Smart Dress in recession times

RUBY SEVEN – WHY IMAGE IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IN THESE TIMES OF RECESSION

Mary Holmes established Ruby Seven in December 2006 and has found that in recent times more and more clients are investing in their wardobes as a way to stop wasteful impulse purchasing and make the most of their image in the workplace and in their personal lives.

Now more than ever, men and women of all different income brackets are seeking professional help to look their best.

Personal Image:

“So many people are stuck in a rut where they buy the same type of clothing over and over again and still feel like they have nothing to wear.”says Holmes. This type of shopping behaviour is particularly unrewarding in tigher financial times. According to Holmes, the key is to stop impulse buying and take a good look at your wardrobe.Start by taking out every single item including shoes and accessories and get rid of anything you haven’t worn in the last two years. Wardrobe weeding is a popular service with Ruby Seven clients as most people find it difficult to get rid of anything which has sentimental value to them or has some historical significance.

Only once you have weeded your wardrobe of clutter can you begin to identify what you need and this is where shopping starts. Keep a list of your clothing requirements in your wallet.

“Don’t be fooled by recession sales” adds Holmes. “Ask yourself would you have paid full price for the item and if the answer is yes, then it’s worth purchasing a sale item. Always think about what you have in your wardrobe when purchasing a new item. Ask yourself, what will this go with? What will I wear it to?” Ruby Seven helps people to identify what clothes they need for the lifestyles that they lead and how to put outfits together to create a unique personal style for any body shape, colouring and personality.

Professional Image:

“In an ever competitive market, getting across the right image has never been more important. How you dress for work says a lot about your professional attitude and your value as an asset to the company” says Mary Holmes.

“When times are financially tough for businesses, cutbacks are top of the agenda and unfortunately this sometimes means redundancies. At times like this you cannot underestimate the importance of sharpening your professional image, whether you are going for a promotion, a new job or competing to retain your current position”. Holmes goes on to offer some tips on improving professional image:

Ø   “Dress for your body shape, wear a size that fits. It’s better to wear a size 16 and look a size 14 than the other way around.

Ø   Invest in good quality staples such as suits, dresses and shirts

Ø   Accessorise appropriately. Oversize jewellery may detract from the professionalism of your dress.

Ø   Be careful about necklines and hemlines. If you have to ask yourself is this appropriate for work, it probably isn’t.”

Ruby Seven specialises in helping clients create and maintain a professional and personal image which works for them and positions them to make the most of themselves in times of economic downturn. It’s not enough to merely tighten your belt, you must invest in yourself to make an impact.

Mary Holmes has been working as a professional image consultant for over two years. Further information is available from www.rubyseven.ie.