Your image and appearance is the first thing anyone notices about you.  It is impossible to hide the way you look no matter how hard you try.  It is the one thing blatantly obvious and exposed for the world to see.  Your clothing and grooming are important characteristics that make up your appearance and therefore should be used as resource tools to achieve both your personal and professional goals.  Your image is an important part of everyday life as is the way people perceive you.  It is a very prejudice world because we are all judged by our personal appearance.  Many people have perfected their image and how it affects their careers and personal relationships.  When you have a powerful personal appearance it can change your life.

In most professional environments it is easy to notice several people who have mastered the professional appearance.  They may be a co-worker, boss, or client but one thing remains constant; they appear authentic.  These individuals have created their own personal style of clothing and use their grooming aids to gain advantage over their image.  Even within your social circles, you can tell who is noticed and recognized by their clothing choices and personal grooming habits. The bottom line is: if you pay attention to your personal appearance, chances are you won’t have the opportunity to get ahead and achieve your goals.  

Many people mistakenly get comfortable with their lifestyle or job.  They contribute very little effort when it comes to their personal appearance.  It is great having seniority at your place of work but you should never ignore how you present yourself.  Your appearance directly influences how people treat and react to you.  Image consultants have been teaching individuals’ image management tools that help people use their clothing and grooming aids as resource tools.  Image consulting services apply to anyone who wants to improve their appearances, self image, self esteem, self confidence, and credibility.  A powerful personal appearance helps deliver an effective idea to someone else and allows you to influence the opinions or actions of others no matter what the circumstances are.

Let’s face it, we live in a world that constantly watches over us to observe and critique. Your clothing choices and grooming aids are subtle factors that, if used correctly, can give you the personal or professional presence that you will need to get ahead in life.  Living in such a highly competitive and judgmental society, it is important to understand how your appearance can directly impact you and other people.   While it may not seem fair, it is the truth.   Your clothing choices and grooming habits directly affect you and others in the following ways:

1. Your Thoughts and Attitude – when you look good, you feel good.  A fresh suit or new dress instantly changes your attitude and what you think about yourself.  Take good care of yourself and enforce positive thinking.  There tends to be enough drama and issue that evolve in the work environment or social situations.  You can’t afford to think negatively about yourself.  When you are well dressed and polished it helps to alleviate negative thinking and enforces others to think positively about your appearance.  We have heard the saying, “Wow, you clean up nice!” Well if you were always cleaned up nice people wouldn’t seemed so shocked when you actually make an effort to control the outcome of your appearance.
2. Your Appearance Affects The Way You Feel – when you feel uncomfortable, you look awkward.  Feeling positive is a great way to increase your self confidence.  With an uplifting persona you can overcome any negative feeling or anxiety.  People notice your body language and if you feel uncomfortable with your appearance, it is likely to be obvious.  Your appearance should enable you to feel confident, comfortable, and productive.  What you wear should and the way you look should be flatter your physical attributes while staying true to your personality and lifestyle.  Creating an authentic look should done with personal style and taste but be careful not step too far outside of your comfort box.
3. Your Behavior – your clothing choices influence your state of mind and behavior.  While some people use their appearance to portray an arrogant mood, most people can’t afford to act conceited.  Nobody enjoys being around people who behave superior or defensive.  Make sure your appearance enables you behave secure and at ease.  If you attending a cocktail party or Holiday event, a flirty dress will easily allow you behave more playful and allowing you to easily make others feel relaxed.  You can afford to behave in a negative way unless you intentional plan on offending people.
4. How People Treat You – your appearance makes a strong statement about your personality that is easily accessible to others.  Make sure your image sends the right message about your values, attitude, and goals.  Some people mistakenly leave a negative impression or build barriers between other people by presenting a disrespectful or offensive image.  Your appearance should allow others to perceive your positive character traits which will ultimately allow them to regard you in a favorable light.  Always dress appropriate and well groomed for the occasion at hand.
   

The good news is that your image or appearance is generally one situation factor that can be controlled.  Image consultants have mastered the tools of image management.  They teach individuals how to master their personal and professional appearance while creating an authentic image for each client.  If you ever in doubt of yourself take a step back and survey your environment.  Look at how people present themselves and find a role model to mimic.  In the work environment, it is important to see how upper management utilizes their appearance to present a professional atmosphere.  You should always remember to dress for the job you want not the job you have.  Always be sure to respect your companies dress policy so you don’t offend others.  Once this is established, start to create an authentic image appropriate for your particular personality and body structure.  If you follow these simple guidelines, you can’t go wrong. 

You can always seek the help of an image consultant to get you started with a powerful personal appearance.
Remember that you don’t want to offend or disrespect others with your appearance.  Avoid distracting clothing and bad grooming habits.  Never wear clothes that make a vulgar statement, funny joke, political perspective, or offensive graphic design.  Avoid all extremities to be safe.  Maintain good hygiene by limiting the amount of cologne, perfume and hair products you use daily.  Always be sure to keep your skin clean and moisturized.  In the winter time always keep your hands and lips soft with Chap Stick and cream.  There’s nothing worse than being distracting in conversation by someone with dry skin hanging off their lips or face.  When you reach out to shake someone’s hand it should be firm without feeling like sandpaper.  Keep your nails clean, trimmed and groomed.  Make sure your nose hair and neck hair is trimmed and that you are not sporting uni-brow.  Remember, people respond to personal appearance!  Make an effort to present yourself in the most powerful and positive way.