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Etiquette at webinars and online meetings

Online meetings ,webinars ,even virtual family gatherings and weddings are now the new normal.

I've even attended virtual funeral prayer meetings. Most of us have adapted to this new way of living and working. It is actually great that we don't have to travel for two hours for a twenty minute meeting and we can be relaxed and comfortable in our homes even whilst we are working. 

But some people have taken comfort too seriously. Although we are not meeting people physically we are allowing them to enter into our homes virtually and we are definitely creating an impression on them. Our appearance, our behaviour shows our respect towards other people and towards ourselves.

In the last four months, I've come across many instances where there was total disregard for respectful mannerisms and appropriate behaviour on virtual platforms.

I'm sharing some tips on etiquette at business meetings ,webinars and even social meetings which I have penned down after some of my personal experiences.

• Do dress appropriately 
• Look well groomed,fresh,alert and interested
• Sit in a well lit room with the light in front of you
• Do keep your video on because people don't enjoy talking to blank or inanimate screens.
• Do put off your audio when you're not speaking so that your background sounds are muted too
• Avoid eating, but in case you've had no time to eat ,do switch off your video after informing the host on chat ,excusing yourself and come back quickly after you've finished eating.
• Do not sit/half sleep on your bed with pillows propped around you.
• See that your background is neat, and there are no distractions behind you.
• Sit at a distance from the screen so that your upper body upto your waist is visible and your hand gestures are visible too
• Do not move around and talk. 

It's nice to be comfortable but it's nicer to make others feel comfortable

Do watch my video on YouTube where I've shared some real life scenarios experienced at online meetings.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSTqUgxH6KYqKMlVR8Dziww

Choosing the perfect Gharara for your body type

Ghararas are back and it's wedding season !The perfect time to flaunt them!
Shopping for a gharara is easy but buying one that accentuates your body type and conceals your imperfections, that's difficult.
Worry not. This blog is all about choosing the perfect gharara for your body type.
So if your're slim and tall ,you can choose a double layered gharara in complementing colours with heavy embroidery in rich fabrics. You can carry off  short kurtis very well.
But if you're tall and heavy opt for soft , flowy fabrics in darker hues with subtle embroidery. If you're tall with heavy hips then avoid wearing short ,straight kurtis. They will make you look heavier Horizontal designs look great on slim women and vertical designs make short women appear taller

If you are bottom heavy with a paunch, wide hips and heavy thighs, you can wear a gharara in soft flowy fabrics with an empire line or a peplum style kurta which helps to conceal your imperfections.
Short women should wear  monotones or colours of the same family to create an illusion of height.

Women  with a heavy bust should avoid empire line kurtis and choose vertical designs which do not accentuate the bust. Darker colours minimize and are best suited for evening wear. Remember your hemline should never end on the widest part of your body so get your kurti tailored accordingly. Wear full or three quarter sleeves if you have plump and short arms. A pair of heels will add an elegant touch.
I hope this helps in choosing the perfect gharara,especially for those women who have apprehensions. Do post your comments and queries below . I will be happy to clarify any doubts .

Happy styling
Your life and style guru
Rashida Kapadia
www.imagemakeover.in

Power dressing - From casual to formal in a jiffy

You are at your desk  and you get a call from your boss saying that you have an important client meeting in 20 minutes. You realise that you are dressed in trousers paired with a collarless blouse/kurti or tee which is not formal enough. Most of us have encountered such situations at sometime or the other. 
Fret not, the half shirt fake collar(the name varies on every shopping site) is the answer to take you from casual to formal in a jiffy. 

Also known as a Dickey in men's wear .You can read more on 
Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dickey_(garment)

You can carry it along in your handbag or just keep it tucked away in your office drawer. A must have piece of clothing, it's an easy to wear garment too. Just place it around your neck and button up, put on your jacket/ blazer and you are ready to take on the world.
It is available in all sizes and styles like pointed collars, peter pan collars and feminine lacy collars too. You can buy the basic black and white at Shoppers Stop and you can shop online for more options on Amazon or e-bay. 
More on power dressing in my next blog. Till then, look good, feel good. Cheers!

 half shirt fake collar

Second marriage etiquette

Second weddings today are no longer a social stigma and are celebrated as elaborately as first marriages. Of course , there are differing views and many people tend to be skeptical about having a celebration.
Invites should not include the family name of the previous partner as this may not go down well with the new family.

It is advisable to not invite your previous spouse because it can create an uncomfortable situation and cause memories to flood back.
But it is perfectly fine to  invite family members from the first marriage if you share a good rapport with them. Just take care to have a casual chat with them prior to your celebrations so you are aware of their views and feeling about your second marriage. You don't want them to cause a scene on D-day.

Children from the first marriage (if they're staying with you and if they have happily accepted your new spouse) can definitely be involved in the planning and execution of the wedding . The more the involvement the closer the bonding.

Since the first marriage is over and you have bid adieu to that phase of your life, your wedding card need not mention second marriage.
Dress in your best but make sure it is age appropriate and elegant.
Don't relive old memories and talk about  your previous wedding event and compare it with the second one.
Behaving like a shy,coy bride would be absolutely inconsistent with your new role.
Be a parent and mentor to your spouse's children to win their love and respect.
Be patient and kind, be a good listener and give time to people to accept you.
Don't criticize or bad mouth your previous family, avoid talking about
your past.
Accept people as they are ,do not try to change them.
Work towards creating lasting relationships and a beautiful life .
Cheers!!

Dating etiquette article in FEMINA

All through my 8 years as an Image Consultant, I have been approached by eligible young men and women who were apprehensive and confused about their first meeting with a prospective other. There was a pretty young lady who wore a long tee and tights  (which looked more like a night dress or gym clothing) on every date. And her family kept wondering why there was no positive response from the guys. So I advised her to dress in smart casual clothing, corrected her posture, and taught her the nuances of small talk. She is happily married now and her elegance and poise is much appreciated by her family.
Then there was this young man from a very affluent family who would always order for the food without consulting the lady because he was so used to making decisions. Well, I made him realize his faux pas, taught him the art of being subtle and considerate yet assertive and he is enjoying a great family life now.

Here are some tips when going on a date;

• Be on time
• Choose a venue according to your budget and proximity to both
• Dress in smart casuals or semi formals
• Be considerate and emphatic
• Smile often
• Talk about interesting topics
• Don't tag a friend along
• Eat less

If you have someone who needs some polishing do contact us.
www.imagemakeover.in