Staying on top in today’s fast paced corporate environments can be overwhelming, to say the least. Not only does one have to stay on top of the latest technology, the who’s who in networking and whether a paycheck will appear next month – we also must create an image that sets the tone for what we represent and speaks clearly of who we are in our profession.

Why… you may ask? The answer is very simple. You’ve heard the saying “A picture is worth a thousand words”. That in a nutshell is the answer. As soon as you walk through the door the person you are standing in front of has made some very important decisions about you that will influence your future. Perhaps you’re vying for a promotion, or competing for that ‘big’ order, or want the CEO to take your ideas seriously…enough said. The image you project is incredibly important and completely within you control. This is an area you have the power to direct in your life – take it!

Now I’ve got you jazzed up, but where do you go with it? How do you get that Corporate Chic look? I’ll tackle that question in a series of ongoing blogs – so be sure to check back here often, or bookmark me.

Today I want to talk about – the 40 plus and moving forward crowd. The reason I want to start here is because often this is the time when many people let their image go to pot…or seed…you get the idea. Life gets busy. Perhaps you’ve been in the same company for a number of years and everyone already knows you, or you think your closet is stuffed full of clothes from years of purchasing and you just don’t need anything else. You’ll make do. Let’s go back to the old saying “a picture is worth a thousand words”. If you’re showing up out of date – then you’ll be thought of in that way and pretty soon you’ll be complaining about the younger generation getting all the good positions. Step it UP! It’s not hard.

This weekend I was perusing through February’s MORE Magazine, where they’ve got some great new fresh looks. Grab a copy or borrow a friends and take a look at page 118 “The New Classics”. Ok – don’t pop your eyes out by the prices, I know we can’t all afford a $2500 Channel bag, but what you can look for here is what you’ve already got that can match up. Page 118 shows a classic, yet more casual style that can be worn in a less conservative corporate environment. But, it is sassy and youthful, the look has energy to it and is not hard to duplicate. Pull the picture out and head over to your favorite discount stores – this look is easy to recreate and as the story reads “it will take 10 years off your look” and who doesn’t need that!

Posted by Robin Ogden - FiredUP Careers

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