You walk into a room, meet someone for the first time, go in for that first interview/blind date/client appointment - you smile, your handshake is firm, you're smart and friendly and articulate. All of these are very important, but they are all the follow-up to the first impression you've already made.  

Like it or not, fair or unfair, the truth is it can take as little as five seconds for people to look at you and draw their conclusions. Think of the eye as a camera - making a snapshot.   What the person sees the very first time will be in his or her mind for a long time, if not forever.

When you meet a person for the first time what you wear is a statement of what you want the other person to know about your status, education and taste. Certainly, as a person gets to know you, you have the opportunity to modify that impression somewhat, but those critical first few minutes are just that - critical. I have heard headhunters say that a person can be selected for a position in the first three minutes of an interview - based on eye contact, body language and clothing.

We encounter new people every day, some of whom are important to our success and lives and others that are "incidental" encounters - in line at the grocery, at the car wash, etc. While we generally pay more attention to the encounters we know to be important, such as job interviews, sales presentations, and so forth, we may not think too much about those "incidental" encounters. However, those perceived "throw-away" encounters may turn out to be quite important to us in the future. We don't always know where a new client, or new friend, or new significant other, or new teammate, or new committee-mate, etc., etc., etc. may come from.  Plus, when you pay attention to how you dress, you brighten the world around you, and that's a plus for everyone.

Bottom line - don't be someone you are not, but when choosing what to wear choose something that you are comfortable in, that fits your image, that fits you well and looks good on you. Take a look at my 12 Wardrobe Tips for 2012 to the right to give yourself a kickstart.  

And don't forget - this is where a wardrobe stylist can help - so don't hesitate to call or email me if you need some help defining and implementing your personal style.