Clothes, CVs, Careers, Coaching, and Confidence

Tracy Short & Co Clothes. CVs, Careers, Coaching, Confidence.jpg

When I asked style and confidence coach Loulou Storey for her tips on creating a great work wardrobe, where to shop, and how to put together a great look for an interview, she said to start with the clothes you already own.

She's down-to-earth and practical. I like her type of advice.

“Start with your knicker drawer.”

“Get rid of three things a day.”

“Go shopping with a list.”

Like other stylists, Loulou will edit your wardrobe for you and take you shopping. But more than weeding out clothes that don’t suit you, and helping you to buy ones that do, she has a unique style and confidence programme.

I’m always interested in hearing about USPs and why people do what they do. It turns out there are more than a few similarities in how we choose to work—it’s just that Loulou starts with a wardrobe, whereas I start with a CV.

Clothes

As our lives change and evolve, so does our wardrobe.

Loulou recommends looking in your closet to see what you have before trying to figure out what’s missing. She never insists on a complete overhaul, as it’s rarely practical, affordable, or necessary.

Retail therapy may be fun, but it's not much more than a quick fix. Instead, Loulou works with you to edit what you have and buy only what you need.

Old clothes hold memories and associations with the past, which makes them a great starting point for assessing how you and your life have changed and gaining a clearer sense of direction. When you’ve agreed on what image looks and feels right for you now, Loulou will help you refresh your wardrobe and write that shopping list.

CVs and careers

I can tell just as much about a person from their CV as Loulou can from their wardrobe. The way you write your CV and how you discuss it speak volumes.

It’s a bit like that outdated wardrobe. There are always things that shouldn’t be there and key pieces that are missing. And when it comes to your interview technique, that’s a bit like styling. I help people tell their career histories in an interesting and engaging way under the banner of marketing and pitching.

Coaching

There’s more to it than meets the eye.

First, you need to be motivated to sign up for any coaching.

I’m into self-development and refinement, but I'm sure some people only try it when ‘needs must’ or are at the ‘last chance saloon’.

Talking to Loulou, I realised her Style and Confidence programme and my Career Shape-up programme were similar.

As Loulou pointed out, she might be helping a successful career woman update her wardrobe, but behind the scenes, she’s often supporting a woman going through a transition such as motherhood, divorce, menopause, or approaching retirement.

I designed the Career Shape-up to teach people how to navigate the recruitment market and share some of my insider tips. Once I started coaching, I realised there was a lot more going on under the surface that I was helping with.

Confidence

There’s no denying that some transitions can be challenging and, in some cases, create a loss of identity, with someone asking: “Who am I now?” Loulou used her own story as an example.

After giving birth to her daughter, she’d gained three stone in weight, was suffering from depression and anxiety, and was feeling disconnected from her former self. Loulou made no secret of her difficulties getting back on track, but those struggles have transformed her business and helped her to transform other people’s lives.

You need to be motivated and brave to work with a coach. I’m known for being a straight-talker, and many of my clients claim to be, too. But when they sign up, it often turns out they need some help with their confidence.

Letting someone into the dark corners of your wardrobe or behind the scenes of your career does require courage, but I've yet to discover someone who hasn’t enjoyed or benefitted from the process.

To find out more about Loulou, visit The Styling Storey

If you enjoyed this post, take a look at How to look good at work and why your work wardrobe matters

Want to know more about my career services?