Networking Etiquette: The Dos & Don'ts

It is important to always be professional and use proper networking etiquette when making connections. Do this by following these networking etiquette tips:

• Do your homework. Don’t ask questions in a networking situation that you could have easily looked up the answers to on your own. Be able to discuss the things going on in the industry by reading industry newsletters and publications on a regular basis.
• Don’t act desperate. Desperation can be seen from a mile away and people are turned off by it.  Instead, be positive, show confidence, and smile a genuine smile.
• Don’t be a user. Don’t try to connect with someone because of only what you hope to get out of the relationship. You never want to ride someone’s coat tails or invite yourself to be a part of something. If you have made a good first impression and you are working at developing relationships, people will want to have you around and will invite you to be a part of what they’re trying to accomplish.
• Do listen carefully. It’s true that we were given two ears and one mouth because we need to listen more than we talk. Listen to others and show genuine interest in people instead of thinking about what you want to say when it’s your turn to talk. Everyone loves to talk about themselves so ask people questions about their interests and their work.
• Do respect your contact’s time. If you are at a networking event, don’t take up someone else’s time by talking only to that person and hogging his or her time. Also, if you have scheduled a networking meeting with someone, stick to the agreed upon time frame.
• Do obtain permission.  Ask your contact if it’s okay that you tell the people he or she has referred you to where you got their name. Also, when contacting someone to whom you’ve been referred, always show that person courtesy by telling that person how you got his or her name. This is not the same thing as name-dropping, which is a no-no.
• Don’t be pushy. Be sensitive to what a contact is willing to do for you and never push beyond that or expect more.
• Don’t make people feel like they’re being “networked.” This should be especially true at functions that are not specifically designed as networking events.

For many people who are shy, the thought of networking can be intimidating. However, the more you do it, the more comfortable you become with it and the more natural it feels. In fact, networking should be a natural thing. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be strategic in trying to get your name out to others. Some of the following tips will help make the process of strategic networking feel more natural to those who are shy when it comes to connecting with new people:

• Treat every networking opportunity as a normal “get-to-know-you” conversation while keeping it professional. 
• Start with the people you already know and feel comfortable with. Invite them to go with you to events that will lend to networking opportunities and ask them to introduce you to the people there that they know.
• When a friend gives you the name of one of their contacts, ask them to let their contact know ahead of time that you will be contacting them so that person will have a “heads up” and will know why you are contacting him or her.
• If you are going to make cold calls to industry people, start first by sending them an email or “friending” them on their social or professional networking sites.
• Do your research on the person and his or her project, company, organization, etc. prior to contacting him or her. This will make the conversation flow more smoothly and will show that you have a genuine interest in the person.
• Plan some talking points that you want to cover prior to calling the person.
• Set goals. If you go to an industry event, set a goal to talk to a certain number of new people before you treat yourself to the hors d’oeuvres.

A lot of people object to networking, saying they feel phony in trying to do it and that it feels unnatural.  By putting into practice the guidelines listed above, the process will become second nature to you. You will find it easier to approach others and you will also become more approachable to others.

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4 Ways To Keep Neutrals From Looking Boring

While the thought of wearing neutrals from head-to-toe sounds rather bland and boring, there are several ways to add some spice to neutrals so you don't end up looking like a bowl of plain oatmeal! Below are examples from the wardrobe edits of both our clients' closets and my own!

1. Add texture.

In this example, we've taken a navy blue jacket that has a little ruffle on the collar/lapel, put it over a cream-colored lace shell, and paired it with a khaki pencil skirt. The texture from the jacket's ruffle and the top's lace adds depth and dimension to the look.

2. Create contrast.

Here we've created a very contrasting look with white over black and black over white. We put a white jacket over a black dress, and then added a black belt over top of the white jacket. If this neutral look still feels too colorless for your own taste, you can always incorporate a pop of color with a red shoe as we did here. Or, you can add some color closer to your face by wearing a red necklace that works with the neckline of the dress.

3. Mix patterns.

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know how much I love to mix prints and patterns. You can easily mix a patterned top in a neutral color with a patterned bottom also in a neutral color. If you are not sure about mixing patterns, start with one subtle pattern (one that appears as a solid from a distance) and one slightly bolder print.

4. Incorporate pseudo neutrals.

Pseudo neutrals are those colors that are often found in nature (such as your various shades of greens and blues) and/or ones that work with a variety of other colors (i.e burgundy). With this client, I have taken a white skirt with brown embroidery (both neutral colors), and added a burgundy shell and a green short-sleeve cardigan (both pseudo neutrals). The detailing on the cardigan works nicely with the embroidery on the skirt. Oftentimes people are surprised when I say that green is a pseudo neutral, but think of it this way: every flower of every color has a green stem and green leaves, doesn't it? The green does not clash with the beautiful color of the blossom!

