A journalist at The Times had a question for me yesterday. What do you wear when your name is Tony Blair and you are about to be grilled by the Chilcot inquiry?

When we dress in a way that supports what we are saying, our message is reinforced and we are more likely to be believed. When we dress in a way that is not compatible with our message, the reverse is true.  So how did he need to dress?

Firstly, what was his message? What did he want to convey?  Honesty, authority, to look like he cared. He also wanted to convey  genuine heartfelt belief and the sense that if we had been in his shoes, we would most likely have done the same.

The next question is what does the audience expect? That he looks like a former prime minister, that he looks in control, not only of the facts, but also of himself.

He was well advised to wear the uniform of power; high-contrasting and authoritative white shirt, dark suit and red tie.  The clean white shirt suggesting nothing to hide, and a red tie giving authority. Properly fitting clothes and excellent grooming reinforced these messages. This is also about conveying respect to your audience. Going tieless was not an option.

His voice sounded husky, strained, perhaps an indication of the personal tension he was under. As for his body language, no arms crossed in defiance, but hand gestures used to reinforce a point and good eye contact with the panel. Initially tense, hands shaking as a sign of nerves and pressure, his audience might be reassured by such human signs.  He heeded other advice: don’t raise your voice; don’t lose your cool; answer the questions to the panel’s satisfaction.  It’s not a time to evade the question, be heartfelt.

Verdict:  Whether you agree or disagree with his decision making process, Tony Blair achieved his aim. He looked his best to be believed.

Timothy Everest has dressed many celebrities including James McAvoy, Jay Kay and Jeremy Irons.  We can rely on him for being very well turned out for his appointment with her Majesty.  Could this be the inspiration for a new collection?  Will clients be asking for the MBE or honours suit perhaps?

Wishing you a very happy new year and a stylish start to the new decade.

Lucinda

So how do you get it right?

Get advice from a style expert.

First, let’s dispel a few myths.

1. You will try to get me to dress like someone else, someone who isn’t me.

We don’t do this. We work with you to find out what’s special about you, and what it is you want the world to know about you. The way you dress is a type of visual shorthand  and we want this to work for you, not against you. In the work environment, businesses do not want clones, they want individuals. Developing your own personal style will help get you noticed for all the right reasons.

2. I don’t need help

We all have a blind side. We have eyes that look out and not that look in. We can all benefit from some constructive feedback, even compliments. A little reassurance that we are getting it right goes a long way.

3. It’s not worth it

Seeing a style expert can save you time and money. You might even enjoy yourself! You will save time because you will learn what clothes to invest in and how to make yourself look good every day. You will save money because you won’t waste money on expensive mistakes. Over the years the average person accumulates thousands of pounds worth of clothes that they’ve never or hardly ever worn.  Many of these are sat in the back of their wardrobe.  We’ve seen a lot of them!

It’s time to invest in yourself. Quality in all things, and less is more.  Like compliments, a little can go a long way.