Featured Article

 

Set yourself apart from the othersA small restaurant sold homemade pizza, submarine sandwiches, chicken wings, soft drinks and beer. The quality of food was excellent and the prices were good but the restaurant always seemed to be just getting by.

But then it went through a renovation. Not major, but substantial. New paint, new doors made of luxuriously stained wood, a few strategic potted plants and a new sign with a different name.

The restaurant wasn't sold and reopened under new management. Rather, the existing owners had upgraded. The former sub shop was now an Italian bistro, serving gourmet pizza, a variety of spaghetti and pasta dishes, trendy salads, cocktails and wine. Prices were considerably higher than they had been.

In a matter of weeks, the clientele changed. The parking lot was filled with expensive cars, and eventually customers were advised to make reservations.

Clearly, the restaurant had achieved increased profitability without spending much on upgrading its basic operations. Walls hadn't been torn down, and employee hours had not been expanded. But the upscale ambience attracted customers who were willing to pay a lot more for a meal and drinks.  This restaurant had figured out how to set itself apart from others.

Do you need to set yourself apart from others, too?

Your professional image is you most powerful marketing tool if used to your advantage. It can communicate quality, responsibility and success. It can make a difference in just keeping the job you have or having the job you really want.

Yet some women unknowingly undermine their professionalism by how they dress.  Women wear revealing clothing such as plunging necklines and short hemlines. Wearing the wrong clothes distracts others from the business at hand and you’ll run the risk of leaving a less than positive lasting impression.

If your goal is to be a well-dressed professional, manage your image just as you would your career and use the following guidelines:

  1. Choose clothing styles that flatter your body shape
  2. Understand the message of color
  3. Dress appropriately for work
  4. Pay attention to proper hygiene

Dressing for your body shape

Understanding how to dress for your own unique size and shape is the key to a polished professional look.  Even the most expensive outfit won’t look good if the cut of the clothing is wrong for your body shape.

Here are a few things to keep in mind for women:

  • If you are large busted avoid sleeve lengths ending at the bust line.  Avoid horizontal lines or stripes at bust level, wear vertical lines instead.  Large busted women should avoid high-waisted looks that draw attention to the bust line. Wearing open collars and v-neck tops rather than turtlenecks help minimize a large bust line.
  • If your waist is wide, keep your belts narrow and the same color as the garment.  Wearing blouses and tops that aren’t tucked in are the best look for a large waist. 
  • When hips are narrower than the shoulders, wear garments with hip pockets, gathered skirts and straight, boxed jackets. Skirts are best if flared.  When hips are wide, avoid pockets or excessive fullness at the hip line. 
  • If you have a large fanny, choose skirts with an A-line rather than straight. Slightly fitted and moderately tapered jackets are best.  A box jacket with straight lines will not work with a large fanny, unless it is short and worn with a flared skirt.  Never wear a jacket that is too long to cover up- it can make you look top heavy. 
  • Pants that fit loose in the thigh area work best to hide wide thighs.  Avoid pants that taper at the ankle.  Always wear pants with a slight flare or straight legs.
  • Avoid cuffs if your legs are short.  Blouses and tops should be even shorter for a more balanced look.  If you have long legs, wear pants with cuffs and jackets that end slightly below the crotch.  Avoid high-waisted styles and wide belts. 
  • If you are very thin, add fullness in sleeves, wear prints and clothes with details.  If you are overweight, use color to draw the eye upward to your face and away from the body. Wear solid colors and the more vertical seams an outfit has the slimmer you will look.

Color: Color plays an important role in our image. It helps us express ourselves as individuals, it influences our emotions and it influences our impression of others. If you understand some of the fundamental associations of color, you can project more power, confidence and influence.

Red: Signifies passion, sentiment, excitement, vibrancy and aggression. It is perceived as a “power” color. If you are a shy person, incorporate red into your wardrobe to be viewed as assertive. Wine, burgundy, rose, mauve are other options.

Blue: Signifies calmness, restfulness, high esteem, truthfulness and formality. Navy blue is an excellent choice to use as a base in your wardrobe and gives the feeling of authority when worn in business.

Purple: Signifies royalty, dignity, power, wealth, drama, mystery and passion. Purple is the perfect color choice for blouses, scarves and other accent pieces. Other shades of purple such a violet, lilac and plum are also good choices for accent colors.

Black: Signifies mystery, seriousness, sophistication, strength and wisdom. Black is the best choice for formal attire and is another strong “power” color. Wear it with caution since it can appear harsh against most skin tones. Wear black with a more flattering color in a blouse or scarf near your face. Black is the best daytime color for women who appear frequently in public and best of all, black is slimming.

Brown: Signifies stability, being grounded and warmth. Wear this color if you want to put people at ease. This is another good choice for a basic wardrobe color and goes with many accent colors including white, cream, blue, pink, green, red and turquoise.

Gray: Signifies modesty and seniority. Gray works with a variety of colors including black, white, red, navy, light blue and pink. Gray is an excellent choice for someone who doesn’t want to attract a lot of attention or wants to appear approachable.

Dressing appropriately for work

As women, the more skin we show, the less credible we appear. Skirts that are too short or blouses that are too low can be a big distraction for co-workers. Skirts should not be shorter than three inches above the knee. You should never show cleavage at work, not even a little. Pay attention to your undergarments. Keep bra straps hidden. If you are wearing a sleeveless blouse, the straps should not show. Be sure you check you derriere before you leave home. Visible panty lines are not flattering to any body size or shape. Companies complain that some women dress as if they were going to a club. Their attire is too sexy or trendy for the business environment. Tight clothing, midriff-revealing styles and sheer blouses without proper coverage underneath are seen as unprofessional. Distracting accessories or body piercing like belly-button rings, tongue rings or tattoos at the base of the spine can be viewed as incredibly sexy. That message doesn't work at work.

Proper Hygiene

Wrinkled or stained clothing, bad breath, body odors and dandruff detract from your professional image. Unkempt hair, dirty fingernails and an unshaven face are viewed as inappropriate in the business environment. People will assume that if you don't care about the details of your image, you won't pay attention to the little things when dealing with coworkers or customers. Just like the restaurant, it doesn’t take a lot of money to upgrade your professional image. It just takes thought and planning.This upgrade can make a big difference in your career and in increasing your own profitability.

 

Susan Stacey

Information about Susan Stacey, Elements of Style:

Susan Stacey has worked in sales, marketing and education before launching Elements of Style (www.youhavestyle.biz) in 2005. Stacey helps clients discover their unique style to create an image that makes them feel confident and leaves others with a lasting impression. She also presents workshops and seminars on professional image to corporate clients who understand how the messages of clothing and grooming can impact their own professional success and the company’s bottom line. To contact Stacey, call 1-207-740-1444 or e-mail susan@youhavestyle.biz .

success management center

 

"" top

 

 

 

For more Business articles >>