This week in Part 2 I tackle feet and hair.
It’s important to pay as much attention to your footwear as the rest of your outfit. Shoes should always be in good condition and should match both the color and tone of your outfit. Since I recommend you err on the conservative side, I suggest pumps or dressy flats. Avoid casual sandals and sneakers and don’t even ask me about flip-flops. Heels are fine, but make sure you are comfortable, particularly if you work at a large agency and need to move from one area to another quickly. If you are seeing someone with partialism (a.k.a. “foot fetish”) then you are going to want to avoid high heels or open-toed shoes. Basic low-heeled pumps in conservative colors (ie. black, navy or tan) are the way to go. Otherwise, open-toed shoes are fine, particularly if they don’t expose a lot of your foot. Remember, think conservative and professional. And don’t forget the pedicure! Very bare sandals should be saved for the beach. And don’t get me started on flip-flops or Birkenstocks. I love mine but they never go to work with me.
With regards to hair, keep it clean and styled. I can tell by looking at someone if they have gone too long between washings. This shows both poor hygiene and attention to detail, neither of which are great qualities in a counselor. If you have long hair, it’s fine to wear it down but make sure it stays combed and neat. Ditto if it’s in a ponytail- don’t let yours become messy or disheveled. Again, not qualities we want in our counselors. If your hair is short, make sure it is styled and not too crazy. A little funky is fine, memorable even, but spikes everywhere is too much. Lastly, avoid weird hair colors. Blue and purple may be trendy, but they make counselors look like flighty party girls. Again, not qualities you want in a counselor.
Lastly, make sure your clothes fit properly, are wrinkle-free, and in good condition. Pants shouldn’t be too short or too long. If you have something beautiful that doesn’t quite fit right, get it altered. Fix missing buttons, trim hanging threads and never wear something that is stained or dirty. Iron your clothes daily and limit the use of linen. Linen is probably the worst fabric for wrinkles.
And don’t dress too casually. If it’s Saturday and you have a lovely T-shirt you want to wear, throw a blazer over it. If you want to wear jeans choose dark denim. Take the time to coordinate your outfits ahead of time, and be proud of how good you look! Your confidence will spill over into your counseling session and your whole day will go better. Never worry about looking too good to see a client, rather, worry about looking too sexy or too glam. Keep it conservative and professional and you won’t go wrong.
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Barbara LoFrisco
