Chinos for the Indian man

Chinos are trousers made from chino cloth which is a twill fabric made from 100% cotton. 

Nowadays , chinos are also made from cotton synthetic blends , wrinkle free fabric. That makes them so wearable at the workplace.

Chinos were first made in the mid 19th century for the British and French military uniforms . The original khaki (light brown) is the traditional and most popular colour, but chinos are now available in many shades.

Straight leg , flat front chinos , are suitable for the workplace. Wear pleated chinos if you are too thin.

Avoid tapered chinos if you have a broad hips and a paunch. Wear comfort fit chinos which sit on your waist to conceal a paunch.

  

Black , grey , brown, khaki, navy are the preferred colours for office wear. To appear taller wear a light coloured shirt with a trouser in a darker shade of the same colour family.

Wear a smart blazer paired with chinos and you are ready for a coporate meeting.

Cropped chinos are trending now but avoid if you are short. Cropped chinos look great with well fitted tees , polo necks, sweatshirts, linen shirts.

      

Chinos are lightweight and ideal while travelling. It's easier to wash and dry a pair of chinos as opposed to a pair of jeans. 

Chinos are very versatile and can be worn by businessmen, working professionals, students and men of all ages.

Chinos are available at all leading brands stores at an affordable price. Coming up next is my blog on which shoes to wear with chinos.

Write to me on rashida@imagemakeover.in

Styling the fringe for the Indian woman

The fringe style in clothing is definitely my favourite this year. It is stylish yet quirky, bohemian but elegant and it suits women of all ages. It is not office wear but can be worn as smart casual.

A fringe crop top can be paired with a high waist A-line or straight skirt, a pair of  high waisted jeans or chinos, shorts or even palazzos. Wear this if you have a slim midriff and avoid if you have a pear shaped body.

A fringe tank top is ideal for women who have a big waistline and hips. Longer tops that end below the hipline and asymmetrical tops help to conceal  heavy hips and thighs.This style looks great on Indian women.

Wear this on a casual Friday at work or a lunch date or a shopping spree with friends

Wear a blingy fringe poncho for an evening out ,a dinner or a party. Keep accessories to a minimum .

 Pair it with a pair of smart shorts for a brunch or a day out with friends.

 A calf length fringe skirt can be paired with a button down shirt for a smart look. Short petite women should opt for ankle length skirts or knee length skirts .

 Mix and match printed palazzos with a solid colour fringe top, a pair of wedges for a cool, trendy look.

 A printed fringe kimono adds oomph to a simple jeans and T-shirt combo. Wear it if you are slim or if you have a pear shaped body.Avoid pairing a printed kimono with a printed top.

A lacy kimono in a solid colour with printed palzzos adds a feminine touch.

Shoes with a fringe are available in stilettos, gladiators, wedges,block heels, slip ons and more. Stilettos and block heels can be paired with dresses, skirts and jeans for a formal look.Wear gladiatorflats, wedges, slip ons for a more casual look.

A simple outfit can look great if paired with a fringe bag.Avoid pairing a fringe bag with a fringe top. Less is more here.

Fringe clothing and accessories are available online on sites like koovs.com, FabAlley, Yepme, Ebay, Limeroad, Polyvore,shopstyle, etc.

Also available in stores across Mumbai. For more information write to us 

imagemakeoversbyorchid@gmail.com.

Which handbags can I carry to office? Bags for the workplace.

A handbag is a woman's favourite accessory . It can add an extra oomph to a simple outfit. For a woman it is a pandora's box filled with all her daily essentials, things she cannot do without. A must have multi-purpose accessory. So what are the kind of handbags that would look formal and smart at a the workplace?

Structured leather handbags with minimalistic design are most appropriate in a formal business setting. Black, brown, tan, beige, grey, camel, maroon, reddish-brown, navy blue are some of the preferred colours for office.

A satchel is a structured bag with a flat bottom and single strap.It has a flap which folds over and fastens in the front with one or two buckles. It was traditionally used to carry books but is now used as a fashion accessory.

