You can be ravishing at 20…  Charming at 40… Or be……………. irresistible -for the rest of your life!

As Master Image Consultant, Author, Speaker and appointed External Examiner for Asia Pacific Image Association- I am passionate about reminding especially women, to dress for success, and to prove the fact, that if you look good you will feel good and become irresistible!

Dressing Appropriately

’“Human Resources professionals estimate
that 95% of people dress inappropriately for their jobs!”

This issue has been on my mind for so long….Blame the “Dot Com” era of the mid 1990′s. “Casual Friday” started as way for business people to usher in the weekend by “dressing down” one day a week, and instantly, it became a daily uniform for many offices that soon spiralled so completely out of control that women who once went to work in suits and heels started reporting to work in shorts and flip-flops, looking as if they are going to the beach!

Thirty years after forcing our way into boardrooms around the world via the woman’s movement, we put our cause back at least sixty years in favor of casual clothing. Divested of the most powerful components of the business uniform- clothing elements, that have garnered respect and built fortunes for more than five hundred years. Today women are now working harder to earn less and stressing more than ever before…

Sloppy Dress

I travel  extensively on business, and image being my niche market I am astounded and at times speechless, at the dress of especially the women, also travelling ‘on business’- laptop, sandals, midriff showing, and ‘recycled Barbie’ hairstyles…not to mention tattoos, ankle chains and some unspeakable items showing! It is a fact that nine out of ten people head off to work every day in clothing that undermines their credibility, downplays their talents, and reduces their paychecks significantly. In the case of being underdressed, they put comfort ahead of appropriateness and their paychecks and self- esteem tell the tale.

Image vs. Talent

FACT: Today 85% of you reaching the pinnacle of your career has to do about how you ‘package yourself’- how you dress, speak and behave, and only 15% is about your skills!

“Casual Fridays?”

In this day and age of casual dress and relaxed attitudes, taking the time to dress appropriately for your industry, and learning, to behave in the correct manner, will put you so far ahead of just about anyone you work with, that the avalanche of benefits that you’ll enjoy will astound you!- Even on the now introduced ‘Casual Friday.”

Researchers have proven there is a great The PAY OFF for dressing and behaving in the correct manner, and the some of the benefits being:

• Complying with your request
• Trusting you with information
• Giving you access to decision makers
• Hiring you- and determining your salary!

First impressions DO matter-and it is not only about a pretty face or if you spent tons of time and money training for your career-Alternatively, even if you went to the “right” school, joined all the “right” organizations, or have an excellent resume….If you will jeopardize the way, you look, by showing up to work in clothes that never warranted a second thought. It is like cutting a perfect diamond, putting it in an elaborate setting, polishing it to a high sheen… and then wrapping it in a brown paper bag and wondering why no one gives it a second look.

Image Audit

Do the clothes you wear to work, accurately and immediately identify your position, income, and level of success-  You can look  the part, and’ fake it until you make it’- Dress the part, no matter what is in your purse! Always ask yourself the question: Does the way you look, instantly grant you access to the people and places that will help you advance your career- and that goes for the casual Friday look?

Why sell yourself short?

Even if you’re the brightest, smartest, wittiest, and most deserving woman in your office, if you don’t dress appropriately for your position, you’re not going to advance as quickly as you should.

Anne’s Hints

By simply taking the time to accurately match your business attire to your position, you could instantly change the outcome of every meeting you attend, every order you give, or every interaction you have with other people.

Casual Friday Dress

As a suit is still the most accepted from of dress for women in business, and this includes hose and closed shoes….casual in business never means sloppy, and will never the less still include a jacket, and this may be unstructured and less formal or tailored. Always closed shoes, which may be flat- never takkies or running shoes! A nice shirt and tailored jeans- never denim!

As Mark Twain so thoughtfully reminds us:

Clothes make the man- Naked men have no influence!