CEO Style File

Investors favor certain female CEOs but not because of their acquisition track record!

It's because they are hot. That's right- H-O-T. On fire. Smokin'. This piece on Forbes.com could have been insightful if it got to the real reason why investors like these female chief executives, which is really because of their looks. According to a study done by Tufts university, the performance levels of America's top companies could be related to the first impressions made by their CEOs.

Without knowledge of the pictured individuals’ job titles, and by rating the faces on competence, dominance, likeability, facial maturity and trustworthiness, the students were able to distinguish between the successful and the not-so-successful CEOs.

Despite the ambiguity of the images, which were cropped to the face, put into grayscale and standardized in size, ratings of power- and leadership-related traits from CEOs’ faces were significantly related to company profits.

If this is the case, here are our top five picks for women CEOs who are not only gorgeous, but their total return to investors since they have become chief executives has sky rocketed:

1) Andrea Jung, CEO of Avon Products: Annual revenue: $9.93 billion Total return: 13.9% annual

Why we like her: Um, she looks like a super model and carries a Birkin. Enough said.

  2) Indra Nooyi, CEO and Chairman of Pepsico: Annual reveune: $39.47 billion Total retun: 9.4% annual

Why we like her: She just looks nice, doesn't she? And we love how she's always rockin' the pearls around her neck!

3) Christina Gold, CEO of Western Union: Annual revenue: $4.9 billion Total return: 12.5% annual

Why we like her: She's pretty in a Greenwich, CT kind of way; we dig her preppy style and simple makeup.

4)Linda Lang, CEO of Jack in the Box: Annual revenue: $2.87 billion Total return: 28.5% annual

Why we like her: Because she looks like Rachel Ray, the "most trusted face in television."

5) Meg Whitman, CEO of Ebay (but stepping down shortly): Annual revenue: $7.67 billion Total return: 32.5% annual

Why we like her: She's not wearing it in this picture, but usually she is sporting a scarf around the neck- like a signature accessory.

What your luggage says about you.

So if any of you are trapped in the northeast (or God forbid, one of the airports) this weekend, then you know the importance of having your luggage. But if you are a super stylish CEO, the last thing you want is something that doesn't reflect your personality. Lucky for you we came across this awesome piece on ForbesTraveler.com. This is what some of their luggage pics say about you:

Nothing says "That's right kids I am a woman and run a hudge fund/private equity shop/investment bank"  than the Eole rolling duffle Louis Vuitton travel duffle. It comes in two sizes and two fabrics with anti skid wheels and a large front pocket and zip closure. Price:$1800

For those that are a little more conservative and run a technology company, recruiting firm, or ConAgra, these pieces are from the Hartman's Wings canvas collection are understated and are not gender specific.  It's made of lightweight textured polyester canvas with a cognac leather trim. The tote goes for $295 and the 24 inch traveler goes for $550.

Those that are running and architecture firm, The MoMa or Phillipe Stark's empire also have luggage which reflects their personality.  The Alexander McQueen "Black Label" luggage collection can be carried by men (either gay or VERY metro sexual men) or by women and comes in either a design with an imprint of the human torso or a crocodile skin pattern. The white suitcase, $750 and white beauty case, $555; black upright suitcase $750 and black beauty case $435.)

Marco Giacometi is the new chief executive of Tod's USA!!

Wow, retail is really having some upper management shifts. Marco Giacometti just became the new CEO of Tod's USA. He's been at the company for 9 years, so we are sure his collection of Tod's driving shoes are plentiful and impeccable.

And we quote: Carl Icahn on Macy's chief exec., Terry Lundgren.

With plummeting retail sales numbers and an overall bleak outlook for the retail industry, we can understand why Carl Icahn is poking a little fun at Macy's Inc. chief executive officer Terry Lundgren, reports Womens Wear Daily. "He's a lovely guy. I see him at the tennis matches, and say, 'Terry, why aren't you working?" "As you know, we have a large position [in Macy's] and have been losing a lot of money on it." Still, with Macy's slumping, and recently having announced a round of store closings, Icahn characterized the retailer as "a very good" company.

