How do I “dress the part”?

What do we mean by “dressing the part”?

Firstly, when considering how to dress the part, for me this means dressing purposefully for the situation. So you need to consider: what is the situation you need to “dress the part” for? Clearly, dressing the part for a wedding may be different to dressing the part for an interview.

Now, “dressing the part” seems more difficult today if you like to adhere to a rule, because some of the rules of dressing have been lost or blurred. For example, we do not usually wear gloves for formal occasions nowadays, and hats or fascinators are less common, but still feature in weddings. 100 years ago everyone who went out wore a hat. It seems wearing hats declined from the 1960s, and this was a response to changing modes of transport (it was not as easy to wear a hat in a car). So, practicality drives dressing rule changes as much as fashion. The cubs and brownie uniforms have changed a bit over the years due to practicality. Also cultures and family traditions can play a part too.

Dressing in keeping with your peer group is also important for some, but sometimes you actually want to stand out (but for the right reasons!).

For me, Gareth Southgate stood out as a snappy dresser in the football world when he adopted the tailored waistcoat. Not only did he look smart and appropriate for his role as the England Manager (ie the top football club for the country representing England on the world stage), but it set his mindset to that, and I think made the players have more self-belief. It may have subconsciously meant people had more respect for him as well. I wonder how Thomas Tuchel will dress, and whether he will have a signature mark.

Dressing the part is therefore important.

Career aspirations

If you have aspirations in your career, I think you should decide how to dress the part for the role you want. You will begin to feel like you deserve the part, and others will perceive that you are ready for it. Not only that, you will probably be standing out visibly amongst anyone else who might want the role, and when the opportunity arises you will be more likely to get it.

If you don’t believe this, observe those in higher positions. How do they dress? How do others expect them to dress? Do they command respect with ease and not by demand? Are they confident in their clothes? Do their clothes speak before they do?

If you have never considered this, it is worth noting. People generally see you before you speak, and we all make judgements by what we see. How would people expect you to dress for a higher role? Does your look give off the right message: that you are confident?

How people dress for work will depend on the industry, company policies and peer expectations.

Your wardrobe

View your wardrobe. What do you have that would enable you to dress the part that you want to achieve? How can you elevate your look? If you start dressing differently, you will feel different and people will notice, whether they remark or not. Try it and see. Also, listen out for comments which will show people are noticing. What do they say?

Consistency

We all play many roles in our lives (work, play, family etc). Learning how to “dress the part” so you are consistent in your appearance, whether hiking on the Moors or working in a senior position, is the key. This is what you can establish with your personal stylist, who will guide you to understand what the messages are with your clothes for any situation.

Dressing the part

Unfortunately I cannot give individual advice on how to “dress the part” for your situation without knowing you and what the situation is, and what you want to achieve. If you have difficulties deciding how to “dress the part” for your situation, please reach out. It’s what I do: help people understand the language of clothes and help them to speak the right language for their situation, and how to dress authentically for their goals and life.

Contact Fiona on 07469 246722 for an initial chat. We can do this visually through mediums such as FaceTime, Zoom, or Teams if you prefer.