Keeping Up Appearances– Why Bathroom Breaks Should Be Mandatory
July 23, 2014
By Brian Maynor
Last week I had the great pleasure of meeting and presenting a professional image workshop with the Midland’s Chapter of Women in Lodging. These ladies were sharp, funny, successful and diverse and they were also united with struggles and questions about balancing work and life demands on image and wardrobe. However, one member’s story and question sticks out in my mind.
After a morning spent running from meeting to meeting, “Sue” was finally getting some work done at her desk, and before she knew it her 4:00 appointment arrived. This was a well-respected and influential vendor she was eager to engage. After walking the gentleman out of what she felt was a successful meeting, Sue decided to pop into the bathroom. To her shock and chagrin, the face she saw in the mirror did not reflect the polished, pulled-together professional she was, but rather an exhausted, stressed out, overworked woman at the end of her day. Immediately she started stressing over the meeting she just concluded. First impressions were crucial and hers was literally staring her in the face. The question was how to avoid these situations in the future.
We’ve all had those moments of looking in the mirror or across the table at a person with mussed hair, maybe pulled back in a sloppy bun with a pen holding it in place; makeup from the morning barely hanging on with clothes askew and rumpled, and without a doubt that impacts the feelings of confidence and competence on both sides. So what can you do? Here are my thoughts on keeping up your appearance throughout the day, but especially towards the end of it:
1. Mandatory bathroom breaks. If Sue had taken five minutes to pop into the restroom before her meeting she would have saved herself the embarrassment and stress that consumed her afterwards. Every calendar system has multiple reminder options so use them. If you tend to click them off, like I do, without a passing thought ask your assistant to be your reminder. When it comes down to sending one more email or giving a presentation with food in your teeth, is there really a choice?
2. Use the day as a reason to upgrade. Let’s be honest, no one wants to be accosted by a bold red lip or smoky eye at 8:00 in the morning. It’s just not appropriate. Start the morning off with a softer shade or natural look and save the bold colors for after lunch. By mid-afternoon everyone is ready for a pick-me up, the day is off and running and you’re going to reapply anyway. Use the natural breaks in your day to amp up the volume on your image. Along with brushing your teeth and your hair, it’s okay to also change your makeup and even your shirt.
3. Use your best judgment. Not all meetings require the same level of polish and pizazz. Some you may be able to conduct with rolled up sleeves and loosened tie. You know with whom you’re meeting and the level of professionalism they expect, but in order to know which choices to make you have to take the time to consciously think about it beforehand.
The image we create first thing in the morning is not the image we return home with, nor should it be. The day is full of demands, some expected others not, that is life, and while you can face them all without ever reinvesting or reevaluating your image you will have greater success in achieving the outcomes desired if you do.
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I am always curious to hear some of your weekend wardrobe dilemmas and challenges. Please send your comments and questions to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.
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About Brian Maynor
Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.
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