As the financial crisis looms overhead, women are rethinking their work status and making lifestyle changes to gain financial security.  Stay-at-home moms are reentering the workplace, women are transitioning careers, part-timers are going full-time; for many reasons women are being called to their closets to evaluate their professional wardrobes and a familiar question beckons “what do I wear??”. 

We all want to be judged for our abilities and talents, but the truth of the matter is in the first few seconds that you meet someone, your image speaks first.  When I work with clients, I work hard to evaluate what kind of wardrobe and style statement will support their goals.  One question I ask is:  “when you walk in a room, without saying a single word how do you want people to perceive you?”.  Your answer to that question will help you assess your current wardrobe to see if it supports your image goals. 

The visual impression is only one part of the perception you convey.  The other part is the nonverbal message you communicate about how you feel about yourself.  Employers want to invest in people who are invested in and believe in themselves.  When you feel confident in what you are wearing you exude that confidence. 

With a little introspection and an unbiased eye, you can sort through your wardrobe to weed out the keepers and the out pile.  When you’ve done that, create a shopping list to fill-in the gaps. 

Some tips to follow:

• Organize.  Do your own closet analysis.  Evaluate each garment – does it show wear, is it dated, are there stains?   If so it goes in the “out pile”.  Worn and old clothes say you and your work are sloppy.   Be impeccably groomed, and wear the highest quality of clothes you can afford.
• Fit.  If you have not tried on professional clothes since having a baby, if you have gained or lost weight your figure is undoubtedly different than times of yore.  Scrutinize garments to see if the fit is good.  Does it need to be altered for a perfect fit?  Does it pull, or gap?   Does it flatter your figure?  Most importantly how do you feel in it - do you feel powerful, approachable, polished?  Does it fulfill the image goal you are going for?   Well-fitted and pressed garments portray professionalism.  A good tailor will go far in saving money by making your good quality garments usable. 
• Basics.   Make a list of your wardrobe essentials and compare with the keepers in your closet.  Shop for any gaps in your wardrobe.  Alter, alter, alter.  If you’re measurements are not same as the fit model for the clothes you are buying, chances are you will need to alter off-the-rack garments so they are perfect for your figure.  A perfect fit goes a long way in exuding the confidence that you know you look great and are ready to do your job.  Keep in mind the people with whom you will be interacting. Will you need a business suit?  Cocktail attire?  Will you be speaking publicly? 
• Accessorize.  You can change an ensemble from casual to sophisticated and go from cubicle to cocktail with the right use of jewelry and don’t forget a great handbag.
• Shoes.  Any signs of wear should be taken to the cobbler to be polished, re-heeled or resoled.  Even a small heel will exude more power than flats (flats are ok for casual days).  If you are petite, matching your shoe color to your hem color will visually create height.
• Enlist a friend or hire a professional Style/Image consultant.  Good honest feedback is invaluable as you go through the process of building a wardrobe.

The standards you hold for how you dress say a lot about you.  When you are well-dressed and feel great in your clothes you present yourself to your best advantage, then you can forget your clothes and attend to the task at hand. 

When I had my first daughter and began the arduous task of losing my “baby weight”, I had a very limited wardrobe to fit my post-birth body.  I was limited to either my maternity clothes or expando-waist sweatpants material pants and skirts (they had to be black, spit-up shows up less on black).  My thought was why bother with anything nice that will be ruined, and I can’t rationalize spending money on clothes that will be temporary until I lose weight and get back into my pre-pregnancy shape.  There, that should be the carrot to lose the weight and get to the gym, right?  The trouble with my thinking was that as I dressed in loose-fitting, dark, stained clothes I felt worse and worse about my appearance and it was a downward spiral of feeling badly about the way I looked and hopeless about ever looking good again.  When you criticize yourself with negative self-talk, you send yourself powerful subconscious messages and your self-image reflects those messages, whether they have an iota of truth to them or not.  This is why when you look great and you catch yourself in the mirror and send yourself positive self-talk you feel confident and radiant.  Though it is an inside-out principal, I have found that dressing well and feeling polished and put together has the affect of internalizing feeling great about how I look and in turn exuding confidence and feeling powerful and sexy.  I think we all have a post-partum moment where we think “it is time to reclaim to looking like a woman”.  Here are some tips to doing this:

1. Stop thinking “what’s the point of wearing stylish and cute clothes only to go to the park/be with the kids”.  Note I said “stylish and cute” not “expensive”.  Being a Stay-at-Home mom, part-time working mom, or mom in general is no reason not to look polished and put together.  Clear-out your closet of stained and faded, pilled, stretched-out and otherwise ragged looking clothes.  You know who they are.  Be honest with yourself and look at your wardrobe with a keen and unforgiving eye.  Fill it with only well-fitting, well-laundered flattering clothes.
2. Get out of the mommy jeans.  If your closet contains jeans which answer to the following:  light wash, faded, high cut, stovepipe jeans then give them their walking papers.  Though they don’t mind if your child covers them with dust at the playground, and true they are no contest for red play dough – they must go.  They scream “I have no style”.  Their replacement is a dark wash, lower-cut (1” under your bellybutton) pair that flatter your figure.  Boot-cut or straight-leg are usually a good bet.  Try on as many as it takes until you find a pair that will be great for date night dressed-up with heels and a great top.  

