What Are Your Clothes Saying About You?
By Milena Joy
The clothes you wear each and everyday say a lot about who you are and what you do. Imagine a man dressed in a pair of khaki pants with a red polo shirt on. Where would you guess that he worked at? If you guessed Target, you might be right or you might be wrong. The point is that regardless of where he actually worked, you made assumptions based on his attire. I doubt that you guessed he worked at the leading downtown advertising agency. Why? If he worked at an advertising agency, his clothes would have said creative, intuitive, and cutting edge. Instead his outfit was more like a uniform, rather than
a form of self-expression.
Your wardrobe is a great opportunity to express who you are, what you do and how you do business. Until someone has the opportunity to get to know you or experience your work, they only know what they see. Make sure that what they see meets your business goals and objectives. Here are a few ways to say the right things with your wardrobe:
Creative: Wear bright colors such as magenta or grass green. Mix and match patterns. Create balance between fitted and loose pieces. Perfect for someone in an industry that thrives on being current or forward thinking like marketing or technology.
Authoritative: Wear deep, dark colors like black, charcoal grey and navy. Solids are best or use stripes minimally. Keep clothing styles structured and controlled. This is valuable in a meeting or presentation setting where you want to command attention and respect.
Friendly: Wear warm, earthy colors like brown and orange. Keep patterns round and smooth. Clothing styles should be soft and minimally structured. This is ideal for a team project or networking event where you want to be approachable.
For more information or questions, contact Milena Joy at joy@milenaconsulting.com. Milena Joy is an image consultant, professional speaker and author. In 2007, she founded Milena Distinctive Image Consulting a full-service image consultancy located in Denver, CO.
