The way we present ourselves is of great significance. Given that we live in a competitive world, having the ability to stand apart from the crowd can even be considered a winning trait. In the current global scenario, dressing for success is as important as success itself.
First of all, why is it important to dress for success? Regardless of what field you are working in, dressing well is very important. Your clothes reflect your personality. Everything you wear and the way you carry yourself will speak volumes about you. Have you been called a nerd for wearing spectacles and checked shirts? Or have you been judged for not being serious about your career if you dress casually for the office? All of this is because you have to dress for success, and what you are wearing has a huge impact on your career. Let’s take a look at what you should do and how to do it to dress for success.
1. Have a Personal Style Statement
Having a personal style statement is very important. When people think of you, they should immediately think of the vibe you create through your dressing and accessorizing. Be it bohemian, rustic, gothic, punk, hippie, formal, or semi-formal. A personal style statement is a must, and what is also important is to dress accordingly most of the time. Whether it’s an important event where you can grow your social network or just a regular day at work, for people to notice your style statement, you need to follow it religiously. It separates you from others and creates a strong, standout identity for you.
2. Don’t Live Under the Rock
Having a personal style statement is important, but what is more important is to follow the trend. Following the trend does not mean losing your own style. You can do both simultaneously and look fashionably amazing! Trends in fashion change according to the season, recent events, global scenarios, and many other factors. For example, turtlenecks have now become evergreen for the winter, and denim will forever be in vogue. Its silhouettes and styles might change, but the fabric is not going anywhere. Apart from this, there are some trends that come, touch the peak, and then gradually vanish. Hence, to dress for success, it is important to dress according to trends. It makes people notice that you are aware of current events.
3. Self-Awareness is Key
Knowing what suits you is the key. Not all colors and silhouettes are made for your body type and skin tone. One might make you stand out, while the other might turn out to be a disaster. You can consult a stylist and find out how to dress for success. Take their help in figuring out what color tones suit you and what kind of silhouettes will enhance your body type. Having an idea of what suits you best will make you rock that outfit. When you know you are rocking an outfit, you are much more confident. When one is confident, it shows very clearly and separates one from the rest.
4. Sustainability
The phrase dress for success does not always mean dress to impress others. It has a lot of different and hidden meanings. An average person wears three different outfits. At any given time, everyone has approximately 50 or more clothing articles with them. Hence, it is very important to recycle. If you are purchasing one piece of clothing, make sure to recycle an old one that you do not know about. If it is in good condition, give it to somebody who needs it, and if it is in bad condition, be creative! Fast fashion is very bad for the economy and the world in general. Clothing articles and the fashion industry contribute to a lot of garbage accumulated in parts of the world. At this point, there are enough clothes on the planet to dress the next six generations, and there will still be clothes left. Hence, upcycling, recycling, and styling are very important.
5. Break the Rules, But Don’t Be Destructive
It is okay to break the rules and the norms. If your office asks you to wear shirts, you must have seen your colleagues in solid shirts. Go for printed or bright shirts! That is not technically breaking the rules, is it? On the other hand, do not show up there in casual or party wear! Find the boundaries that you absolutely cannot break and find ways to experiment within them. To dress for success, you also need other pointers that will help you be successful. Other than this, you can also break fashion norms. For instance, wearing prints on prints is strictly prohibited, but if you can carry it, go for it! Who wears blue-on-blue denim jeans? You can! Snickers with a ball gown? If you are comfortable and confident in it, wear it.