There is lots of information on how to look your best, how to dress and how to create a brilliant impression, but what about what to avoid? If you want to make sure people get the best impression of you through what you are wearing keep reading to find out how to not to mess that up!

1. Wear clothes that don’t fit you properly

When clothes don’t fit you they can make you look bigger than you actually are and it can actually give off the impression you don’t actually care enough about the situation to have made an effort to look your best. When clothes are too tight they can make you bulge in all the wrong places and can actually look a bit cheap. Clothes that just hang off you can make you look like a bit of a bag lady and drowned by them. Things to look out for are waistbands, sleeves, across the shoulders, leg lengths and fit across your thighs. You don’t want anything pulling tight or folds of material hanging, too short, too long or too tight digging into flesh.

2. Wear inappropriate clothes for the situation

Wearing the wrong clothes in a situation can make you stand out but often in a bad way. For example walking into a city job wearing a tight fitting sequin dress you may wear to a club will not give the impression that you are taking your job seriously! (Honestly I have seen this in a bank in Canary Wharf!) Going on a date to a nice restaurant and wearing your tracksuit with no makeup will really give off the vibe that you just don’t care about who you are with. Generally the guidelines for a standard office job are that the more neutral colours you wear the more seriously you are taken as bright colours signify fun and are best for outside of work. Saying that it’s nice to add a splash of colour to brighten up a grey suit and show some personality, you just need to be careful to get the balance right. One a date it’s nice to show you have made a bit of effort, wear something that compliments your figure and colouring perfectly so you look your best to impress!


3. Do not wear any make up to work

Looking like you have rushed out of the house and not done anything to add finishing touches like make up to your look can make you look harassed, tired or maybe even ill. Again it can also give the impression that you just don’t care. Studies have shown that bosses subconsciously perceive a women who wears no make up to work as not being organised enough to have time to make a bit of effort in the morning. Fully caked on make-up is not required just a little touch of blusher, a swipe of mascara and a bit of lip gloss can make all the difference. This can also apply when dating, surely you’d like the other person to think you care at least a little bit to make some kind of effort for them?

4. Have out of control hair in a mess

Similar to no makeup hair all over the place, frizz, roots and generally in a mess can also create the impression of being harassed or just simply not caring enough to make an effort. It really is amazing what a difference hair makes, this is why they leave the hair restyle and make up on make-over shows til last as they both totally add the finishing touch. To look polished hair should be cut at the maxium every 3 months, it’s every 6 weeks if you have a very styled cut. If you hair is frizzy and out of control a bit of serum can really make all the difference.

5. Wear clothes that just don’t compliment you

Skirts too short that show your cellulite, draining all the colour out of your face by wearing a colour that is wrong for you, yellow gold looking tacky on a pale cool complexion and a crop jacket with a big tummy bulging out from underneath........you get the idea. When you do not dress to flatter yourself you can make yourself look cheap, tired, ill, over weight and even maybe god forbid older! Really consider when you look in the mirror “does what I am wearing show off my best bits? Does it flatter my shape? Does my complexion look vibrant and healthy?

To ensure you are always showing the world the best of yourself and to learn how to create the right impression in any situation please get in touch to find out how an image consultation can help; louise@createyourself.co.uk