“How you look and dress does impact your leadership brand image.”
That’s what I told an executive client who wanted to increase her influence and demonstrate a trustworthy personal brand within thirty seconds.
Thirty seconds is not long. In fact, first impressions can happen almost instantly. Before you have said very much at all, your visual communication is already sending a message.
Your clothes, grooming, colour, fit and overall presentation are part of the external expression of your personal brand.
The good news? You don’t need a huge wardrobe, a designer budget or a completely new look.
You need clarity.
When you understand your values, your role, your workplace culture and the image you want to project, getting dressed becomes much simpler.
Here are five Cs to help you create a professional style that looks and feels congruent with who you are.
1. Coordination
A coordinated wardrobe makes getting dressed so much easier.
You don’t need to look completely different every day. You need to look good, professional and like yourself.
Think about having around 8 to 12 outfits that work together. Pants, skirts, shirts, jackets and dresses in solid colours and simple styles are excellent building blocks. Choose good-quality, timeless pieces that can be mixed, matched and layered.
The aim is fewer, better pieces with more possibilities.
Then, rather than buying an entirely new wardrobe every season, simply update it with one or two pieces. A new shirt, jacket, dress or pair of shoes can make existing outfits feel fresh and modern.
Your wardrobe should work for you, not become another job on your already busy list.
2. Credibility
Your clothes should support your professional credibility and reflect the expectations of your role.
This doesn’t mean everyone needs to wear a corporate suit. The workplace has certainly become more relaxed. But relaxed does not have to mean careless.
I once heard someone say, “What we look like is not important here,” when I suggested a few simple presentation changes for a team recording product videos.
What struck me was that the C-suite executive reviewing the rehearsals was dressed simply and smartly in tailored pants, a jacket and a crisp open-collared shirt.
I knew he was the boss the minute he walked in.
Another young executive was told something even more direct by a senior manager. She explained that she was ambitious and wanted to reach the top. The response?
“You may be wanting to reach the top, but you don’t look like you do.”
It may sound blunt, but there is a useful lesson here. Your appearance should support the professional you are and the leader you aspire to become.
3. Cut
Fit matters.
Have you noticed that some brands simply seem to fit you better? That’s because the cut is working with your proportions and body shape.
When you find brands and styles that flatter you, take note. You don’t have to squeeze yourself into a smaller size to look stylish.
The same applies to men. A jacket that is too tight across the back or won’t button properly does nothing for professional presence.
Try things on. Notice the cut, fabric and proportions. Good tailoring can transform a simple outfit.
Quality fabrics such as merino wool, cashmere, linen and silk can also add a sophisticated, timeless feel.
4. Colour
Colour is one of the easiest ways to express your personal brand.
It can lift your appearance, reflect your personality and create a memorable visual signature.
Black is popular in business for good reason. It can communicate authority, elegance and power. But if your wardrobe is dominated by black, consider what a little colour could do.
The right colour can make you look healthier, fresher and more dynamic.
Choose colours that flatter your natural colouring and work with the image you want to communicate. You might discover that a particular colour becomes part of your signature style.
And don’t underestimate the emotional effect of colour. Sometimes simply putting on something that makes you feel good changes the way you carry yourself.
5. Cost
You don’t have to spend a fortune to look sophisticated.
With your key wardrobe pieces, however, I believe it makes sense to buy the best quality you can comfortably afford. Better pieces generally look better, wear better and last longer.
And please don’t feel guilty about investing in yourself.
We happily spend money on mortgages, holidays, children and countless other things. Your professional wardrobe is also a tool of trade.
It is part of your professional presentation and an investment in your career.
When I work with businesspeople, I often find they don’t actually lack style. They are confused.
They may be wearing what they think is appropriate for work but feel dowdy. Or they are simply too time-poor to plan outfits, so they grab the first thing from the wardrobe.
The answer isn’t necessarily more clothes.
It is knowing what works for you.
Your personal style should be an authentic expression of who you are, your role and the brand you want to communicate. As I say in my work on personal branding, it isn't about putting on a persona. It is about presenting the best, most authentic version of you.
So, take a fresh look at your wardrobe.
Does it reflect the professional you are today?
Does it support your leadership brand?
And, most importantly, do you feel confident when you walk out the door?
Simplicity is not boring.
When the pieces fit well, coordinate effortlessly, flatter you and reflect your personality, simplicity can be incredibly sophisticated.
Your image speaks before you do.
Make sure it is saying what you want it to say.
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Sue Currie is an image entrepreneur who guides and empowers business leaders and entrepreneurs to have “Spotlight Confidence”. She is passionate about helping professionals elevate their personal and professional brand through her speaking, coaching and training programs on Self Brand, Style and Speaking Skills, providing a multi-faceted approach to gain high transformation for her clients.
