Top 5 Tips for Nearly Wrinkle Free Travel

Business professionals like you want to know, “What to do with wrinkled clothes on a business trip?” At first glance it seems obvious and would make for a very short blog, take them to the concierge and let him take care of it!  That very well may work but could become costly and if you’re like me you travel on a budget.

(Please keep in mind that all tips apply to both men and women and my use of the masculine is just easier.)

1) Use a Garment Bag instead of a suit case when possible. This may help to a certain degree because of the way the clothing is folded.  If you use a suit case here is a video about Best Packing Practices and other great tips.  I love what she says accept for the shower part. You’ll see why in the next tip.

2) “Steaming” out wrinkles in a shirt/suit while running the shower is popular, but does it work? It may if the wrinkles are really minor, but when is a wrinkle minor considering the shirt/suit has been in a suit case for at least 8 hours (Packing and Traveling)?  Trying this on a suit is less practical given a suit is made of wool and not cotton and requires a firmer hand. Also suits should be pressed not dry cleaned unless they're dirty.  PLUS the amount of water wasted running the shower (2.2 GPM) just isn’t worth it.

3) Use the Iron provided to you in the room.  As much as some of you don’t like to iron it’s a great skill to have and will save you money in the long run. It will only take 15 minutes out of your day per shirt/suit versus spending $15 to $30 dollars to have it pressed. Here’s a great video to help you Iron A Dress Shirt or Suit.

4) Whether you us an iPhone or Android device there will be an app called “Places”. Use this to find local dry cleaners. This will help you in two ways: The first being local dry cleaners will be less expensive than using the concierge at the hotel and second they usually have an onsite tailor. On more than one occasion I’ve had need of a tailor when I was out of town for the dreaded loose button or fallen pant hem.

5) Finally, if you can carry a small travel steamer in your suit case that could solve everything. Here’s where you can Buy One Prior To Travelling..  

Remember that when you travel your Business Image goes with you so don’t forget to take care of the small things like wrinkled shirts and suits they can really make the difference.

If you liked these tips and would like to work with me directly please call or email today for your free consultation.

Ben Wolff

Fashion Stylist | Business Attire Specialist | Image Consultant

o: 646.504.1861

c: 917.627.0745

ben@re-dress.com

www.re-dress.com 

Fashion. Forward.

When I walked into the SoHo Grand last night for the Fashion 2.0 awards ceremony I had several ideas of what I thought was going to happen. Almost none of them came true. As I arrived to check in there were servers handing out a signature drink for the night called “The Find & Seek”. It was basically a Cranberry Vodka with a splash of Sprite and a lime. Nothing that I hadn’t had before, but being the event was sponsored in part by TheFind.com it was perfectly understandable and quite tasty. I found a table and sat with my drink and watched. I started tweeting and facebooking and even did a bit of foursquaring,(Are these even words?) Regardless of the grammar I was doing them.  I was getting into the mood of the room and the event. Being very 2.0. All of a sudden as if magic gates had opened up the room started to fill. Cameras began flashing and film began rolling. I sat and watched sipping my drink and taking it in. This was what I loved most about parties, the beginnings. When people arrive and start getting into their grooves. I wasn’t quite in mine yet, but I was getting there. Finished with the first Find & Seek I started chatting with the other guests. One was nominated that evening for best app. I then had my first photo taken of the evening and then gave an interview (to be posted later). This room wasn’t filled with the known people in the industry, the usual suspects. It was filled with new designers, new bloggers, new stylists and new entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs like me. It was new because Fashion 2.0 is about the newness of the fashion industry. Not what you see on the runway at any of the numerous shows running this week, but fashion and technology merging to become this whole other animal. Agile and fresh. Responsive to its fans of twitterers, facebookers and foursquarers (Again with the new words).  People playing with the “Idea” of fashion and remaking it in their own image. How can you not love that!

