Illustration by Ayesha Broacha

"It's not what I say, it's the way I say it; and it's not what I do, but how I do it; and it's how I look when I say and do it."
Mae West, actress and playwright.
Personal image and the way you look at the office has never been more important. While the '90s were about 'Casual Friday' dressing, the turn of the millennium brought a return to formal attire at the workplace. And this style mantra of corporate wear is here to stay. At work, you need to look like a power woman, yet seem approachable. Gone are the days of red lipstick, padded shoulders and dramatic suits; that's too '80s for today. It's about giving fashion a professional twist at the office. It's not easy to shop for this look, as you need to get every detail right. Shopping for the office is almost like baking a cake: get one ingredient wrong and the whole thing falls flat.

Lasting Impressions
Many professionals wrongly find fashion frivolous and so they don't consider it to be important to work life. Soft skills such as dressing, grooming and etiquette can sometimes be the factor that make or break your career. Just knowing what to say is not enough - it is important to know how and when to say the right thing. According to research conducted by the American Association of Image Consultants International, making that right first impression is based on three things - what you say, how you say it and how you look. How you look makes about 44 per cent of that first impression. And remember you never get a second chance to impress. Which is why the right image has become the new buzzword for many top level corporates. The seven ingredients that come together to form your look are colour, fabric, pattern, silhouette, accessories, make-up and hair.

Colour
This is the first thing that will draw attention to a garment. Wearing a single colour, top to bottom, lends overall elegance to an outfit. It's easy on the eye and can be soothing if you go for soft, neutral shades. If you wear solid colours day after day you run the risk of looking staid. Remember, if you are pear shaped, wear the darker and solid part of your garment on the bottom half. Never mix two bold colours, it's too dramatic. A pair of well fitted trousers in black and beige are a must for working women. Be on the lookout for good fits. Designers that cut their trousers well include Rajesh Pratap Singh, Ashish Soni and Narendra Kumar. High street brands like Mango and Marks and Spencer work well on the body and the pocket.

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