A Businesswoman's Guide to Dressing for Impact

For women, being told what they should and shouldn't wear as a professional can be a touchy subject, especially when, in the words of entrepreneur Patricia DeNucci, "You see overweight men with bad ties anchoring the news."

But to be respected in today's business world, the jeans and T-shirt have to stay at home.

DeNucci is president of DeNucci & Co., a referral service that connects companies to freelancers and consultants. As far as her professional image, she said she was at 75% but wanted to be at 100%. Specifically, she wanted to simplify her wardrobe and get help in deciding which pieces are worth dishing out extra money for.

So she hired Sara Canaday, principal consultant of Empowerment Enterprises, to help her invest her clothing budget wisely and get the most results from her image.

With Canaday as guide, DeNucci learned how to wear tailored pieces and prioritize which items to spend on.

"Now I'm getting attention from people who I want to do business with," says DeNucci. "When I'm dressed in one of my Sara outfits, people notice and respect me."

Needless to say, DeNucci rarely goes clothes shopping anymore without her consultant.

Appearance Issues

Looks shouldn't matter, but the fact is that they play a major role in empowering -- or disempowering -- a woman, says Canaday. When men go without a jacket, it's assumed they just forgot it in the office. When women go jacketless, however, they may be viewed as less professional or put together.

Psychological research and numerous studies have shown that first impressions always color any impression you make later on, Canaday points out. That's why she always recommends the jacket as a businesswoman's most powerful tool.