We hear it all the time: "Don’t judge a book by it’s cover" But, in some cases, clothes can influence self-esteem levels and help determine the impression we make on others.
Dress to Impress
When you meet others, do you make a strong and confident first impression? Is the way you project yourself assertive or weak, impressive or forgettable? We all know it’s important to be confident and the way you represent yourself in a business environments is pivotal to your success. If you look proud and confident, your ability to succeed increases. When we are dressed well and look good, we automatically feel better. When we feel good, we have more energy and treat others better. We can focus and make fewer mistakes. We’ve all experienced how wearing the appropriate attire can boost self confidence and attitude.
Your Outfit Impacts Your Business
We all want to be judged on our merits and not a workplace dress code. However, the way you present yourself does affect your professional capacity. It affects how others perceive you. It affects your reputation. Ultimately, it affects your ability to be productive and get things done. (If you doubt this, talk to a professional salesperson.)
Here are a few ways that your appearance affects productivity:
- Professional Appearance – People like to work with/do business with people who look professional. It is in our nature as visually driven beings. It can give ease and a sense of trust. It’s hard to be taken seriously if you look like you just rolled out of bed and are wearing what you wore yesterday.
- Shows Organization – Dressing professionally signals that you have your stuff together and are organized. If your clothes are clean, pressed, and professional, it shows that you made the extra effort to be prepared.
- Affects Your Reputation – Simply put, your appearance affects your reputation. While we would like to think that everyone is judged solely on their performance, the truth is that you will be judged on your appearance, as well. You don’t need to wear fancy clothes or have an expensive wardrobe. But, you will want to dress professionally for your job or industry.
- Confidence Builder – When you feel good about your appearance, you feel good about yourself. Confidence can make a marked difference in how you hold yourself and present yourself in front of others. A confident walk that carries a confident body makes all the positive difference in the world. One of the first things that people see is your posture and your walk when you go into a meeting, so make it count. Start off on the right foot with the right step and the solid posture to support it.
Women in a position of power are heavily judged based on what they wear. Women generally have a wider choice of dress style for work than men, but still have to maintain an identity that balances professionalism with attractiveness and the skirt suit may achieve that balance without appearing provocative.
Clothing Colors Matter
When it comes to color hues, we can easily be caught in the middle of choosing light or dark tones. Lighter tones are less intimidating and are perceived as more friendly. To give off a more authoritative and confident vibe, opt for darker tones. The color blue has long been associated with knowledge, power, integrity, and seriousness. It evokes a sense of calmness while stimulating creativity. The color blue can have this same effect on your coworkers as well when you wear it. When in doubt, go for blue.
Always Dress Appropriately for Your Job
Even though your office may not have an official dress code, or it hasn’t been updated for years, there are still office outfit no-no's to avoid. Remember, to act the part, you first have to look the part, and your wardrobe is a sign of your professionalism and confidence.
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