Today is Tuesday, so this post is on positive personal impact.
In this post, I’m going to go way out on a limb and discuss something about which I don’t know a lot – women’s apparel. I’m doing this because I read a very interesting article in last Thursday’s (January 24) Wall Street Journal entitled Women in Power: Finding Balance in the Wardrobe. Christina Brinkley is the author.
In part, the article said, “Women in positions of authority, from Washington to Wall Street, face fashion scrutiny that’s so intense it can border on the comical – though it’s serious business…Female business leaders may play to a smaller audience (than politicians) but the examination they face can be just as rigorous. According to unwritten rules, their appearance at work should be attractive, but not alluring; feminine, but not girly; strong, but not severe.”
“Attractive but not alluring…strong, but not severe;” yikes! This makes me glad that I’m a guy. Seriously, like many things in life, dressing for business and making a positive personal impact, is more difficult for women than men. Joyce Newman, founder of the Newman group, a New York consulting firm is quoted in the article as saying, “We are looked at and dissected very differently than men. That’s unfair.”
The article had a sidebar entitled Intimate Advice: A Lingerie Designer’s Picks. I’m not going to get into that here….
However, like most things about building a great career creating positive personal impact by the manner in which you dress, comes down to common sense.
Michaela Jedinak, a London based media and entertainment lawyer who advises women on communications and style, offers some great common sense advice for both men and women. Get “hard-wearing clothing that won’t look sloppy and wrinkled by late afternoon.” Ms. Jedinak also suggests that women should not “wear makeup that has to be reapplied, because it will make you look self conscious.”
Amanda Ross is a stylist for the TV show, Lipstick Jungle, says that women in business should “choose designers for how their clothes fit rather than for their fashion quotient.” This too, is good advice for men. I’m a big guy. I look, and feel for that matter, much better in Brooks Brothers traditional business clothing, than I would in Armani, so that’s what I wear. I may not be the height of fashion, but I always look presentable and business like.
The common sense point here is simple. If you want to create positive personal impact with your attire – whether you’re a man or woman, buy high quality clothing that suits or body style. Make sure it fits. Get it dry cleaned regularly. Keep it in good repair.
If you follow these simple, common sense bits of advice, you’ll do just fine.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense. I am not posting regularly on my www.CommonSenseGuy.com blog right now, as I want to concentrate on this one. It is still up though. Please don’t cancel your RSS feed as I will be posting there occasionally. And, you can still get a free ebook version of my book 4 Secrets of High Performing Organizations by visiting www.CommonSenseGuy.com .
I’ll see you around the web and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Bud
PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand, my fundraising page is still open. Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.
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