In the first ten seconds, your image influences the people you meet – Yikes! With this in mind we’ve asked the Founder of Singapore’s image consulting firm Image Avenue to share her tips that you can use right away to dress for success.
Mark Twain once said, “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society. What you wear in the corporate world might be more important than what you think. You only have the first 30 seconds to create a first good impression. The better you are dressed, the more confident you will feel. Feeling good about how you look will help you exude confidence – whether it’s during a major presentation or during a job interview.”
Abraham Rutchick, a psychology professor at California State University, Northridge said, “When you look in the mirror and you are dressed well, you feel good about yourself, and you are investing in yourself. It’s not that clothes will make you smarter, but you might feel more creative or look at things on a wider scale based on what you are wearing”.
Joy Koh knows exactly what this means. Founder of one of Singapore’s leading image consulting firms Image Avenue, she summarizes four simple dressing tips that anyone can use right away to build confidence and influence.
Dress Sharply
Even if the company has a casual dress code, you should not be wearing t-shirts, shorts, ripped jeans or flip-flops to work. Smart options include business shirts, dress pants, blouses, skirts and structured dresses. You may also want to opt for favoured business colours such as black, blue, or white. According to a survey carried out by CareerBuilder with about 2000 hiring managers, the managers associated blue with trustworthiness and confidence; black with leadership and white with efficiency.
Be Well-Groomed
An expensive working wardrobe is not necessary. More importantly, outfits should be pressed, clean and well-fitted. Make sure that your hair is neatly styled. Nails must be well groomed and clean. Keep scent light – too much perfume or cologne is an instant image destroyer.
Strike a Balance
Put on something unique that helps you to stand out. For example, a man can wear tie with patterns and a woman can wear a pair of interesting but subtle earrings. However, prints and patterns must be not be too flashy or distracting. Wear no more than eight pieces of accessories, including belt and bag.”
Shoes Make an Outfit
Invest in comfortable, polished and work-appropriate shoes. Scruffy shoes spoil your otherwise perfect outfit instantly. Women can wear comfortable heels about one to two inches high. Men should invest in a pair of leather dress shoes.
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