Style with Substance - How to Dress for Success by Sue Courtney

Style with Substance Wins the Day

To be a high-flyer today you need to develop your style as well as your skills – and that requires a long term plan.

Is it widely accepted that today you need to make the right first impression to get ahead of the competition. You are well on the way to achieving this as you have been wise enough to claim your copy of my booklet – “The Ultimate Guide to Personal Rebranding for Professional Females Climbing the Corporate Ladder”.

When it comes to a job interview, first day in a new role or asking for a pay review it is essential to ensure you look the part, not just on that occasion, but every day.

This may require a mindset shift. When you go shopping for work clothes be mindful that you are not just buying another dress, skirt or suit – you are buying your future success. Do not dismiss the psychological and financial advantages to be gained from dressing well.

You are aiming to develop a look that delivers the message that you are professional, trustworthy, responsible, sincere, likeable and represent yourself and the company well. Not too tall an order then?

I suggest developing a long term buying plan to enable you to save for the very best quality clothes you can possibly afford, replacing or adding to your wardrobe of elegant, timeless classics every year.

Here’s how it works.

You really need two good quality suits to start but if money is an issue then make do with a couple of middling-quality suits to begin with. Add a new, top quality suit every two years until you have at least five. You can mix dress suits, skirt suits and trouser suits. The joy of this system is that if you buy the very best quality in  classic colours and styles that suit your body shape you will be able to wear them for ten or twenty years, just updating your accessories to ring the changes. It is a very cost effective way to shop and brings the ‘cost-per-wear’ of each suit down to negligible amounts. A cheap, fashion suit will last only a season or so – not a good investment of your hard-earned cash (and you will appear less successful and less professional).

Next come shoes. Buy shoes with leather uppers and leather soles in the classic court style. I suggest starting with a nude pair with a medium heel so they are comfortable. Then add the basic black, brown, navy, tan and grey. Bright colours and fashion styles are best left to weekends and evenings. As well as these basic shoes remember to buy a pair of flat ballet pumps in each colour for travelling to work  in comfort and style. (You know my thoughts on wearing trainers to work.) Again, the investment in quality footwear will ensure that, if looked after properly, they will reward you with years of use.

A stylish coat for warmth is essential. I urge you to buy a classic style and colour in good quality fabric. It should just cover your skirts – not too long or short. I suggest buying one every two years until you have a choice of three and also adding a trench mac for summer. Avoid the fashion styles and opt for quality.

Next comes the bag – an essential piece of any woman’s wardrobe. Your handbag needs to be big enough to carry all your essentials. A medium sized, leather bag of good quality will reward you with years of use if you select the right style. Try to avoid matching bag and shoes – this is such a cliché and unnecessarily frumpy. You can inject a little personality and colour with a well chosen bag. If you need to take lunch, a change of shoes and other items then avoid plastic carrier bags, beach bags and rucksacks. (However practical they aren’t stylish and don’t exude an aura of elegance, sophistication, professionalism and style!) Instead choose a large, unstructured (but still good quality leather) bag to hold all your bits and have a clutch bag, which will fit neatly in the big bag, for your handbag. Thus, everything you need fits neatly into one stylish bag – a stylish and practical alternative. You could even fit in a notebook or ipad.

Now, I have lost count of the number of professional women who spoil a really smart look with a cheap, high fashion, plastic, coloured watch. A watch is an item that you wear every day. It is very visible and in constant use so invest in the best you can afford – a classic style with a metal or brown leather strap that will last five years or so. Then in five years replace it with a top quality watch that will last you many years. It really is an investment.

It pains me to say this, but it really may be sensible to upgrade your phone every two to three years in order to be seen to be keeping up with technological advances. The men love their toys and will usually have the newest technology – to look professional and current you will have to do the same – sorry.

If you wear glasses then I suggest having at least three pairs in styles that flatter your face and in different colours so you can ring the changes. It is something that men rarely do and it shows that you have thought about your look and taken care over your appearance. However, avoid very outrageous styles – you are still aiming to look professional, elegant and stylish – not a figure of fun! Change your frames every two years to stay current.

So that is how the plan works. In essence it is all about buying the best you can possibly afford at the time and building on it. Buy items that you can mix-and-match for maximum value and take the best possible care of your investments – for investments they undoubtedly are. Underestimate the importance of presenting the right image at your peril. If you look the part and show that you take care of the details in your appearance people will automatically assume that you can be relied upon to take care of the detail and be professional in your work.

To find out more go to www.freepersonalrebrandingbook.co.uk to claim your FREE copy of my book "The Ultimate Guide to Personal Rebranding for Professional Females Climbing the Corporate Ladder". It is full of top tips and completely FREE!