The ceremony itself was ok. Not the Oscars, but interesting. Honestly I’m not judging I had a great time. DKNY stole the show. Not for their fashion mind you, but for all things Social Media. That’s what impressed me the most about the evening. Social media and what it’s doing to the world at large. From world events (Egypt) to fashion (FashionGPS) and really almost everything in between Social Media is playing a part. A huge part. After the show I met up with a very nice gentleman from earlier, Donn Sterling designer of Menswear. I first approached Donn at the beginning of the evening because he was wearing this bright red blazer with peak lapels which naturally piqued my interest. As I got closer and introduced myself I noticed the shirt and a gorgeous, what looked like velvet, tie. I wasn’t surprised to find out he designed and built the entire ensemble himself. Not surprised in the least. Look where I was after all. We talked for a while about what he did and what I did. Found out we knew a few of the same people and then a beautiful girl named Jessica Kelly joined us. Jessica is a blogger (The Embellished Life) who writes about all things fashion with a bent towards fashion history. What a wonderful juxtaposition of fashion history and fashion future.  I wasn’t there as Ben Wolff Fashion Stylist for Business Professionals as many of you know me I was there as Ben Wolff Entrepreneur. I was there to talk about my own contribution to Fashion 2.0, my company Faster Pants and the styling algorithm I created. It was the perfect venue.

After the awards many people started to leave. I stayed around to talk some more and meet new people. I saw a friend of mine Kyle Wilkinson founder of UrbanBloke.com (a favorite site of mine). We chatted for a moment then he went off to do his thing. I found Donn again, but must have missed Jessica. I mentioned to Donn that I was hoping to meet J.Alexander Martin. J. friended me on facebook a few days back and after reading his bio, Founder and Co-Owner of FUBU and a men’s wear designer with a new line of men’s business attire coming out in 2013, I had to meet him. Well of course it’s six degrees of separation because once I said this to Donn he immediately pops up with “He’s a friend… and there he is.” Donn waived him over. He came along with a friend of his Arthur Alston, (choke no joke) producer/director for BET I soon found out. In case you’re wondering I’m not trying to name drop. Well maybe a little.

The conversation turned from usual polite meet and greets to why we were all there. This hugely misunderstood world of Social Media and how to use it to our advantage. It felt like we were old friends taking about age old problems over a beer not the world of Social Media and the future of technology. I couldn’t help at this point to think of my clients and what we work on when we’re together. The idea of creating a cohesive image that’s reflects your Social Media presence and how that directly affects your wardrobe.  Listening to J. talk about his working with one of the largest and most successful brands in recent memory and yet nobody knowing his name was shocking, but understandable. We were all in a similar boat.  Most of you reading this are as well. How do we bridge the chasm? How do we get our “2.0” on? These are question we need to ask ourselves, our friends, our colleagues and possibly outside professionals who specialize in Social Media.

As the evening drew to a close I felt great about everything. Better than I expected. I met great people. Networked a bit and came home to write this to share with you. We are all in such a process right now. Some have a great handle on Social Media and some are still working on it. If things keep going the way they are for Faster Pants maybe I’ll be up for an award next year.

If you liked this and would like to work with me directly please call or email today for your free consultation.

Ben Wolff

Fashion Stylist | Business Attire Specialist | Image Consultant

o: 646.504.1861

c: 917.627.0745

ben@re-dress.com

www.re-dress.com 

What I didn't learn in college.

Being your own boss is what it’s about in 2011 and most likely for the rest of the decade in my opinion. The idea of working for a company or somebody else seems a bit out of touch given today’s environment. Last month when I was in LA I was talking with my nephew in-law. He’s a junior at UC Irvine getting a degree in the computer sciences. He knows how to write code but wants the formal education. He’s really smart and has no problem speaking his mind.  I asked him how it’s going and he mostly complained that his  teachers were this and that and blah, blah, blah. I really stopped listening after the first complaint and just nodded. I then asked him about what happens when he graduates and his response was to go to Graduate School.  Not even a blink or a breath in between the end of my sentence and his. Graduate School.  So I follow up with AFTER Grad School then what? So I’m waiting to hear how he’s going to support himself and when we finally get to that point in the conversation he just pauses for a moment and says, “Not a problem.”  Not a problem! I had to sit with that one for a while. Here’s a very bright and intelligent 24 year old saying “Not a problem. ” In today’s world. I was shocked and intrigued at the same time. What is going on in that school I’m thinking that has created a bubble around my nephew and all the other apparently doe eyed undergrads?  Has he not been reading the newspapers and blogs and such to find out that his fantasy and the fantasy of millions of others isn’t likely to happen anytime soon? Haven't his teachers been reading either and don't they feel the need to impart this knowledge onto their students?  I don’t know which is worse. College Grads have one of the worst unemployment situations today and it doesn’t look like it’s going to change anytime soon. If ever there was a time to strike out of your own it’s now. It’s almost like the perfect storm of crap is happening:  Recession, tight credit, companies aren’t hiring, overall bad vibe. That’s the true state of our economy.  His response brought me back to my college days and how little has changed. Where really the entire world is blocked out as if in a total eclipse and all that is seen is SCHOOL! I went to an acting school where the idea of the real world never came up in conversation real or imagined. There wasn’t a single class on what to do after graduation. I even had a teacher say, "If you're not in it for the art get out of the business." I swear he actually said that. Nothing on Agents. Nothing on Unions. Nothing on the BUSINESS of acting. What happened after I graduated was I had to learn for myself the business side of acting. Some might say that firsthand knowledge is best and I would agree however a little heads up would have been nice thank you. After much trial and error and much more time wasted on something that should have been taught in school it started to make some sense. We however will not be a part of that society that expects a ‘JOB’ to be handed to us. We are the Entrepreneurs of the world. We are Salespeople and Business owners. We win clients by selling our products and services. We win clients by treating them with respect and giving them the highest level of service possible.  That’s how we’ll succeed in this economy. That’s how I will succeed. My businesses and yours rise and fall on the backs of our own work. Did I get a new client today?  Did I follow up with a former client today?  What did I do today to further my dreams? I will go out and make my own job opportunities. That’s the way we think.  Being in business for myself has been the best and the worst thing I’ve ever done. I’m solely responsible for EVERYTHING that happens in both re-dress and Faster Pants. It’s pretty overwhelming and satisfying in a very strange almost tortuous way, but at the end of the day I'll always have a job.

