First impressions are important, especially in the business world.

When you meet a client for the first time, they scan your appearance from head to toe to figure out what type of person they think you are.

What you wear to a business meeting, therefore, is just as important as your interview outfit. You can’t simply wear your favorite pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and then depend on your brainpower to create a positive first impression. Given today’s competitive working world, you need to keep up appearances by dressing appropriately.

Here are a few suggestions to help you dress for success for client meetings:

Employees who put on makeup should strive for that natural look.

A couple of examples include wearing a natural base (nothing too cakey) and opting for a natural glow with a bronzer. You may also use a liquid eyeliner pen to improve the appearance around your eyes, but don’t go overboard. Anything too dramatic or dark will detract from your natural beauty.

Different clients will have different expectations.

If you’re going to meet them virtually or in person, you’ll need to research who they are and what they do. A client who’s a graphic designer, for instance, may dress more casually than a client who’s a successful e-commerce entrepreneur.

Once you have an idea of who the client is, practice mirroring.

This effective psychological technique refers to an individual unconsciously imitating the attitude, speech pattern and gesture of another person. Mirroring helps establish rapport, as the similarities in nonverbal gestures allow the person to feel more connected with the individual exhibiting the mirrored behavior.

Mirroring goes beyond what you say and do. If you can dress in a way that is similar to your client, you’ll help create an effective rapport during the meeting.

Remember that your client will judge you for what you wear. This means that your outfit should look good from head to toe.

When planning your outfit, make sure that the style and color of your shirt complement your suit.

Avoid putting on contrasting colors that will give your client a headache instead of the confidence that you’re the right person for the job or project.

When talking about shoes, forego your favorite footwear if they are more comfy than professional. Opt for well-polished and clean regular suit shoes instead of the trainers you wear when you’re working out in the gym or public park.

Although the attire that you’ll be putting on may not be the most comfortable thing to wear when making a good first impression, giving off a professional appearance is important – and this sometimes means wearing clothes that you personally do not like.

As the saying goes, the devil is in the details.

The clothes that you’ll be wearing for the meeting should be fresh, clean and properly ironed. Check for stains, unwanted creases and loose buttons and fix these eyesores before the client meeting.

The clothes you’re going to put on should be fit well. This means that your trousers are not dragging on the floor for being too long, your belly is not popping out and your blazer fits you well.

Your professional corporate attire will fail if you do not have the right hairstyle that goes well with your apparel. You should not distract your clients, as well as your colleagues, with messy or scruffy hair.

Individuals with long hair should tie it into a bun or a loose ponytail.

This is possible by using a hairband or a similar accessory that lets you tie your hair easily.

On the other hand, those who prefer to keep their hair short should properly trim their hair and prevent it from falling over their face, as this can distract others in the meeting.

If you are going to bring a laptop or other documents with you to your in-person client meeting, you’ll undoubtedly need a handbag. The last thing you want to happen is to enter a meeting room with all the stuff hanging out from your hand.

When meeting a client, you need to show that you’re organized to appear professional.

This means investing in a good corporate handbag that is both stylish and timeless. Choose a bag that matches your outfit for the meeting – or opt for a black handbag.

You only get one shot at making a good first impression. These seven tips will help you appear professional in client meetings.