In the late 70s and 80s, power dressing was very popular. Women were increasingly working in traditionally male-dominated workplaces. This led to many of them changing the way they dressed as a way of fitting in better.
Quite a few women switched from wearing dresses to wearing power suits. The jackets typically had shoulder pads, and many were cut to hang away from the body. This look broadened the wearers’ shoulders and softened the breasts. On a subconscious level, this blurred the line between the sexes. Today, nobody really talks about power dressing. But, it is actually still there. Just in a more subtle form. Here are a few ways today’s women can tap into the power of clothes and dress for success.
The right glasses
Wearing good quality eyewear is essential. A pair of high-end lightweight glasses look fantastic and are far more comfortable to wear.
When deciding which glasses to buy, bear in mind that they are one of the first things anyone is going to notice about you. So, don´t be afraid to spend a little extra to get a pair that looks good on you and will not warp and lose their shape.
On a subconscious level, humans find symmetry pleasing. So, you do not want glasses frames that are so poorly made that they stretch and no longer sit straight. This can spoil your overall look. Plus, if they are varifocals, your glasses will no longer correct your vision in the way that they should.
It is also best to avoid glasses that have a tint. In the workplace, you want to be able to make proper eye contact with people. This article explains why.
Dress like a professional
Even if you work somewhere where there is no dress code, wearing professional clothes may still be a good idea. For example, opting to wear a blouse instead of a t-shirt. Or trousers instead of shorts. Centuries of conditioning means that we are still hardwired to view smartly dressed people as somehow more capable. Potentially, you can use this tendency to your advantage. By dressing slightly more professionally than your colleagues you can stand out in a positive way.
Cover up
In most workplaces, showing too much skin is not a good idea. Maybe it shouldn’t be, but it is distracting. So, dress stylishly, but modestly. If you want to learn more about why this is important, you can read about several recent studies that looked at this subject, by clicking here.
Choose clothes that fit you well
Regardless of the clothes you choose, make sure that they fit you well. Wearing something too tight should be avoided. When you do that you immediately look scruffy. So, if you put on a few pounds, go out and buy some new work clothes rather than trying to get by.
Always buy good-quality work clothes
The quality of your clothes matters too. Heavier or more densely woven fabrics will always hang better and, in most cases, will be less likely to crease.
Look at the seams too. A blouse that has double-stitched seams will hang better and continue to look good for longer.
Most of the major clothing retailers sell high-quality items that fit this criterion, yet do not cost a fortune. So, you do not necessarily have to spend a lot of money to be able to look good at work.
