In the corporate world, it is important to dress appropriately to make an impression, says Dr Kulneet Suri
The popular adage, don’t judge a book by its cover, does not really hold true in the business arena. Rather in this highly competitive world, the saying that we suggest you keep in mind is that you get no second chances to make a first impression. Your appearance becomes the mirror through which the world looks at you and for any budding professional looking to make his mark in the business landscape, it is imperative to make it count from the moment he or she enters the room. Young professionals often look for assistance and ideas when it comes to personal styling for either reworking the personal image or to enhance their personality. So, we have brought here some of the ideas on how you can create the right impact in the professional world with your work wear.
Dress the image you want to portray: The dress that you put on depicts the image that you want to portray and the fact that you need to dress for the occasion rings true in this scenario. For instance, imagine a situation where you are addressing a group of young and driven team members and you want them to feel that you are one of them rather than someone they need to cower from. However, when you are going for the board meeting with the CEOs of companies, go for sharp suits that symbolize power dressing.
Leverage your persona: The attire that you wear should speak for yourself and not suppress who you are. Make your unique allowances for the context but also ensure that you put in elements that stand out. For instance, the men need not always stick to black suits and they can always explore the possibilities of light grey, navy, charcoal, and brown with ties in interesting patterns. Women can make even fuchsia suits work if they pair it up with the right accessories.
Create a subtle and refined statement: Making a refined and subtle statement is essential when you are deciding on your workwear. When choosing the right attire for the corporate world, it is important to understand the cultural undertones, and especially so, when you are meeting the associates from different backgrounds. The things that are appropriate to you in your culture might not be taken in its right sense by a person from a different cultural background. In some cultures, going for a casual dress to a workplace is taken as an insult and so, keep in mind your routine for the day when you select your attire. A good example of making a subtle statement is the wearing of the colour white by the politicians as it is a neutral shade that denotes trust.
Spend on the essentials: There is no excuse for wearing non-ironed and ill-fitting clothes to the office. If you want to dress to make an impact, we suggest that you build up the wardrobe one piece at a time. You can wait for the sale and get genuine products to last you for years. You can get two to three bespoke suits in classic colours, comfortable and smart shoes, and if you are a lady, definitely go for a good leather bag. Besides, spending money on a good watch is always a great idea.
Ask for assistance or advice: We can assure you that every new entrepreneur or new joiner in the office ends up making a few mistakes when it comes to selecting work wear. There is nothing to feel shameful about in looking for some assistance and advice. If you are a new entrepreneur, you can take a cue from the other people in your field of work and if you are a new employee, take pointers from your seniors and colleagues to know what should be your attire.
