Do you dress to impress at a job interview?

First impressions have an effect on our relationship and career prospects.Photo / Thinkstock

It seems hard to believe but many women don't wear make-up, iron their clothes or even wash their hair when preparing for a job interview, a survey has found.

Hadn't they heard about first impressions?

Fashion faux pas for women also include clothes that are too tight or too short, showing too much cleavage - or leaving lipstick on your teeth.

Also if you're taking your laptop to a job interview or to work make sure it's not in a shopping bag.

We all know first impressions affect success but it now apparently extends to fashion items such as laptop bags and iPad holders.

Understandably, research from mobile accessories brand Targus reveals that first impressions have an effect on our relationship and career prospects.

It says that 97 per cent of the women questioned in its survey believe the way people dress and accessorise affects the way they are perceived by others.

And over three quarters admit to passing judgement on others.

But despite being quick to judge, women are not taking the same level of care when it comes to their own appearance, the survey found.

They're also rather harsh about men.

The women say they will dump a guy based on how he accessorises.

More than three quarters surveyed would not go on a second date with a man if he wore too much fake tan or socks with sandals.

Fair enough.

Also not surprisingly nearly half of the women surveyed admitted to trying to change the way their partner dresses.

Fashion blogger Phoebe Montague (also known as Lady Melbourne) says she found some of the results of the survey fairly quirky and funny.

"Collectively the women surveyed agreed it was important to accessorise but they didn't follow through with it,'' Montague says.

"I suppose the message is that there are very simple things you can do to remedy that if accessorising or paying attention to detail is something you struggle with.''

She says it's simple and inexpensive to make great first impressions.

"It's about knowing what your style is, knowing what suits you and keeping it simple.''

You don't have to wear everything at once, but you do have to be aware of chipped nail polish or making sure your shoes are clean.

"Stories came out of the survey that people would turn up (to an interview) carrying their laptop in a shopping bag or a supermarket bag,'' Montague says.

"And there's so much on the market these days in terms of fabulous accessories that you don't really have to do that.''

Some dress-for-success tips:

1. Don't wear too much fake tan.

2. Don't allow your underwear to be visible.

3. Don't wear clothes that are too tight or show cleavage.

4. Lipstick is for lips, not teeth and make sure your nail polish isn't chipped.

5. No socks with sandals.

6. Pay attention to detail.

7. Keep things simple. You don't need to wear high-end clothes to look good.

8. Lose the tatty, ratty bag you're using to carry round your accessories. Get a beautiful, sleek laptop bag.

9. If you can't be bothered ironing, don't buy clothes that need it.

10. Clean your shoes.