Happy Holidays!

I hope this note finds you all doing well. It's been such an exciting year for me that I wanted to share some of the highlights with you. My new company Faster Pants LLC is off and running. Having just obtained patent pending status with the USPTO on my styling algorithm for mens business wear things couldn't be more exciting for the upcoming year. I'm looking to get the beta testing started for Faster Pants v1.0 by the end of Spring 2011. To find out more about it and and how you can participate go to www.fasterpants.com.

I'm happy to say that re-dress is stronger than ever and I'm expecting this year to be better than the last. Follow me @redressEveryday for the latest on the all new re-dress website coming very, very soon. New Layout, New Photo Diary, New Blog, New Everything!! The re-dress workshop(s) are going well thanks in part to my new partnership with Gotham Photo Co. Working with Vince Collura of Gotham has been a true pleasure. Also a new reality show is in the works, Ben Wolff's re-dress. Most important I want to thank you. Without your support throughout the years none of this would be possible. 

All the best,

Ben Wolff

Fashion Stylist and Business Wear Specialist

3 Keys To Finding Your Perfect Coat

Fit

There are two ways you can approach a coat.  The first is as a protector of the clothing underneath like a suit or blazer trouser/skirt combo.  If that's the case then the coat needs to be at least one size bigger than the jacket you wear underneath it.  This rule is a must to prevent crushing the shoulders of the suit jacket or blazer.  The second is that of a “Fashion” piece.  More form than function.  These types of coats tend to be more form fitting, shorter in length as well as come in a greater variety of colors.  You can still have the functionality of water proofing on some, but not all “Fashion” raincoats have this.

Should you go Raglan or Inset sleeve? A raglan sleeve is looser in the shoulder and will give you the most comfort. Because there’s nothing structured in a raglan sleeve it slips on and off very easily. The inset sleeve is the most “Suit-like”, but can be a bit stiff. Most men prefer this type because it’s structured and accentuates the shoulders however because of the nature of the inset it can get a bit cramped and uncomfortable in the underarm area. I suggest raglan If you tend to where mostly suits and blazers because ultimately it is more comfortable. Remember that just because something is unstructured doesn’t mean it can’t fit well.

• For ladies it’s almost the complete opposite. In order to emphasize your figure I like the inset sleeve best. The severity of the shoulder is a nice contrast to the waist and will make it appear smaller. So if you are comfortable with a stiffer structured feel this is the way to go.

 SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

Perhaps owning both and switching between them depending on the situation?  If this is the way you want to go my advice to you is to spend to majority of your funds on the more traditional coat because that's the one you'll be wearing for at least a few seasons whereas trends come and go.

BOTTOM LINE ON FIT:

• Tradition coat:  At least one size bigger than your suit jacket or blazer.    
• Trendy piece:  Form fit and color. 

Style

Style has more to do with your own personal taste and not so much with what the magazines are saying or the latest trends.  Be true to yourself when it comes to Style and only buy what looks and feels good on and what you can see yourself wearing for a few seasons.  Consider who you are and who your clients are or want them to be and your Style will happen. Repeat the last sentence because it's important.  Trying to keep up with the trends in fashion is too difficult for most of us so I don't recommend even trying.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

It’s perfectly fine to have several (2 or 3) coats in your closet that you use throughout the season.

