In the fast-paced corporate world, power dressing is crucial. What you wear says a lot about your confidence and competence. This is especially true for women trying to climb the corporate ladder.
You can use your clothing as a strategic tool to boost your professional image and confidence. If you are looking for ways to dress for success but have heard of power dressing, you’re in the right place.
In this article, we will explain the concept of power dressing and give you some very useful tips. Keep on scrolling to find out more.
What is power dressing?
Power dressing is so much more than fashion and putting together an office outfit. It can be described as a strategic choice that conveys confidence, authority, and competence.
We can trace the origins of power dressing to the 1920s with the emergence of the Chanel suit. The suit consisted of a tight skirt and jacket, and it was the turning point in the way women dressed.
Today, power dressing can make you feel empowered. Clothing in the corporate world has a direct impact on an individual’s level of responsibility and authority.
With that said, let’s find out all the power dressing tips.
Power dressing tips
1. Dress appropriately for your industry
When putting together your work outfit, it’s very important to consider your industry, company, and work environment. Different industries and companies have different expectations when it comes to professional attire.
For example, professionals who work in banks or the finance sector will wear a more conservative and traditional attire compared to those who work in tech and creative industries.
Both tech and creative industries are more flexible and accept modern and innovative styles. So, before planning your professional attire, do some research and find what your industry and company consider appropriate dress code.
2. Invest in quality staples
All power wardrobe consists of several quality staple clothing pieces. Investing in those high-quality staples can be a good way to start building your professional power wardrobe.
Enhance your professionalism with pieces such as crisp white button-ups, tailored skirts and blazers, corporate pants, and versatile dresses. Also, consider shopping for high-quality wholesale corporate pants and other pieces to have more options.
3. Always look for fit and comfort
Planning a power outfit is not just about looking professional, it’s also about finding a good comfortable fit. The clothes need to fit you well to look good on you.
You can buy the most expensive dress or suit, but it won’t look good if it doesn’t fit you properly. Clothes that fit well will flatter your body, and highlight different parts of your body. At the same time, well-fitted clothing shouldn’t draw attention to the parts of your body that you would like to hide.
In addition to being well-fitting, your professional attire should be comfortable as well. Not too comfortable like an oversized T-shirt and sweatpants, but simply something that won’t scratch you or be too tight.
4. Avoid showing too much skin
As a woman, your professional attire shouldn’t show too much skin. A low neckline or a short skirt is not only inappropriate but can be a distraction in a professional setting.
On top of that, according to research, women who dress in revealing clothing in a professional setting are perceived as less competent.
And that can seriously affect your success in climbing the corporate ladder. That’s why you should avoid showing too much skin and try dressing conservatively at work.
5. Clothing colors and confidence
Color can be a powerful communication tool. There are even studies that show that color psychology can affect our mood and behavior.
For instance, black is a color that exudes authority. However, that doesn’t mean that you should only wear black work clothing.
Quite the contrary, blue, red, green, gray, all these colors can be work-appropriate depending on what message you want to convey. Dressing in red can mean that you’re confident and in blue that you’re trustworthy.
6. Don’t forget the shoes
Shoes play a crucial role in your professional attire, so don’t forget about them when planning your outfits. Your footwear can impact your entire appearance.
For example, some people will judge your personality based on the shoes you are wearing. Ideally, you want to be wearing professional, yet comfortable footwear. So you can choose stylish closed-toe pumps or ballet flats, as long as you are left with blisters at the end of that day.
And there you have it, all the tips you’ll need to dress for success. Now that you know what power dressing is and how to appropriately dress for the office, we hope you get that job promotion you’re after.
