GUYS – HOW TO LOOK YOUR PROFESSIONAL BEST

Is image important for guys? You bet it is! In his book Reinventing Work: the Brand You 50, renowned author Tom Peters elaborates in great detail why it’s important to transform yourself from an “employee” into a “brand” that shouts distinction, commitment and passion. And when there is a lack of personal information about you, the first thing that people who meet you will to judge you by is your image.

The good news is: Image is the easiest part to take care of. By changing any part of your appearance such as hairstyle, grooming or clothing, you can change the total image others perceive of you. Just how professional you appear to others is determined by your overall physical condition and appearance, helped along by clothing that allows you to state who you are.

The first step to create a professional look is to plan your career wardrobe. You may need to coordinate your wardrobe to create more outfits from your existing items. Determine what you already have that is useful and looks good on you. Get rid of garments and accessories you have negative feelings about. As such, you are in the process of cleaning and straightening your closet. If you plan your wardrobe well enough, you will not need to spend a great deal of money on new clothes. Remember, your wardrobe planning is a gradual process and it is never completely finished as it changes when you change your clothing goals and ideas. For example, a starter wardrobe to meet professional dressing needs would be two suits, two jackets/blazers, three trousers and 10 shirts.

Studies have shown that certain clothes create an air of authority and professionalism to the person wearing them, and here are some suggestions for you to enhance your authority on your job:-

1. Wear quality
2. Wear a jacket, with a long-sleeve shirt, if necessary
3. Wear subtle, sophisticated colours such as navy, dark gray, black etc. If you like bright colours, wear them on tie print or a shirt stripe
4. Wear small, sophisticated prints and tweeds rather than large shapes and designs
5. Carry a fine leather briefcase, preferably in a dark colour
6. Always look and act professional ie keep a consistently high standard to your look

Another area you must look into when planning your wardrobe is your clothing colours. Colours can enhance your appearance. The colours you wear are determined by your feelings about colour, your personality, and your personal colour harmony. Find your best colours and build a coordinated wardrobe around them. When you build your wardrobe around two or three basic colours, you are maximising your choices for mixing and matching. Here are some things to remember about colour:-

1. Light and bright colours make you appear larger
2. Dark and dull colours make you appear smaller
3. Bright colours with textures make skin blemishes more obvious
4. Bright colours in large amounts makes you look tired

It is also important to pay attention to your hair, nails and fragrances besides having a professional career wardrobe. These are your important final touches which you should not neglect. However, it is better for understatement rather than overdoing it.

You should keep your hair simple, clean and well-cut. A conservative professional appearance requires hair to be cut above the ears with short side-burn. Generally, moustaches and beard are discouraged for conservative appearance and if you prefer to have either of them, make it a point to keep it neat and trimmed.

Your nails should be clean, trimmed and in good condition at all times. Use hand lotion for rough, chapped hands to avoid making a bad impression when shaking hands. Also, fragrances should be kept to a minimum because you would not want to overwhelm the people you meet!

After evaluating your clothing needs and purchases, here are some shopping tips:-

1. Shop early for the best selection for size, colour and style you want
2. Find two or three clothing manufacturers that have your type of clothing preference and stay with them
3. Find two or three stores/shops you like and stay with them
4. Don’t be an impulsive or indecisive shopper
5. Buy what you need and not what you want
6. Be satisfied with price, fit, style and colour before you make the purchase



Article contributed by June Tan, a consultant with Image Coach International. To get a FREE ebook, write to coach@imagecoach.com.sg or visit: www.imagecoach.com.sg.