On our own personal ’stage’ we too need to consider what messages we want to send out about ourselves and appreciate that some dress codes still need to be acknowledged.

What Are The Dress Codes?

First of all, it’s essential to consider how much is too much, not just from a work angle but as a personal style choice too. You need to consider the location (seaside, country or city, for example) and the occasion and you also need to think about what looks good on you and how parts of your body look when they are exposed.

The main areas to consider are: upper arms, legs and cleavage. Whatever the circumstances, be aware that as soon as parts of your body are laid bare they become more of a focus, so make sure they are presented how you want them. We all spend time every morning on our hair and make-up, so why not pay attention to how the rest of the body is presented?

Upper Arms

In terms of style, if you’re confident that your upper arms look good on show then go for it. Without being too harsh on yourself, if they are not a favourite part of your body then opt for a bit of a sleeve. It’s important to know what looks good on you and what you honestly can or can’t get away with, and you need to be realistic!

• Short sleeves should not be tight on the upper arm
• Sleeves should finish at a narrow part of your arm
• Spaghetti straps work best with arms that are in better shape. Make sure you wear either a strapless bra or a good colour bra (matching or clashing with the top is fine). No grey straps please!

Legs

If you have good legs you will feel confident wearing skirts and dresses above the knee, but again, for work you need to consider whether it’s suitable or not. In many of our professional work places, above the knee will not seem appropriate. We don’t all have legs like Elle McPherson, so when you do expose them, you want to make sure they look their most attractive.

• Keep them hair free, exfoliate and moisturise them regularly to keep them smooth
• Use a quality self-tanning lotion to give them a healthy bronzed glow and not orange track lines
• Think about your leg shape and length and work out what looks most flattering on you
• Make sure the skirt hem doesn’t stop at the thickest part of your leg.

Cleavage

As well as shorter skirts, fashion has brought lower necklines over the years too. There is nothing wrong with a little cleavage for going out or on holiday and so on, but at work or formal occasions or in certain company you don’t want to make it the focus of attention. ‘Less is more’ should be the rule of thumb.

• If you are wearing a fitted shirt, do make sure there is no gaping between buttons
• Make sure you wear the right bra for the neckline of your top (i.e. balcony bra for empire neckline etc)
• Chains and pendants should be above or below your cleavage, not dangling in it!

Our top tip

If you choose to reveal some flesh then make it either cleavage or legs, not both at the same time.

Graze: exactly what it says. No more hunger pangs mid morning or mid afternoon. No more guilty trips to the chocolate bar machine but, Yes! a slightly smug look on our faces as we take delivery of our gorgeous little recycled boxes filled with a selection of wholesome, delicious and natural nibbly bits.

Now, I’m not a fan of goji berries; ultra rich in vitamin C they might be, containing more than 500 times the amount of an orange, but they taste bad enough to be doing you good so I’ve ticked a box on the Graze website and said I never want to see them again. Fantastic.

But wonderfully sweet and juicy fresh pineapple slices, “bakewell” mix – cherry raisin, almond and cranberry – is heavenly and if I’m in the mood, fire nuts hit the spot with their chilli almonds, wasabi peanuts and cashews. And there are dozens of tempting alternatives to try over the coming months.

I could, if I choose, select exactly what I’d like in my Graze box each week, but I like to live dangerously (not as dangerously as including goji berries though) so I opt for a surprise. But you can exert as much or as little control as you wish. You decide when you want it delivered,  you decide what you want to include and you can rate the foods you’ve tried to date.

This new concept in delivering natural foods to your desk is so simple, so fantastic and so well executed. The marketing just makes you smile and it is quickly addictive.

It’s Thursday tomorrow and my next delivery is on its way – I can’t wait to get to the office in the morning!

Check it out at www.graze.com  and if you want to get your first delivered box for just £1 make sure you use this code LZW65WCA and I’ll donate £1 to the Rainforest Alliance

Oh, and let me know what you think.

Whether to restore confidence in our greatest ally, or for progress on the climate change agenda, or the charismatic leadership to pull the world out of recession, I haven’t met anyone who feels anything other than a sense of great hope and expectation that he will prove a force for positive action and change.

Wayne Visser, author, poet, academic and CEO of CSR International, wrote this poem on 20th January 2009.

