Your Public Best - Lillian Brown [16]
Thus, it is important to wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes with heels as low as you can tolerate. Current styles offer attractive yet trendy low-heeled shoes. You will need such shoes since you will probably have to walk long distances or stand for extended periods of time at public functions.
Spend as much as you can afford on a few pairs of plain, good-looking, comfortable shoes, and keep them in perfect condition. Low-heeled pumps are a good choice.
Buying several pairs of good-quality, genuine leather shoes in several solid colors is not only smart, but is a good investment. One pair each in black, navy, medium or dark brown, and even gray could make up a good, basic wardrobe of shoes. Other colors that can look sophisticated when worn with a coordinating dress or suit color are dark purple, royal blue, and charcoal.
Many business, professional, and political women like plain pumps, but “wing-tip” shoes (the kind with the perforated hole-patterns on the toe and around the side areas) and stacked heels can look good as well. Some women like the look of a solid-colored, simple bow on their shoes, or shoes with a simple “T-strap.”
Avoid shoes that are brightly colored, bicolored, or have heels in unusual shapes.
To minimize the legs, choose hose and shoes in dark colors. If you are short, wearing shoes and hose the same color can make the leg look longer. For example, you might try beige shoes with beige hose or black shoes with black hose. Can you see how light hose with black shoes could chop up the visual image and make you look shorter?
If you are one of those women who wear tennis or jogging shoes to commute or when you travel, and you are on your way to make a business presentation, give a speech, or otherwise appear in public, change into your dress shoes in the lobby or a ladies’ room or even in a taxi before showing up at the actual site of your appearance. It’s a bit awkward being seen leaning over to change footwear in a business or public setting.
Also it is a good idea to tuck a plastic bag or cloth shoe protectors (available in luggage shops or through many mail-order catalogs) in your briefcase or large purse to protect the dress shoes from scratches and the contents of your case from shoe dirt.
Your Travel Wardrobe. For the frequent traveler—whether you are a business tycoon, an author, or a department store buyer—your travel clothes are a part of your image.
About ten years ago, when I traveled to India with a group of educators, I met a woman on the plane who told me that she carried everything in one carry-on bag. Later I realized that because of this, she didn’t have to wait at the baggage claim area with the rest of us. She would sprint on ahead, breezing up the stairs with that bag swinging from padded shoulder straps. The bag also had little wheels so that she could pull it along behind her.
All of the basic pieces in that bag were black—one elegant suit with pants and blouses coordinated. There was something in that bag to meet every occasion, including a light raincoat and tops for warm or cold weather. Apart from these black pieces, she also kept pulling out wonderful colorful scarves, jewelry, and accessories for every occasion from the beach to a concert. Over it all, she wore a huge black cape (which obviously did not fit into the bag) that shielded her from the cold, the rain, and the sun. She slept in it, on it, and under it, on buses and planes.
She always looked wonderful.
I can go around the world with one bag on wheels, but I still have to check it.
When you travel, consider the modes of transportation you will be taking. Is it a native four-wheel-drive jitney, luxury bus, car, plane, or Air Force One?
Make a list of the functions you will be attending and be sure to plan in advance to dress appropriately for the