it’s not a coincidence that you’ve heard this phrase with frequency - “If you dress for the mailroom then you will most probably work in the mailroom”.   There have even been studies showing that how your dress affects how you think.  Think about it, are you on your game when you are wearing ripped jeans and flip flops or do you feel more confident and professional when you are groomed and wearing your most polished outfit? 

Another item of interest to consider is that in times when economies are in a recession or appear to be slowing down, workplace attire tends to become less lax than when the economy is booming. Think of when Business Casual became the norm - i.e. the Internet/Dotcom era.  So take into consideration the state of your industry and the general feel of the economy.

Lastly it’s important to understand what Business Casual means. There are many resources that can help you understand what dressing in Business Casual entails. But a word of caution for those of you who may not be blessed with an interest or talent for the finer details of fashion, if you are trying to make an impression at your  workplace, you may want to steer clear of Business Casual.  Or at least take the time to make a checklist of what works and doesn’t work in your work environment.  The following are some basic tips of what NOT to wear if you are attempting Business Casual:

Business Casual NO’s:
1.  Open-toe shoes & flip flops – This is a no-no for men and women.  Ladies, I know you’re dying to break out those gorgeous Manolo sandals that you found on bluefly.com, resist the urge.  Cute painted toenails may not be the message you want to be sending to your work colleagues.  If you work in a creative environment that is very open and you see your boss strolling around in open toe shoes, then reconsider, but generally speaking it’s a no.  If you go there, make sure your toe nails are in order because I guarantee that your toes will be noticed.
2.  Blue jeans – Some companies have a specific Blue Jean Friday policy.  So if you really must, then go for it, but blue jeans are not Business Casual.  They are casual, period, even if they cost you $300.
3.  Sneakers – Absolutely NOT unless you are a Richard Branson or George Lucas type and you are the undisputed boss. 
4.  Un-tucked shirts (for men) – This look is best left for your trendy restaurant dining experience, and going out-on-the -town nights.  Not appropriate for work.  If you are younger, you can try this look by having a button down un-tucked with a nice sweater over it.  But try this with caution if you aren’t in a creative workplace.  Better yet, just tuck your shirt in.
5.  Mini-Skirts – No.  Ever.  At work that is.  I guess it depends on your workplace but you know what I mean, mini-skirt suits for the office went away with Pretty Woman…
6.  Shorts – No.  Women there are some lovely shorts-suit combos but I caution against this unless you work in the fashion or creative industry.  Especially pay attention to this if you are younger and trying to make an impression.  If you are older and going for this look then you may want to reconsider as this is one of those age appropriate (or inappropriate as the case may be) looks that teeters on the edge…
7.  Baseball caps – Absolutely not.
8.  Sports attire – Sweats, and team jerseys are not Business Casual unless you work for a pro-football team.  In which case, knock yourself out.
9.  T-Shirts with Messages - Okay, so t-shirts unless they are well tailored as in they look like they are a button down or blouse, are a no.  It’s rare that you will find a t-shirt like this so steer clear of T’s please.  And t-shirts with messages like “Britney is cuckoo” or “That’s Hot” are a clear don’t.
10. Casual handbags - Ladies, you’ll know when it’s a no if you pick it up and wonder.  Go with your gut, but if it’s the bag you took to the beach last Sunday, it’s not Business Casual.  If it’s a perfect bag to go thrift shopping with…not office appropriate.

Generally speaking, the trend is leaning toward a more polished and sophisticated look in and outside of the office. You’ll probably notice that even in Los Angeles, which has traditionally been a very casual city, there is a trend for women to wear dresses and men blazers when they go out vs. jeans, and sneakers. This varies naturally on the specific environment but if you look around you’ll notice a shift.

For what it is worth, personally I found that dressing professionally served me very well in my 17 years in corporate world. I often worked with the leaders of the companies who employed me and I was usually representing the companies’ brands so it was imperative that I make an appropriate/tailored/professional impression to all of my audiences, including internal and external audiences.