A "very good" company??? Is he serious?? Clearly he hasn't been shopping in Macy's like, EVER. The merchandise is terrible and thier flagship store is just sad. They need more than just a financial makeover for this company to get back on their feet.

Calvin Klein Collection gets a new chief!!

Robert Vignola is psyched. The ex chief executive and president of Judith Lieber was just appointed to the new position of "president" at Calvin Klien Collection on Friday. This is actually quite interesting. Vignola is most famous for moving the Judith Lieber brand away from those old lady minaudiere handbags (you know the ones- they are crystal encrusted handbags sitting in your ex-wife's/grandmother's/great aunt's closet) by expanding the product to include shoes, eyewear and fine jewerly. He also darshaned Rachel Zoe's collaboration with LIEBER. The result were these AMAZING handbags that your current wife/sister/best friend carries! He thought "Judith Lieber" was synonymous with stagnation, so he changed the name of the brand to a sleek, LIEBER (um ,doesn't that sound SO MUCH BETTER??). Since the post is new, it's hard to say what Vignola will actually do to make Calvin Klien Collection better (he's in charge of sales and merchandising). We just know we adore LIEBER, so we are sure the brand is in good hands!!

Vikram Pandit: Definitely NOT Gordon Gekko

(Vikram Pandit, the new chief executive of Citigroup. He doesn't look like a corporate shark and maybe that's a good thing!)

If you haven’t already heard, Vikram Pandit is the new chief executive of Citigroup. Unlike his predecessors, Pandit is not a flashy, slick sales guy by any means. He's slight. He wears glasses which are reminiscent of our favorite college professor. He has a PhD. and speaks in a soft, self- effacing voice according to New York Magazine. This bit of information got us thinking- for almost a decade, chief execs like Michael Eisner, Richard Branson even Leona Helmsley may be (or have been in the case of Helmsley) brilliant business people in designer clothes, but are they better than someone like Pandit? No way. Maybe being a little under the radar gets you further...

Billionaire holiday wish lists.

(Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks wants a new pair of dancing shoes for the holidays...oh yeah, and an NBA trophy for his team!!) 

Interloping on the spending habits of billionaires never gets old, especially if you are a billionaire yourself. Despite bonuses being slashed, an imminent credit crisis and a collapsing real estate market, mega wealthy peeps are still spending up a storm reports the Wall Street Journal. Shoppers worth $10 million or more plan to boost holiday spending by up to 67% this year and will be putting their money into jewelry (average expenditure will be $152,400), yacht charters ($487,000) and of course, fashion items ($46,200). Other top gifts include, life coaching sessions, commissioned biographies and large charitable donations in the name of a loved one.

But Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and a dot-com billionaire is keepin’ it real this holiday season. In addition to an NBA trophy for his team (yeah, that’s really going to happen), he’s putting a 32-gigabyte flash drive, and a new pair of ballroom dancing shoes at the top of his list. Tech titan Sam Wyly isn’t going overboard with his gift list either. He wants books for Christmas- "Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942," by Daniel Ford was top on his list as well as his favorite pecan pie baked by his assistant.

Fortune’s 25 most powerful people in business: a fashion FYI

(Lloyd Blankfein, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs is #3 on Fortune's list and had a major makeover in the past ten years)

(Rumor has it that Bill Gates.founder and chairman of Microsoft and founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and #7 on the Fortune list, wears a toupee!!)

Fortune gave you the reasons why they think these guys (and one woman) made their 25 most powerful people in business but didn’t include any interesting information on how these power players dress. So after a weekend of non stop reporting, calling and in some cases stalking (j/k!) we’ve created our own list of fashion and style FYIs. Here are the first 10:

1) Steve Jobs Chairman and CEO, Apple: Jobs famously wears the black turtleneck and jeans to work every day of the week.