This day
Is not just any day
It is a day of days
A day of a lifetime
An epoch making day
At a time that cries out
For new beginnings

This day
Is a watershed day
A day that separates
Yesterday from today
And today from tomorrow
On a mindless march of days
That needed breaking

This day
Is a day to be marked
As something remarkable
A day to be celebrated
As something joyful
A day to be remembered
As something historic

This day
Is a tribute to the past
With its sacrifices of so many
A blessing for the present
Amidst looming clouds of despair
And a vision for the future
Welcomed with an open hand

This day
Is not the struggle’s end
But the journey’s beginning
It is not the death of prejudice
But the life of possibility
It is not the end of nights
But the start of days

This day
Is not so much a forging ahead
As a long overdue catching up
With changes at last
That begin to give life
To time-honoured ideals
And flickering hopes

This day
Is the day of coming together
When power meets responsibility
And rhetoric meets action
It is the day of empowerment
When the voiceless are heard
And the marginal become mainstream

This day
Is the day of reconciliation
When the past is laid to rest
And the future is awakening
It is the day of prodigals
When the lost find their way home
And a nation rejoins the world

Wayne Visser, 20 January 2009

Latin and Ballroom dancing are back in fashion thanks in part to the huge success of Strictly Come Dancing. We spoke to Brian Jeal, Head of Procurement at Badenoch & Clark to find out more.

How old were you when you started dancing?

14 years old.

What got you hooked?

My parents went and suggested I go along as lots of other ‘young’ people went and it looked fun – the first time I went I was amazed at how many nice friendly girls were there, all vying to get a boy partner, I was spoilt for choice!

Was it “cool” as a teenager to dance? What did your friends think?

I kept it quiet for the first six months. I did not get that much stick. After I appeared on Blue Peter my school and neighbours all thought it was really cool. My twin brother and my two best friends all went along together so we treated it as a lark at first. My other friends came and watched us practice at times and wanted us to arrange dates for them with our dance partners at the time.

Was it the girls or the spangly costumes that appealed?

It has never been about the sequins! It was the company (ok, girls who did not say no!)

30+ years on and still dancing! What’s the secret?

It’s where I met my lovely wife so we both have that connection; we both love flying around the floor having a laugh – we don’t take competing seriously. It’s fantastic for socialising, the competitions keep you motivated, its great for exercise and I’ve always enjoyed my music loud. You can normally dance to anything and it’s great for breaking the ice, especially with the ladies!

What is your favourite dance?

The jive, without a doubt. It fires my imagination and I love the music. I wish I could have been at Liverpool Street Station for the T-Mobile advert, I’d have joined in for sure!

Rumour has it you’ve been quite a success….

I don’t sing and dance about it but we have had lots of fun and usually bring back a trophy or 16…

What are the benefits?

Having a great time with my wife, who is my dance partner, is the greatest benefit. The others are exercise, social life, achievement and the euphoria of getting through round after round and making the final.

How does it make you feel?

It gets the endorphins going like any sport, and feels good when I remember the steps! When competing I feel elated, exhausted and can’t stop smiling usually.

What would you say to convince others to take up dancing?

Try it, you will enjoy it. I believe anyone can dance and there’s bound to be a dance school near you.

What is the toughest bit about it?

It costs quite a bit of money to compete with the travelling but it’s worth it. Apart from that it’s just perseverance with the steps but once mastered they become easier and you can add your own style to it.

Have you had any embarrassing moments?

I once put aquarium glass sealer on my heels which I thought would help me stick to the floor. After a few minutes I saw loads of other dancers slipping on the marks I had left, I never owned up. And more recently, we were in the audience of Strictly Come Dancing. After the filming my two daughters sat in the judges’ seats and held up the bats showing the scores – two tens! As I took the photo security saw us and escorted us from the studio.

And your proudest moment?

When I took my elder daughter in for a big competition when she was 9 and she came first. The happy tears were rolling.

And what are your sights set on now?

Our biggest competition of the year is at the end of February; we did not do it last year but came 1st in 2007. We have much practising to do and a lot to live up to.

