Kelly Lundberg brings valuable fashion advice for visitors at Najah

Kelly Lundberg, renowned style queen and CEO of Divine UAE, the award-winning personal shopping and style service, was a highlighted speaker on the final day of Najah, the region's premier education and careers event.

Visitors to her presentation at Najah's Career Forum received practical fashion tips from Lundberg, focusing on the importance of first impressions and how dressing smartly and seriously can catapult candidates to success, or at least to the top of the CV pile.

"A successful professional wardrobe will reflect individual personality, but it should also be smart enough to make powerful, positive first impressions necessary for successful interactions with bosses and clients," said Kelly Lundberg.

Lundberg added, "As Coco Chanel says, 'When a woman is badly dressed you notice the clothes, when a woman is well dressed you notice the woman'. This extends to the workplace, where hard work and success can be undone with inappropriate attire."

"It is imperative for job-seekers to identify their individual style, and learn how to take it to another level for a polished, professional presentation," she said.

And its not just women in Western attire who should take note. Kelly advises women in Abayas and Sheilas to avoid elaborate embellishments and crystals and to ensure what they wear underneath their national dress makes them feel good so that they look good.

Men too should ensure they match their style to their professional abilities; for a corporate workplace, prospective interviewees should arrive in an ironed shirt, classic tie and a well fitting, smart suit. This is when personal grooming habits come to the fore; Kelly advises men to keep their hair neat, nails short and face clean shaven.

Since the launch of Divine in 2005, Lundberg has styled for an array of glamorous and prestigious events including the Grammy Awards, Brit Awards, the Dubai International Film Festival, and the Dubai World Cup.

A recipient of a Lloyds TSB Small Business Award in 2007 and a finalist at the 2008 YourBusiness SME Awards, Lundberg's entrepreneurial success and keen eye for fashion made her advice invaluable to Najah's visiting job-seekers.

Lundberg's presentation capped off a strong three-day run for Najah, which took place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 20 to 22 October.

Najah featured a vast selection of local, regional and international universities and world-renowned organisations, along with an assessment centre, career counselling, and the successful Education and Career Forum.

A selection of workshops were also included, as dedicated career advisors worked with visitors to generate personalised career development plans, refined interview techniques and enhanced CVs, providing specific advice in a one-to-one setting.

Notable presentations from the event's final day included The British Council's discussion of study abroad opportunities in the UK, Mubadala Aerospace and the Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council detailing the future of the aerospace industry in Abu Dhabi, and Manpower Middle East's highly interactive CV Clinic to revitalize CVs and resumes.