The Local Enterprise Office Laois has recently organised an image consulting event for local businesswomen.

'Style With Purpose: How to Dress with Confidence, Clarity and Impact' is an event organised by the Local Enterprise Office for Laois businesswomen, with popular image consultant and personal shopper Breeda O'Carroll heading the event as speaker.

Taking place in Castle Durrow, it is advertised as an afternoon where women can 'gain valuable insights' into creating a wardrobe that 'reflects their personal and professional identity'.

Pictured: the poster from Local Enterprise Office Laois advertising the event

For €20, attendees can avail of a lunch, colour analysis, tips on style confidence and 'dressing with intention'.

Research shows that professional attire generates self-confidence in the wearer, and creates an image of authority for potential customers and clients.

In photographs of the top 100 businesswomen in the world, you will rarely see them photographed in a t-shirt and jeans. 

Smart pantsuits, statement blazers and modest dresses are all typically pictured, with the occasional colourful blouse.

Yet in contradiction, many of the world's most successful businessmen wear casual clothes; Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs are known for their laid-back looks.

Workplace fashion has changed within the last decade alone, with the Covid-19 pandemic leading to a change in the definition of business attire.

LinkedIn recently shared a poll showing that 42% of workers attending Zoom meetings had a designated 'work call shirt' that they would wear during meetings. Over 30% of workers admitted to wearing pyjamas during remote work meetings.

"Breeda brings warmth, experience and energy from her work with private clients, corporate leaders, and major style events," the Local Enterprise Office shared ahead of the upcoming styling event.

"Ready to step into your next chapter with confidence?" they finished.

Event speaker Breeda O'Connell told the Leinster Express / Laois Live  that rather than outdated, the event has 'never been more needed'.

"There’s sometimes this idea that focusing on style is a bit frivolous or self centred, but that’s just not what I see in my work at all. In fact, in my opinion, the power of clothes and style is grossly undervalued," Ms O'Connell said.

Pictured: Popular TV stylist and image consultant, Ms Breeda O'Connell

"I work with real women every day, women with families, businesses, going through major life changes, and so many of them come to me saying they’ve lost their way with their style. This has zero to do with vanity, it’s about confidence. It’s about wanting to show up as the woman they know they are inside, but feeling at a loss as to how to do this," she highlighted.

"We like to believe we’re not judged on appearances, but unfortunately that's just not true. It's not that we want to be judgemental, it's human nature. And apart from the direct impact clothes have on how others see us, they also deeply affect how we see ourselves, how we feel, and therefore how we carry ourselves, and even how we perform. And there’s loads of research to back this up, that what we wear can actually change how we behave and think (enclothed cognition)," Ms O'Connell explained.

"I see the impact in real life. I’ve had clients who wouldn’t go to social events or even get in family photos because they didn’t know how to dress for their shape or stage of life. When we address this, and what's really going on, everything shifts. 

"So no, I wouldn’t call it outdated — far from it. I’d say it’s completely undervalued, a huge opportunity women miss out on everyday," she replied.

Ms O'Connell has said that she has held talks and consultations with men in the past, but it is not where her heart lies.

"I thrive on the connection I make with women. Busy, brilliant, real-life women who are juggling careers, family, and everything in between, and just want their wardrobe to work," she said.

"They don’t have hours to spend thinking about what to wear — they just want to feel like themselves again. Or sometimes like the next-level version of themselves they’re moving onto. That’s the transformation I love supporting. That said, if there was demand locally for a men’s event, I’d never say never," she finished.

The event will take place on Thursday, August 28 from 1pm to 3pm, with prebooking required.

Let us know what you think: Empowering?, outdated? or something that Laois businessmen could avail of too? 

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