Never before has image played such an important role in an individual’s bid for success.

Impressions are made within fifteen seconds and there is no second chance. Jumping to conclusions is a natural thing that we do as humans. It is not right, but that’s life, get use to it, and be prepared. Unlike other things that you have no control over such as the size of your hands, feet, height, the colour of your skin, your parents or your age, image is something you can control and take charge of.

Impressions include: educational level, competence, personality, level of sophistication, trustworthiness, sense of humor, and cultural heritage. Within those fifteen seconds it is your opportunity to explain your skills, training, and talent. People quickly form opinions on what they see – clothes, hairstyle, body language, and facial expressions, proving appearances do make a difference. E.g. An interviewer has considered the academic qualifications of several applicants in order to fill one position and she/he has found that they all are equally qualified. It is at this point that she/he will have to turn to the applicant’s personal appearance, posture and attitude in order to make the final decision. Proving first impressions do count.

First, you must realize you have to feel good about yourself from the inside in order to feel good on the outside. Then you will be able to work on creating just the right look externally. Your image should convey a level of confidence, competence, expertise, self-respect, and energy to others. Developing a positive image takes time to develop. Learn and grow from your mistakes and experiences. It is not easy. Take a real good look at yourself. Do you really know who you are? Take time to recognize your own needs, dreams, and goals and proceed from there.

I often think back to my nursing days. Back in the days when I trained, we wore white uniforms, white shoes etc. Our appearance was very much apart of who we were. We understood that our patients were ill, vulnerable and really did not want to have a nurse who was untidy, uncaring, and unempathetic at their bedside. They wanted a warm, sensitive, well-groomed and caring individual nurse. Someone who radiated confidence and competence. I really do not think people have changed that much today. Whether it is a patient, client, co-worker, or friend, it’s much better to be with someone who emits a positive energy and who is pulled together well. You too can feel good about yourself, if you put a little thought and care into your dressing.

Learn to accept yourself as you are. Looking fabulous with what you have is an attitude---- and it feels good.

If dieting is on your agenda, then do it wisely and with the assistance of a physician. People often strive to attain the look they see on television or in magazines. Beware! It may not be for you.

Where does one start to improve their external appearance? How will you know if it needs to be improved? Just look in the mirror. What were your first impressions?

Think in terms of geometric. There are seven body shapes. Triangle, "V", Circle, Diamond, Square, Rectangle and Hourglass. Which one are you? By addressing your body shape it is possible to ‘fake a perfect shape’ . Accomplish a level of fashion sense by creating an illusion of being taller, shorter, slimmer and curvier. The key word to address this is balance. How do you achieve balance in dressing? It may be as simple as adding shoulder pads, length of garment or wearing a straight skirt instead of a gathered one. Always think when putting the look together.

Accessories will extend your wardrobe options even further. They are often not an expensive item to add to your finished look. Belts, jewellery, scarves, gloves, shoes, and handbags are fun to work with. They can add pizzazz and character to any boring outfit. Just remember to look in the mirror before you add another piece of jewellery…ask yourself is this too much? If your first instinct is yes, then stop. Over loading jewellery causes cluster, bulk and noise to say the least…not very attractive.

Assuming you already have the ability, let’s look at the four ‘A’s to successful dressing.

Appropriate: In the work place, do not draw attention to yourself by dressing inappropriately.

• Tight fitting clothes or revealing clothes send the wrong signals. Too short – inappropriate, impractical clothing makes bending, climbing (upstairs, planes, buses etc.) or reaching a logistical nightmare. You want the freedom to move, without worry. Do not leave any room for negative conclusions.
   
• There are specific rules on how to fake a perfect shape. By choosing the right fabrics, fabric weights, colours, and styles, it is possible to create you with a flair, you with a little mystic, fun, or conservatives.
   
• Dress codes vary. It will depend on the type of business you are in i.e. sports, retail, bank, service or hospitality etc.
   
• The area of the country – large city opposed to smaller city or town, far north
   
• The specific business occasion – presentation, boardroom, one on one, and the message you want to relay.
   
• The dress code in the financial world is usually conservative – when dealing with money, tradition & stability are factors that clients feel comfortable with. Colours include your basic—navy and black suits teamed with tailored soft coloured, white, blouses and shells.
   
• Persons in the textile, marketing, and other creative sectors often are fashion forward…with a flare for color, and style. They are not afraid to show their creative talents on the outside. Fashions tend to be trendier, and choices of colour combinations are endless – left only to an individual’s imagination.
   
• Choice of colour, style and fabrics vary from season to season. A more relaxed dress code is acceptable when traveling from city to smaller communities outside the larger centers. Always consider when traveling by automobile, train, bus, or air to wear comfortable clothing, such as pants, walking shoes, and warmer sweater, jacket. Carry a bag containing lingerie, and toiletries. Should you run into unexpected poor weather conditions, transportation difficulties/delays, northern bugs etc. you will appreciate the being prepared. Do a little research of the area you will be visiting—temperature, terrain, and culture of the people. When traveling, choose clothing, which will be easy care. I personally enjoy fashions from the Week-ender Collection. They can be dressed up or down, folded many times (but come out looking good), washable and the colour selections are up-to-date. Remember to pack a comfortable dress shoe and a pair of ‘happy shoes’ (may be older flat shoes you have had for years such as running shoes). You never know how far you have to walk, and how long you have to stand. Try to travel lightly and do not over pack.
   
• Attractive: Choice of hairstyle, make-up and accessories will complete the totally-you look. Determine the impression you want to make.
   
• Make-up is used to enhance your features and to underscore your personal style. It can be either subtle or dramatic. Take particular care of your skin. Clean, moisturize and protect it from the elements at all times with sunscreen. A clean fresh look will boost your confidence and make you look radiant.
   
• Hair should be styled in a fashion that is easy for you to manage and maintain. It should suit your personality and occasion.
   
• In a mirror: Check yourself out coming and going—everyone else does.
   
• Affordable: Determine the amount of dollars you want to spend on building your wardrobe, and building your image. Clothing should consist of easy pieces which can be interchanged with one another, go from season to season, and/or day into night. Look for quality and not quantity. Hair colour, cut and style along with cosmetic items must also be considered within you budget plans. For each individual, the amount of dollars will vary—so spend wisely. In order to get the best value for your dollars shop one season ahead for the next season. This will save you dollars and time i.e. when summer sales start, pick up a few pieces for the following summer.
   
• When building your wardrobe you should include: 2 jackets, 3 bottoms (combination of skirt/s or pant/s, and 4 tops (blouses, sweaters, shells, T-shirts etc.) These nine pieces of clothing will give you 20 different looks if you think creatively and co-ordinate the combinations. This is called investment dressing.
   
• Consider the care of these garments. Will more dollars be needed for dry-cleaning, laundering, or redesigning?
   
• Assurance: Appearance and actions need to be linked together. A person has to feel comfortable with their appearance in order to convey a sense of confidence and competence. A wardrobe by itself is not going to create a successful image. It takes time to develop.
   
• In conclusion, a positive attitude can take you anywhere. If to be the best is your goal, then it is up to you. You must take responsibility for your choices and actions. Life is not easy. It is constantly changing and change is good if one takes the time to make the transition. Take charge of yourself and reach as high as you can when planning for your future. No goal is too high, if you take the time to climb.
   
• Most of you have been there, done it and grown from your experiences. You are the role models and mentors to many who choose to follow in your footsteps. It is important that you combined a healthy dose of humor and attitude to get ahead today and to be totally-you.