An analogy I refer to in my book Look Like The Leader You Are is one that likens the skills and knowledge required to fix your image, with those of a landscaper tending and professionally guiding you through redeveloping your garden.
One wouldn’t attempt such a specialist task without hiring an experienced expert, and the same goes for when the need arises to hire a personal stylist.
It is not excessive or unnecessary - it is wise.
Now, in the same way you wouldn’t go at it alone, you also wouldn’t approach a weeded, overgrown flowerbed by simply adding flowers to it. You would need to clear the growth and nurture the foundations before you think about replanting your beautiful new plants.
Chances are, if you are looking into how to update and manage your work wardrobe and are at all aware of your professional image - whether it be concerns or just a general awareness - then you might have looked in to what fits your body shape well, or which colours complement you best.
You may have even gone as far as working with a personal shopper to pick out some pieces to update your wardrobe.
All very positive moves, but a complete, long-term solution? Not so much. You see, whilst knowing what you are colours and what lines to follow when looking for clothes, this only solves part of the problem. Dealing with isolated issues in this way means you are likely to run in to obstacles down the line.
For example, the styles that work best on your body shape, or the colours that suit your personal colouring might not be to your personal taste, be appropriate for work or even available in the shops right now.
An instore personal shopper won’t have seen your wardrobe at home, or have the time to understand who you are or what your job requires, so they are likely to just kit you out in the latest trends.
Even if you have had professional help from a stylist in the past, I am confident you will find my “7 Rs” different, because this time you are going back to your foundations and you are going to build it up again. My process enables you to gain clarity on what you want to achieve and highlight areas you may want professional help on.
After all, how do you plan a journey, without knowing where you are going?
Lizzie Edwards is one of London’s leading Personal Stylists and Image Consultants for Women, and author of 'Look Like The Leader You Are; A 7-Step Style Strategy for Ambitious Women’