Image Consultant | Personal Shopper | Business Image Consulting, Dublin, Ireland

Many of my male clients during their image consultation ask  ”how do I put my look together”?  Every man has asked themselves about matching their socks with their trousers and other assorted questions at some point in their lives. Here I have listed 10 tips which should at least clear up some confusion about a few things.

1. Belts should as a general rule always match your shoes. Make sure you don’t economise on your belt - worn belts and belts that are too small or too large should be replaced immediately.
2. Short sleeved shirts don’t really project the right image and ideally you should stick to long sleeved shirts that are a safer classier option.

3.  Scruffy shoes are one of the most undervalued areas of a man’s wardrobe and one of the main items of clothing a women looks at first!  Your shoes should be in good repair, well kept and shiny. If you are wearing a suit, lace-up shoes are normally the safest option.
4. The more official rule on socks is that they should match the color of your trousers,  though preferably not the exact same shade unless, of course, you are wearing black in which case it’s okay.

5. Watches are the single most important accessory a man can own. I really suggest investing in one good watch that suits your lifestyle and taste.  Cuff links too really look the business and can really finish off a look.

6. Trousers that are too short is not a good look!  Trousers should be long enough to cover your socks, and socks should be long enough so that NO shin skin is showing!   Your trousers should just cover the heel of your shoe.

7. Make sure your tie hangs  correctly.  Ties should always reach your belt line and be tied correctly. A tie that is too short gives a bit of a school boy look.

8. The colours you wear should complement your natural features such as your eye color, skin tone and body shape.  Pastel type colours give a lightweight impression in business.   Keep this in mind when choosing your clothes.

9. Clothes that are too loose indicate a sloppy look and that’s exactly the type of fashion mistake you can’t make in a business environment.

10. Impeccable grooming every day is essential!

It’s a widely recognised and proven fact that your image plays a huge part in what people think of you when they meet you for the first time and what assumptions they make of you.

On meeting someone for the first time, what ever the circumstances, statistics show that your image is 55% on how you dress/present yourself, followed by 38% being how you speak and then only 7% is the content of what you actually say!

We live in a highly visual world.  Think about the assumptions the world made last year when Susan Boyle first appeared on Britain’s got Talent?  So, what is your image saying about you?   Your image is talking even when you’re not. You and your business may have all the substance in the world, but if you don’t project a strong, professional image to go with it, people aren’t going to respond the way you want them to.

To back up your image, you also need a good product, extensive knowledge, and strong communications skills. Your image creates the expectation. Your substance confirms it.   Make sure your’s is first class.