爱思英语编者按：你也许为了掩饰一些个人特征而转变穿衣风格：比如，30岁传20岁的衣服，或者下了班就赶紧换下工作服。但的确在某些场合，要求你必须穿对合时宜的服装。有时候我们不得不相信，穿什么，就是什么。

面试时——衣着根据工作性质有稍许差别，但一套经典的、剪裁得体的衬衫加短裙绝不会出错。如果是创意性强的工作，你可以稍微放松一点。  更多信息请访问：http://www.engbus.cn/

约会时——特别是第一次约会，你可能急于表现、反倒弄成了四不像。放松点！没有必要把你的所有优势一次全部秀出来。化妆是一定要的，但浓妆就真的不必了。最重要的是，你要穿的舒服，穿的舒服你才能轻松展示自己的魅力。

聚会（大场面）时——当然小黑裙永远是不会错的后备，不过后备也永远有点太过安全。把它放在一边，也许你可以挑到更好的。比如，适合你的颜色会给平庸的设计带来亮点。而如果你确定要用黑色，那么闪亮亮的珠宝就比不可少。如果不想穿礼服，那么给自己准备一件华丽丽的上衣（丝绒、丝绸、天鹅绒材质的），再配一条小短裙也很不错。

Years ago, when I was staying in New York with friends, I complimented one of them on her enviably eccentric style. She was appalled. Quirky? She thought she’d been doing Killer Executive.

It works the other way too – all those women whose solution to free-spirit hippy chic is to empty the stores on Sloane Street; the women who ramp up the sex factor so much they end up scaring the bejesus out of most men; the women who assume that, if they assemble the wardrobe of a 17-year-old, they’ll look like a 17-year-old.

Men get it wrong, too. All the time. It’s not easy to see ourselves as others see us and, frankly, sometimes it’s probably best not to. You don’t want to be an open book all the time. However, there are situations when it’s best to play with a straight bat and send out a clear message about who you are. For instance…

The interview

Obviously requirements vary wildly. The more conservative the workplace, the easier it is – go for a great suit (not necessarily matching) in a versatile colour, or a tailored dress. It gets trickier with more creative jobs, but the ground rules are the same. Good-quality classics are universally appreciated and you can semaphore your style credentials by ramping up the accessories as required. Fashion’s obsession with shoes comes into its own here – wear the straightest of suits with a pair of statement heels and you’ll score points in the most design-conscious environments (and if you’ve overestimated the grooviness of prospective employers, you can always tuck your fashion moment out of sight under a desk).

The hot date

The temptation with first dates – as with first novels, first albums and first babies – is to channel every idea, whim and theory you’ve ever had into action. Relax. You really don’t have to put it all out there in one hit. Accessible but aspirational has to be the ideal combination, surely? While you’re at it, something that makes it clear that your dream night out is not a trip to that great little cinema that’s still showing Lesbian Vampire Killers, without having to spell it out, would presumably be handy, so choose from the sophisticated end of your wardrobe. And although you’d be insane not to want to present your best side, you don’t want to be dishonest. A bit of body-consciousness isn’t a bad idea, but needs qualifying – an over-sized tailored jacket over a cut-away vest top or a tight dress should strike the right balance. Men find bondage shoes distracting, and not necessarily in a good way, but if you love them (the shoes, that is), be true to yourself. Most men, poor deluded innocents, say they hate make-up, but what they mean is that they’re not crazy about lots of obvious make-up, unless, of course, that’s what you were wearing when you met, in which case, presumably, you’re their kind of woman. Any suggestion of excessive high maintenance is a turn-off, but this isn’t a fashion faux pas that needs masking, it’s a character defect that needs addressing.

Black tie

One woman’s gala dress is another woman’s choice for putting out the rubbish. Never be frightened to ask the hosts for clarification, although if they’re expecting long, the onus is on them to stipulate it. The LBD is the obvious stand-by, but like all stand-bys, you can probably do better. The right colour gives the simplest dress much more impact. If you’re wedded to black, get yourself some major jewellery and opt for neutral or colourful accessories. If you don’t have an appropriate coat, invest in a cropped jacket instead; they’re easier to find on the high street than a good evening coat and you can wear them in the day with jeans. If you’re on a tight budget, it’s definitely worth checking out vintage sites such as www.atelier-mayer.com for classy bargains – cheap evening dresses tend to look it.

Not black tie (but definitely smart)

Urgh. Oh, for the days of stipulated dress codes... If you’re finding it impossible to gauge what’s expected, but don’t want to end up looking safe and predictable, you’ll find a skirt in a luxurious texture – metallic, tweed, velvet, silk, sequins or any combination thereof – an excellent ally. Then you can either go down the silk T-shirt route, or, if you’re feeling demure, a cashmere sweater. Add some striking shoes, a textured evening bag and one or two show-stopping jewels and you’ve got an outfit that’s both classic and individual.