There’s that great adage, “Dress for the job you want, not the one you have,” but that’s totally easier said than done. Who’s seen The Devil Wears Prada? Do you remember when Andy changed her entire wardrobe so that she got taken a lot more seriously, but unlike Andy, most of us don’t have access to the Vogue fashion closet (I would die if I did).
We also don’t usually have the budget to dress for the job we want, even though looking like a million bucks is a big deal. Dressing in a similar style as your boss also shows that you’re looking ahead in your career and are attempting to have more executive presence, a new term defined as the “wow” factor that makes great leaders stand out. As Sylvia Ann Hewlett would say “ Appearance is an extraordinarily powerful first filtering. It can get you knocked off the list in a second.”
So how can you dress for the job you want without going totally negative in your bank account?
Invest in a classic, wardrobe staple that can give you a lot of mileage. This includes a season-neutral trouser, a blazer, or pencil skirt. Stick to black, navy, and gray so that you can wear it with everything.
Look for statement jewelry pieces but remember that people want to see you, not hear you. So kill the clanky brackets and earrings. Save those babies for your best friends bachelorette party in Vegas.
Wear heels! Now I’m a flats girl all the way, but when I want to make an impact, it’s heels baby. It’s unfortunate, but there’s just something about heels that convey power. Research has suggested that a tall woman is considered more assertive, confident, richer, capable, successful, independent, and even more intelligent than their shorter peers. Now tall is not better than short (I’m a petite woman and proud of it), but the illusion of tall can be a benefit. You want to buy shoes and clothing that support that illusion. So break out that AMEX.
Last….Dont forget to wear a smile.
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