What are we saying with our appearance, particularly in our post-Covid changed workplaces? I have three tips to help you dress authenticly and confidently for work today.
The consequence of Covid
Covid left many of us working from home and not mixing in person; interacting with computer screens where we only saw ¼ of someone else; and we therefore lost ¾ of our non-verbal communication.
We didn’t have to dress up to go to work anymore, and ‘casual’ and ‘very casual’ became acceptable for work.
The consequence was that some of us became less interested in how we dressed, and the line between a work and non-work wardrobe became more blurred.
The greater freedom to choose how to dress caused issues. I believe we were already heading towards more casual dressing, especially for work, but Covid accelerated things.
And, we are being encouraged to be authentic
There seems to be a push these days to be authentic. How does that involve the way we dress? Well, our whole appearance, actually, is part of our message: not just the clothes we choose to wear, but how we do our hair, what accessories we use (such as glasses) and makeup.
For me, authenticity is about having the (outer) visual message match the (inner) words, thoughts, actions and expression of your personality. We know that we can’t be liked or accepted by everyone we meet, so the more authentic we become and if we show that by how we present ourselves, the more we will attract “our tribe”.
If you want to understand how you can dress more authentically yourself, the answer is to have a personal consultation with an image professional, who will help you understand your messaging (in terms of colour, style, dressing your shape in your context, and with your personality).
Here are my three general tips to dressing authentically and confidently
So my three general tips for being authentic and confident in the way you look are:
- Don’t be afraid to use colour.
Wearing colour conveys confidence, and helps you stand out. I guess that is why you appear more confident: because you do not mind standing out if you choose to wear colour (and especially the shades of colours that most suit you and make you look most attractive). - Don’t be afraid to express yourself in the way you dress.
You do not need to dress for others (unless you have to wear a uniform!) but then again you do! Think about your role and what your clients or colleagues expect from you. For example, if you are a yoga teacher, if you wear a formal suit your clients may think that a little odd, rather than if you were to wear a track suit. - Dress purposefully.
This follows on from point number 2. Understanding the impression you make (by the colours you wear – or not as the case may be) and how you make that impression on line or in person. You will need to think about your whole appearance if you are meeting people in person.
Dressing is a language that you speak, whether you realise it or not. What are you saying? Can you afford to not understand the messages you are conveying?
Knowing how to dress for yourself to be authentic and confident should not be left to chance or guess work.
I would love to help you create the impression you want and understand how to do that.
Fiona Mobbs
Your Colour & Style Consultant
07469 246722
