July 09, 2015

Personal Branding - How You Dress Speaks Volumes

Building your personal brand is not reserved only for business owners and entertainers. You are always selling yourself. If you're in business and selling a product or service. People do business with people they like and trust, so you're selling yourself first. If you are not in business, you are selling yourself to a potential employer, future mate or new friend. Everyone should take care in building and maintaining their own personal brand. The impression you make starts with how others view you. The way you dress says more about you and your brand than you ever can communicate through conversation.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when you're getting dressed to make sure you are dressing in line with the brand you are building.

1. What Am I Selling?

If you are going to a job interview, you are selling yourself. What you wear communicates you are ready for the job and are competent. Wearing sneakers to a job interview may communicate that you are laid back and not necessarily a good fit for the team, even if you are. If you are offering a service, you should dress as a person qualified to do the service. Wearing jeans and dirty work boots may communicate that you can adequately give a service in construction or landscaping even if you are a computer systems engineer.

2. Where Am I Going?

As the old saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. If you are unsure of the dress code for the event or the culture of the environment you'll be entering, it's usually better to lean toward over dressing than under dressing. Some companies adhere to a strict business casual dress code, while others do not. If a company does not express a dress code when they set up the interview, it's best to over dress in a suit and tie or dress than to wear khakis. Another example, wearing a bikini top and extremely short shorts to an inner city shopping mall could be viewed as inappropriate compared to if you're wearing the same thing on the beach or at a pool or to a shopping mall in a beach town.

3. Am I Dressing For Where I Want To Be?

If you are building your brand as a fashion guru, being fashionable is imperative. If you are an intern but intend to work your way up the corporate ladder, you should dress like the CEO of that company dresses. If you are an entrepreneur and your goal is to become an international mogul, your clothes should show that.

Building your personal brand is important for your profession and personal life. What you wear communicates a multitude of things about you. Individuality makes the world go around. Incorporating your personal style in your wardrobe is a huge part of building your brand and what it represents. Make sure your style is communicating what you want it to. Ask yourself what am I selling, where am I going, and am I dressing for where I am going to make sure you are dressing with intention.

Fancy Free LLC. finds great joy in helping people reach their financial and personal goals in all areas of life. Call us at (410) 929-0302 to schedule your complimentary consultation.