The panelists at The Park. Picture by Rashbehari Das

Grooming secrets for corporate women were let out last Thursday. The daylong event at The Park was hosted by FLO (FICCI Ladies Organisation), a division of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The speakers who spilled the beans on essential aspects for women at work were consultant nutritionist and t2 columnist Hena Nafis, model and fitness pro Neeraj Surana, corporate makeover expert Lata Goenka, make-up guru Aniruddha Chakladar and fashion designers Dev and Nil.

From body structure to make-up to the perfect office bag, tips of all kinds were passed on. Kaya Skin Clinic provided free consultations and Lakme provided free makeovers.

Hena explained the importance of healthy eating and active living to the “multi-tasking super woman” of today. She talked about the essential food groups and the importance of hitting the gym or playing a sport or just being active throughout the day to reach your “optimum health level”. This will further help women age gracefully. “All of us cannot be fat or thin but we can all be healthy,” she urged.

Next up was Neeraj Surana on the importance of exercise. Daily workouts and remaining active can lower blood pressure, reduce osteoporosis, hypertension and enlarge the heart, thereby making your arteries function smoothly. Neeraj said it is essential to challenge your body every four-six weeks and alter its routine so that it remains metabolically active. He also explained the theory of “office Yoga” for those unable to find 30 minutes for exercise. “Do some neck stretches sideways and back and forth at your desk to enhance your flexibility. Simple stretches sideways and pulling yourself upwards helps remove stiffness, which is becoming a major cause of bad posture today.”

After lunch, it was Lata Goenka’s turn to talk about corporate makeovers. “Each of us have exactly six seconds to make that first impression,” she said.

Her advice: “One should wear neutral colours like black, navy or grey for business meets, regular office clothing should consist of that third piece — a scarf or cardigan — to give that authoritative and polished look. Traditional clothes can also be worn, provided you don’t have flowers in your hair or flashy gold jewellery!”

Aniruddha Chakladar explained the dos and don’ts of make-up along with a demonstration. He said: “Make-up is not transformation, it should enhance your personality. Don’t treat it like a mask on your face.” He also stressed the importance of choosing a foundation similar to your skin tone and not “five shades lighter”!

Dev and Nil finished with corporate fashion, calling for “sensible shopping”. Their final advice was to select a comfortable and soothing wardrobe which satisfies your “needs more than your wants”.

The final word came from Nil: “Most importantly, wear your confidence”.