Do you ever feel that you’re not projecting the right image for professional success? That your look is holding you back in ways such as not being hired, promoted, or turning off potential clients?
If so, there’s no time like the present to start over. You’ll need the desire to change, the ability to follow through on goals, and a clear approach.
Here are six steps to starting over for a more professionally dressed you:
Step 1: Determine what image you want to present in your professional life.
You’ve probably heard that it’s recommended that you dress for the job you want, not the one you have. That’s good advice, but even if you plan on staying put or own your own business, you still want to look the part. For instance, if you’re VP of Marketing or striving for that position, you want to have a look that says professional, authoritative, and yet approachable all at the same time. Colors are a big part of image. Browns are great for school teachers and others wanting to be thought of as traditional, but black and shades of blue, especially navy, are better choices for business professionals, especially marketers. Gray, especially dark gray, is also a good choice.
Step 2: Go through all of your career clothing, shoes, and accessories and throw away, donate, or pack away anything that doesn’t fit right, is too old, or doesn’t project the right image. Clothing that is too small never gives off the right impression, clothing that is too big can make a person look sloppy, and cheap-looking costume jewelry doesn’t project success. Polish your shoes.
Step 3: Separate your clothing according to career or casual. One option is to put all of your career clothing and accessories in one closet. Separate dresses, pants, shirts and jackets or group them into colors. Hang accessories for work on closet walls with adhesive hooks or buy a jewelry storage solution designed to hang on a closet pole. Complete this career closet with storage for all of your career shoes.
Step 4: Buy accessories and additional clothing to help you achieve the look you want. For instance, would that outfit look more professional or flattering if you added a belt to it, a necklace, or a sharp-looking pen.
Step 5: Consider your hair. Have you been to the stylist recently? If not, maybe it’s time to get your hair in order. For women, also consider your makeup or lack of it. Wearing too much makeup doesn’t look professional, while wearing a small amount of makeup is usually thought of as completing an outfit.
Step 6: Consider your casual clothes too, especially for those hoping to attract new clients or a new job. You never know who you might run into during that quick run to the grocery store. Throw away, donate, or pack away anything that doesn’t fit right, is too old, or doesn’t project the right image.
Step 7: After you’ve achieved the look you want, when shopping for new clothing and accessories, ask yourself, “Will this help me to project the image I want?” If it doesn’t project the right image, don’t buy it.
Contact Delphinium today to make sure your business is projecting a clear, consistent, and professional image with it’s website and other marketing materials.
Just like your personal image, your business image is so important to success. Delphinium provides affordable branding services to new and existing businesses, including logos, business cards, websites, brochures, etc. New and existing businesses may benefit from a brand alignment audit that determines how consistent a brand’s message and image is across various media. Call or text 304-207-0795.