What Your Work Clothes Say About You

For many of us, what we wear to work on any given day is dictated more by what’s actually clean than what will make the best impression with management – especially if you’ve been at your current employer for some time and didn’t get around to doing the laundry over the weekend. But if you want to make 2019 your year to land that promotion, ask for a raise or take on more responsibility, putting aside some time to assess and improve your work wardrobe is a great first step.

Action creates motivation, and by physically going through what you own, updating your look with new pieces, getting rid of the stuff you never wear, and finding out what really works for you and what doesn’t, a mental shift is taking place beneath the surface too. You’re committing yourself to a new attitude, taking ownership of the responsibility you hold for your own success or failure, and empowering yourself to start doing things differently to get better results.

Drab colors versus brighter hues

Those in creative fields naturally tend to dress in brighter and more dramatic colors on the whole. If you’re looking to make a shift in your responsibilities at work to incorporate more creative endeavors such as marketing or design, add a splash of color to your work wardrobe. This will not only help make you feel more creative and think laterally, it plants the idea that you have untapped creative potential with your managers too!

It’s very important, however, to choose the right colors for your complexion and skin tone, or you can end up looking a little silly. For men in a corporate environment, you can achieve a more subtle color upgrade by swapping gray jerseys or jackets for something like a navy blue or even deep maroon shade.  

Outdated styles

If you’re still wearing the styles that were in back in the 80s and 90s, you’re giving the impression you’re comfortable where you are and aren’t particularly willing to adapt to change. If you work in a rapidly changing industry like IT, tech or web-related fields, this could mean you get overlooked for promotions or opportunities you actually have the aptitude and talents to take on, or not landing that new job because you appeared subconsciously ‘dated’ to the person interviewing you. If you’re over 40, updating your work wardrobe is a great way to demonstrate you’re adaptable and let your experience speak for itself as it should.  

Corporate wear

On the whole, work wear has become a lot more casual over the past decade or so and wearing the traditional suit and tie every day is no longer called for in many companies. When you’re looking to stand out, however, this is something you can take advantage of. Dressing smarter than you technically need to instantly gives the impression you’re serious about furthering your career and are ready to give 110% in all you do. If you’re used to the business casual style of dressing, then take inspiration from firms like House of Monatic corporate wear, who will be able to guide you on getting this look right first time.

Black

Black clothing in the modern context is frequently associated with power and authority. If you’re after a promotion that needs you to be tough, decisive and take control of the situation, incorporating more black items gives the impression you’re up for the challenge. This can work well for women too, especially if you’re after a role that traditionally goes to men!  

Dressing to look approachable

You might, on the other hand, want to be going in the opposite direction, giving the appearance of friendliness, openness, approachability and trustworthiness. For positions such as supervisory roles where you’ll have young, potentially nervous employees reporting to you, or roles in human resources, a softer look can help you achieve this. For women, this might include opting for more pastel colors, skirts instead of trousers, and tasteful floral prints. For men, a whole world of opportunity lies in the new trend of wearing pink! If pink just isn’t your thing, however, soft blues and sea greens will work great too.  

Dress with intention

Your aptitude and attitude will always be the most important factors when it comes to furthering your career, but it’s important to realize that how you present yourself can be an invaluable tool too. Start paying attention to the messages your work clothes are giving about you, making sure they align with your goals, and you’re sure to be pleasantly surprised with the results!