Personal Development and Success Blog

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There must be a reason why some people who dress for success outperform others who don’t. I mean, would the visual impact a person makes actually spell the difference between success and failure? What is it about clothes that ignites confidence in an otherwise shy person?

When you dress for success, you actually make a bold statement about your individuality. More importantly, how you look IS a subconscious manifestation of your innermost thoughts and feelings. Compare, for example, how you feel when you have a sharply tailored double-breasted blazer on and when you are just wearing faded jeans and a pullover that has seen better days.

Being Judged By Appearances

We often judge others at the outset by their physical appearance. Perceptions, however, can be quite deceptive as they are based on our own personal biases. For instance, when meeting someone for the first very time, you will most likely render an ‘opinion’ about him or her based solely on the person’s personal grooming, physical attributes, or the clothes he or she wears within the first few minutes.

Let’s face it, our confidence in partners, friends, and business colleagues are often based initially on subjective experience rather than on objective information. It is only when you get to know the ‘real’ person beyond the facade that your personal opinion changes. You may even have rendered judgments on people without ever having met them. Consider for a moment how you regard media celebrities or even politicians for that matter.

The lesson here is this: with very little objective information to go on at the outset, visual impressions ARE our initial criterion for rendering personal judgments on any individual.

If this is the case, what should we do about it?

Be Confident

People do appear confident and attract attention if they dress for success and are impeccably groomed.  They move about the room with a spirited gait, survey their surroundings with bright-eyed curiosity, and speak in a voice that is warm and engaging. These people easily stand out in a crowd.

First impressions really do count. Why else would successful organizations put well-dressed, enthusiastic, and sharp persons on their reception desks? All the money spent on corporate branding and clever advertising would go down the drain if a prospective client’s first encounter with these companies were with a bedraggled, nondescript person! Just as people generally avoid doing business with organizations that radiate a flat and lifeless image, they also tend to shy away from individuals who do not give off favorable first impressions.

So what impression do you create when you meet someone for the first time?

Dress for Success

The key to dressing for success is to find a style that works for you and the way you live your life. If needed, find out what type of wardrobe suits you best by engaging the services of a personal image consultant, conferring with style-savvy friends, or catching up with the latest fashion trends through magazines. The key here is tasteful simplicity.

Purchase outfits that fit the shape of your body as it is right now – today – not some future image of yourself. Choose clothes that accentuate your best features and minimize those that are less flattering. Pick classic styles with clean, simple lines that flatter your body rather than fight it. Find out which palette is best for your skin color and stick to a restrictive range of colors that highlight your best features.

Shop Smart

Choosing comfortable clothes that attract success isn’t very difficult once you know what suits you best, and you don’t need to spend large amounts to upgrade your wardrobe. Here are some useful tips to ensure smart wardrobe shopping:

1. Buy outfits in a size that fits you well rather than clothes you pray you can only get into after slimming down.

• Begin wearing clothes that are tailor-fitted to hug the contours of your own body. You only need one or two essential pieces, which can then be accessorized and matched with your other clothes so the cost remains low and reasonable.

2. Consider your body type:

• For rectangular-shaped bodies, sharply tailored jackets like double-breasted blazers that do not fit too tightly are best. Do not affix eye-catching details at your jacket’s widest point.
• If you have an apple-shape figure, avoid a very structured look because this will not complement the curves of your body. Less well-shaped designs with shawl collars in soft fabrics like cotton or linen are best for this body type.
• To balance a pear-shaped body, it is necessary to draw attention towards the top half of the body and away from the bottom half. Jackets in vibrant colors with busy patterns or detailed and intricate necklines can achieve this effect. For a flattering look, pair attention-grabbing jackets with darker colored trousers or skirts. Stay away from long jackets that clasp the hips and short jackets that end at the waist, as these tend to make the lower half of your body look even larger. Jackets that end slightly below the hips are more suited for pear-shaped figures because they tend to diminish the hips.
• If you have a long body, go for jackets that give the illusion of raising your waistline and shortening your midsection. Good jacket choices include those trimmed with wraps or belts or jackets with horizontally striped patterns.

3. Resist the urge to buy clothes when rushed for time. Shop for clothes only when you have the time to experiment and refine your choices.

4. Invest your money in the clothing you would most likely wear the most. If you are not a serious partygoer, you will be much better off spending your money on coats and shirts rather than evening apparel.

5. Good quality coats, bags, and shoes are the best approach to looking great. The rest can be simple.

• It is easier to mix and match solids than prints. Prints however, may be used to bridge the gap between two completely different solid colors.
• Classic styles with clean, simple lines are best.

6. Invest in smart accessories including belts, watches, ties/scarves, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc.

• Necklaces can enhance the look of your shirt, sweater, or dress by adding color, brightness, and beauty. You can even make your neck and upper body appear thinner with the right necklace. For example, if you have a solid colored shirt or dress with a rounded neckline, wear a necklace of medium length that hangs in a V-shape. The V-shape will make you the neckline appear narrow and will draw attention away from the arms and shoulders.
• When dressing for work, use smart accessories to dress for success. However, make sure your work-related jewelry doesn’t get in the way. For example, rings that are very large or pointy might be a hindrance if you work with your hands often. Choose jewelry for work that is both sensible and fashionable.

7. Check your existing wardrobe before you go shopping for clothes so you can fill in the gaps rather than resort to impulse buying and purchase more of what you already have.

Do try these tips on how to dress for success and let me know how they work out for you. Do you know of other tips on how to dress for success? Let me know! I would love to hear from you.

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