Dress well to do well

Kulneet Suri

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 you should keep in mind is that you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. And it is your appearance, or to be more precise, your workwear that makes the first impression in the minds of your clients, colleagues, and your employer.

Your appearance becomes the mirror through which the world looks at you and for any budding professional looking to make a mark in the business landscape, it is imperative to make it count from the moment he or she enters a room.

Nothing introduces you better than the way you carry yourself, and your attire needs to complement the persona that you want to convey in a particular context.

Here’s how you can create the right impact in the professional world with your work wear:

Leverage your persona

In the words of renowned journalist and editor, Anna Wintour, you need to “create your own style unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.”

The attire that you wear should speak for yourself and not suppress who you are. At the same time, you can’t wear something that becomes the focal point of the conversation rather than acting as an enabling prop.

So make your unique allowances for the context, but also ensure that you put in elements that stand out. For instance, 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 work if they pair it up with the right accessories.

Stay subtle and refined

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 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 while selecting your attire. A good example of making a subtle statement is wearing white by the politicians as it is a neutral shade that denotes trust.

Invest in essentials

There is no excuse for wearing non-ironed and ill-fitting clothes to work. We are not asking you to aim for luxury but definitely look for quality. Build up your wardrobe one piece at a time. You can get two to three bespoke suits in classic colours, comfortable and smart shoes, and women should definitely go for a good leather bag. These are somethings that you can use time and again so it is worth investing in all of these. Besides, spending money on a good watch is always a great idea as it helps to capture attention and can even act as a smart conversation starter.

Stay true to your image

Your attire depicts the image that you want to portray. 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. There it is best to go casual, just as Mark Zuckerberg does to make his team feel at ease. However, when you are going for the board meeting with the CEOs of companies, go for sharp suits that symbolise power dressing.

Ask for assistance or advice

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 ashamed about this and in the same way, there is nothing wrong in looking for some assistance and advice. Take a cue from others in your field and if you are a new employee, take pointers from your seniors and colleagues to know what should be your attire of choice.

— The writer is Senior Director at Institute of Management Studies (IMS) Noida