Dress for Success!

Okay, the topic I'm about to write about is probably one of the most contentious subjects in the direct sale world - how you should dress.  Very few of you have ever met me, but you should know that I am possibly the least fashion conscious person on the planet.  You should also know that I have more body issues than Time magazine.  However, I recognize that this is important, so you should probably give me 15-20 minutes of your time to read about it.
How you dress is what gives the first impression to your next client; there are no two ways around it.  It doesn't matter where you meet her.  It could be at a home show, a fair, or where you buy your groceries.  The fact of the matter is, if you don't look like someone she wants to work with, she'll probably ignore you and go on.  Before we get to what you should look like, I want to tell you a story.

When I started my first direct selling business in 2003 I was told that I was to only wear skirts when marketing my product (that product will remain nameless, but at least one person knows what I'm talking about).  I was told to go out and buy a suit in which I should do parties - a suit with a skirt - and if I were to vary from these edicts, I was not welcome at the meetings.
What you may not know is that 2003 was the year that my daughter was born.  The doctors forced me to go well over my due date and I gained a lot of weight in those extra four weeks.  Because I had a cesarean, I couldn't do very much in the way of exercise, and I was out of work.  I turned to direct sales because I could have a job that would let me rest and watch my daughter, and the first thing they told me was to go buy clothes that were going to cost me more than my start-up kit.
So, I broke that rule.  I bought a single pair of really nice slacks from a sale rack and some tops that could fit my new shape.  I found women wouldn't talk to me at meetings, and no one wanted to help me boost my business.  I stopped selling that product because of the attitude it had toward clothing.

I told you that story to explain why this is such a difficult topic.  I know that you're comfortable in your clothes and you don't want to buy any more.  I also know that, if you're not dressed well, you're probably not getting as many leads as you want when you're out and about town.  The third thing is, that most of us, honestly, began direct sales and thought "great, a job I can do in my pajamas."
Well, you can do your job in pajamas - when you don't leave the house.  Seriously, wear all the pajamas you want in your own home, but remember that every time you leave, you have the potential of a selling opportunity.  If you leave your house in a torn t-shirt, sweatpants, and bed head, what are you going to say to the cashier that says, "Omigod, I love your nails?"  Would you say, "Thanks, I sell these," and give her your thirty-second commercial or would you sheepishly thank her and walk out wishing you had looked better?
Every day that you leave your house, you are confronted by dozens of women you could market to.  This is to help you feel more confident about doing it.  As much as we all hate to admit it, everyone judges the book by the cover first.  You want your outward appearance to be that of someone they can talk to.

Okay, so, speech over.  I don't want you to run out and buy a new wardrobe.  I mean, if you were planning to do that already, more power to you, but more than anything I want you to be conscious of what you're presenting to the world.  Here are some basic tips for going out and meeting the world.

1. Wear clothes that fit you well.  That means that your blouses shouldn't be so tight you can see every thing, but they also shouldn't be so baggy that they're falling off.  Everything in your closet that doesn't fit well should be out of the running for everyday wear, anyway.
2. Don't wear clothes with holes in them.  Okay, so now they make designer jeans with purposely worn areas in them.  Though I don't like those, I'm not talking about them.  I'm talking about your favourite top that just developed a tiny hole in it.  If it has a hole, you're going to play with it which will draw attention to it.
3. Wash/brush your hair. I am not going to get into the argument about how often you have to wash your hair, but before you leave the house, look at yourself and be brutally honest.  If your hair is dirty, wash it.  If it's clean, do something with it, even if that something is just brushing it.
4. Put on some lipstick.  Again, not getting into the argument about how much makeup is necessary.  The bare minimum for your make up should be some lip gloss.  Some women say, "lipstick and mascara"."  That's fine.  Put on something that says, "I tried."
5. Do your nails!  You sell nail art.  How are you going to approach a stranger about nail art if you're not wearing any?  I don't care if it's lacquer or wraps or a combination of both.  Make your nails look great!

That's it.  Simple steps.  You can wear a pair of jeans and get new clients, just make sure they aren't those jeans you paint in.

Homework:  Go through your closet/dresser and organize them into clothes you go outside in and clothes you wear at home.  No due date. This is for you.