 A Tote bag is a large and often unfastened bag with parallel handles that emerge from the sides of the pouch.Initially designed as a cloth shopping bag , it is now available in leather and other materials in fabulous designs.

A Hobo bag is a large and crescent shaped bag with a scooped centre.It is made of soft, flexible

material and has a  long strap designed to wear over the shoulder. 

The Kelly bag is a leather handbag designed by the Paris based company, Hermes.It was popularised

by and named after the princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly.It is now an expensive status symbol. A trapezium shaped bag, it is closed with two straps. It has a hard bottom, sometimes with four studs to enable it to stand on the ground.

A bucket bag  has a tall body , a round or an oval bottom and a drawsting closure, resulting in a shape similar to a bucket. It usually has an open top but may have a magnetic closure for added security.

These type of  handbags are available in most retail shops and online as well , branded as well as affordable copies.

Next on the blog, how to match and coordinate your bags with your clothes and shoes. Till then, happy handbag hunting.
Go to : Orchid Complete Makeovers

Dating Etiquette

For most of us, going on a first date can be a nerve- wrecking experience. We are not sure about what to wear, what to say, how to behave. These insecurities can turn even the most serene and composed person into a nervous, sweaty palmed wreck. Our module on dating is specifically designed to teach you the finer nuances of dating.A first date doesn't need to be such an ordeal, it can be light hearted and fun.

TOPICS

1] Dressing appropriately for a first date. 

2] Etiquette and behaviour.

3] Ideal meeting place.

4] Be more confident and create a positive first impression.

5] Be a great conversationalist.

GETTING MARRIAGE READY.

When you marry, you don't just marry an individual,you marry a whole family For prospective brides and grooms ,we have a training module called "getting marriage ready" which covers the following topics:-

1] Interacting with family.

2] Adjusting to a new environment.

3] Conversational skills.

4] Social etiquette.

5] Etiquette at dinners and formal occasions.

6] Wardrobe Planning

Workshops and Seminars

 The employees are the brand ambassadors of a company .When you walk into a company, the first thing you notice is the way the employees are dressed. If all the men are wearing jackets and ties and all the women are wearing power suits, you may suspect this place is running a serious operation dealing with high collars and important clients.. A well dressed corporate executive with a good personality has the capability of convincing the clients in his favour in meetings and official get togethers. The smart corporate apparel helps him to attract the client towards him ,thereby ending up with favorable results. The behavior ,demeanor, and communication skills of an executive are essential to create a positive impression on the client .

 We conduct workshops and seminars to enable corporate houses and multi-national companies to increase their sales and performance through their employees. Each training programme is devised and customized according to the specifications and requirement of the client.

Topics

• Professional grooming
• Power dressing
• Business dress code
• The importance of first impressions
• Make up for office ( women )
• Business etiquette
• Communication etiquette
• Soft skills training
• Interpersonal skills 
• Leadership skills
• Team building
• Selling skills
• Healthy body for healthy mind
• Individual coaching and Image building

Interview Training

• What will your interview be like?
• What should you take with you?
• How should you answer interview questions?
• What should you wear?

   

Even the smartest and most qualified job seekers need to prepare for job interviews. Interviewing is a learned skill and there are no second chances to make a great first impression. 

TOPICS FOR INTERVIEW TRAINING.

1] Types of interviews.

2] What to prepare before an interview.

3] What to do during an interview.

4] Following up after an interview.

5] Body language and communication.

Interpersonal / Communication Skills

Interpersonal skills are the skills that the person uses to interact with other people. Communication skills are the skills we use to communicate with other people. Communication can be verbal or non-verbal.

At Orchid, we help you to develop and enhance your:

• Soft skills(social graces, language, personal habits, friendliness and optimism)
• Verbal communication(Vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, volume, diction etc.)
• Non-Verbal communication (postures, gestures, facial expressions, eye-contact, and body language)
• The art of conversation
• Business communication (networking, teamwork, leadership, self confidence, problem solving, motivating others, decision making, delegation)