Yesterday I was having lunch with a colleague when the topic of business attire came up. As a 25 year veteran of the corporate world, she was curious about my thoughts on power suits. So, when she asked what I chose to wear during meetings, speeches, conferences, etc., I told her that I wasn’t a “suit and tie” kind of guy. But I also thought it was important to exude a sense of professionalism while staying consistent with my personal brand and individual style.
She then gave me a brilliant piece of advice I’ll never forget:
“There’s no such thing as a power suit anymore. The outfit that allows you to feel most comfortable and most like yourself will, in fact, give you the most power.”
LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What does your power suit look like?
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Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That guy with the nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com
Friday, July 08, 2005
Kiss your power suit goodbye
9:12 AM
5 comments
5 comments:
My power suit is a seasonally appropriate cotton shirt over blue jeans with a home-made necklace to finish off the look.
I guess you can blame it on the fact I'm a native Texan. ;)
I'm a solopreneur who works from home. When I go to conferences, they're most often for people who... yep, work from home. Since the reality is that most of us wear whatever we're most comfy in, and some of us never really get out of our pjs, I always find if funny when the conference organizers recommend "business casual" for conference attire. Who are we trying to impress, exactly? Isn't it better to be authentic? For me, neat and clean win the day.
When I present, I'll often wear shorts. Sometimes I go in barefeet. When I start the presentation, I usually say, "I bet some of you are wondering why I'm dressed this way. It's because I can!" I go on to talk a bit about the joy of owning my own business and doing exactly what I most want. People seem to enjoy and appreciate the authenticity of it all.
Be yourself. Wear what you like. Life's too short to do anything else.
S
This is a great post. Power suits used to define me, rather than the other way around.
That photo of Michael Douglas - that was me ten years ago: power business suits, power ties, Italian shoes, gelled hair, cufflinks, Rolex, the works.
Then I lost my hotshot corporate job and eventually came back by starting my own business.
It was hard to lose my executive "image" along with my expensive suits and shoes - but now I have no regrets.
At first it was very hard for me to take off my suit and tie. I didn't realize how much of myself was defined by my clothes. But it got much easier.
My power suit now? Tee shirts and jeans. The tailored Armani pinstripes and silk ties went to charity. The braces, cufflinks and pocket squares went with them.
I had twelve pairs of Italian leather dress shoes, polished like black mirrors, and silk socks to go with them.
Now?
Now I work in my bare feet. It was a huge change for a former pinstriped corporate exec like me to step out of his polished Ferragamos and Brooks Brothers socks and walk around barefoot. Just imagine Gordon Gekko barefoot! But it's liberating and relaxing too.
The gelled hair has given way to a pony tail and I have even grown a beard.
I didn't know how materialistic I was until this happened. Power Suits should never tell you who you are!
I like the powersuit thing actually. Not really that I think it is necessary to do business, but I like the suit and necktie as clothing pieces. JUst like other people like a T-shirt and a jeans I guess.
I often refer to myself as 'beeing a corporate goth'. My personal music taste and privat social life is definitly one associated with the 'city crows'. As a teenager I grew up in the gothic movement and up to now, in my corporate days, that has not changed.
Everyday, I take a bit of my 'gothiness' with me to the office. I wear raven black suits, often pinstripe ones. And those black&white striped socks and neckties as my favorit accesories. Along with silver rings, wallet chain, pocketwatch, a pockte square with little skulls or spider webs on it etc.
I am who I am and I wont change.
But realize as well that it would not be an option to enter my office, wearing my New Rocks, my Retro-Victorian outfit and my tophat... ;)
Dear Scott, thanks for another super article, i just love this site, thanks for the hard work.
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