INVESTMENT DRESSING 101

Remember the corporate couture buzzwords of the 80’s - ‘power looks’ and ‘dress for success’? Or who could forget the ubiquitous ‘shoulder pads’, ‘big hair’ and ‘colour co-ordinated footwear’? Well, thank God that was then and this is now! Get ready for today’s fashion mantra of business mavens. Welcome to Investment Dressing 101!

It is said that we have less than three seconds to make a fi rst impression! How can people really form an impression of you in less time than it takes to read this sentence? They can and believe me, they do!

The manner in which we dress, speak, and carry ourselves are tools which we use to communicate with the outside world. The renowned psychologist, Dr. Albert Mehrabian, is best known for his pioneering work in non-verbal communication. His findings indicate that words only count for 7% of all communication while a whopping 93% is non-verbal!

Our ability to ‘put it together’ through our hair, clothes, and grooming habits is an excellent tool of nonverbal communication; a tool that can have a lot of influence - but is overlooked far too often.

What we wear, especially in our work environment, not only says a lot, but practically screams a great deal more about us - from our status, tastes and lifestyle to our personality, attitude and credibility.

In other words, the way we dress, speak, and carry ourselves speaks volumes about us even before we have uttered a single word! If you are currently working, you already know how important making a great impression is, especially when you first meet your boss and your coworkers. Investment dressing is all about learning how to dress well to project a look of authority, confidence, capability and attitude. It’s not about ‘burning plastic’ on a shopping spree! It’s about investing in you. Take the time to put more thought into how you’d like the world to perceive you.

We all know the clichés about first impressions. People tend to believe what they fi rst see. Don’t believe me? Imagine you were asked to pitch a new campaign idea to an important client. You arrive, dressed in a black ‘Ally Mc Beal’ micro dress with chunky platform heels and no stockings, but ‘armed to the teeth’ with presentation notes. Or maybe, you forego the black ensemble and decide to go with an ankle length peasant skirt, ruffled blouse and bohemian sandals - because someone once told you that “yours is an earthy style.”

Now, granted these are two extreme scenarios (one can only hope), do you think the client will actually listen to what you are saying, even if you had an interesting and excellent presentation? Not likely! Why? Because what is visible is incongruent with the message that you’re trying to send. Translation: your look is detracting from the brilliance that’s coming out of your mouth, making it difficult to take you seriously.

Now, take that same black dress, but this time it’s perfectly tailored to skim your body, not cling to it; accessorised with pearls or a silk scarf and classic leather pumps. Don’t you think people will sit up and take notice? I bet you they will! Why is this? Because every one of us forms impressions based largely on appearance; initially, at least.

Some of the traits associated with an individual’s appearance are their level of

• Intelligence
• Sophistication
• Professionalism
• Credibility

It doesn’t matter whether these perceptions are real or not. What does matter is that our appearance, the image we project, greatly infl uences how others - strangers, business colleagues, clients, even our bosses - see us. This is why investment dressing is important.

Recognising an ‘investment dresser’ is easy enough. Ever been in a room when someone enters and makes every head turn? Why do you think that is? Is it because the person is impeccably dressed or maybe because his/her image roars success? Perhaps! But more than that is the confidence and authority which the person exudes. There is a self-assuredness that enraptures us. Th at’s the effect of investment dressing!

Now, you might ask, “If I’m good at what I do, why should anyone care about how I look?” A valid question, certainly. However, let me ask you another equally valid question: how do you feel when you dress well? More accomplished? More confi dent? Indomitable? if the answer is yes, then need I say more?

Here’s what else investment dressing can do for you:

• You’ll make a better impression at that job interview;
• It might help you attract the attention of that special someone;
• It might give you that edge, over the competition, to get the promotion you want;
• It may open doors that were previously closed to you because of your perceived dynamism.

It certainly opened the door of opportunity for one of my former colleagues. Lee was in middle management, and she had come from a non-corporate background. Her previous jobs, though well paying, were in extremely casual work environments. Th is was actually her fi rst job in corporate Canada. She felt that our co-workers, especially our boss, did not listen to her. She thought that her eff orts went without recognition and that her ideas were not taken seriously. Although we held the same positions in the company, she saw that they treated me differently but she didn’t know why.

There could have been a myriad of reasons, but my guess was that her wardrobe did a lot to sabotage her plausibility in the offi ce. I reminded her of the board meeting which she had hosted the week before. She was a ‘goner’ even before she announced the agenda! She had worn a black ruffl ed mini skirt, a red satin blouse and (I kid you not) red transparent stockings with black heels! Come on! What was she thinking that morning? She was shocked that I’d even mentioned that event. All she knew was that she ‘crashed and burned’ with what should’ve been a ‘slam dunk’ presentation. The thing is, even though her look may not have been any indication of her actual capabilities, people are visual creatures, and tend to believe what they see. So, what our colleagues and the CEO actually saw that day was not someone who was capable and smart, but someone who was clueless about what her oufi t was saying to everyone else.

