Portrait of the female networker

A portrait of the female networker, a woman who knows how to make the most of her professional image whenever she goes to an event.

A few posts ago we looked at the “Portrait of the networker”, and the point is that we have to look after our image from head to toe, without overlooking any detail, to make the best impression in any professional encounter, whether it is a meeting in our office, a visit to our clients or any professional event where we aim to make ourselves known and make new contacts.

Let’s begin, ladies…

• Hair: just as for men, clean, without overdoing the hairspray or styling products, and in a style that suits you. If you have time to go to the hairdresser’s, all the better, and if you are handy and can do it yourself, better still.
• Eyebrows: groomed but not artificial, that is, not drawn on.
• Teeth: just as for men, take special care of your smile and your breath.
• Face: don’t overdo the make-up; keep it discreet, and get advice on making the most of your features and bringing out your eyes.
• Hands: men and women alike should look after the appearance of our hands, especially our nails, always keeping them clean and well groomed. Here you ladies are the experts on what’s in fashion: French manicure and so on.
• Shirt or blouse: here you have much more freedom and many more options than men. To wear with a suit, there are colours you can’t do without, such as white, blue and pink, plain or striped but discreet. No frills.
• Suit: as with men, don’t skimp on this. You are lucky enough to be able to combine a skirt or trousers with the jacket. Choose whichever option best flatters your figure. Have a navy blue suit and a grey suit.
• Skirt and trousers: well ironed, with a sharp crease. With a skirt you choose the length, but for business it is best at the knee.
• Belt: as for men, but you also have more freedom to vary it. Here design comes first: look for a belt that stands out.
• Handbag: one of a woman’s key items, and here size matters, because it lets you carry the essentials: your mobile, diary, business cards, make-up, perfume and so on. A designer handbag will last you longer. The colours should definitely go with your suit or shoes. I’ll leave the design to your judgement and common sense.
• Watch: a watch that matches your outfit, elegant and simple; you can coordinate the colour of the strap with the rest of your clothes. It doesn’t have to be a designer brand.
• Jewellery and accessories: don’t go weighed down with jewellery; choose three or four pretty, original pieces, as discretion is a plus. Pearls and small diamonds will always look good on you.
• Shoes: clean and shiny, well polished; keep an eye on wear on the uppers, soles and heels. There’s nothing I can tell you here: you have 20 pairs on average, so you will have one for every occasion. A heel height of 7 centimetres is fine.
• Tights: they should go with your shoes, skirt or trousers. Simple designs.
• Fragrances: a deodorant that won’t let you down, with a neutral scent, and a pleasant fragrance that doesn’t overwhelm the person in front of you, used sparingly.

I hope this post helps you. It was written with affection and after consulting my most elegant female friends. Taken from my book “El poder del Networking”, Netbiblo 2008 (The Power of Networking).

Happy Networking!