Dress to impress

Dress to impress

Fifty years ago the pant-suit was a symbol of female emancipation. In the eighties power women stood padded shoulder to shoulder with men in companies. But times have changed. We certainly have shattered the glass ceiling to smithereens since then. And as a business owner you are not battling a masculine workplace anyway.

So, do it your way.

Represent your brand and personality when dressing for work.
It is an opportunity to tell and sell more than you ever could with the best marketing campaign. In case you’re in doubt: rather overdress than underdress. Too relaxed and casual attire might send the wrong message.

Black, grey and dark blue, the all time favourites to look reliable, are an option. But not always necessary. Chancelor Angela Merkel of Germany frequently dresses in cheerful red and soft apricot. Hillary Clinton regularly settles for unusual oranges and yellows. You bet: these tough cookies are taken seriously.

Research proves that people only need 30 seconds to determine a first impression of you. In 90 seconds their opinion is formed. And, even after an hour’s conversation they tend to stick to that same opinion. In all initial contact – body language, tone of voice and what you are saying prove to be decisive – but ‘dressing to impress’ definitely has the most impact. But then, what dress?

Should you play the pant-suit game when meeting a new client because you want to be taken seriously and exhibit confidence? Or do you wear the floral, cool and pretty dress that you are comfortable in?

In your experience does the way you dress make a difference in business?