I told Lee the same thing that I tell my clients today who experience this type of problem, “The next time you walk into that boardroom, don’t dress for the position you have, dress for the position you want.” A few weeks later, Lee resigned. I saw her a year after, and almost didn’t recognise her! She had undergone a complete transformation both in appearance and attitude, and was now a successful manager of an up and coming software company in Toronto.

She told me that in the past year she’d learned an invaluable lesson which was, if you want more opportunities, greater recognition and upward mobility in your job, you need to begin working on what people see first - YOU!

Whether that means investing in yourself through exercise, buying a new outfi t for work or learning how to communicate with confidence - whatever it takes, it’s an investment in YOU!

Now that we have witnessed its benefi ts, how do we actually practise investment dressing? Well, what we don’t do is go out and ‘break the bank.’ Even if our clothes may be sabotaging our best efforts at establishing credibility, it is rarely a good idea to buy ‘en masse.’ Clothes should be an investment in quality. We should invest in a few great pieces as opposed to buying an entire wardrobe. Our money will go further, and we won’t end up looking like one fashion season. We will be able to really think about what pieces we need, the versatility of each item, and its quality. Remember, it’s more expensive to buy cheap clothing, because we have to replace it more often than we would quality clothing.

My second suggestion would be to hire an image consultant. They eliminate the guesswork, give you priceless information and make this exercise a lot more fun! If that’s not an option, read on for the extensive tips list. It’ll provide you with the basics of Investment Dressing 101.

Remember, if we want to create an impact and make a lasting impression on those around us, investment dressing should be among the first in our arsenal of communication tools. After all, we can only make a first impression once!

Colour

In the Caribbean, we love colour! The truth is that colour is a powerful communicative tool. It can affect us physiologically, psychologically and emotionally.

We all know that cool colours like blues are calming, while warm colours like reds are stimulating. But did you know that people attach meaning boThemotionally and psychologically to different colours? Think about it. The colour red evokes characteristics such as ‘passionate, impulsive, dynamic’ while blue is associated with attributes such as ‘traditional, stable, refined.’

But, how can we leverage colour in investment dressing? In other words, how can we incorporate colour into our wardrobe to ensure that it works for us?

Follow these 6 tips and you’ll begin to use colour more effectively.

1. Colour is the first thing that people notice about an outfit, so stand out by wearing hues that flatter you and, most importantly, by wearing colours that make you look and feel fabulous! (If you don’t know which shades suit you, get a colour consultation from an accredited image consultant or ask your tailor, dressmaker, or stylist.)
2. The most powerful slimming tool is monochromatic dressing (dressing in one colour). It produces a strong, unbroken line that helps to elongate the body.
3. To add interest to a monochromatic look, invest in pieces with different textures. For example:
   1. Silk charmeuse adds a touch of affluence;
   2. Lace or chiffon adds a hint of femininity;
   3. Velvet adds a dash of romanticism.
      
4. Add colour to the inside of an outfit. Use ties, scarves, tops, shells, jewellery, etc.
5. A bright colour close to the face draws the eye upward, and adds interest to an ensemble.
6. The most slimming colours are dark neutrals - black, dark brown, chocolate, espresso, charcoal grey, navy blue. These make you look your thinnest!

Grooming

Good grooming is one of the distinguishing factors of the successful, and a well-kept secret of investment dressers. Some may feel that the following are draconian measures, but I assure you, learning how to pay attention to detail is a key component of investment dressing. It is what makes the difference between a regular look and a flawless one. Grooming encompasses attention to hair, nail, skin and body care. The following are useful tips for general grooming:

• Always give yourself the “once over” in the mirror before leaving the house. Look for, and remove any stray threads at the hems of trousers, skirts, blouses, etc.
  
• Lingerie should fit you properly and not be so tight as to be seen cutting into your body under your clothing.
  
• Clothes should skim the body rather than cling to it.
  
• When wearing jackets, always ensure that the hem covers your ‘bum’.
  
• Buttons should lie flat against the body, not pucker out.
  
• Ill-fitting jackets - those that are too big or too small - make you look sloppy and uncomfortable.
  
• Invest in a good tailor. Trousers should be hemmed to fall at the perfect length.
• Shoes should be cleaned, buffed and polished at both tips and heels.
• Hair should be neatly coiffed. Keep it in a sleek ponytail or an upswept bun, or even a French chignon. Leave the edgy looks for the weekend.
• Remember, your hands are the first impression people have of you; make sure it’s a good one. Nails should be kept clean and well-manicured / pedicured for both women and men.
• Don’t over accessorise. If you love bold jewellery pieces, choose one that makes a statement and let that be the focal point. Otherwise, too many pieces will compete for attention.

Salisha Baboolal is a consultant in image and corporate communications management. With over a decade of experience in the field, she shows companies how to take their most valued resource - their employees - and transform them into corporate ambassadors.

- Salisha Baboolal