Whether you are employed or work for yourself your brand image is very important - here's how to do it
You only get one chance at a first impression - You will probably have heard that expression, but it is oh so true and can bear being repeated.
How you present yourself to the world, tells so many stories about you before you even open your mouth. In fact, people will make their minds up about you almost from first setting eyes on you.
So, you really have to think about what impression you want to make and what story you want to tell.
This is especially true in the workplace. Again, the phrase “dress for the job you want” will be familiar to you, but again it is true. No one is going to take you seriously if you are in a professional environment but yet you dress casually or scruffily. You might say to yourself - well, it is my work they should be looking at, not how I dress.
Whilst this is partly true, I always use this analogy – You are looking at two houses with a view to buying one. They are identical in every way, same number of rooms, same size gardens, same price, etc. But one is beautifully decorated, the gardens are well tended, the outside is immaculate and the other has peeling paint, rotten windows and weeds all over the garden. Which one are you going to buy?
The same is true in the workplace. People will always gravitate towards someone who is well dressed and groomed, as that makes them feel as if they are in safe hands.
One of my favourite designers, Muccia Prada said, “What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick, fashion is instant language”.
Covid and working from home changed the dress code for work completely. In some ways this has been a relief for a lot of people, but in other ways it has caused even more confusion and self-doubt, as the unspoken rules are now so wide open, we are not sure where we are.
“Normcore” as it became known, is however, now being replaced by “corpcore”, a smarter more tailored look, which is also spilling into everyday wear. Putting on armour in the form of a smart suit, gives both a sense of comfort and an invincibleness that projects confidence and self-assuredness.
This new (old) way of dressing projects self confidence and a sense of capability, which will give you an edge over the competition immediately. And isn’t it better to feel empowered in what you wear, rather than slouching around in sweatpants and hoodies, or the like? Isn’t it also better to have a definition between what you wear for lounging and socialising and what you wear to work? I can remember the wonderful feeling of casting off my school uniform in the evenings and putting on jeans and a top to enjoy my leisure time!
Self-expression is always a good thing – one of the most important things I teach in style coaching is to find out who you really are and dress for that person – and I think that women especially are allowing themselves to be more feminine and vulnerable and not dressing like men would in the workplace, or how they think men would dress if they were women!
Therefore, your brand, whether you are in business for yourself, or you are working for a firm, must be given a lot of thought and the work put in, as what you wear is your “shop window”, it is showing people how professional you are, that they can trust you and that they are safe in your hands.
Your work wear might well be a smarter version of your leisure wear, or might be a completely different vibe. Work out what your capsule work wardrobe will look like and build on that. Look at other colleagues for inspiration, or go on to sites like Pinterest to get ideas of how you want to look.
If you find that the dress code needed is a bit dull and boring for you, look for ways to liven it up with jewellery and accessories, or a jazzy tie or socks, to make your work wear feel more “you”.
It is well worth investing in well made pieces in good quality fabrics for your work wear. Remember that they are going to be worn a lot and go through a lot! You will be commuting in them, sitting for hours, leaning on desks, getting in and out of cars, buses, trains, etc. So, fabrics that crease, pull, shine or bag, are not only going to last for less time, but will annoy you and make you feel crumpled within no time!
Italian brands always give value for money. They are always well cut and made to last. If you want to be well dressed and have an edge on your colleagues, then this is the way to go!
Shoes are the other thing to invest in. Comfort and style can go hand in hand, and a good, clean shoe, is something people always notice.
Even if you work from home, don’t be tempted into gym clothes or pyjama styles. It has been proven that dressing like this affects your work attitude. And, honestly, what is the difference between working from home and going to the office, apart from the fact that you might only be seen from the waist up?! If you dress for yourself, rather than for other people, then of course you should dress smartly for work, wherever you are – if you don’t respect yourself, then who else will? The clothes don’t have to be “over the top” smart, but they should still make you feel good about yourself. As with shoes, style and comfort can still go hand in hand!
Whatever you decide on for your work “brand”, there are certain criteria you should bear in mind –
If you work for a company, then their dress code, spoken or unspoken, should be adhered to out of respect to the company and to yourself. This is the same if you are an entrepreneur in a certain industry, you might want to reflect what your “tribe” wears. For instance, if you work as a business coach, turning up to your clients dressed as a punk rocker might be a bit unnerving!
Your outfits should be comfortable and fit for purpose. You don’t want to be spending your day pulling down a skirt hem or fiddling with a too tight shirt collar.
You should feel able to walk into any situation dressed as you are, from a board meeting to a casual client lunch, so you feel confident and empowered.
So – what do you feel about the clothes you currently wear to work in? What changes could you make to be the best version of yourself and feel empowered whatever the situation? What tweaks could you make so you have a “professional wardrobe” and a “leisure wardrobe”?
If you would like to find out more about finding your personal brand image, then Click Here for more information. I would be honoured to help you!
Comments