Modern Workplace ‘Power Dressing’ For Men

Power Dressing Tips For Men

Flashback 20 years: Men were wearing boxy, oversized suits with square shoulders and thick pinstripes that accentuated a sharp, square and angular look.

Though we may chuckle at how times have changed, these men also inspired the term ‘POWER DRESSING’ – a relatively new concept to the corporate world back then. Men around the globe incorporated style into their equation for workplace success; a concept that is still very relevant today!

“Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”

Yes, it’s a bit of a corny cliché, and whilst the comic above pokes fun at the old adage, like most clichés this one has a timeless truth and relevance.

“I would hire someone immediately if they dressed better than I did” said Simon Kneen, Vice President of Brooks Brothers, the longest standing and most esteemed men’s clothier in the United States.

How you present yourself in the workplace says a lot about your character, and the correlation between dressing to impress and success is as strong as ever.

As such, I’ve provided 5 tips for men on how to exude power, and encourage success through using their wardrobe.

Related: Office Wardrobe Essentials to Look Great (and Professional) Every Season

5 TIPS FOR MEN ON MAKING AN IMPACT WITH THEIR WORK WARDROBE

1. THE SUIT

Whilst modern workplaces have certainly relaxed the dress code, suiting up still plays a massive role in the corporate world and can have a lot to say about an individual’s professional status.

Forget the ill-fitting ‘power’ suits of yesterday, when a suit was all about the price tag… nowadays, making an impression with your suit really comes down to two factors: a suit that perfectly fits your body, and your personality.

Check out the comparison between two Hollywood lawyer characters, Harvey Specter (left, 2015) and Arnie Becker (right, 1990).

Bulky heavy suits are out, and thinner, lighter suits have replaced them. The modern business suit is tailored to fit body shape, and whilst navy, charcoal and black still generally dominate the corporate scene, playing around with lighter colors, thin pinstripes, and different textures provide the opportunity to express individual style and personality.

For more tips on suiting up, check out this business attire FAQs

2. THE COLOURS 

Traditionally, the business world sticks to the darker, more somber colors – but there is definitely wriggle room for those who may not spend all their time around the boardroom table. Modern suits come in so many colors, from lighter blues and grays to dark burgundy and olive greens, which still pass in a professional work environment.

For the slightly less formal workplace, you can definitely experiment with a dash of subtle coloring to add charm and personality, whether that is in suit details shirt and tie – still maintaining a professional image.

3. THE ACCESSORIES

Accessorize with care when it comes to ‘power dressing’ and making a professional statement.

Keep it minimal with an elegant pair of cufflinks, a quality watch, a pocket square (if appropriate), leather belts and a pair of quality dress shoes.

Remember, you’re at work, not the races. Over accessorizing with fancy, elaborate or bright ties, patterned shirts, clips, buckles, cufflinks, shoes or socks can come across as playful, and as a general rule playfully deters from powerful/professional.

Also Read: Cracking the Office Dress Code | What to Wear At Work

4. THE OCCASION

‘Power dressing’ is all about projecting the right image – if you want a million bucks, look a million bucks!

Having said that, it’s definitely important to dress according to your workplace environment. Wearing a suit when everyone else is wearing polo shirts isn’t necessarily going to make you stand out in a good way.

Dress in the same general manner as your colleagues, or perhaps the future colleague that you’d like to advance to… again, only if appropriate.

Think about how you might change your outfit if you knew you had to meet with your boss or important client… now, dress like that every day! This will assure you draw the attention of your superiors or prospects, even when you’re not dealing with them directly.

TIP: Your environment extends to your climate and wearing lighter colors and materials during the warmer months and darker, earthy tones and textures during the colder months don’t go unnoticed.

5. DON’T LOSE YOURSELF

This final point is really the core of every personal styling or image consultancy advice and particularly important when it comes to trying to impress professionally.

There is nothing more obvious in a professional environment than someone who is trying to be someone that they’re not, and this often has a lot to do with the wardrobe.

Whilst the rules above are tried and trusted guidelines for ‘power dressing’, if you’re not comfortable with the image you’re putting forward, you’ll inevitably give off a non-genuine, non-confident vibe that doesn’t encourage trust, endearment or promotion. Be AUTHENTIC.

This is a guest post from my friend Nikki at NIKKI CASEY (Personal Stylist/Image Consultant)

About Nikki Casey

Nikki has a strong passion for fashion and style and has been running her own Image Consultancy for 10 years. She brings her skills together with empathy, imparting knowledge to help her clients develop their own fashion personalities – what to wear, how and when to wear it. Visit her website today.

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Mr. Kobi

My name is Kobi O. Mbagwu, a professional image consultant, menswear style expert, and entrepreneur who uses fashion, style and clothing as key tools in transforming ordinary men into extraordinary classy gentlemen. My personal goal is to help gentlemen dress better, live well, do well and develop a unique personal style that matches their lifestyle and goals. I believe that success can be built through style. I believe that fashion is a tool that can be used to change people’s lives positively. I also strongly believe that if you dress well, you look good, and if you look good, you feel good and when you feel good, you worry less, and the less you worry the more you are able to stay motivated and focused on your goals pursuit and by so doing you are able to live a more fulfilling and successful life.

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