Look Smarter...BE smarter!

Photo One

First, in case I haven't said it before: Happy New Year 2011!  In this blog, I'm holding true to its name by going inside the designer's head, namely, looking at how your thinking, when you are deciding what to wear, can have a bearing on how your day goes.

We all know the workplace has become more casual in recent years and more relaxed styles of dressing are now the norm. Sadly, for many women, "casual" has more correctly become "haphazard", meaning they do not look smart.  Last year, I was taking a course where many of the women - most of whom were my age-mates - would frequently tell me: "You always look so pulled together!".  I suspect, from the way they said this, they thought it took vast amounts of time and effort to make this happen.

The fact is, it just takes a bit of common sense when you shop for things and a wee bit of effort when you get dressed.  The two photos I am showing with this post are a case in point.  Because I work from home, most days I like to dress comfortably and only put on a formal jacket if I am going out and about.  However, if I gave in to just putting on cords and a sweater (photo one),  I would not look very smart.

Photo Two

Contrast photo 1 with the same cords and sweater but now paired with a matching belt and a necklace (photo 2).  Not only do I look more "pulled together" than in the first photo, I actually feel better.  And feeling better about how you look can have a huge bearing on the kind of day you have, whether you work from home or go out to an office.  It doesn't mean you have to dress up over and above what is expected at the office -  unless you want to - but a bit of thought can go a long way.

One of the reasons most women end up with a bitty and "pulled apart" kind of look is that their closets or wardrobes are bitty; they purchase without a plan and don't stick to colors they really love!  If you're still casting around for a New Year's resolution, why not make one that this year, you will take the time and effort to look more pulled together, so that you will not only LOOK smarter, you'll probably also BE smarter i- and will reap the results you want! 


Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer