The way you finish off an outfit is essential to getting across your desired messages of quality and professionalism.

All too often a powerful image is spoilt by bringing out a chewed, old pen in an important meeting. Every self-respecting businessman or woman should own a quality pen and pencil.

And I have lost count of how many times I’ve seen a stylish look diminished by a watch that does everything from altitude measurement to deep-sea diving.

Your flashy, chunky, diamond-encrusted Rolex is also not appropriate for business. There is no better business jewellery investment than a high-quality, classic-styled watch.

How to look the business

Dress to impress. First impressions are vital in job interviews and what you wear is important, but it dosn't end at attention to sartorial detail

Background

• Cufflinks, colour and collars will get you noticed

• Small touches can create a big impression

• Make-up gets noticed in the boardroom

• The casual look can be tuned to your advantage

Related Internet Links

• Snakes & Ladders

• Graduate jobs

• Search for an internship

However, not wearing a watch casts doubt on your time-management.

Cufflinks on double-cuffed shirts are stylish and should be worn for the most professional look, if not all the time. If your watch bracelet is metallic, try to team up the colour (gold or silver/pewter).

Like your tie, your cufflinks say a lot about your personality – keep them stylish, although you can allow some fun here. Jewellery should be minimal, subtly enhance the total look and never be a focal point.

Ladies, you don’t need to have masses of jewellery, just a few well-chosen, good-quality pieces that you have selected yourself. Your jewellery should reflect not only personality but body scale, too.

You do not want to look ridiculous with lots of heavy jewellery if you have a fine-framed figure, and delicate pieces on a fuller frame look equally odd. In fact, be careful not to overaccessorise.

One necklace at a time and no more than two pairs of earrings, please. Too much jewellery and you will create a negative distraction. Bracelets can be a noisy distraction in a meeting, so generally avoid them for business.

Your baggage is all part of your image, so you need to make sure that it is portraying the same level of professionalism as the rest of your personal package.

It is just not good enough to use the same briefcase year after year until it falls apart. Choose one that reflects your role and is suitable for the amount you carry around.

Try not to arrive at a meeting cluttered with briefcase, laptop computer, cell phone and personal digital assistant in your pockets, umbrella and newspaper under the arm. You’ll look out of control and you do need a hand free for the handshake.

Drop Dead Brilliant by Lesley Everett (McGraw-Hill, £9.99)

Next week: grooming and make-up for both sexes.

Explore Career & Jobs

• Graduate / Management

• Senior Executive

• PA / Secretarial

• Public Sector

• Legal

• Recruiter Forum

• MBA

• Top 100 Graduate Employers

• Top 50 Women

• Best 100 Companies

• Careers in

Times Recommends

• Inspirational leadership
• How to get a new job
• The reluctant CEO