The trick to multiplicity and staying on budget is WHERE you make the purchase. 

• For Traditional name brand pieces at marked down prices; Loehmann’s, Century 21, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls.
• For TRENDIER pieces at affordable prices; New York & Company, H & M and Daffy’s.
• For both where cost doesn't matter; Hugo Boss, BCBG Max Azria and Paul Stuart.

BOTTOM LINE ON STYLE:

When it comes to Style more is better.  Not more clothing, but more knowledge. The more you know yourself and the client you're seeking the easier it will be to create a cohesive business wardrobe that you'll enjoy wearing every day. Another benefit is when you buying clothing. It will also be easier than you ever thought possible.  Let me also suggest for the traditional coat stay with a neutral color palette to better work into your wardrobe and have FUN with the trendier pieces.

Cost

I've been a Fashion Stylist for years and I’ve dressed and shopped for countless clients. I've seen quality traditional coats range in price from under a hundred dollars to well over a thousand. The same can be said for the cost of trendier and/or fashion pieces. The key to making this process work is to set a budget and stick to it.  Go in with a plan and don’t let the salesperson change your mind. After all they’re thinking about their bottom line not yours. This is the same advice I give my clients and it is so important when shopping.  No matter what budget you set for yourself this will work.  When I help my clients with shopping I always ask the sales associate to show me the items within the price range I've set.  This way I only see what is in the given budget I've set and choose from there. They will try to sneak in something that’s way out of your budget and that’s the time to put your foot down or get another salesperson. You have every right to do both. By following this easy step I never overspend and neither will you.

BOTTOM LINE ON COST:

• Set a budget and stick to it.
• Have the sales associate pull pieces within that price range ONLY and make your choice from those pieces.

THE BOTTOM LINE ON THE BOTTOM LINE:  These 3 keys to the perfect coat are essential for any business professional. They ultimately will make your next shopping experience a pleasant one and allow you to get out of the store and onto the business at hand with a great coat…or two.

The Hot & Cold of dressing for Fall & Winter

For both men and women Fall and Winter imposes a very difficult challenge when it comes to dressing fashionably and staying warm at the same time.  Is that even possible?  Of course it is. The biggest question I get this time of year is about 'Layering'.  The How to’s to be precise.  

Here are a few tips:

·         THE FIRST THING you should keep in mind is that no matter how cold it is outside the place you work or are going to will be temperature controlled. This is important to remember because it will allow you the freedom to wear what you want without regard necessarily to the weather outside.

·         WHEN IT COMES to layering keep in mind that a few light layers will be easier to deal with then bulky ones. Cotton undershirts for men and colored Tees for women are great ways to stay warm without the added bulk. I like to wear thermals underneath my suits, but in the past they were so hot and bulky. Today you can find light weight silks and blends at any sporting goods store for both men and women. I bought mine from Easter Mountain Sports. I own the light and medium weight thermals and just love them. Between the thermals and my beautiful Winter coat I'm set for anything Mother Nature has in store.

·         MOST PEOPLE LIKE to wear sweaters this time of year and rightly so. Keep in mind that a sweater doesn't have to be big and bulky to be warm. Look for cashmere, wools and wool blends. My favorite sweater material is Marino Wool. Luxurious, relatively inexpensive and will last several seasons. Those of you who have worked with me privately or been to my workshops know I'm big on mixing seasons and this is no exception so all of these sweaters can come from your Spring collection. You can add color and warmth to your Fall & Winter looks at the same time. How great is that!

·         YOU DON'T NEED to spend your money on heavier pieces of clothing like thick wool suits or heavy skirts and the like just because it's cold outside. I don't recommend that whatsoever. Instead invest in a couple of amazing coats. Find the coats that are timeless and classic in style and are made with beautiful fabrics like Cashmere, Angora, Mohair and blends. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring color to your Fall & Winter garb.

·         ACCESSORIES ARE ANOTHER WAY to really stay current during the colder months. Scarves, hat's (for men too), briefcases, shoulder bags, hand bags and umbrellas can be wonderful ways to add to your “Style” without breaking the bank. 

For more tips on 'Layering' you can reach me at ben@re-dress.net

Ben

(RE-)DRESS For Success

Zebra patterned blouse,
PERFECT!
Sophisticated and Powerful.

Cream Pumps are a must
for every ladies closet.