To feel your best, you need to look your best

It is all about confidence; when you look good you feel good, when you feel good, you feel capable of almost anything. We all lack confidence at times, but some of us know that there are ways to help boost our self-esteem and to feel more assured in ourselves…

Dress to enhance your mood

Your overall image, including clothes, style, hairstyle and makeup, has a huge effect on how you feel and on how others see you. If you look in the mirror and feel dull and uninspired then that is what you will project to family, friends and colleagues, so it’s time to rethink your wardrobe and your look!

Colour

Depending on your personality, you may welcome lots of bold shades or you may prefer to use colour more discreetly. The key is finding the colours that suit you best and those that really give you “oomph”. Great mood enhancing colours are red and pink so make sure you have at least a couple of items in your wardrobe in your best shades. Greens and yellows are uplifting too. We will see lots of bright shades around in 2009 so be sure to find the best colours for you and you’ll feel on top of the world.

Style

Style isn’t just about wearing great clothes it’s about wearing clothes that look great on you. When you understand your body shape and your style personality, you will avoid those wrong purchases, forever. Once you know

what suits you, you can put outfits together with aplomb – and more economically – so you will feel confident knowing that you always look good in what you wear.

Dressing Appropriately

First impressions really do count so dress according to the occasion and don’t let your image let you down. You want to make that first meeting a successful one whether it’s an interview, meeting a business client or a new social encounter, so make sure you look the part.

Fun

Bring an element of fun to your wardrobe. Remember, all that glitters is not just for Christmas, so don’t be afraid to include something sparkly in your accessories to lift the spirits. Never worn leather before? This year’s trend offers lots of soft and sophisticated pieces for grown-ups; find a stylish jacket that suits your body shape; the blazer and box styles look more elegant. Or, find a fabulous hat – it can be a statement piece or simply finish off an outfit beautifully. Have fun!

So go for it! Make 2009 the year you will be confident to achieve your goals and dreams.

This advice was provided by Colour me Beautiful.

Forget the rain and traffic noise outside your office for a moment. Instead imagine yourself sitting on a yoga mat on the rooftop of a beautiful pink-tinged hotel overlooking the ocean and take a few deep breaths. Really, really deep breaths…

Earlier this year I was feeling burnt out at work, tired of the so-called UK summer and in need of a mental pick-me-up. I needed a holiday but not being a sun-worshipper, I wanted something with an activity or purpose. I settled on the idea of a yoga holiday. It would satisfy my need to do something but would help me relax. A quick search on the internet and I found the perfect trip. Practising yoga while seeing a bit of Morocco sounded ideal.

“I was feeling burnt out at work, tired of the so-called UK summer and in need of a mental pick-me-up”

I arrived in Marrakesh to find a heat wave. It was an even hotter than expected 45C, and I was relieved that the journey to the old town, or Medina, was a brief one – especially as the only form of air conditioning in the taxi was rolling down the window. This had the same effect as blasting yourself in the face with a hairdryer on full heat. Not comfortable.

But I was in for a treat when I got to the Riad; a home converted into a guest house. Rooms are centred around a cooling fountain and the traditionally tiled patio was open to the sky. It was much cooler inside and I felt revitalised after fresh mint tea and Moroccan pastries. This was the setting for our first yoga session the next morning and as I lay, gazing up at the clear blue sky, trying to breathe from my abdomen, work and everyday stress already seemed far away.

Walking round the souk in the afternoon meant covering up, despite the heat. As in most Islamic countries, men and women are expected to dress modestly. For women this means covering up from wrist to ankle. Fortunately the souks offer lots of colourful outfits, so if you haven’t brought anything suitable it’s a perfect excuse to shop!

Dinner – Moroccan Style

After evening yoga, I joined my fellow tour members as they set off to the Jemaa el Fna for dinner. The square was a crowded melee of open-air food stalls, with performers and story tellers overlooked by the brightly lit Koutoubia Minaret. The smell of spicy tagine-cooked food filled the air around stalls with colourful fruit and vegetables. After a delicious meal of chicken, rice and vegetables washed down with more mint tea we wandered around the square taking in the sights and sounds before heading back to the Riad.

The next day we set off for the tiny coastal village of Sidi Kaouki. The strong winds and quiet beaches attract mainly windsurfers and kite-surfers, and these added a colourful backdrop to our evening sun salutations.

