First Impressions – Your Attire

Increase Your Chances – Nail Your First Impression – Your Attire - #3

This is item three of ten areas you may want to pay particular attention to when thinking about your first impression.

We have all heard the phrases around first impressions, “you only get one chance to create a great first impression,” “you don’t get a second chance to create a first impression,” the list goes on and on. These quotes all make sense, but how do we ensure we are doing our best to create that first impression?

Before the handshake, people are sizing you up based on your attire. While we were told at an early age, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover,” many of us still do! So, what is the proper attire for your networking or business activities? There is no simple answer, however a good rule of thumb is to dress to your audience. At most events or meetings, you can get away with dressing somewhere between overly formal and overly casual. Steve Jobs could get away with blue jeans and a black turtleneck, however most of us probably can’t unless the activity is “billed” as a casual event.

Don’t let your clothes draw attention away from you. You are the main attraction and as such your clothes should complement you, not compete with you. Use color to direct eyes toward your face. The brightest piece of clothing should be closest to your face. For example, a light-colored shirt or blouse and bright tie or scarf will draw attention toward your face.

Be sure your clothing is wrinkle-free and clean. Shine your shoes and clean your glasses (if you wear them obviously). Dress for Success as the book says!