Women in Business: Three Elements of Style that speaks volume.

Teresa Dian Chew,
Jun 13, 2019
3 min read

Updated: Jun 27, 2019

Your individual #style at work or in the business world is often misconstrued as fashion or vanity. It has much to do with the notion among many in the business community that if anyone focus on how he or #dress, they are not focusing on work. #Leaders or executive professionals in most industries today are almost never encouraged to think about the way they dress at work. As a result, working professionals are not able to hone a subtle but a powerful tool of communication. It is a #nonverbal #communication tool that helps to exhibit our self-respect, self-value, who we are and how we represent as ambassador of the corporate #brand we work for. The way we present ourselves through the language of dress speaks volume of our sense of taste, creativity, confidence, and care towards the details or elements that define our attitude towards work.

Being in the #image consulting business in the last 15 years and having worked with captains and #C-Level across industries, we believe that expecting our work to speak for itself without taking care on your Personal Image or #Self-Presentation will have personal and professional impact to success. Dressing is a crucial part of Self-Presentation and hence, it is a part of work and not separate from it. For example, when we prepare the content, format and how we going deliver the presentations when preparing for a team meeting/interview/webinar, it is of vital importance to pay special attention to the details and dressing for the occasions.

Own Your Individual Style for authenticity.

There is great value in taking ownership of our individual style at work, especially at special occasions like interview, presenting in front of Head of Departments, Board members- where we are evaluated on all aspects. It is your opportunity to shine and stand out in order to make a great first impression. Own your style to inspire and motivate #authenticity, #creativity and win #TRUST.

Tip: What to wear?

Structure of the outfit: At work, we want to project sophistication, precision and reliability- the qualities when we translate into wardrobe vocabulary imply structured dressing. Straight silhouettes make you look slimmer, sharp and business ready. They also lend an air of authority and confidence- tow key elements in being taken seriously at work.

Here’s how to do it: How to incorporate structure dressing into your office wear.

Wear, crisp, ironed clothes to work.
Wear straight pants instead of fitted leggings
Steer away from floating, flowy or floral clothes as they do not convey strength or authority.
Wear neutral colours over brights as you do not want to be remembered for your attire.
Shoes should ideally be closed-toe, but you can wear open toe-shoes with heels in a casual business environment.

Colours and Patterns

Be mindful of not overdoing with #colours and patterns in business because they draw attention away from your face and often, away from the point that you are making. Instead opt for neutral palettes and neutral tone shoes. These palettes not only look classy and professional but also give you the opportunity to accessorize and layer- with a piece of statement jewellery or a contrasting scarf- or add a pop of colour from the lipstick or nail polish.

Do's with Colours

Wear lighter shades on the top to direct attention to our face.
Select neutral palettes because they provide room to accessorize and layer, without making your ensemble look busy or distracting.
Keep the patterns to a minimal.
Select geometric prints like stripes and checks instead of floral or overly stylish prints

Authenticity:

Don't be afraid to bring your personality into the way you dress at work. Infact, it's encouraged to have a personal style because it makes you memorable. #Authenticity comes from being mindful of your personal style- choosing clothes that represent you most honestly, feel comfortable for your body type and do not feel like wearing someone else's clothes.

Having a distinct yet #authentic personal style at work or in business set us apart in the minds of those with whom we interact. Dressing sharply amplifies our charisma. It projects a more confident presence and frankly, is an important aspect of our attention on details at work. It represents the mindset and attitude. When you begin to realise the significance of dressing for work and its impact, you will see that #upgrading and polishing the #skill makes as much sense as #upskilling your technical skills.

Writer: Teresa Dian Chew

A certified and internationally accredited Image Consultant, a strategist, speaker and author,Teresa is a leading image consultant and a strategist. She has worked with top leaders, corporate chieftains across industries, diplomats to pageantry queens, on how they can have more confident, charismatic and assertive presence at work, social arena and on stage. Her company, Teresa Chew International, has facilitated many transformation success stories- primarily achieved through behavior, social etiquette skills, eloquence, voice intelligence, and wardrobe management to confidence and personality enhancement.