Want more ideas on how to mix color and patterns in your own wardrobe? Contact us today to schedule a closet edit.

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For The Guys: Casual Attire You Should Retire & Acquire

Guess what guys, women are checking you out, but you want to make sure it's for the right reasons. Don't believe the lie that men are the only ones who put an emphasis on looks. Women do too, perhaps because how a man dresses tells her a lot about his personality and character. Of course, once a man's looks and style gain a woman's attention, it's his personality and gentlemanly manners that hold her attention. But you can gain her attention even in casual attire, as long as it's the right kind of casual wear!

Casual attire you should retire:

Cargo shorts. Especially ones that have become so ratty numerous threads are hanging from the hem and they smell like the fraternity house you lived in while in college 20 years ago.

Jorts. They scream "I don't have a clue and I don't care."

Any shorts that come below the knee. It they're that long, then they are just capris, not shorts.

Golf shirts (or any shirts for that matter) that are two sizes too big. Most of my male clients tend to wear their clothing too big, such as shirts where the shoulder seams hit way lower than the edge of the shoulder, some all the way down to their bicep.

Dad jeans. They're just as bad as mom jeans. And yes, we can tell just by looking at them what decade they came from.

The Seinfeld look. You know what I'm talking about. White athletic sneakers with dad jeans (see above) and a button down shirt or T-shirt tucked into the dad jeans with a leather belt. Clipping a cell phone to that leather belt makes for an even less attractive look.  

Casual attire to acquire:

Once you've cleaned out your closet and gotten rid of the above, here's what you should acquire for your new wardrobe:

Flat front shorts in an appropriate length and in various colors and patterns.

Well-fitting shirts (use this guide to find your appropriate size and fit).

Jeans in a contemporary wash and modern cut. Always avoid the "relaxed" cut to avoid the dad jeans look (click here to see which cut works best for your body type).

For more examples of both casual wear and professional attire, check out our Pinterest board just for men. 

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Blog Re-run: 10 Fashion Fixes From Head To Toe

Here's a paNASH Style blog re-run. Thought a refersher on some of these tips would serve as a helpful reminder when you find yourself needing them. Enjoy!

Monday I shared an outfit idea that included a different way to tie a scarf. I found the instructions on how to tie the scarf from none other than Pinterest (I’ve posted various ways to tie scarves to my Pinterest board named “Fashion Tricks & Fixes”). In addition to others’ ideas I’ve pinned, below are listed some of my own tried and true head-to-toe tricks and fixes I’ve used over the years. I wanted to share them exclusively with my blog readers. Enjoy!

1. This is less of a fashion fix, but more of a beauty fix:  dust Baby Powder in the roots of your hair to make hair easier to style, to prevent or remove oiliness, and for faux blondes, to temporarily cover your roots until you can get back into the salon.
2. Make a non-adjustable chain necklace shorter or slightly longer by using a small safety pin to connect the two ends (just make sure the safety pin and excess chain length is hidden by your collar or your hair).
   
3. To prevent the annoying shoulder bumps caused by clothes hangers, hang the garment inside out, preferably on a padded or wooden hanger.
4. Use a makeup wedge to remove makeup or deodorant marks from clothing.
5. I’ve tried everything to remove pills from my sweaters, from battery-operated sweater shavers which just remove lint at best to pumice stones and even Velcro rollers which have done more damage than good. What I've just recently discovered to work best is a simple disposable razor (I use one with just a twin blade).
6. Condition your leather jackets by buffing them with a soft cloth and Vaseline. No need to spend money on leather conditioner. Vaseline works just as well, if not better!
7. To prevent button threads from coming loose, put a dab of clear nail polish on the crisscross threads in the center of the button. (This one is a new one for me!)
8. An Invisibelt is a great solution for a gaping waistband or for skinny jeans that feel like they are sliding off your hips. 
9. Speaking of belts, if an outfit feels boxy or boring, put a fashion belt (skinny or corset) over the outfit around your natural waist. This usually solves 90% of the fashion “blahs.”
10. Apply a Band-Aid Friction Block Stick (or regular ole anti-perspirant which also works just as well) to your feet where shoes rub to prevent painful blisters.

You'll find more paNASH Style fashion tips throughout this blog and in the Amazon #1 bestselling book Advance Your Image (which makes for a great stocking stuffer!). Have some tips of your own? Please share in the comment section below!
 

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