2) Rupert Murdoch Chairman and CEO, News Corp: For someone who is all about creating a stir in the media industry, Murdoch is surprisingly under the radar with what he wears. His usual dark suit and not-so-stylish glasses may not make the news, but his deals like the acquisition of Dow Jones and the launch of Fox Business News definitely have.

3) Lloyd Blankfein, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs: Blankfein went from frumpy to fantastic in less than a decade reports the New York Times. He was once seen on the golf course wearing tube socks, shorts and was 50 lbs heavier. Blankfein now wears navy pinstripes and a red power ties.

4) Eric Schmidt, Larry Page and Sergei Brin, CEO, President, Products; President, Technology; Google: Eric Schmidt doesn’t wear a tie to the office very often. When he does he evokes reactions from Larry Page and Sergei Brin like, “You are wearing a tie today! Is everything ok with you?”

5) Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO,

Berkshire

Hathaway: Used to wear cotton shirts, slacks and a blazer and has recently upgraded to off the rack Ermenegildo Zegna suits that cost $1500 each. He will not, however upgrade his glasses- he’s had those for years.

6) Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO, Exxon Mobil: Ok, couldn’t find a lot on this guy, but trust us, WE WILL FIND IT!

7) Bill Gates, Founder, chairman of Microsoft; founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Rumor has it, he wears a toupee.

8) Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO, GE: Like Eric Schmidt, Immelt rarely wears a tie unless he has an important meeting with a fellow CEO. Most days he’s casually dressed in a dark suit or in slacks and a sweater vest.

9) Katsuaki Watanabe, President,

Toyota

: Wears conservative grey suits.

10) A.G. Lafley, Chairman and CEO, Procter & Gamble: Nothing flashy about this guy. Lafley always wears his rimless eyeglasses, an off white button down shirt, dark trousers and thick soled dark shoes.

von Furstenberg supports Clinton, but will she give her a style makeover?

Senator Clinton is desperately in need of a stylist among other things if she wants to lasso the support of professional women. Despite Diane von Furstenberg reaching out to the “very large constituency” of power women who wear her clothes as a way to help garner votes (sic money) for the senator, Clinton is having a hard time appealing to the professional alpha female reports the Wall Street Journal.

What are some of the reasons? First, professional women are making bank- so more than likely they are going to support a traditional low-tax territory of the Republicans. Second, professional women are THINKERS. They want less “rah rah” and more substance. Third (and this is just us speculating) these power women can’t relate to a frump-tastic potential world leader!

Instead of standing by Clinton, chief executives like Meg Whitman (CEO of eBay) and Kerrii Anderson (CEO of Wendy’s International) have held fundraisers for Mitt Romney and have endorsed former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Even queen alpha female Oprah Winfrey is giving her time, money and media power to Barack Obama.

In addition to soliciting the support of her wrap dress wearing customers, maybe von Furstenberg can also lend Clinton something cute to wear on the campaign trail… just sayin’.

Esther Dyson comes in at #9 on Silicon Alley 100

(Esther Dyson, chief executive of Edventure, and one of our favorite columnists. Picture courtesy of oreillynet.com.)

Ok, we admit there are a lot of powerful smart women on our "women to admire and aspire to be like" list, but Esther Dyson is one of our favorites. She has a degree in economics from Harvard, worked at Forbes as a journalist and continues to write several columns all while running her company EdVentures. In a sea of young girls behaving badly or gold digger women having their own reality shows, Dyson reminds us why it's important to a) work hard b) have an opinion and c) express that opinion as long as it's smart. To check out who else made the list, click here.  Dyson isn't exactly a style star, but who cares? In her case, what she does is way more important than anything she could ever sport.

Other women who made the list include Wenda Millard, President of Media for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (she rocks a slick Anna Wintour bob which is really cool), Sarah Chubb, President of CondeNet (oversees style.com and acquires Facebooks apps called "What are you wearing?" We also hear she carries a KILLER "power" handbag) and Daphne Kwon chief executive of ExpoTV.

You go ladies!