Dressing to your Maximum Potential.

Clothes speak.

Your entire appearance speaks.

Volumes and Volumes.

Long before you have opened your mouth and spoken one word, people are summing you up. They may have even formed their opinion of what they think of you. It is true. In the first seven seconds of meeting a person or group of people a judgement has been made.

As business woman we know this. We have read the studies that show that 55% of first impressions are based on someone's appearance. 38% is based on the tone of your voice, leaving only 7% for what you actually say. To therefore be dressed in a manner which depicts who you are and expresses your personality is crucially important in creating the right impression when dealing with old and new clients alike.

How then can we ensure that we are dressed to our maximum potential?

The key is in understanding our own body shape and learning how to dress it to its greatest advantage. In other words working with the assets that we have and subtly minimizing any short comings that we are not so enamoured by. This requires time and effort, for it is essential to understand what styles, shapes, colours and textures do the most for us, the individual, not what the latest fashions are, nor what the celebrities of the day are wearing. We need to dress for ourselves and not for some mythical ideal.

We have all seen that fabulous looking woman who strides into a room and commands attention. She may not be the best looking or the slimmest person about but she exudes an air of confidence. Her clothes are divine, not necessarily expensive, but they look like they were made just for her. There is an element of individuality about her, she is her own person and we want to know more about her. What gives this woman such assurance?

There are of course many elements but one important point that she no doubt understands implicitly is that dressing to look like a successful business woman is a learned skill.

Business men have dressing immaculately down to a fine art. They call in a tailor who understands their body shape for them. He looks at shoulder width, arm length, torso to leg proportions, neck circumference, chest measurements and so on. He then cuts a suit that looks superb and does each individual justice. For what all tailors understand is the importance of 'perfect fit'.

To be well dressed it is essential to have clothes that are a fantastic fit, not just the latest fashion trend.

Do we as women understand these facets of our body and think of our proportions in the same manner? Do our clothes fit well? We need to take a good long hard look at our body and assess it critically, and then carefully consider the following elements when buying clothes.

Considering the Vertical and Horizontal elements of dressing.

Slim women need to consider the 'vertical' illusion that their clothes bring to their overall appearance. Does the outfit make them look taller or shorter. What do they want to achieve height wise? Jacket lengths and hem lengths are vital in getting the height issue right.

Larger women need to consider both the vertical and horizontal appearance their choice of clothing gives. It is essential to minimize width and to maximise the vertical aspect of the overall look. Shoulder seams, sleeve lengths, cut and style of the dress/skirt/top is vital in drawing the eye up and down the body rather than across the body.

Shoulders and Arms

Broad shoulders, small shoulders, rounded shoulders can all be made to look different depending on where a shoulder seam is put. Clever cutting will balance out proportions across the shoulder and chest width. Ideally, look for shoulder seams that sit directly on the shoulder. Dropped shoulders will give a wider look.

Sleeve lengths matter greatly when thinking about the circumference and length of an arm and the general width of the over all body. It is amazing what a difference sleeve styles can make to an overall outfit. A sleeve that ends on the same line as the bust will widen the overall appearance of the body. Likewise a sleeve that ends at the hip line will broaden the hips. Ideally a sleeve should end at a narrower part of the body like the waist or below the hips.

A good general rule to remember when choosing an outfit and thinking about sleeves is to find clothes that have a comfortable but small arm hole. The less fabric there is under the arm will mean a longer looking waist. More fabric under the arm will make a garment look sloppy.

The Bust

All women should consider the size of their bust when choosing necklines that suit them best. 'V' necklines are universally the most flattering on all shapes and sizes of breasts. Small busted woman are wise to avoid low scoop cut necklines and large busted woman are best advised to avoid high necklines. Each person is different however, and all necklines should be tried on and thought about carefully. Always ask the question, is this cut enhancing my breasts and chest area or is this neckline making me look smaller/bigger/ flatter or indeed fatter?

Tummies and Hips

Tummies and Hips are vitally important, for the bigger these two aspects of the body are, the more subtly they need to be covered. Soft draping fabric is best that sits perfectly with out wrinkle or gather. Slim women can wear patterns, pleats, gathers and bows which draw the eye to the area. Larger ladies need to keep the detail as simple as possible.

Hemlines

Hemlines are a controversial topic as fashion often dictates where the hem line should be. It is a wise woman however, who knows her legs well and can identify her own ideal hem length that works just for her, regardless of trends. The ideal point for a hem is usually at the thinnest part of the leg, either above or below the calf muscle. On or above the knee works well with women with slim, trim legs only.

Curves and Body Shape

Shape in clothes is essential. Women are often scared of showing their natural curves and hide their feminine qualities behind boxy or baggy designs. This can be true of women who are tiny and feel they have no shape and larger women who feel they have too much shape. Well designed clothes will give the illusion of shape with clever cutting, darting, pleating and pin tucking regardless of actual shape and size. The worst mistake any woman can make is to shroud her body in tent like objects that merely cover her up. Remember, dressing is an art form and there are clothes out there that will enhance all body shapes, it may just take some searching to find them!

Get into the habit of buying good quality clothes and having them altered to fit you perfectly. Find a great seamstress who understand the importance of enhancing your shape.

Change with Age

Fashions and trends come and go and likewise do our bodies change. From our early 20's to old age we alter in shape and size. It is therefore essential to keep the body assessment fresh and to have an on going understanding of what styles of clothes really do suit us, the individual woman who wants to look immaculately dressed and ready for business.

I recently had a wonderful chat with Isabella, a smartly dressed successful woman in her early 70's. She looked divine, but was lamenting the fact that she now had to contend with rolls and various lumps and bumps that never used to be there. Dressing smartly she felt was far more difficult for her now than when she was in her 50's. I empathised with her, saying how much more difficult it was for me to now dress in my 40's than when I was in my 20's. To which she made me laugh, for she put everything into perspective. “Make the most of the age you are at any given time, for it is only going to get worse and more difficult.”

So true. Age is not a factor in looking great. For a well dressed woman no matter her age, shape and size can look superb and feel confident with her appearance.

Most importantly, a well dressed woman will have an individual style that will clearly depict who she is and will show a deep understanding of herself. Beauty is not only the exterior, but is more importantly the inner radiance, confidence and self belief shining through.

Carolyn Draper