My picks:

For everyday running around try Lucky Jeans – trouser type is of the moment

For the sexy jeans try Seven for All Mankind

1. Accessorize.  Nothing steps up a casual outfit like great jewelry.  A Multi-colored stone necklace in colors that flatter your natural coloring, layered chains, and a great pendant will accent what you are wearing and give you instant style.

My picks:

www.stella-dot.com

Don’t forget a scarf can add flair and color around your face.

Must have a great bag – one for the park and one for adult-time.  Handbags say a lot about your personality.  Are you sophisticated?  Sassy?  Fun-loving?  Get the highest quality you can afford in a neutral black, chocolate brown or metallic. 

My picks:

For the park:

For adult-time:

I also recommend a smaller clutch for date-night, cocktails and parties:

Beijobags.com

1. Park-wear.  Feeling good and looking good is an old cliché, but not without merit.  Looking good running errands, helping your child across the monkey bars and getting foot-prints on your pants, getting food on your clothes wears on fine clothes, so this is not what I am suggesting.  What I do recommend is good quality denim and cotton, stylish warm-ups that will withstand whatever your kids throw, literally.  I find clothes that you can  move in and are durable are the casual athletic-wear.  These are also especially good if you are losing weight as most have elastic or drawstring waists and will still be great when you have met weight goals.

My picks:

www.athleta.com

1. Shoes.  Flats or a kitten heel are great with capris, metallics, and a pop of color will step-up your outfit. 

www.target.com

Running shoes need not apply.  For a great alternative, check the many athletic casual shoes for running around in your park-wear. 

www.zappos.com

Sales abound right now, so if you are looking to step up your wardrobe or pull one together for work, there is no better time.  Department stores tout 30-40% savings off everything you will need to create a great professional wardrobe from your shoes to your earrings.

If you ever looked into your closet and found it a challenge to pull together an outfit that you love and makes you feel confident, chances are the fundamental wardrobe pieces are missing or incomplete.  Think basics first.  Anchor your wardrobe with your slacks then work up and down from there. 

1. Dark Slacks – Black, Chocolate, Charcoal

Dark rich colors are best to convey a professional presence.  Find the fit that is right for you and don’t hesitate to purchase the same pant in an assortment of colors.  Make sure you hem with the heel height you will wear most often. 

1. Jackets -  Coordinate with slacks you chose.  Find at least 2 jackets that will mix and match with the slacks you have chosen.  If you need a suit, then find one that will coordinate with the pants and jackets you find so that you will have yet another pant and jacket to mix and match.

1. Layering Pieces – these should be blouses, shells, camis that will easily go with the jackets. If your profession takes you from cubicle from cocktail, find pieces that are versatile to look great under a jacket, and shed the jacket to be ready for happy hour.

1. Crisp White Shirt -  go with long sleeved.  Look for something with great fit and style, not just the typical button-down version.  This will say a lot about your image.

1. Skirt or Dress – find the hemline that is right for you (no minis please) and coordinate with a sweater, jacket or blouse.

1. Trench – a trench coat is a wonderful professional staple to have and they look great on almost every shape.

1. Shoes – Get several pairs of varying styles in leather with hard leather soles and consider boots. 

1. Accessorize – you don’t need to spend a fortune on jewelry and nothing steps up an ensemble like earrings and necklace.   Look for colorful stones that will bring color into your face, avoid sparkly and flashy pieces. 

1. Great Bag – big enough for your laptop.  One in a neutral color will wear with all outfits.

1. Cocktail Bag – to segue from the office, find a beautiful after-hours bag.   A metallic is a great choice.

1. Makeup – did you know that women who wear makeup earn 20-30% more than those who do not?  Apply tastefully.

Once you have the basics then you can venture out to other pieces that will be wonderful additions to your essentials.  Boutiques are a great place to go for unique statement pieces.   

When shopping, it is easy to be overwhelmed with the multitude of selections of styles and colors on the racks.  A common complaint is having many clothes in your closet but nothing coordinates into outfits.  If you think of the basic pieces you will need first you will be well on your way to building a versatile essential wardrobe.