It is a paradox not lost on the fashion industry that with rising unemployment (the jobless total hit 2.44m in the UK in August, the highest since 1995, according to a report from the Office for National Statistics) comes a rising tide of job applicants, which means a growing need for ... new clothes. After all, in a competitive professional market, what you wear when you walk in matters.

According to a survey conducted in July by senior executive careers site TheLadders.co.uk, 76 per cent of UK bosses would decide against hiring a candidate because of their interview attire, and 37 per cent have recently not hired someone because they deemed their clothing inappropriate.

“While an individual's skills and experience may get them to interview stage, the importance of appearance in influencing that all-important first impression should not be underestimated,” says Steve Leeson, associate director of Morgan McKinley, a British financial recruitment company. “It's always a good idea to find out what the dress code is before you go for an interview.”