THE way women look is always the way they want to be perceived, whether they realise it or not.

Irrespective of the different looks which give a woman identity, there is a further element. Clothes will either stamp a woman as emancipated and confident, or as the down trodden victim.

This underlying message will show through in any look, whether it is smart, chic, casual or trendy.

The mind of a woman has its own message and it carries out that message to the end, right down to the way she looks - unless she changes it.

The "victim" mould is as strong as the confident mould. It translates into hairstyles, make up, or lack of it, shoes, clothes, posture, everything.

However, changing the message can be a magic formula. This is why people go to image makers.

When a woman puts the "confident" programme into place, she will dress differently, instinctively choosing the items that go with her new message.

The sheer quantity of spring clothes in Warrington shops at the moment will ensure that nobody has any difficulty changing their message.

And if money is tight, it needn't be a problem. An outfit from a charity shop is "new" to the buyer and nobody else need be any the wiser.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.