If you’ve any specific questions that you need help with when it comes to Business Casual dressing, just contact us via our website www.vivendifashionista.com.  And if you don’t have any questions, check out our updated site!  We’ve an entirely new Services section with fabulous new Services Packages and an updated Style Salon and Events section too.

Warm Regards and Happy Dressing,
Viviana M. Rueda
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista

Happy New Year everyone.  I’m back from Colombia and busy trying to transition from speaking Spanish full time to speaking English and Spanglish (the not-so-beautiful blend of “I can’t remember the bloody word for “x” so I’ll throw in one of my other languages to cover for it).  Apparently it’s not going so well because I keep getting odd looks from the strangers that I interact with and my loved ones just smile knowingly.  Hmmm…

So with the New Year that means that everyone in fashion, in their typical confused seasonal way of thinking have already moved onto the 2008 Fall Collection while you, the consumer, are bombarded with “Spring Trends – Find out what you MUST have for Spring 2008”.  Confusing but there you have it.  I live in Southern California, and even I have difficulty thinking about Spring for goodness sakes!  Has anyone checked the weather in Boston this week?  Uhm…brrr.

That said, I want to tie in two themes in this Blog.  Those being, Spring Trends and the idea of “Authenticity”.  Let’s begin with Authenticity.  The Dictionary.com definition is: The quality or condition of being authentic, trustworthy, or genuine.  The Viviana Definition is:  the quality of knowing who you are or what your personal brand is.  To be succinct I think “genuine” is the best way to understand it.  This quality really hit me as I traveled in Colombia this year-end.  While I was there, I was struck, as I always am, at the amount of beautiful clothing and jewelry that the country has to offer and how wonderfully authentic it is. 

I look through fashion publications and read about trends such as “Bohemian inspired, or artisanal details”, and how the editor picked up that amazing red bracelet while on holiday at a 5-star boutique hotel in Morocco.  Then I think to myself, for those of us who aren’t blessed with a private jet what are you supposed to do?  Well, you could go to the many over-priced boutiques in your city where they sell these “artisanal” pieces at a 400% markup or, you could make an effort to really look for these pieces on your own while on vacation.  So you won’t always be getting these pieces at a moment’s notice but you can still capitalize on your vacation travels.  I really want to encourage everyone when on vacation to find those stores where you can find hand-made clothing and jewelry.  Not only are these pieces original but they will always hold a special meaning to you as theywill inspire memories of your trip.  This is PRICELESS. 

Items to look for and are easy to transport include jewelry and clothing, for men and women.  I’ve come away with some amazing hand-made cuff links in my travels (which actually also work for women). 

Art is also an amazing item to bring back.  It will be unique and one-of-a-kind, unless you buy something that has been mass produced.  Clothing, hand-bags and other leather items are always a great thing to collect from overseas.  Last but not least, look for furniture.  Although this makes it a more dedicated process to get it all back to the U.S.  It can certainly be a daunting process but if you ever do this, just let me know as I’ve resources to help in that endeavor.

While I was in Colombia, I spent a few days in a small town named, Villa de Leyva.  It is a very well-preserved Spanish Colonial town about 5 hours away from Bogota.  Much of the original architecture is intact and people have made it fashionable to buy homes there and refurbish them to their original grandeur as country homes.  One of the other amazing things about this town is the amount of artistic and artisanal talent.  Of course I had to indulge in some art and jewelry and I brought back some wonderful pieces that actually tie into some of the Spring trends!  

     

Here are some of the hand-made bracelets and leather purses that I brought back.  They are all for sale if you want to augment your Spring look.  Just email me at info@vivendifashionista.com if you are interested in purchasing any of these pieces.  You can be one of the few who owns truly authentic, hand-crafted/hand-painted Colombian designs!

