First impressions and your image count for a lot these days--maybe more than ever before. A tailored resume, a skillful cover letter, and a contact inside the company might get your foot in the door for an interview, but that door can slam shut if you show up looking unkempt, mismatched, or ill-fitted (don't believe me? read about the results of a study about the impressions that hiring managers get about interviewees before anyone has a chance to talk).
If you do manage to land a job despite your wayward appearance, you could find yourself plateaued right from the start if you don't portray the professional image that's necessary to be taken seriously and get promoted.
Your image can open doors of opportunity for you, and generally make you feel great about yourself, but it's not something most people can figure out on their own--leave this one to the pros. If you didn't make the makeover event on June 16th in Denver, then take the pros' advice home with you in the new book, Inspired Style!, which includes strategies from 20+ top coaches, image consultants, and fashion experts, including Denver's own Milena Joy, to help you always "look and be your best." To give you just a taste of what this book has to offer, here are just a few of its 'golden nuggets' of image wisdom.
From Milena Joy's chapter, Secrets of a Stylish, Yet Savvy Shopper:
- Secret #6: Know Your Budget and Buy the Best You Can Afford. "Allocate more of your budget to spend on classic pieces, which will stay in style longer than trendy pieces that go out of style quickly. Next, calculate the cost per wear. The more often you wear an item, the less it actually costs you to wear it each time." Calculating ROI on your clothing may sound strange at first, but how much real value have you received from that $200 dress or $80 pair of jeans that you've worn only twice in the past year?
- Secret #7: Buy Only What You Love. "When you are in the dressing room and you have found a few pieces that look great on you and meet your budget, your next qualifying criteria is, do you love it? Whether a piece is five dollars or five hundred dollars, only buy it if you truly love how it looks and feels on you. Instead of blankly staring into your closet every day, wondering what to wear, you will instead be overwhelmed with delight in choosing which favorite outfit to wear next!" I remember, years ago, when I was shopping and found a dress that I really liked. But something made me hang it up in front of me and ask myself, "how often will I actually reach into the closet to put this on?" The answer was "not often enough" so the decision was easy: I left the dress at the store for someone else who loved it more than I did and, as much as I really liked that dress, I haven't regretted the decision at all.
From Cheryl Obermeier's chapter, The Law of Attractive, Because Looking the Part is Half the Battle :
The Three Golden Questions of Image Management:
- What will I be doing today?
- What message do I want to send?
- How can I construct an image dynamically attractive to what I want?
Cheryl offers some inspirational words from the immortal fashion icon, Coco Chanel:
“I don’t understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little—if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that’s the day she has a date with destiny. And it’s best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.”
From Debbie Wright's chapter, Stepping Out of Sweatpants and Into Style: Look Your Personal Best Every Day—No Excuses!
Here are [some of] your casual wardrobe staples, the building blocks for all lifestyle needs. Think of these items as the foundation to create multiple wardrobe looks:
- Two pairs of dark denim jeans that you feel great in. One pair should be hemmed to accommodate flat shoes for a more casual look, and the other should be hemmed for the heel that you are most
comfortable wearing, for a dressier look. - Basic white and black T-shirts. These are staple pieces that should be replaced each season. They offer the versatility to be worn alone with great accessories or layered under jackets and sweaters.
- Black fitted jacket. Fashion and function. A black jacket is a wonderful investment to make regardless of your current lifestyle. Worn casually or worn over a dress or as a suiting separate, this is a great item to own. Watch the fit, make sure it flatters.
This book will be one you refer to often as you begin to cultivate your own personal style and carve out your place in the work world. It's geared toward women, but guys need to be concerned about their image, too, and can learn a thing or two from the book. Buy it, read it, learn from it, then give it to your sister--she'll be thrilled.
Milena Joy, who is based right here in Denver, is offering her chapter of Inspired Style! at no cost so you can sample some of its helpful advice. Click here to download it right now! You'll also see the entire Table of Contents of this valuable book and a special link to buy your own copy of the entire e-book. The print edition is available on Milena's site (if you buy the print book, you'll get the e-book free!).
Right now, at the beginning of your career, is the time to get your professional image put together and polished so it can help grease the skids toward your personal and professional goals, so I highly recommend this book!
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