“maybe it was the sound of waves crashing against the rocks below my bedroom window”

Spending a couple of days relaxing by the pool gave me time to catch up with my fellow travellers. I discovered they all did yoga at home and many had been on similar holidays before. The majority were twenty-something and female, but as some had only taken up yoga in their 40s, I decided it wasn’t too late to start and that I would continue to practice when I got home.

The final stop on our brief tour of Morocco was the coastal port of Essaouira. Maybe I was finally starting to relax after all the yoga, or maybe it was the sound of the ocean crashing against the rocks below my bedroom window … the Riad Mimouna provided a magical setting for one of the best night’s sleep I had ever had. I was up bright and early the next morning to explore the souks and the food market.

Back to Reality?

Later that day, I sat on the terrace breathing in the sea air and contemplated the deep feeling of relaxation I had achieved over the past few days. I compared it with my busy, stressful life at home. We accept the pressures and stresses of modern city life and work, and don’t realise how stressed we are until we stop and take time out.

When I’m back home and staring out of the window looking at grey November skies, I will picture myself on a rooftop terrace overlooking the ocean somewhere in Morocco and try to breathe deeply. I will endeavour to find a local yoga class so that I can continue to practice. And if that doesn’t work I know that total relaxation is only a short plane ride away.

Your heaving desk looks more like a rubbish dump than the shining example of tidiness and efficiency you left behind just a few short weeks ago; your “urgent to do” list has reached epic proportions and a queue of colleagues expecting your immediate input loiter by your desk…

Technology is marvellous, but I think it has hastened the demise of any sort of human respect. We shouldn’t feel guilty about wanting to be out of office contact whilst on holiday. And, even more importantly, our colleagues should respect our right to privacy whilst on holiday. Haven’t you ever asked yourself how businesses managed before mobile phones and the dreaded Blackberry?

So, rather than spoiling your holiday by worrying about the office or being dragged away from the pool to answer emails and calls, there are a few things you can do before you jet off to the sunshine, guaranteed to help alleviate some of the inevitable stress you’re bound to feel on your return to reality and allow you to take some real time out.

Planning for pleasure

Dr Nicola Bunting, director of La Vita Nuova Personal and Professional Coaching, advises: “On holiday, you want to be 100%-focused on the pleasures and joys of the present moment, and in order to do that, you need to have an organised and prepared departure. Too many people end up not really getting the benefits of a complete break from work by taking calls around the pool or constantly checking emails.”

“This is not only unhealthy but very annoying to your family and fellow holiday companions.” she warns.

“In order to ensure a smooth handover and transition, a good strategy is to write a two- to four-week countdown planning list before you go.

“It’s also helpful to plan relevant discussions with colleagues in the days leading up to your departure, so that you’re not having frantic last-minute talks with your colleagues before you go or, worse still, having them communicating with you on holiday.

Before you go

• You know best what deadlines you need to meet before, during, and straight after the time of your absence, so do a little extra each day to get yourself caught up or even ahead of the game.
• Be sure to leave very detailed notes on anything that is pending or in progress.
• If your office uses an automated computer or database entry system, make sure you have entered or scanned any urgent documents or notes.
• As well as a voice mail, always set up an automatic ‘out of office’ email message stating how long you’ll be gone and exactly when you will be back to avoid increasingly frustrated messages from clients and colleagues.
• Lastly, make sure you notify your manager if you are leaving any time-sensitive projects on your desk. People can’t pick up where you left off if they don’t even know a project exists, and your work relationships may suffer if people are led to believe you up-and-left without giving their needs a second thought.

So, are you confident enough to holiday this summer without your Blackberry? Why not share your work-related holiday horror stories with us by commenting below?

We asked colour me beautiful to give us their advice on how to keep our style when we haven’t got the cash.

When costs are rising many of us need to review our personal spending. However, tightening belts doesn’t mean doing without a little retail therapy, you just need a little sartorial know-how.

Be ruthless

Before rushing to the shops and spending money you don’t have, now is the time to take a long hard look at what you’ve already got and spend some time working out what you wear and why. Is it the colour, the style or both? Looking at your wardrobe in this way can save you a fortune on poor impulse purchases.

Learn about what styles and colours suit you – ask your friends or even splash out on an image consultation – it will be worth every penny in the long run.