               

This Spring there are a trends that I like and some that I will leave, or “tweak” as I am wont to do when I don’t think the trend works for people in the real world.

The feminine look seems to be here to stay for a while.  Designers showcased dresses, which makes me super happy and I encourage you to invest in dresses.  Especially for going out - Push yourself to subvert the urge to wear jeans for going out.  A trend that I am a little frightened about is the trend toward lingerie-inspired looks.  Like we don’t have enough with Paris and Britney running around in their skivvies, or sans skivvies in the case of the latter!  Here is a photo from the Cavalli Spring 2008 collection.  This dress is stunning and if you look like Kate Moss, bring it on!  If you aren’t blessed with a gamine look and a size zero, try this look with care, or don’t.

There seems to be a push toward a 70’s inspired Bohemian look which is perfect for the Colombian jewelry and bags that I brought back.  Check out this Balmain Spring look.  It’s the “I used to listen to the Grateful Dead, but now I can afford Cavalli” look. 

Also here to stay are structured suits with the boy-meets-girl type of look.  Armani, who does suits so wonderfully, has a ton of suits in its closet.  Only thing I didn’t like were the long skirts with some of them as for most women a long skirt is hard to pull off unless you are auditioning for a Jane Austin movie.

Gauze is in.  Try this with wraps, for those cool Spring and Summer evenings.  Or look for dresses like this awesome Cavalli or take a gauzy scarf and wrap it around your shoulders for an edgy business look like they did on the Cavalli runway.  One of the private clothier lines (Carlisle & Per Se) that I represent also has some lovely gauze inspired jackets and wraps.

     

Lastly, there are two trends to handle with more care.  One, neon colors…I’ve one word for you here.  Don’t.   Two, flowers.  If you can do flowers like Cavalli (see below) or in jewelry or purses (handbag below has tiny hand-painted flowers) then it’s a good idea.  The problem with flower patterns is their tendency to get dated quickly and to make you look older, so please play with care.

    

I leave you with this.  Collect fabulously unique pieces whenever you can, and on every trip overseas, look for those pieces that no one else will have (at least at home).  Look for things that are authentic and that reflect your personal brand which includes your tastes in fashion, lifestyle, and travel.  For Spring, have fun with the feminine dresses and the structured suits.  Be careful with the lingerie look, stay away from neons and be careful with flower patterns.

This year I’ll be posting my Blog every two weeks on Thursday morning rather than on a weekly basis.  So stay tuned for more!!!  If you’d like to post feedback or if you’d like to request Blog topics email info@vivendifashionista.com.

Wishing You a Joyous, Healthy and Prosperous 2008,

Viviana M. Rueda
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista

Greetings from Bogotá, Colombia.  For this year’s final Blog posting I thought to write something about what to wear for New Year’s, blah, blah, blah.  Not.  Isn’t that what everyone else is writing about? 

I’d rather share something more fun. Something that might make you the life of the party (play with care folks).  Plus these tips will make you seem more worldly as I’m guessing that your other New Year’s revelers will not know these little tidbits. Just say that you picked up them while you vacationed at some Eco-Hotel in the Colombian Amazon or while you soaked up the sun while in Punta del Este.  You’ll sound so worldly, so chic, so well-traveled - Work it!

So - Here are some Colombian New Year’s traditions. Play and share with care.  Oh Stop!  This has nothing to do with any illegal substances - Not every media story about Colombia is true!

Actually, most of the traditions that you’ll find Colombians (and many other South Americans) partake in, were established by the Spanish colonists.  The following are some of the more amusing traditions:

12 Grapes:  This tradition has you eat 12 grapes for every stroke of the clock (remember when people had grandfather clocks?).  Ideally you should have six green grapes and six red grapes.  This is supposed to make your dreams for the New Year come true.

