Dress For Success - 7 Ways to Present a Professional Appearance

Small town girls occasionally find their way to the big city and wonder how they can fit in with the high-fashion models in the high-rise office towers, but they manage. Here's how.

1 - Fresh faces

Keep the make up to a minimum and apply what you wear with a light hand, enough to look great, but not so much that you cover up your natural beauty. Try mineral powder make up for a fresh faced look that doesn't harm your skin. Don't forget the lip gloss!

2 - Chic hair

Simple wash and wear styles with a great cut and natural lines appeal to most any office position. Add some flair with a quick touch up and a fancy comb. You'll love the easy wash and wear look when you're running late to work. The simpler the style the less time it takes.

3 - Comfort underneath

Pull on the basics and remember what your mama told you. You don't want to wear anything with holes in it. Clean and fresh gives you confidence.

4 - Make sure they fit

No matter what you wear, it must fit well. It doesn't matter what size you are, you'll look better in everything you wear if your clothing fits you well. Try everything on and if it doesn't fit, don't buy it. Buy only what fits, and only in colors you LOVE.

5 - Co-ordinate everything

Pick a couple of basic colors and add colored accessories to round out your wardrobe. My favorite basics are Black, Khaki and Red. Then add in accessories that coordinate with those basics. That way you don't have to match thirty colors in shoes and handbag. But, you can add some interesting and flashy handbags to go with your basic colors.

6 - Dare to be different

Toss in a hot pink blazer that goes with most of your basics, or a drop dead coat in a color that gives you that stunning movie-star appearance when you arrive. Better yet, buy one simple black dress that you can wear for any occasion and accessorize it for a variety of locations and situations. One tiny black knit dress that works well with a blazer for work or a pair of fishnet stockings for a night on the town is all you need to set the tone for the rest of your wardrobe.

7 - Add effective jewelry

Affordable costume jewelry is always a fashion right, but what about those times when you need a bit more style and polish? How about a strand of pearls, diamond earrings, or a tennis bracelet that ties it all together?

Glamour doesn't have to cost you an annual salary. A few pieces go a long ways toward making your statement professional.