Have a good rummage in your wardrobe. Do you really need another pair of jeans or “safe” black trousers? Maybe you’ve forgotten about that top you bought last summer and haven’t worn yet!

Spend an afternoon bagging up items that no longer fit or you’ll never wear again and give to friends or charity. Be careful though; sometimes what’s needed might be as simple as some new buttons to rejuvenate an outfit. A few alterations can give it a new life and is certainly worth investigating if the garment was originally an investment piece.

Focus on Accessories

The good news is that the love affairs we have had with bags are over. There have been so many “must have” bags that now they are just plain bags, and you don’t need a fancy label in order to fall in love with one.

Sandals and pumps are other items that rarely warrant you spending a fortune – you know you’ll want more next year so grab the bargains on the high street. Resole with rubber to make them last a little longer.

And when it comes to jewellery, bangles are definitely in. The more the better so try wearing several all together. There are many inexpensive options on the market.

We all like quality items, but they come at a price, so the sooner you can discover the advantages of combining fashion bargains with the good stuff, the better. Now is the time to do it as summer fashion lends itself to seasonal fun.

Top tips

• Don’t ignore the big supermarkets and Primark – perfect for updating your summer wardrobe at a small cost.
• Look out for sales and discounts in the department stores.
• Sign up to your favourite retailers’ websites – they often send discount vouchers.
• Summer fashion doesn’t have to be long lasting nor the best quality – check out market stalls for fun weekend clothes and beachwear
• Vintage never goes out of fashion. If you’re a canny shopper you can pick up some bargains in good charity shops
• Make sure that what you buy isn’t dry clean only – this can double the cost of the garment!

In fact, Egyptian belly dance was among the first styles to be witnessed by Westerners. During Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt, Napoleon’s troops encountered the Ghawazee tribe who made their living as professional entertainers and musicians.

The women engaged in prostitution on the side, and often had a street dedicated to their trade in the towns where they resided!

At first the French were repelled by their heavy jewelry and hair, and found their dancing “barbaric”, but were soon lured by the hypnotic nature of their movements…

We met Moyra Banks, a recruitment administrator at Badenoch & Clark to find out how she got involved.

LC: What got you started?
MB: Six years ago friends persuaded me to have a go. I thought it was just a bit of a laugh but soon realised that it wasn’t quite as simple as it first seemed. I worked hard at it and go frequently to Egypt to have lessons from the best in the world.

LC: What got you hooked?
MB: I loved it! It makes me feel fantastic. I loved that fact that it was totally absorbing and I loved that it was a great leveller – all sorts of people could give belly dancing a go and get enjoyment out of it. It’s more than dancing; it’s the music, the costumes and the culture too. It’s worlds away from an office job!

LC: Tell me more about the costumes…
MB: They’re gorgeous! I have my performing costumes made to order in Cairo and although they are not cheap, they are beautiful. Wardrobe malfunctions are a hazard of dancing so I’ve learnt that having made to measure is worth it.

LC: So what does it entail?
MB: Belly dance is a bit of a misleading name for it as all parts of the body are involved, and the most important body part is the hips. In the dance that I do, which is quite a theatrical dance, there’s a range of basic moves to learn – Shimmy, Figure of Eight, Hip Drops and Lifts, Circles, Spirals, Undulations, Manipulation of the Rib Cage, Head Glides, and Graceful Arms. It’s very expressive – a real celebration and expression of life and of being a woman. It also has quite a lot of ballet influences – for example we dance on our toes all the time, whereas Indian belly dancers would be on flat feet.

LC: It sounds exhausting. Is it good for you?
MB: Yes. There are real physical as well as psychological benefits. It’s low impact so the stress on joints is minimal but it’s great for flexibility, reducing stress and general body conditioning. As it works by isolating muscle groups especially around the abdomen, it’s great for core stability and good posture. Working the muscles of the arms, neck, shoulders and back gently massages away tension. It’s much more fun than being on a bike and can burn as many calories as jogging. It’s a good cardio-vascular work out. Try it – you’ll feel great afterwards.

LC: Who can do it?
MB: Everyone. Before I came to London, I used to teach about six classes a week in Edinburgh, including for the disabled and the elderly. I’ve done classes with women from 15 to 80 years old.It’s brilliant that it is so inclusive.