Champagne Ring:  Put your favorite ring into your champagne glass, make a wish and drink the glass…Uhm…please don’t choke on the ring or chip your teeth.  With care people…

The Run-Around-The-Block:  This is truly a hysterical tradition.  Essentially you take your suitcase and in it you put the things that you want for the New Year.  You want a date with Brad Pitt?  Throw in a photo of Brand sans Angelina.  Would you like to travel this year?  Throw in a brochure to your desired destination.  Want a new Ferrari?  Throw in a miniature replica of a Ferrari.  You get the drift.  Then you take your suitcase and you run around the block.  That’s right, you heard me correctly.  Run around the block.  The problem with this tradition in Colombia is that you don’t make it far because the neighbors keep asking you to come in for a quick New Year’s toast you end up soused by 2 a.m.  And in some parts of the world, the neighbors may think you are robbing the house or that you’ve lost your marbles.  Practice this tradition with extreme care. 

The Wedding Wish:  For every stroke of the clock you must stand up and sit down (i.e. 12 times).  This tradition is supposed to bring you marriage.  Personally I think it’s just a good attention grabber.  “Hey, why does that hot person keep standing up and sitting back down?”  Point is…you could end up meeting someone this way and well, you never know…

Economic Prosperity:  Ringing in the New Year with money in your shoes is supposed to bring you prosperity.  I highly recommend against coins, painful and just not very inspiring.  Go for a hundred dollar bill.  If anything, you may need to use it at the end of the night to pay your bar tab.

Happiness & Abundance:  Wearing yellow undergarments (preferably new) is supposed to bring you happiness and good luck.  Double bang for your money if you wear them inside-out at the onset of the evening and turn them out the correct way after midnight.  Hmmm…You could really make this an exciting tradition if  you use your imagination - Please don’t get arrested.  Here are some links for the ladies - Gold works just as well as yellow by the way…
Victoria’s Secret - Metallic
Victoria’s Secret - Sparkle Lace
Victoria’s Secret - Brazilian Cut Lace

Gentlemen - It’s just a tad more difficult to find yellow undergarments for you.  Not so surprising…My suggestion is try the large department stores.  You can cheat a little and just make sure that there is SOME yellow or gold in the pattern and I’m thinking the easiest undergarment to find with gold or yellow in the pattern, are boxers.  I do believe Sean John has some yellow satin boxers and I’m not saying that I recommend buying them…I’m just throwing it out there for consideration.

Forgot to mention that if you’d like new clothes for the new year you should also wear  your undergarments in reverse - Frankly, I’m thinking this is just a little uncomfortable but it’s your call on how badly you want a ton of new clothes…If this ends up coming true by the way, you owe me and we are going shopping together.

And with this advice I leave you.  I wish you all much joy, health, love and prosperity in 2008.  Ring in the New Year with much fanfare and make sure that you take advantage of your newly discovered South American traditions. 

Happy New Year,

Viviana M. Rueda
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista

Hello My Peoples! 

It’s five days til Christmas - Do you know where your holiday shopping list is?  No?  Well, I’ve done some groundwork for you.  Check out my suggested gift ideas and for goodness sake, splurge for next-day air or you shall be ”sans gift” for Christmas!!! Oh-la-la!

The Vivendi Fashionista Gift Guide:

1.  For the travelers in your life - Get them noise-canceling headphones.  They make a flight sooo much more enjoyable and you honestly don’t feel as tired at the end of the flight if you aren’t listening to jet engines for hours on end.  Opt for the economically priced Nady’s or splurge on the mack-daddy of headphones…Bose:

Nady Noise-Canceling Stereo Headphones - QH-30NC
Bose® QuietComfort® 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones

2.  More goodies for jetsetters - Check out these travel accessory goodies!  www.pambee.com   This is a wonderful gift for travelers.  It includes a travel blanket, a pillow and an eye mask.  If you want to customize it for your loved one, head over to Bed, Bath & Beyond and buy the items seperately but the cool thing about The Pambee is that it is all designed to fit together in the same fabrics, matching colors and carrying case.

