Dress for success

I have always been fascinated by clothes and how we are able to present different versions of ourselves depending on what we put on. We mostly use fashion as a noun but I have recently come to appreciate its function as a verb – we fashion (make into a particular form) items of clothing to form an outfit. Clothing is a powerful tool that can either be used to enhance or hinder the success of our goals.

Dress how you want to be addressed
Bianca Frazier

We assume a lot about a person based on what they are wearing – such as their likes, dislikes, values and/or status. The saying ‘dress how you want to be addressed’ whilst not embraced by all, holds a lot of truth as our outfits address an audience even before we speak.

I recently had a useful fashion realisation that one should never dress incongruent (the state of not being suitable or not fitting well) with one’s surroundings, or in a way that distracts from the purpose of an interaction. This means that whilst I have my go-to clothes, there are times where I have to ditch them and fashion an outfit most suitable for the environment I am stepping into. Whether you are interviewing for a new job, attending a networking event or going to a formal dinner, it is best to dress in a way that aids the success of the interaction.

A dress code is an outline that we get to colour in with our personal style

I must add that with all this dressing talk, it’s important to be authentic to yourself – to dress in a way that still maintains the essence of you. A dress code is an outline that we get to colour in with our personal style. Understand the dress code then put your creative spin on it. For example, with workwear, what is deemed as “professional” varies according to the industry – it is not necessarily suits and neutrals. So, it is important to first understand the code, and with understanding comes freedom to be creative.

But it costs money?

Dressing how you want to be addressed does not necessarily mean you have to break the bank. My advice would be to start with the basics – use the clothes that can be applied to different settings, and then as the budget allows you can make more niche purchases. Basics can include: a good pair of tailored trousers, a quality t-shirt, crisp-collared shirt and smart-looking shoes. Such items can be dressed up or down and will rarely be up for debate in terms of style.

I have noticed how clothing is used in the Bible to symbolise the state of a thing or a person. For example, when a loved-one died, individuals would tear their clothes and put on sackcloth – ‘a thick, rough, coarse material’ to express their sorrow. Similarly, when a person’s status changed, like David, who went from being a shepherd to a king, the appropriate clothing was donned to symbolise the new status. The clothes David wore as a shepherd would have been incongruent with his new position – a distraction to his mission as king.

Understand the setting you are stepping into and dress for success.

Clothing is a form of expression. It’s bigger than the trends/brands we wear and more about the persona we create through the way we fashion items of clothing. I am firm believer that there is a time and place for certain things (your favourite graphic tee or mini-skirt is not compatible with every setting!). Understand the setting you are stepping into and dress for success.

Further reading

Redefining Success