It is not wise to go overboard to upstage the interviewer, but you do want to be seen as competent. Be well groomed and dressed. When you are, it is easier for people to see you as a leader in your field and within their company.

Fit in with out standing out.
Wear a suit, but give yourself a different look with interesting textures, colors, and accessories – you will be remembered. Men: it is a good idea to wear a colored shirt with a coordinated tie; this tells the interviewer you have an eye for details.

Appear pulled together without effort.
Some of the well-dress men and women spend some time behind the scenes to show up at any meeting more relaxed and confident, allowing them to connect more easily with others. Develop an organized approach to dress, which means having a good handle on what goes together in your closet, as well as developing good relationships with your shoe repair person, tailors and the like. They see many people, so they can quickly define what is ordinary and what will get the attention of the interviewer.

Dry cleaning starts with proper techniques that enhance a garment’s life. A good dry cleaning service will provide the following:

1. Check all labels for care instructions for each specific fabric

2. Inspect your clothes for spots and stains, specifying what the stain is

3. Remove spots and stains using appropriate products

4. Use distilled, odor-free solvents

5. Hand finish each garment in order to restore original appearance

6. Inspect to ensure every issue has been resolved

When dry cleaning is done right, it can actually extend the life of your clothing. A tip for customers: do not let your stained clothing sit in a hot car, as that can actually ’set’ the spot.

The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. With that in mind, we offer a list of things that every good tailor should do.

1. Use matching thread

2. Overcast and trim seam edges

3. Press altered seams thoroughly

4. Level skirt hems on the customer

5. Measure both sleeves and/or pant legs on the customer

6. Tack shirt/pant linings to hems to hold lining in place

7. Add interfacing to jacket sleeves when shortening

Before your closet becomes a landfill of things you don’t really need – or it ends up having potential to clutter your sanity – here are tips to focus on your needs:

1. Before you head to the mall, review what you have, what needs to be replaced, and write a priority list – you’ll be better able to stay focused at the store and make better decisions despite the sales tag pressure.

2. Before you shop and add more, downsize your wardrobe. Better items can be consigned, castaways can be donated to charity (a nice tax write-off). A lot of what stays in our closets will not be fashionable in the future. However, if the item has sentimental value one day in the future may be a better time to let it go.

3. Vow to add and release. Vow to release a piece of clothing every time you add something to your closet. This is a way to change your relationship with material possessions, eventually spending less money. Your closet can then be a source of calm when you get dressed in the morning. When something new comes in, something hanging should go out.

4. Remember the hall closet. Look at your coats, jackets and handbags. Anything out of date or you just don’t wear anymore? Consider adding a scarf to get a little more wear out of them. Citrus shades of lemon, tangerine, and lime are all popular now and will dress up black, navy, and beige coats. Do you use all the handbags and totes, or are they looking worn? Upgrade them when they are on sale.

5. Shells and shoes – less may be more. A few new tops and shoes will update your wardrobe. Department store shoe departments are constantly overstocked and some items must go. This can be to your advantage. Check it out. When you are looking at shell tops, buy them in classic sleeves, necklines, and fabrics that will last past the recession. Some of the overly exposed necklines aren’t for everyone and will eventually fade from the fashion scene. These two item – shell tops and a new pair of shoes – are cost effective ways to update to the next season.

6. Coupons and charge cards. Check the websites of the stores you will be shopping and download coupons. Keep them close at hand always – in case you find yourself in the store’s neighborhood you can save on gas and driving time. We all have enough credit cards, but when you are spending a lot in one store the extra 10% off will be worth it. This will also put you on the store’s preferred shopper list, allowing you to receive future store promotions.

Being vigilant about protecting what goes in your closet keeps it from becoming a mess of things you don’t need. When it comes to clothes, a bargain is only a bargain if it works for your lifestyle and figure, fits into your day-to-day clothing storage space and doesn’t put you in debt.