3.  Books - Here are some of my favorites. 

Unleash your professsional  and personal potential with the 4-hour work week by Tim Ferris.  Even if you don’t agree with his ideas, his writing is hysterical!

The 4-Hour work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

This book has touched many people and they absolutely rave about it.  Eat, Pray, Love

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

This book is a collection of some of the world’s most gifted writers, poets, philosophers and artists.  Wayne Dyer has taken excerpts of their works and provided some commentary.  In this book you get a snapshot of some of the most talented people that have graced this earth.  A truly beautiful and inspirational compilation.

Wisdom of the Ages: 60 Days to Enlightenment

4.  Candles are a beautiful gift idea and are appropriate for all homes.  Red Flower candles are some of my very favorites.  Their scents are subtle and elegant.

Red Flower Italian Blood Orange Petal Topped Candle 6oz

Red Flower Indian Jasmine Candle

5. Bath products - I LOVE Molton Brown bath products.  They are so luxurious.

Molton Brown HYPNOTIC Winter Holiday Gift

6. A yearly magazine subscription - People love these and they think of you every time they receive their magazine (hopefully this is a good thing…).  Some options can include The Economist, Vogue, Vogue for Men, Elle Decor, Vanity Fair or The New Yorker.  Go online…it’s usually faster and easier especially this close to Christmas,  they may even still be able to send the Holiday Card for you by Christmas.

7.  A donation in their name to their favorite charity.  This is a very touching and thoughtful gift.  Think of what your friend or loved one may appreciate.  Some ideas:  Want to stop the subjagation of women and world hunger?  Donate to The Hunger Project.  Know anyone touched by cancer or brain tumors?  There’s The National Brain Tumor Foundation.  Are they involved or supportive of “Green” causes, find a charity that works with “Green” efforts.  This one is in the U.K. but there are a ton of them in the U.S. too - Green Charities.

8.  Wine Club Memberships.  Wino-philes (I hope that’s not really a dirty word in some language…) LOVE wine memberships.   This site not only offers Wine of the Month but Everything Else of the Month clubs too.  Who knew you could have a Sauce of the Month club…hmmm…Amazing Wine Club.

9.  Cooking Classes.  These are great for couples.  That is, great for couples who are getting along.  Sign a disclaimer form before giving this gift to angry couples as they could cause damage with a meat cleaver and in this litigous society you may get the blame…better yet, just stay away from angry couples-Send them couple’s counseling gift certificates via FedEx. 

Sur la Table

Chef Makers 

10.  Gift certificates.  You can get really creative here.  Think about the sports, and leisure activities that they love.  Think of the things that they say they’d “love” to do but never get around to doing it.  Think surf lessons,  kitesurfing lessons,  a session with a life coach Electric Kites, a membership to a matchmaking service, a gift membership to the local gym, Equinox Fitness or a gift certificate from Vivendi Fashionista.  How about a gift certificate for a weekend away at an amazing resort - Think Bacara Resort or The Montage, Laguna Beach, or Casa Que Canta. There are a TON of services and gift certificates that you could get creative with here - Just think of what makes them light up when they talk about it and they’ll love the gift!!!

Merry Christmas!!!  Wishing you all much joy and love in this Holiday Season.

HO-HO-HO!
Viviana M. Rueda
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista

This week we are running behind schedule and I’m blaming it on a slew of Holiday commitments, getting ready to go out of the country for the Holidays and coming down with a head cold.  Yes…I know, all excuses.  Forgive me and this leads me to this week’s topic – Impeccability – And apparently I failed in my impeccability this week! 

Recently I was at a meditation retreat where this subject was broached.  To set the context, we viewed a National Geographic documentary about Arlington National Cemetery, “Field of Honor”.  As is to be expected from National Geographic, it was beautifully filmed and highly informative.  What I don’t think many people expected…it was immensely touching.  One person commented (and I paraphrase here), “I didn’t think that Military rituals could be so touching or human.”  

