I’ve been told that everyone should own a little black dress (LBD). Is this true?

Personally I think it’s a myth that everyone should own one and that everyone can wear one successfully. For many women who have a warm complexion, the colour black can make them look drawn, colourless and ill. They would be far better suited to dark navy, charcoal grey or dark chocolate brown. Black is a wonderful colour on women who have a dramatic cool complexion (typically Anne Hathaway or Dawn French) but can be harsh on paler, warmer blondes or redheads (typically Nicole Kidman or Kate Winslett). If your heart is set on black, regardless of your colouring, then there are ways to wear it that can give you the best of both worlds (see my 10 Tips on Wearing Black).

Should I always wear a suit for an interview?

If you are serious about the job, be serious about your personal appearance. Beside the fact that a conventional suit is one of the easiest outfits to put together successfully, it is the expected “uniform” and shows not only that you respect the situation but also your interviewer. The same rule applies to the question about guys wearing ties – the answer is yes, wear one. However, don’t always plump for a black suit and a white shirt/blouse – this combination can sometimes make you look less than your best. For more information on choosing your best interview outfit, read the article on Colour Guide to Interview Outfits.

I’m applying for jobs as a graphic designer – should I dress differently to show my creativity?

Prior to the interview, if you can, take a look at their current staff and the way they are dressed – you’ll get clues on how creative, casual, formal the dress code is. Take your lead from these, but always dress one notch up from it. If everyone is wearing jeans, opt instead for quality trousers. If everyone is wearing knitwear, opt instead for a jacket – get the idea?  For more information read the 10 Tips for Inteview Image.

Why is my wardrobe packed full of clothes and I still can’t  find anything to wear?

Heard of the 80/20 rule? We wear 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time. Get to grips with the other 80% of your wardrobe. Firstly, stop buying! Beware that four letter word ‘Sale’. How many unloved 50% Off Bargains are in there gathering dust? How many dresses one size too small kept in the hope that you’ll one day return to that size? How many “trendy” outfits which may just come back into fashion? Know where I’m coming from with all this? Getting rid of stuff, cleaning up your clothes space and finding what’s right and wrong is very therapeutic – you feel good doing it. What’s more it creates space for the right stuff – clothes which make you feel great every day. For more tips on sorting your wardrobe read the article The Lying, The Which and the Wardrobe.

An image consultant’s job sounds heaven – shopping all day, playing with clothes, delving into other people’s wardrobes – how can I get a job like that?

It’s true that no two days are the same, we get to meet a huge variety of people, plus we get to visit shops for a living – and there’s no greater satisfaction than knowing that your work has boosted a client’s self-confidence and has had a profound effect. But, like any other job, it has its down sides too. Not all clients are friendly, not all clients understand hygiene, not all clients have huge clothing budgets (though personally I love the challenge of finding inexpensive outfits which look wonderful) – and the days can be very and tiring. The right training is crucial – and should be on-going. My nose is rarely out of a book featuring yet another side to the image business. If you feel you’d like to know more, visit The Federation of Image Consultants and find a Recognised Training Provider or sign up for my Newsletter, featuring the Day in the Life of an Image Consultant. You may be surprised at what we get up to!

I hate clothes shopping – not enough time, money or energy. Where am I going wrong?

If your clothes shopping has to be squeezed in between the weekly grocery shop, picking up the kids, driving to and from work and other “taxi” activities, no wonder you lack time and energy – and if you’re shopping with no real idea of what you’re looking for, you’ll end up with less money and probably the wrong thing – which doesn’t look good, you hate wearing it, resent the money you spent on it – and vow never to do it again. Sounds familiar? Stop beating yourself up. All you need is a plan and some discipline. Don’t buy anything on impulse and always look in the wardrobe first to see if you have some key pieces in there which can be transformed with just a new piece of jewellery or a new belt. See my article on Top Tips for Successful Clothes Shopping to set you off in the right direction. I promise you that, by following the advice, you’ll find clothes shopping less of a chore – who knows you may even start to enjoy it!