Whether you're a stay at home mum, a work from home mum, or back at your old workplace, looking good is important.
It will help you get the credit you deserve for your labours and will also give you greater self-confidence and presence.
It's hard to know what to wear when you've gone from the corporate world, to one at home with kids, it's not like you're going to put on your old suits every day to be crawling round on the floor with your kids.
Here are my tips to keep you from becoming too mumsy.
* Aim for a 'suited' effect, wearing something with structure: a shirt, cardigan or even denim jacket when putting separates together.
* Avoid all over florals (especi ally long out-of-date floral frocks) - they scream 'mumsy'.
* Pull longer hair back in a smart pony tail, or blow dry into a style. Short hair should be styled to frame the face.
* Wear some make-up - at least mascara and lipstick as a minimum.
* Wear earrings - they draw attention to the face.
* Get a great bag to carry all your stuff - avoid nappy bags that have childlike prints on them.
* Look at your shoes - they need to be practical to cope with running around after kids, but are they old, worn and no longer in fashion? Buy a pair of the latest style shoes with a flat heel, practical yet stylish. If you're going to a business meeting, a small to medium heel is more professional.
* Wear clothes that fit you now, not ones that once did. Your body shape is likely to have changed with the birth of your children, don't keep hanging on to those old clothes hoping to wear them again - give them to charity and replace them with something that makes you feel good now.
* Smell smart - a little great quality perfume goes a long way - make sure you don't smell like disinfectant or baby vomit.
* Keep yourself groomed - get regular haircuts/colours, pluck or wax your eyebrows (this re ally opens up the face and the eyes and can make the most enormous difference to how you look), shave or wax your legs regularly.
Looking after yourself reflects on how others treat you - if you look like you care for yourself, others will expect to have to treat you better. Grooming is usually the first thing to go when we're pushed for time (and as a mum I know how kids take all your time up), but it's a really important part of our image.
If you look out of control, people will think your life is chaotic and that you're not professional in whatever kind of work you do.
This article is courtesy of Imogen Lamport, she is a Melbourne based Image Consultant who can help you learn how to look your very best - every day. Click Here to visit her website..