What should you WEAR TO WORK?

Do you ever stand in front of your closet wondering what on earth you should WEAR TO WORK?

as3d via Canva

This challenge is so common that it’s a cliché. But I would conjecture that this challenge has grown over the past several years, as it’s become more acceptable to dress down at work, even before the pandemic made sweatpants (or worse) the norm.

Suits and ties are less common, and many people are trading dress shoes for sneakers.

Wavebreakmedia via Canva

Whether you prefer to dress formally or casually, it’s important to consider what your clothing is COMMUNICATING to others.

Your Appearance Matters!

First things first – I’m not a stylist. I’m not here to tell you what shirt to wear or where you should shop for your clothes.

I am going to share what the research says about what you’re communicating through your attire.

The research is clear: non-verbal signals like clothing, accessories, and hairstyles affect how we are perceived by others.Some research even indicates that physical appearance is the #1 most influential factor in employee selection. Wow!

So, what should you wear?

Here’s an effective (and FUN!) way to help you decide what to wear, This visualization exercise was suggested by my “Fabulous Fashionista Friend,” Anne V. Muhlethaler .

Anne and Andrea

1️⃣ Close your eyes and imagine yourself in 5 years as your happiest and most successful self

What’s in the room? Picture the furniture and how the room is decorated.
What’s on the walls? Maybe your degree is hanging behind you, or maybe some art?

2️⃣ Zoom out and look at yourself

What are you wearing? Scan yourself from top to bottom, from hair to shoes.
Make note of the colour and fabric of your clothing.
Don’t forget to picture accessories too! Are you wearing glasses? What about a watch?

Can you see your MOST happy and successful self?

I’m not advocating needless shopping. And I’m definitely not promoting fast-fashion. However, I encourage you to “dress for the job you want.” Imagine yourself in five years as your happiest and most successful self. Start wearing that outfit today!

For me, I’m wearing a gorgeous, high-quality navy blue pantsuit, with chunky gold jewelry.

What about YOU?

What about formality?

Like I said, I’m not a fashion stylist. So I did a lot of reading to prepare for this episode.

Here’s what the research says: If you’re unsure whether to dress up or dress down, err on the side of FORMALITY.

People who dress more formally are perceived as being more:

trustworthy
intelligent(!)
powerful
rational
competent at leading

Here’s a suggestion. Prepare yourself for the unexpected by keeping a neutral (black or navy blue?) blazer hanging in your office for those times when you need to step it up a notch.

That’s it for this week. I hope you’ll listen to the latest Talk About Talk podcast episode to learn more about how we communicate through WHAT WE WEAR. This was a fun one for me!

Please forward this email to your friends and colleagues who might be interested in improving their communication skills. THANK YOU!

If you have any questions, suggestions or feedback, please email me anytime. I love hearing from you.

Talk soon,