As we discussed the documentary and the impact it had on us, we all agreed on one clear and concise impression, that being the concept of “impeccability”.  I looked up the www.dictionary.comdefinitions for impeccable and impeccability:
Impeccable -adjective
1.  Faultless; flawless; irreproachable:  impeccable manners
Impeccability – noun
2. the quality of being without an error or fault

The way that impeccability showed up in the subjects of this documentary, i.e. the service people who dedicate themselves to care of Arlington Cemetery, was amazing.  To witness the intense level of attention that goes into preparing servicemen for duty at the Tomb of the Unknowns made such an impact on me.  Truly, every single detail MUST be perfect and the people who apply to guard the tomb are required to pass 123 points of inspection.  Could you imagine this in your regular life?  The solemn dedication, sensitivity and honor displayed by the individuals who dedicate themselves to the care of this military cemetery leave you in awed silence.  I have only seen a similar level of attention to detail displayed at The Vatican. 

Not surprisingly, the National Geographic Society also has a wonderful documentary on the rituals and traditions of the Vatican – “Inside the Vatican”.  It is fascinating to learn about the context of how these rituals came to be.  All rituals, be they in an established religion or in a military context, are based on some sort of meaning and they carry on a message or historical tradition.  Truly fascinating and I invite you to view these documentaries: 

National Geographic: Arlington - Field of Honor
National Geographic - Inside the Vatican

The more we talked about rituals and impeccability it occurred to me that this specific trait has been prevalent in my life.  For example, the way that my Mother would get us ready to go to school every morning when I was a child.  My Mother would be dressed in crisp wool pants, a silk blouse and full makeup by 6:30 a.m. and a healthy breakfast would be waiting for us as we rushed out the door - Every single morning.  As a young child I didn’t know how to appreciate her attention to detail and as a fairly typical teenager, I was much more focused on me than what people did for me.  But then one day I did notice when my friends commented on it.  They were in awe of my Mother’s commitment to perfection and observed how lucky I was to have a Mom who was so on top of things - Every cocktail party, every birthday party, every Christmas party – Flawless.  All because of my Mother’s attention to detail and high standards for how she felt her family should live and how she felt that her home should be for us.  Once I realized how lucky I was to have that, I realized that her impeccability provided me with a wonderful and fulfilling home.  Then there were colleagues over the years, for whom even a tiny discrepancy in spacing or alignment was reason enough to throw out an entire presentation at 7 p.m. (when the sales pitch was scheduled for 8 a.m. the next day).  Or my marketing associate who could tell even the tiniest (and I mean tiniest) discrepancy between fonts and colors on marketing materials.  All leading to many hours of frustrated moments and a few meltdowns…but in the end…ending with impeccability. 

You are probably asking how this relates to Image and your Personal Brand?  Well, your Image and Personal Brand is not just what you wear.  It is who you are, how you live and your word.  Ask yourself, does your impeccability show up and do you know that it matters?

I grew up with a woman (my Mother) who has impeccable taste and refined manners, these traits have in turn given me the tools to navigate through my personal and professional career with flying colors.  Her impeccability matters.  I worked with colleagues who shared my penchant for precise marketing guidelines and standards so that the company’s brand was always consistent, always of the highest quality.  This impeccability mattered when it came to generating business which in turn made money for many individuals who then shared the wealth with their families.  Our impeccability mattered to many. 

So when you have an opportunity to implement impeccability in your life, know that it matters and that it is appreciated.

Tip of the Week
No tip this week because next week is a short week and I’ll be traveling.  So I’m actually posting the weekly Blog earlier than usual and the topic will be “For the Procrastinator…Ideas for Holiday Gifts”.   Essentially, next week’s Blog posting will be one long list of tips!

Ciao,

Viviana M. Rueda 
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista