Have you ever struggled with fashion the workplace or ever wondered why entertainers, dancers, and actors alike have separate dress rehearsals different from regular rehearsals? It’s because dressing the part in their performances helps them feel more like the character or role they’re playing, translating to powerful renditions. Clothing adds a layer of immersion they won’t experience in clothes that don’t represent their roles.
That concept applies in our everyday lives as well. Choosing the appropriate fashion in the workplace and different professional events can help empower us, providing the confidence to face any challenge. A study even shows that clothes can affect how we think and positively impact our performance in any activity. It means that fashion can help us act accordingly and perform better at work.
That’s not all that fashion can do for us. Here are some of the other advantages that fashion in the workplace and dressing up for work offers:
It Communicates Our Ambitions
Clothes are an extension of our personalities and can help us communicate our intention to those around us. For example, showing up to work in flip-flops and shorts might not show how serious or ambitious we are at work. It can send the wrong message to our colleagues and bosses. Not dressing up to look the part can negatively affect our careers or break down crucial business negotiations. It is why some businesses have clothing policies at work. Those rules help maintain a professional environment, promoting professionalism and productivity.
While it’s valuable to dress up for work, it’s equally important not to overdress. Adding too much to your ensemble can quickly turn you into a distraction. It can take the focus and attention of people away from what you have to say. Instead of over accessorizing, consider just adding a single statement piece such as the iconic Sam Bag that you can buy on any online Kate Spade store. The bag can help you stand out without being too much.
Related: How to Become a Model in the 21st Century
It Influences Our Well-being
Knowing that we look good and fashionable can do wonders for our mood and disposition. It’s because dressing up well helps us become more confident and feel better, increasing the likelihood of maintaining good energy throughout each workday. These factors all contribute to bringing out our best work. It’s no secret that feeling good and having confidence makes us ready to face any task better, which it’s undeniable that dressing up empowers us.
For example, researchers in the US found that specific articles of clothing positively affected people’s performance in different activities. The experiment found that the symbolic meaning of intelligence and thinking that a lab coat posses was enough to empower their subject’s ability to perform specific tasks. The psychological effect of clothing helps us both feel and perform better.
It Makes Us More Convincing
What we wear or how we look can never define us. But at the same time, fashion can alter other people’s perceptions of us and our capabilities. What we wear can immediately demand respect from other people in the room without saying a word. Imagine meeting a big client. Do you think you have a better chance of closing a project with them in a t-shirt and sweatpants or heels and a business suit? Most people would choose the latter, and unsurprisingly so.
We can convince more people just by the way we dress especially when it has to do with fashion in the workplace. We can become more trustworthy, capable, and relatable just based on how we style ourselves. It means we can dress up in specific ways to our advantage, helping us close projects, clients, or accounts more easily.
It Makes a Good First Impression
As the saying goes, “first impressions last.” What you wear can say a lot about your judgment. If you’re applying for an executive-level position and employers observe that you can’t even look the part, it might hurt your chances of landing it. Dressing up appropriately for that interview can give a great first impression to any employer, and it can well be the deciding factor whether you get hired or get a promotion. A good rule of thumb you should follow is to dress for the job you want and not for the job you have.
Clothes aren’t just representative of who you are on the outside. It also extends a part of who you are on the inside. Making intentional fashion choices helps empower yourself. Experiment with different looks, and explore fashion and styles that are outside your comfort zone. You might find something that you never thought you’d try, boosting your self-esteem.
Looking and feeling good with what you wear can provide you with the confidence you need to achieve your career goals. Dress for success every time you go to work, and it might give you opportunities to get closer to succeeding.
The post The Power of Dressing Up: Advantages of Fashion in the Workplace appeared first on NaomiDestiny.com.
