Approved Attire

I'm sitting on a plane watching the flight attendants while other passengers board the plane. They're all polished and dressed in their uniforms, but all attendants are different. Some ladies wear dresses, others wear blouses and slacks, while the men wear sweaters or Blazers with slacks. Even with the professional uniform variations you know these individuals are definitely part of the flight crew while walking through airports or hotel lobbies.   

Suits are the traditional uniform for ladies and men who exhibit and judge at dog shows.  It's this uniform and its seasonal change to dresses and golf shirts that differentiates us from the spectators, visitors and vendors.  But why?  Why is their the tradition, the need, the want to stand out of these other dog show enthusiasts? Professionalism. I believe it's the physical display to show the community that we're serious about what we're doing at a dog show. I mean if we weren't serious and want to look professional in the ring itself, why wear aprons while grooming or walking around? 

My point to all of this; is if the goal, impression, desire is look professional and serious then do it.  Wear clothes that are well fitting, classic and conservative enough that you would feel comfortable and confident walking into a board room meeting but age appropriate enough that you could meet your friends after the dog show for dinner and drinks. 

White Top | Black Bra

Black bras under white tops is almost always a fashion no-no, especially at dog shows.  Yes, it can be fashionable and trendy to have different colored strappy bras peaking out of tops while out with friends or even in the gym. This is not the case at dog shows or in the workplace.

Here are some tips to keep your bra concealed as a supportive undergarment-
*White on white can be a highlighter. White bras under white tops can actually make your bra more visible. It's best to wear a nude bra under white tops
*If you discover your bra straps are slipping down your shoulder or are too big, use one of those safety pins from your dry cleaning and pinch the back straps together ~ this trick can also provide additional support if needed
*Wear a black top, wear a black bra. Enough said
*On some dresses there are little straps at the top seam, use these to secure and hide bra straps

Even if your "in ring" ensemble covers your top and bra, please be mindful of these tips because you never know who you could run into....judges, potential clients, potential puppy owners.

Staying on Trend....with Class

I have been absent from blogging and I apologize. During this absence the one request for a blog I am asked over and over again is write about the dress of young and teenager handlers. Now I realize I'm in that category and yes, I acknowledge I have worn things that may have been to short or tight and I regret that now. I regret those wardrobe choices because I've grown up and learned my audience - what type of person attending, exhibits, and judges dog shows.

I am not trying to look cute for date. I am not dressed to go to a bar or a club. I am not hanging out with friends of my own age. I am in front of parents, grandparents, children where tight, short skirts and plunging necklines should be left at home.

Don't just listen to me, here's a story a male judge once told me about ladies fashion choices.  While he judges Junior Showmanship he watches the Junior set up their dog (this was before it became a rule) to see "how" they did this. I tried to thank him for taking the time to actually judge Juniors and their handling ability. He stopped me before I was able to finish my thank you. He said, "I could be these girls' grandfather." I wasn't following where he was going with this message. I see some of these girls who are dressed like they could be my wife and others I simply cannot watch. He told me of one time he actually turned his back on a Junior while she was setting up her dog. He had to do this because she was a minor and he was an adult but her top was so low and skirt so shirt he had to morally avert his eyes.

Let's think about that - one hand Junior girls are dressed like they could be the wife of the average male Judge, on the other hand these girls are dressed so inappropriately a male judge can't watch a minor show their dog.

So what do we do? Wear age appropriate clothes and check fit. If a teenager would be embarrassed wearing their show clothes in front of their school for an award ceremony or similar event then maybe it's too old for them. If you cannot wear your show clothes to church or in front of your grandparents then maybe it's to sexy. Consider you audience and your age.

I hate packing!!!!

Packing, that tedious task that you absolutely have to do for yourself, by yourself. I have a crazy, busy couple of weeks coming up that requires being in different areas of the country, for totally different types of events. In fact, I have to pack for a week of work in Orlando, and my sister’s wedding in San Diego, all in the same suitcase! All this packing and planning has made me want to pull my hair out. Its the lugging around all the little extras that I hate the most.  I try to be a minimalist, but we all know that packing for dog shows requires being prepared for any and everything. Packing for a trip can be a daunting task.

So, how do we maximize space, and still fit a week, or more, into one suitcase? One word…SEPARATES! I love the new trend of separates, with mix and match tops and bottoms. It enables a lady to look contemporary, by combining several staple items in different ways on different days. Staple pieces might include lots of black and white;  pencil skirts, slacks, sweaters or even a blazer. These items can be combined with splashes of color to create countless looks. Fun, trendy jewelry and accessories can also make fun additions to change up these outfits. Think about the possibilities, and the space and weight saved in your suitcase.

The same goes for shoes, minimalism, not separates. Choose pairs that will can be worn with multiple outfits. When wearing the same couple of pairs for several days, remember to keep them clean. Inexpensive shoe polish sponges are great for quick cleans and don’t weigh too much. Some hotels will also have complimentary shoe polishers at the front desk.

I try to not overpack, because I don’t want to travel with a suitcase that is bigger than I am. I don’t want to worry about getting my bag off the airport luggage carousal. I need to be able to do travel on my own and still maintain the standards of appearance that dog show women have created. Remember, separates and staple items are our friends. Ladies, we CAN fit everything, including cosmetics, into one suitcase.

Please share your go-to packing tips.