Personal Brand Style: Break Out of the Traditional Business Attire and Still Remain Credible
If you’re anything like me, you’ve tried hard to fit in the suit and tie demographic… And failed. Are you afraid that if you miss out on wearing the traditional business garb, people will not take you seriously? Well, no worries, you are not alone. Walking along the streets of Kampala, Uganda; you will find all categories of working class citizens out to showcase their African roots in a rather fashionable way. Though not wearing a suit or tie, you cannot mistake them for a jobless group of people. In Kampala, even kitenge, a Swahili word for a very colorful African material, can be used for casual business days. If you want to build a strong personal brand, you need to be well dressed and neat at the same time because when it comes to building your personal brand style, your attire will speak volumes. Remember though, that although your personality may be judged in relation to how well you are groomed and the type of fashion you adopt; you need not give up on your personal sense of style to fit the mould.
Company policy on how to dress yourself will often dictate the type of garments you should have but very few companies insist explicitly on a suit and tie. In the corporate world, most managers will be more interested in individuals with solid input into the organization than merely in those who wear great outfits but are deadweight. That said however, a good first impression will go a long way in improving your personal brand. People will take you seriously when you are presentable. And you do not need a suit and tie to make this happen.
Your audience and line of work will help you realize the best way to dress and stand out. The following tips will help you improve your personal branding in your place of work.
Wear Well-fitting Clothes
Have you ever tried wearing clothes that are too tight or too loose for your body? I bet you experienced problems the entire day. Well, wearing the wrong sized clothes can give off the impression that you are not as professional as you say you are. Wear clothes that are comfortable, tastefully suited to your body shape and easy to move around in. It may be well worth investing in a few tailored outfits that you can mix and match.
Dress for your Profession or Industry
A lawyer will need to dress differently from a pre-school teacher. Often, dress code is dictated by the different professions. Do a recon of your target audience and develop a personal style that lends itself to the field you are aiming at. For example, a kindergarten teacher in a remote area in Uganda will wear colorful clothes to appeal to the little ones. This helps the children find the teacher fun and exciting to be around. When it is time to meet the parents though, she might wear the same clothes, but in a toned down color scheme. Alternatively, a lawyer will most likely have to build their personal brand around a suit and tie when meeting clients or in the courtroom but a more “smart casual” look for going over briefs.
Be A Trendsetter
In any organization, being presentable is key to improving the image of the company and your personal image. But the boundaries of what is “presentable” are being pushed everyday and you can lend your voice to making more people feel comfortable in their own eccentric skin. When establishing your personal brand and business core value, decide beforehand how you want to be perceived. Or learn how your new bosses want to be perceived. Then, within the limits of what is decent and lawful, play around with fabrics, colors, cuts and styles that showcase your personality, brand and work ethic while staying true to your desired audience expectation.
Keep It Classy
Have you ever thought of sagging your pants or letting it all hang out in the cleavage, abdominal and derrière area? Don’t do it. While this might be nice during your personal time and on a night out with friends, in your professional life, keep your inside garments on the inside (unless you’re a personal trainer. In which case, go on with your bad self). For the rest of the population, develop a professional style that is clean, interesting, and classy.
These are some of the basic grooming tips you should think about to when building your personal brand and they aren’t limited to the work place. They work out in public too.
For more tips on personal branding, head over to our other posts.
Do you have any suggestions on how to get away with not wearing a the traditional business attire? Leave a comment and share how you get around it.