RE-DRESS has always been about using what you have. The idea to take the existing business wear in your closet and completely re-imagine it into fresh new outfits is the essence of the RE-DRESS(ed) man or woman. Usually I have my clients closet to work with. A closet full of clothing that generally  fits well and look good. These are usually the people I work with in my day to day at RE-DRESS. Today was very different, but before I get into that let me back track a little and fill you in on what happened prior to today. About a month ago I reached out to Dress For Success (DFS) through there website and on facebook in order to find some way to give back. If you don't know DFS helps under-privileged and under-served women from all walks of life. A DFS office can be found in nearly every community around the country and most parts of the world. Their reach is huge and thank goodness for that. Job training and business wear are just the tip of the iceberg at Dress For Success. They not only help a women to build her wardrobe they help her to build her confidence and self reliance. Teaching them office skills and interview skills. Giving them their first business suit ever in some cases. Showing them that they matter and what they have to offer matters. There are no invisible people at DFS. It's because of that and so much more that I wanted to give and give hard. I decided that my workshops, “Get Your Power Look” & “Get More From Your Business Wear”, may be a good fit so I presented it to the 

White pin striped
slacks.
Lavender  pumps.
Fantastic.

A little cuff roll
so we can
see the shoes.

powers that be at DFS and was so happy when I heard back from Michelle Chin, Development Manager for DFS Worldwide, that I would get a meeting with Jocelyn Green, Queens Program Coordinator and Shandeeyaky Shabazz two wonderful ladies in the Queens, NY branch. After chatting for a few minutes I think we all felt a connection and now it was just about scheduling. They asked if I was willing to speak at their regional Power Women's Group event and I immediately said YES!!! I was so thrilled and honored to be asked to speak at such a big event I was speechless for a moment. Imagine that! The night of the meeting I was presented to sixty alumni of the program. These are the women who have been working with DFS for at least a year and were now called associates. The whole thing lasted almost two hours and was just fun beyond belief. The questions that were asked and the conversation we shared was just amazing. Talking of Image and Branding and Clothing was never more fun for me and I believe it was fun for them as well. A special treat that I knew about but the ladies didn't was that there would be a raffle after I was finished. The winner would receive an hour with me and the DFS closet in the Manhattan location. I must admit I think I was pretty excited by the prospect of having to create outfits from donated clothing. Not knowing what I would come up against made my imagination run wild with possibilities. After the event was over I stuck around to meet as many of the ladies as possible and answer any questions that weren't addressed during the workshop. All in all it was just the perfect night. So back to now. I met the winner at the Manhattan location. To protect her privacy I'll call her Jane. When Jane came in I was waiting for her ready to get to work. We sat down along with Amy Tashjian, Employment Coordinator for the Manhattan Branch. Now was the fun part. I start every session no matter who you are or what closet we're in with questions. Questions that will ultimately lead us to finding the image you're looking for. After that was finished Jane and I got busy. Jane had a couple of challenges. The first being that she is a size 0-2 Petite. Normally if her and I were in any department store in NYC finding Petites would be a breeze, but here we're working with donated clothing so there may be a chance of not finding anything in her size. That's exactly what happened. We first went for the suit because that is the 

Fuchsia is so
beautiful on her.

Still loving the
Black and White.
Perfect all season look.

staple of any business wardrobe but given the size constraints suits/blazers were a no go. After that painful discovery I flipped everything around and really got down to the nitty gritty of what Jane already had in her own closet. I found out that she had enough of the Basics and what was missing was COLOR!!!!! I know many of you think that it's okay to just wear black and dark colors for business but honestly don't you find that a little boring and easy? I do. And the myth that wearing Black makes you look thinner is just a myth. Anyway this was something I could change and make a huge difference in her closet. I started pulling blouses and slacks in Spring and Summer tones along with some beautiful cream and lavender shoes and then sent her to the fitting room. I know some of you are thinking isn't Fall/Winter right around the corner? Shouldn't Ben be dressing her in those tones? Under normal circumstances I might do just that. But these aren't normal circumstance. Thinking outside, on top of, near and around the box is what's called for when putting outfits together with so many variables. What's amazing for me is to see the look on a persons face when they're wearing something they love and looks good on them. If you look at the photos I took at the beginning middle and end of our hour together you'll see how Jane goes from stiff corporate worker bee to relaxed powerful woman who can do anything and although we didn't add much color I think her look definitely suits her. It was beautiful to see.

A little nervous in the beginning.

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