Accessories are an important part of your overall appearance and should match your dress code.  For example sports watches are exactly that and look out of place with corporate attire.  On men necklaces, bracelets, and chains that are visible detract from a formal business look.  Where women’s jewellery is concerned avoid pieces that clank, make noise or are overly cute when conducting business.  Your jewellery should compliment your look rather than be a distraction.  Call me on 07766 466 688 for more tips and advice 

At last the summer is here and we are experiencing some lovely warm weather.  Many of you will have booked your summer holiday and are looking forward to some well earned time off.  When it comes to packing we can all get a bit stuck and often end up taking far more than we need but even more annoying leaving out the very thing we should have popped in.  To help with this dilemma during June and July I am offering a 2 hour style session for £75, a 25 % discount.  I will come to you and go through your clothes with you to put together that perfect summer wardrobe.   It may be that you have all you need to take you through but if there are any gaps I can help you identify where they are and what extra items would be useful.  Give me a call on 0776 466 688 to find out more

• Choose one of your assets to accentuate not all of them.  Otherwise why would he want to date you again?  He has seen it all the first time and in his mind if he likes what he sees he will want to cut to the chase so to speak.  A bit of mystery holds a man’s interest more than anything else. 

• Aim for looking approachable rather than too perfect and polished - that can be scary for men.  They want to look after you and protect you not feel intimidated by you.

For more advice and to book a consultation email me at mary@maryerrington.co.uk or call me on 07766 466 688.

 

Girls one of the most important things to remember when you are going on a date is the message your clothes are giving your date.  You need to decide what message you want to send.  Do you for instance want to look attractive, alluring and sexy or tarty and easy?  If you want a man to respect you and want to get to know you choose the first option.  Men love the second but not for a girlfriend so decide what it is you are looking for.

 

• Wear something that you feel relaxed and comfortable in – no not your joggers or pyjamas!  I mean something you have tried on and know you won’t be checking that it hasn’t ridden up, slipped down, or revealed more than you thought it would.  

• Try your outfit on in the type of light you will be in on your date.  If you are meeting your date in the daytime try your outfit on in the daytime and not late at night in artificial light.  Similarly if you are dining by candlelight the colour of your outfit in daylight might be really pretty but at night might be bland and uninteresting.  Colours can look very different in different types of light.

• Sometimes taking a photo of yourself gives you a better idea of how something looks than just looking in the mirror.  Have you ever looked at photos of yourself and thought “oh my god”.  Well better to find that out before a date than during or after!

• For more advice and to book a consultation email me at mary@maryerrington.co.uk or call me on 07766 466 688.

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.

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:

 

LADIES 

• To keep you feeling and looking in work mode, as a general rule, avoid wearing anything that you wear on holiday, at the weekend or for going out.
• Keep to lighter colours and fabrics in natural fibres such as linen and cotton.  There are lots of lightweight and linen or linen mix suits in the stores at the moment.
• Dresses can be cooler as they are not restrictive around the waist.  Simple shift styles look both smart and professional.  Maxis are not for the office!
• As long as your legs can take it “no tights” is ok but use a light leg makeup for a smoother and more even look.  Otherwise hold ups are cooler.
• Knee length formal shorts generally look smarter than cropped trousers which can on many people reduce height and make you look dumpy.  If you do wear cropped trousers keep them tapered and just above the ankle and essentially with heels.  Shorts look great with sandal wedges or a mid heel both of which will be more comfortable than very high heels all day.  If toes are being seen you must make sure feet are in perfect condition – no dry rough skin and wear nail varnish.  No rubber flip-flops!
• Avoid exposing too much flesh.  Plunging necklines and skinny straps do not look appropriate in the office.  Wear sleeveless tops or crisp short sleeve shirts.  Remember neutral coloured underwear and keep it hidden!
• This is not the time for fussy hairstyles.  Keep them simple and if you have long hair wearing it up and away from the back of your neck will keep you cooler.
• Keep accessories simple but colourful.  An eye-catching necklace can change the look of a plain top instantly to something dressier!
• Earrings are better not too long or dangly – keep those for going out.
• Keep makeup to a minimum but do wear some.  There are very few women over 30 who don’t look better with a little makeup.  There are some great tinted moisturisers which are more comfortable than a heavy foundation.  Add colour with bronzers and a hint of blusher.  Go easy on the eye makeup – you can always add a little bit more at the end of the day if you are going out straight from work.
• Keep fragrances light and fresh and you will convey an impression of being calm and in control.  Keep a mini deodorant in your handbag or desk drawer and freshen up with wet-wipes at break times.
• Keep a bottle of water handy and sip frequently throughout the day.  This way you will remain hydrated, feel less tired and it will also reduce the likelihood of you getting a headache.
• Last of all smile.  It puts others at ease and makes you more approachable.

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