Top Ten Appropriate Tips
1. Buy the highest quality you can afford.
2. Wear what fits and skims over your body (nothing too tight or too baggy).
3. Have your clothes altered when you lose or gain weight so that you continue to wear clothing that fits you well and presents a polished appearance.
4. Wear clothes that make you feel invincible, professional, and powerful.
5. Choose three main colors for your classic timeless pieces on which you will spend the most money (jackets, pants, skirts).
6. Wear fashion colors in your accessories (ties or scarves, shirts or blouses).
7. Keep your hair styled and all forms of grooming up-to-date.
8. Check your shoes once a month for shine, run-down heels, and/or scuff marks.
9. If you are short on time, find the services you need to maintain your image (shoe repair, dry cleaners, manicurist, hair stylist, tailor or personal shopper).
10. Conquer your closet!
According to Ms. Lynne Marks of the London Image Institute, “Consistency in your image is the key to being taken seriously and creating trust. Our clients and co-workers are reassured when we dress with dignity and appear reliable, self-confident, and polished. Even when we are dressing casually, we want to look neat, coordinated, and appropriate. Consistency is a standard below which you will not fall.”
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Avoid the following (which present a “shabby” appearance)
• Clothing with frayed edges or faded colors
• Clothing that is wrinkled or held together with safety pins
• Scuffed shoes
• Uncombed hair
• No makeup (women) or an unshaven face (men)
• Shirttails not tucked in
• Flannel shirts
• Tops or sweaters that reveal undergarments
• Not wearing a belt with pants that have belt loops
• Not wearing nylons when legs are unshaven
• Wearing sandals when toes are not manicured
Avoid wearing these (which show too much skin)
• Clothing with a revealing neckline that shows cleavage
• Shirts that are too tight
• Any variation of shorts
• Sleeveless shirts or dresses that do not fit you properly at the armhole
• Halter-tops, tube tops, or spaghetti straps worn without a jacket
• Clothing that reveals your waistline or navel
• Skirts with long slits
• Mini-skirts
• Strappy ‘evening’ sandals
• Clothing that allows tattoos to show through
• Tank tops
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Clearing up “Casual Confusion”
The colors, fabrics, and styles of the clothing we wear often have a powerful influence on the people with whom we come into contact every day. We can learn to use this power to our advantage by keeping in mind the message we wish to send. Clothing should be avoided if it creates a distracting influence in the mind of your audience ~ or if it causes your listeners to concentrate their attention on you, rather than on your message. Consider the following:
Noisy Clothing
• Flip-flops
• Charm bracelets or multiple bangle bracelets
• Squeaky shoes
• Clothes with dangling beaded trim
Too-casual clothing
• Vacation clothes
• Clothing printed with “off-message” slogans
• Fabric with excessive shine, gold, silver, metals, or sequins
• Bright Hawaiian print shirts
• Baseball caps (outside of a sports venue)
• Garish prints or neon colors
Clothing printed with prominent brand names or logos
To learn more about our programs, visit
www.PhoenixImageInstitute.com. Article copy write of Powerful Appearance.
Posted By: Beverly Samuel
Thursday, June 15th 2006 at 3:25PM
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