The key to nailing a good impression every time is to take the time to carefully select your clothes and accessories. I understand that you may have grown comfortable with a sweats and t-shirt uniform during your college days. There is no need to go all out because we are in an environment that is “relaxed” and informal.
You have been around the college scene so long that you might even think taking the time to look put together is a generational thing. You know, something that was important in the past, but millennials don’t subscribe to it. After all, startups don’t require that you iron your “casual” gear. Why would someone iron leggings or a sweatshirt?
Be certain of this truth: good grooming is always noticed. I am not saying that you should go buy a whole new wardrobe of clothes that don’t match your style or personality. What I am saying is people notice everything about you and pass judgment on what they see. The fact of the matter is that the degree of care you put into your appearance translates into how people perceive you. It might even make the difference in getting that job offer.
Here is my list of the essential steps to a polished look for the interview and professional life:
People always notice creases on clothes. It seems old fashioned to expect clothes to be ironed, but the truth is that it makes a significant difference between a good first impression and a stellar first impression.
If you don’t believe me, take a look at clothing catalogs, what attracts you to the outfits the models are sporting? The degree of care that went into curating and ironing the outfit so that you would want to buy it. I used to work retail during my last year of college and every item that wasn’t leather had to be steamed; there was no way we could sell the item with the creases it had from its shipping box.
My advice is to find the best iron you can afford. A good iron cuts down ironing time significantly. I own a professional iron that cost upwards of $100 and sports 400 steam holes; Rowenta Professional. It allows me to iron my children’s uniforms and my outfits in two hours flat. That is 20 outfits ranging from size 3T to an adult medium size. Which brings me to my next point, schedule one ironing session a week to take care of your weekly outfits.
I highly advise against thinking you will wake up extra early an iron the items every morning. This takes time away from the time you spend in your grooming, so figure out what the time commitment is for ironing a week’s worth of clothing. Schedule the time and commit to it knowing that this will help you seize great first impressions and be ready for any opportunities that head your way. After all, someone might call to offer you a last minute job interview. It happens. You want to be ready to make a first great impression at any time.
Your clothes should fit the proportions of your body. A person that looks great has found clothing items that are the right length sleeve wise, pant hem wise, and shirt wise.
Clothes need to fit in the right proportion. This means that you need to shop at stores that offer clothes cut and proportioned to your height. If you are not sure about fit, stores like Macy’s and Dillard’s have sales associates that can make recommendations. You will need to be upfront about needing help with finding the right fit for your body.
I personally love Talbots and Land’s End for their petite sizing. Talbots has great tailored pieces and sales associates that will help you find the right fit. If you are in a budget you can take advantage of their flash sales or wait for the end of the season for deep discounts of 70% of more. I suggest you start to scour end-of-season sales for career clothes your freshman year of college. You will need at least two outfits for those internship interviews at the end of the spring semester
People notice shoes. They read a lot into the way your shoes look. It is just human nature. Make sure you inspect your shoes for scruffs, worn heels, and general cleanliness. Make sure to clean away dirt, condition and polish on a daily or weekly basis.
Good shoes are generally constructed with leather all around; however, this means that shoes should be an investment. Fast fashion has done away with the wisdom of older generations: a good pair of leather shoes only gets better with time.
Leather shoes have many advantages. Well-conditioned leather becomes soft, supple and molds to a person’s feet, making it the ideal shoe. You see, a few decades back most shoes were constructed with leather and were priced handsomely because they last years, even decades. People used to go cobblers to replace worn heels or even to resole the shoe if any holes came with wear because the shoes were already molded to the contours of their feet. That is a very sweet thing to have. Another plus, leather shoes that sport leather socks don’t get smelly.
I know this sounds like I am asking you to spend a significant amount of money on shoes, and I am, but I am asking you to own two or three pairs of comfortable shoes that can be styled with most clothes. I suggest investing in a good pair of leather penny shoes, loafers, or ballerinas that have removable insoles that can be replaced.
I personally recommend Sperry and Weejuns from GH Bass for comfortable penny loafers. You can never go wrong with Keds Champions in white leather.
Watches, Handbags, Sunglasses, Scarfs, Earrings, Necklaces and Belts are all a part of your accessory arsenal. When it comes to accessories, I subscribe to the theory of less is more. It is better to have one good quality item than many cheap ones.
This means that these articles need to be carefully curated for quality and versatility. They will be treasures found over time and will have a lifespan of at least five years of practical wear. You will determine the budget and set a priority list for the order in which you will acquire them.
I would suggest the following priority order: belt, watch, sunglasses, handbag, earrings, necklaces, scarves. I have listed the items in the order that I think they get noticed and their daily wear function.
A belt is essential to looking put together.
A watch is essential so you can leave the phone behind and focus on the interview or job.
Sunglasses protect your eyes. Good vision makes you more valuale.
Handbags, jewelry and scarves are a reflection of your personal style.
Now, I recognize the latter will be mostly post-college degree purchases. Nonetheless, I do recommend a trip to Ross once you have $50 in savings to buy a good leather belt at a discounted price, a leather band watch in a classic style, and a pair of practical sunglasses in a timeless aviator style. If you can save $100 plus tax, you could probably find great deals for a classic leather handbag, gold plated jewelry and a scarf at www.SteinMart.com during their 12-hour sale.
Remember that we are looking for quality, not brands or quantity.
Makeup preferences will vary, but if you want to be perceived as a lady, I would advise studying images of influential women. How many of these women do you see sporting trendy makeup? Probably very few.
My style icons are Carolina Herrera and Coco Chanel. They knew what worked for them and stayed true to their personality.
I suggest you research who speaks to you, collect images of them throughout the years on your Pinterest board, and come back to study what draws you about them. Once you figure this out, try to emulate what you like.
I hope you have found this post was filled with practical and honest information. Spread positivity and let me know if there are any points in this post that you would like me to cover in more depth in the comment section.
Your Life Coach,
Kim
