According to an article published in the Mail last week women’s fashion has become more assertively sexy over recent years.  It is important if you want to be taken seriously at work that you dress appropriately for the environment in which you work.  You want to look feminine and classy not overtly sexy!  With redundancies at an all time high it is more important than ever to get it right at work when it comes to personal presentation. 

• Straining shirt buttons look tacky – make sure you buy shirts that do up comfortably.

• Overly short skirts give a similar message.  Keep hemlines on, below, or just above the knee.  Girls you can show off a great pair of legs at the weekend!

• To project an authoritative look aim for high contrast in your colour combinations.  Dark shades with lighter shades, or contrasting brighter colour combinations.  Wear more structured tailored styles.

• To look more approachable keep the colour contrasts to a minimum.  Use lighter softer colours and less structured or relaxed styles.

• The colours you wear can influence how others perceive you.  Red for example is seen as powerful, assertive, successful, but also aggressive and demanding.  Blue in comparison may create an impression of intelligent, trustworthy, credible and professional.  The best colours for you are determined by your skin, hair and eye colour.  Colour analysis will identify your own individual colour palette.

• Jewellery at work should be understated and kept to a minimum.  Too much is distracting and makes you look frivolous.

• Make sure your handbag is a good quality one and neat and formal looking.  Think of it like a man’s briefcase.  We have all seen the scruffy, bulging, tatty cases some men carry.  It makes them look disorganised and unprofessional!

 Remember no matter how good your figure the workplace is not the environment to show it off.  You are there to work not find a boyfriend, husband or partner.  Dressing as if you are going on a night out will convey a message that you do not take your work seriously and you will be treated as such! 

For more advice and to book a consultation email me at mary.errington@ntlworld.com or call me on 07766 466 688.

• Make sure you spectacles are clean – this applies to sunglasses also.  There is nothing more distracting than talking to someone with smeary glasses!

• The tip of your tie should finish just where the waistband on your trousers starts.  Short ties make you look silly and who wants that?  Oh and forget the jokey ties – people will be laughing at you, not with you!

• When wearing formal trousers your belt and shoes should match in terms of colour and finish e.g. shiny black shoes with shiny black belt.  Keep the buckle simple – save the chunky or rodeo style buckles for your jeans at the weekend.

• An overstuffed wallet wedged in to your back pocket does nothing for your image.  You will find that most of the items in there are not necessary every day – old receipts, business cards you have accumulated and so on.  Go through your wallet regularly and just keep in there what you actually need.  Oh and make sure your wallet is a good quality leather one.  Surf dude nylon ones won’t cut it if you’re not a surf dude!

• Check the length of your trousers and make sure the bottom of the hem rests where your shoe joins the heel.  The front should rest on the shoe.  Trousers dragging on the ground will fray and look scruffy and short trousers – well need I say?!

• Clean your shoes regularly (don’t forget the backs) and not with one of those quick shine pads.  The first thing women look at by the way is a man’s shoes.  It is worth spending money on good quality shoes.  They will look better and last longer!

• Loafers look fine with a casual shirt and cotton pants but they are probably too informal to wear with a suit.  Generally speaking lace-ups look better although dressier slip-ons can work.

• Cuff links should only be worn with a double cuff shirt.  This is the shirt of choice for a formal business look.  Keep cuff links simple and understated at work.  It looks much classier!

With the weather at the hottest it has been for a very long time in this country we can find ourselves wondering what to wear in the workplace that is cool and comfortable but still looks smart and professional.  Follow the tips below:

With the weather at the hottest it has been for a very long time in this country we can find ourselves wondering what to wear in the workplace that is cool and comfortable but still looks smart and professional.  Follow the tips below: