Whilst all you cool creative types out there might be running for the smelling salts to help catch the intake of breath as you read the title, we really have lived this argument and, trust us, it’s true. We are constantly addressing this issue with our holistic services clients, who can’t understand why the world finds it hard to take them seriously. Being different is hard, it’s difficult not to want to express our creativity and uniqueness on the outside. Unfortunately my little Fairies, the world finds it hard to accept us when we dress like this, particularly the bank manager. He doesn’t appreciate the fact that clothes are an expression of individuality, indeed this fact is well quoted by super Fashionista Gok Wan – (not the bit about the bank manager obviously), nor does he appreciate it when we wear bras that resemble the old springs have gone in the sofa look! So where to start with the toning down. This is not going to be a full on “Trinny and Susannah” type what not to wear blog but rather a couple of pointers, hard learned from the university of life.
Firstly, although we all agree you must under sell to the bank manager (remember those guys take stuff down), you don’t want to resemble the bag lady either. Multi coloured socks, fairy style hooded tops, ballerina skirts and fingerless gloves are not what he wants to see – although they do look cool in a certain environment. We are in no way advocating that you sell your beautiful creative soul for power dressing, especially Sue Ellen’s shoulder pads – but we grant you, they do give the lovely Hilary Devey a certain je ne sais quoi. Speaking of which, Power Dressing has been around for a long time you know, Marie Antoinette must surely be a contender for the very first “Power Dresser” title. After all she did have the big hair and how cool did she make those pastel colours look?
Marlene Dietrich is a fabulous inspiration, with her masculine trousers,which she wore from the very beginning of her career. A rarity in the 1920’s, this gave her a sort of mysterious androgynous quality. She is an excellent source for reference as she constantly re-invented herself. She used her 
creativity whilst appearing somewhat conservative to the mainstream human race (i.e. everyone who is not in our creative realm). She was so capable of infiltrating the system that she became the first celebrity to raise war bonds. Okay, we know you are not in the business of raising war bonds, but the point is, her sense of style did allow her to penetrate the system. Her key look was risque for the time, alluding to her bisexuality, as it was very manly but it helped her stand out whilst simultaneously exposing her sense of art and style to the world. Not only did she become a screen siren, Dietrich was a fashion icon to the top designers. She once said, “I dress for myself. Not for the image, not for the public, not for the fashion, not for men.” Admirable words indeed.
Our advice is to dress as conservatively as possible without completely morphing into everyman (or woman). This will help you be taken seriously, state your case as you enter the room and the bank manager won’t see you coming! (For handiness, see an example of a “bank manager’s babe” to the right).
