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As a nation of DIYers, we spend a lot of time (and money) choosing paint and wall coverings for our home. Surrounding ourselves with our favourite colours makes us feel good. So why don't we do this with our clothes? Black is still the most popular colour for clothes and shoes - but is it our favourite colour? Is it what we decorate the walls of our homes with?

Although your favourite colour may not actually be the colour that suits you best, it is certainly powerful to wear the colours that flatter your skin tone, hair and eyes. Most of us have at least one of

our most suitable colours in and around us every day without realising the power of these colours.

Dress for success, even at home!
When you run your own business and spend much of your 'busy" time in your home-office, it's easy to wear what you are comfortable in rather than putting on the "corporate" wardrobe that we have all come to expect when commuting to the city centre to work.

A huge difference to your business success can be made by ensuring that you are wearing clothes that suit both your colouring and your shape. We want to be remembered and referred to, for example, as "that marvelous Consultant from the plumbing company" rather than "the S-bend guy in the grey T-shirt". It has been proven that up to 70% of the sales message we portray is in our non-verbal communication - that's how we hold ourselves, smile, speak and dress. The easiest element to change is your clothes (you have to change the way you speak, smile and move 52 times to make it a new "habit").

Knowing what colours suit you and dressing to work with your body shape are the things that make the difference.
A good friend recently told me that, whenever she thinks of me, the first mental picture she conjures up is that of the day she first met me. I arrived in New Zealand and came down the gangplank from the 'plane in a red shirt. Now she always associates me with red. It is certainly one of my best colours - and one that I frequently receive plenty of compliments for.

The outcome of wearing your best colours is that you undoubtedly get noticed (stand up tall poppies, please). Compliments will come your way - and they won't be about the clothes you're wearing - they'll be about you. "You look great today", "You're looking so well", "Wow, you look amazing" are typical comments. By making your mark with people you meet, they will remember you more easily when it comes to doing business with you - and looking great makes you a person who is naturally assumed to be someone worth doing business with.

Once you know what colours look best on you - exploit them! Association with a colour creates a powerful memory. If red's your thing, add a little of it everywhere (you could even change the colour of your car to suit!) Don't despair over your current wardrobe - just jazz it up a little. Gents can change the colour of their shirts and add dramatic ties. Ladies can add a scarf, a brooch or even a headband.

I can tell you from experience that it was pretty daunting trying on khaki (or "olive" to the fashionistas out there) when I'd previously believed it was only suitable for the army in camouflage! Now it features in many of my outfits.

Be brave and daring - it could just land you that major contract!