THE NAKED TRUTH: A SURVEY FROM PINK MAGAZINE & CORSET PERSONAL STYLING SHOWS VAST MAJORITY OF BUSINESS WOMEN SAY STYLE IS CRITICAL TO WORKPLACE SUCCESS, YET STRUGGLE TO BUILD WARDROBES

October 14, 2009 (PRLEAP.COM) Lifestyle News
MINNEAPOLIS (October 14, 2009) – Style is a significant tool in the workplace arsenal when it comes to career success, says a resounding 98 percent of working women. In a survey of young professionals, senior managers, and business owners conducted by PINK Magazine and Corset Personal Styling, which both cater to female professionals, women came clean about the importance of how they look in the office. An under-discussed hot button for many working women, workplace dressing can be difficult, they cited, due to weight/size issues, finding age-appropriate pieces, and having a propensity toward purchasing basic black, leaving some respondents to call the process "a nightmare."

While over half of these professional women said pulling together an outfit presents a significant challenge and nearly 60 percent say they have "nothing to wear," one-third said they spend more than three to six weeks annually shopping for, accessorizing, and pulling together their wardrobe. "In today's corporate culture, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. The good news is whether you're a vice president or just getting started in your career, female professionals can build a powerful wardrobe at any budget," says Cynthia Good, editor of Atlanta-based PINK Magazine. "With appearance being key to workplace advancement, women should consider their wardrobe management as business critical as employee, time, or budget management."

According to the survey, more than 25 percent of CEOs, female executives and business owners admitted to withholding an employee's promotion or raise because of how she dresses at work.

While some likened a work wardrobe to a uniform necessary for competing in a sport or putting on armor for battle, several of the hundreds of respondents noted:

- the more professional you appear on the outside, the more serious others will take you on the inside

- you must look successful for clients and top management to trust you with their money

- your appearance demonstrates your expectations and tells upper management where you want to be

In addition, the professional women surveyed reveal that traditional department stores are lacking in a few areas, including unappealing dressing rooms in terms of lighting and cleanliness (51 percent) and a lack of help from store associates (43 percent).

"Getting dressed and looking polished should be a no-brainer for female professionals. What busy professional women are realizing is that styling/shopping can be outsourced to a company like Corset; similar to IT, accounting, or legal services to save time, money and stress," said Carrie Leum, president of Corset, whose national wardrobing service delivers personalized outfits and wearing/pairing tips to women across the U.S. every season. "We help our corporate clients establish their brands and create head-turning looks so they spend less time at the mall and more time growing in their career and personal lives."

MEDIA CONTACT: Rebecca Skinner, 952.401.0125 ext. 4 or rskinner@leumpr.com

Corset's Personal Styling Collections
The Corset team taps an endless closet of apparel and accessories from upcoming designers and boutique brands to create unique and completely personalized looks for each individual client. Four times per year, five fabulously styled and accessorized looks, fashioned by Corset stylists, arrive at clients' front doors packaged neatly in a Corset wardrobe bag. With styling fees beginning at $75 per month, all seasonal collections include wearing and pairing recommendations to extend the wardrobe.

Corset stylists help clients across the U.S. build confidence, and reinvent their looks. Corset personal styling begins with clients completing a comprehensive personal style profile, which assesses shape, measurements, wants and needs and reveals personal preferences in regard to color, style, lifestyle and fashion goals. Corset's team of fashion stylists then go to work – shopping, matching, fitting, accessorizing, and adding personalized touches.

For questions about Corset personal styling services, professionals can visit www.corsetstyling.com, call 952.224.2495 (toll-free 800.580.0359) or email fashion@corsetstyling.com.

About Corset, Inc.
Corset, based in Minneapolis, believes every woman deserves a personal stylist. The privately held company was created by a team of fashionistas, personal stylists and former public relations professionals with more than 25 years of combined experience helping build Fortune 500 brands at companies like Miller Brewing, Kohler Co., Oracle, and Kohl's Department Stores. A recipient of Minnesota Monthly's 2009 Best Personal Stylist Award and the Minnesota National Association of Women Business Owners 2009 Innovative Business Award, Corset employs a proprietary styling process to ensure each client receives customized, flattering looks. For more information, please visit www.corsetstyling.com.