LC: How do you know if you’re any good at it?
MB: I realised I was good at it when some of the greatest dancers in Cairo were pleased to work with me. It’s a confidence thing really. I used to dance in a few restaurants in Edinburgh and get bookings for weddings and private party shows.

LC: Are your parents happy that you dance for people in these fabulous costumes?
MB: That’s a good question! Back in Egypt you wouldn’t tell your parents you were a belly dancer until you were performing in one of the big 5 star hotels – basically they’d think you were a prostitute! My family can see how much I love it and how much the whole culture has enriched my life.

LC: What’s next?
MB: I’m intend to perform in Planet Egypt events which are a monthly belly dance showcase in London. One day I’ll learn Arabic too.

If you’d like to talk to Moyra about belly dancing, you can email her at moyrabanksdance@hotmail.co.uk

One of the free evening rags recently reported that Paris Hilton was paid £70k to make a 1.5 hour appearance at a well-known Mayfair nightclub. This amounts to £777 per minute, an astronomical figure for someone who has gained fame through a complete absence of discernable talent.

If business is led by supply and demand, then surely there is a demand for Paris Hilton and her talent-free friends. But why? What is it that drives otherwise intelligent, rational and sensible people to devour gossip magazines and dissect the lives of celebrities as if they were intimate acquaintances? I can’t help but wonder; are we turning into a population of celebrity worshippers?

Guilty as charged

I know the names of all of Brangelina’s multi-coloured brood (adopted and biological), including country of origin and order of birth/adoption. In the spirit of reform, my new year’s resolution was to give up buying Heat magazine. I now bypass this by getting Closer instead. I am guilty of furthering the careers of people who have become famous largely through experiencing fifteen minutes of fame on Big Brother or perhaps from being married/engaged to a footballer.

I can’t help but wonder; are we turning into a population of celebrity worshippers?

And there are literally tens of thousands, if not millions, of women (and men) like me who take an enormous and bizarre pleasure in reading about the private lives of celebrities. We talk about them, lust after them, comment on their outfits, take sides in disputes and gloat when we see them pictured in compromising situations.

There is clearly some form of therapy to be found in seeing through the façade of physical perfection that we ‘civilians’ are bombarded with on a daily basis. But it’s not only that, there is certainly also a level of voyeuristic self-indulgence in reading details that are actually none of our business.

Milking the cow

The celebrity cash cow has never been fatter than in the 21st century. With celebrities endorsing everything from clothes and cosmetics to insurance policies, their power and reach is inescapable. They are brands in themselves (Exhibit A: the Beckhams). Many of them clearly have canny and astute business minds beneath the fake tan and hair extensions, but more often than not it is our own gullibility and naïveté that fills their already bulging pockets. Virtually every consumer decision we make is driven by an almost subliminal celebrity influence.

Many of them clearly have canny and astute business minds beneath the fake tan and hair extensions

The element of ‘Emperor’s new clothes’, by which everything celebrities wear and do is revered, seems to have blinkered us, and nowhere more so than the teenage demographic. Never has a society been more obsessed with appearances and everywhere we are bombarded with clinically underweight celebrities being hailed as style icons.

The same goes for drugs and alcohol. For every actor/singer/writer that lives a dignified, quiet life away from the cameras, there are ten who are in and out of rehab more often that one eats hot dinners. And therein lies the danger. We are becoming too fervent in our worship of celebrities.

Setting the wrong example

Amy Winehouse, for example, was recently voted a top female role model for young people. The same Amy Winehouse who is now regularly pictured imbibing some form of illegal substance and appears a million miles away from her former self. If she is a role model, what kind of lifestyle are we promoting?
I can clearly see the influences of celebrity in my own life. My hairstyles, clothes and cosmetic choices are pre-determined by what I see in magazines and on the television. Even my manner of speaking, littered with Americanisms, is evidence of the influence of the Hollywood cult.

With the new series of Big Brother, a show that has previously showcased bullying, racism and extreme quantities of vanity, on our screens, maybe we should ask ourselves whether or not we are actually willing to sacrifice ourselves and future generations on the altar of celebrity. For the current housemates, one imagines the answer is a resounding yes.