SALT LAKE CITY — When I meet Judith Rasband, one of the world’s leading image management consultants, she's wearing a softly tailored red jacket and gold earrings.

Her nails are manicured and her dark hair nicely frames her face. Not only is she thoughtful in her manner of dress, but she chooses her words carefully. She tells me that we don’t really want to dress to impress. Rather, we want to dress to influence. Hopefully, we present ourselves as leaders and not followers.

Rasband has been a trailblazer herself. She was a first to become a certified image master in the Association of Image Consultants International, an honor that has been awarded to only nine other people in the world. She taught at Brigham Young University in clothing and textiles for 12 years and has consulted for the Marriott Corporation, Texaco, AT&T and IBM, helping these clients understand how they can use image as a branding tool. Her books and videos are used in schools and universities across the country.

Rasband has owned her business, Conselle Institute of Image Management, for over 25 years. Not only is she in demand as a speaker, but she also works with clients on a one-on-one basis. She helps her clients understand pattern, color, line, shape and design so that they can select and coordinate harmonious clothing. Understanding her clients’ goals is paramount as Rasband shows them the role their image can play in achieving their goals.

Americans are often stereotyped as sloppy dressers. As Sameer Reddy concedes in his Newsweek article, "If you ask citizens of other countries to paint a portrait of the average American tourist, it would look something like this: a loud, chubby sightseer wearing a fanny pack, baseball cap, printed T shirt, jean shorts and sneakers."

Rasband asks me if I know what casual means. Yes, I tell her, but I struggle to define it. She said it means without thought, careless. I later look the word up in the Oxford's dictionary and find, "relaxed and unconcerned; made or done without much thought or premeditation … done or acting without sufficient care or thoroughness." While Rasband certainly communicates a relaxed presence, everything else about her communicates thought, direction and purpose.

Here is Rasband's advice on what to wear for an interview.

Posture is the first thing the employer notices

Rasband asserts that interviewers notice the posture before they notice clothing. Rounded shoulders communicate “slow, tired and sluggish.” The shoulders should be pulled back, not up. “They want to see that you know what you’re doing. That you’ve got a brain.”

She suggests going into the restroom before an interview, looking in the mirror, and putting your hands on your hips. “Look like you know everything there is to know,” she said.

She also suggests raising your hands up in a “V” shape, which will make you appear more powerful. Stand tall before going into the interview. Feeling confident is half the battle, but these exercises can help calm the pre-interview jitters.

Wear a jacket to your interview; 2nd best option is collared shirt

Jackets are great because they add another layer to your dress. Each layer of clothing “expands your visual presence,” which in turns makes you look more solid, more credible and more empowered.

Our first layer is our underwear. White T-shirts were once worn as underwear, only Rasband still ranks T-shirts as a first layer, a layer that communicates no visual authority. However, V-neck shirts have more visual authority than a plain T-shirt.

The second layer would be shirts, blouses, pants, skirts and dresses. The signature piece of clothing in this layer is a collared shirt. In fact, the phrase, looking sharp originates from the straight lines and collar points, lifting and framing the face. The straight lines of the collar, Rasband said, "communicate alert" and "I'm ready to do it. Give me a chance." On the otherhand, the diagonal lines of the collar "communicate action" and “I’m going to get it done.”

While knit polo shirts have a collar, Rasband suggests avoiding them. The shirts lose their shape and start to fade after about six washings. They cling to the body, exposing the body's bulges, which becomes distracting. The collar of a knit polo shirt ripples after a few washes and also is distracting. Khakis are a fine wardrobe piece, just lower in visual authority than tailored pants. They communicate a more relaxed look for a relaxed business environment.

The third layer would be a tailored jacket. Worn with a jacket, a turtleneck or colored tee works great for relaxed business and leadership roles. Also, clothing that repeats your eye color helps you connect better with the person who is interviewing you.

The fourth level of authority would be a matching suit. While many job interviewers would not demand this level of dress, it is best to find out your employer's expectations ahead of time.

Interview dress for men

Rasband recommends the following colors for an interview:

• Suits: Best colors are charcoal, navy or gray.
• Shirts: Classic dress shirt or sports shirts in blue, ivory or yellow.
• Tie: Optional. Best colors are red or blue or a color that repeats your eye color, bringing attention up to your face. Simple stripes look great as does an understated pattern.

1. Belts and shoes: Leather. 2. Cologne: Minimal. 3. Nails: Neatly trimmed and filed. 4. Hair: Neat and combed. Interview dress for women

• Skirts: To the knee or below.
• Jewelry: Coordinated, nothing distracting like big dangling earrings or profusion of necklaces.
• Perfume: Minimal.
• Makeup: Wear natural-looking makeup for more attention to your face.
• Nails: Neatly trimmed and filed.
• Clothing design: Nothing froufrou, silly or girly. Avoid heavy clothing as it may look frumpy.
• Hair: Well-styled and neat. It's smart to lift long hair or style it back. Too much hair in front distracts.
• Belts and shoes: Leather
• Stockings: If wearing a skirt, wear nylons. Nylons communicate “hands off” while bare skin invites touch.

Emily Post provides another great attire guide resource.

Finally, Rasband thinks it's a mistake to mix casual with sharp when going in for an interview. The business suit jacket worn over a T-shirt and jeans communicates that you are a follower of a trend, trying too hard to impress other people. Spiky or wildly colored hair communicates that you are also a follower caught in a trend, and it can also communicate contempt for authority. Since your interviewer will likely be an authority figure at your workplace, he doesn’t want to hire someone who won't respect the corporate brand.

Once we understand what our clothing communicates, we can choose to communicate visual authority, confidence, competence and credibility. The way we dress “can ultimately impact the achievement of our goals. To some degree, we are responsible for how people treat us," she said.

Hopefully, we communicate that we deserve respect.

Becky Blackburn is the mother of five children and is a native of Price, Utah. She graduated from BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School. Contact her at beckyblackburnwrites@gmail.com.

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