One of the many ways you can work towards success is simply to look the part. Dress with meaning and confidence, don’t just throw on the first items of clothes you find on the bedroom floor.
What you wear should reflect your character. The style you choose, from formal wear, street fashion, techwear, etc, should show people how you view the world, and how it should see you.
Just because the people at your school, job or even city all dress in the same boring clothes doesn’t mean you have to. Don’t be shy to be that one person who looks different, that adds a little style and class into their surroundings. Different hardly ever means bad or weird, so don’t be afraid to stand out.
You don’t have to buy expensive clothes to dress for success. Here are some key tips to elevating your style:
1. Focus on accessories, as small things can go a long way. Accessories are a great way to boost your class and make you stand out in a way that people will take notice. Instead of buying a $500 designer brand shirt, go for the small ticket items. If you positively have to buy something designer, belts are great investments, as the majority of them will last you many years, especially real leather belts. Necklaces are another amazing piece you can add to almost any outfit to customize your look. Watches and bracelets are timeless pieces that always add a little extra and show your personality.
2. Choosing specific colors and matching them is another great way to show yourself off to the world. We often see people and connect them to the color their clothes are, for example, for some people, wearing all black could mean sinister, edgy or dark, while white can be bright and outstanding.
3. Be clean. Again, don’t just pick up the first thing you see crumpled on your floor. Clean, unwrinkled outfits make a statement on their own. Grooming yourself well also helps so take that extra moment to do your hair and wash up.
You don’t have to buy expensive clothes to dress for success. Focus on accessories, as small things can go a long way
BUT…
…dressing for success when it comes to applying for a job, or keeping your job, might mean you have to consider others’ tastes as well.
As much as you may hate to admit it, people may judge you by how you look. This means they will likely make assumptions about you based on the clothes you wear, if your hair is well groomed, if your face and hands are clean and how you present yourself. If you’re looking to get that job, this is something you need to consider.
Walking and sitting with good posture, eye contact and a firm handshake are a necessity when trying to make a good first impression or to build trust with your potential new employer.
You need to be appropriately dressed for interviews, but not over-dressed. Research the dress attire of the business you are applying to by visiting beforehand and scope things out. Get a feel for how people are dressed, if it is a formal or casual workplace. If you still aren’t able to figure it out, go slightly more formal than you think will be required. Better to be slightly over dressed than under.
This doesn’t mean giving up completely on your personal style in the workplace though. You can always add your special touch to your work attire as long as it is appropriate and safe for the place you are working at.
Dressing well can help improve your confidence, your energy (if you love what you’re wearing) and how people see you, so use this to your advantage!