Blog Post
Reinvent Your Working Wardrobe
Barbara Cosgrave
Tips for getting it right!
Your choice of business dress telegraphs important messages. When you wear appropriate business dress every day, you give the instant impression that you are professional, expert, efficient and reliable. Your choice of clothes makes a statement about you and your business.
Fair and accurate or not, we all make snap judgements about people based on how they look – their clothes, accessories and grooming. Image research says that 55% of the opinion people form about others is based on their appearance.
Selecting the right business dress isn’t as simple as “one size fits all”. So, when you are standing in front of your wardrobe wondering what to wear, on any particular day how do you decide? Your business dress should be influenced by the following: the type of business you are in, the corporate culture and your audience.
Traditional businesses like law, banking, finance for example, require traditional business attire, authoritative, conservative, competent.
People businesses, like sales, teaching, coaching, training, social work for example, call for business attire that both conveys expertise but is non-threatening. This look says you are trustworthy, approachable and knowledgeable.
Creative businesses, like advertising, fashion, writing, décor etc. need a more expressive mode of business attire. This look says you are creative, unique, contemporary.
Different companies in the same business may have very different dress codes anywhere along the spectrum from very strict to very relaxed. When employed or dealing with these companies, check the dress code before meetings and select your business attire so you “fit in”.
Your audience is comprised of the people who most influence your earnings: your clients, potential clients, management, colleagues, staff etc. Appropriate attire enables you to:
. relate to them and enables them to relate to you
. fit their perceived image of someone in your role
Think about who you will be interacting with on any given day, then dress for the most important member of your audience! The ones who are going to pay you!
Very often you will be dressing in one, or all of the above roles. It is vital to create a signature style that works for you and the clients you see on a regular basis. Build a multi-functional wardrobe that allows you flexibility whilst still demonstrating your unique qualities and skills.
Fair and accurate or not, we all make snap judgements about people based on how they look – their clothes, accessories and grooming. Image research says that 55% of the opinion people form about others is based on their appearance.
Selecting the right business dress isn’t as simple as “one size fits all”. So, when you are standing in front of your wardrobe wondering what to wear, on any particular day how do you decide? Your business dress should be influenced by the following: the type of business you are in, the corporate culture and your audience.
Your business type
People businesses, like sales, teaching, coaching, training, social work for example, call for business attire that both conveys expertise but is non-threatening. This look says you are trustworthy, approachable and knowledgeable.
Creative businesses, like advertising, fashion, writing, décor etc. need a more expressive mode of business attire. This look says you are creative, unique, contemporary.
Your corporate culture
Your audience
. relate to them and enables them to relate to you
. fit their perceived image of someone in your role
Think about who you will be interacting with on any given day, then dress for the most important member of your audience! The ones who are going to pay you!
If you are self-employed
I hope these tips help and if you are interested I can send you details via email or meet to chat.
