WEARING YOUR BRAND
Make Yourself Positively Memorable!
When I wear a jacket with a pan-Pacific pattern and jewelry I have designed…
let alone carrying one of my books…I am opening the door to conversation.
Making your brand memorable in today's crowded marketplace is an essential goal of any professional person. Whether you are seeking to inject dynamism into your job search, or are part of a re-energizing commercial or non-profit entity, I suggest you raise the bar on your physical appearance as well as your professional voice and behavior. In so doing, you will inspire colleagues to do the same. Of course, if your organization has made an investment in presenting clients and the public with a uniform look, there may not be an opportunity for much individualism. Today, I am suggesting that you examine how your choices in attire and behavior can distinguish you from other professionals in a room--who may be "taking center stage" before or after you.
What represents your brand?
Above is a trio of my jewelry Designs. I wear a variety of pan-Pacific patterned jackets…and jewelry!
If you are reading the posts on this blog (which are designed to help creative professionals and executives), I believe you have sufficient life experience to behave appropriately in public gatherings that may prove beneficial in many ways. Therefore, today I will focus on analysis of clothing and accessories. At another time, I’ll discuss the challenges of a trip that almost always necessitates modification of one’s initially envisioned travel wardrobe. If that eventuality occurs soon, you may want to examine discussions of what is termed a “capsule wardrobe.”
Beyond health or movement challenges that may result in limitations, choices in apparel often rest on color. Corporate executives may want to begin their analysis of current and potential apparel with their established corporate colors. If that is not a consideration, choosing a personal color palette, may be a simple foundation on which to structure a professional "look." For this website/blog, I initially focused on black and white, with accents of gold and deep plum. With variations in perceptions of color [see my blog post Fantasias of Color] and the effect of layering fabrics and other materials, I try to use some gradient colors to enhance the blending of shades and tones. Before continuing, I should confirm that you are not wrong in noticing the absence of black in this layout. As I realized a preponderance of plum and purple coloration in many images I was loading onto the website/blog, I substituted plum for the black background I initially used for the top and bottom sections of each page.
Today most designers veer away from "matchy-match" elements. However, harmonizing separate components produces a synchronicity that promotes overall impact. For instance, in the ebony and amber jewelry shown above, there is a balance within the shades and tones of brown. Further, despite the hardness of sterling silver, the detailed wood carving and warmth of the amber offer a sense of harmony with nature. This is not to say such a piece can only be worn with a peasant skirt and sandals. Combined with straight, modern lines in your suit, shoes, handbag and briefcase, this jewelry would soften and personalize an otherwise typical twenty-first century business look.
While women have a broader array of choices in apparel than men in most professional fields, there are several ways in which a man can distinguish himself in appearance. Before investing in upgrading your wardrobe, it might be useful for my male readers to buy a men's magazine to see what styles, textures and colors are being promoted. Even if you decline to embrace every element, you can demonstrate your interpretation of modernity--beginning with a moderately fashionable haircut. While wild prints are not appropriate for most professional positions, a thin diagonal stripe on a tie with a light colored shirt, or one with any small-pattern can be worn with a solid colored shirt to provide an expression of your personal style--especially if the colors enhance your eyes and/or skin tone.
Regardless of age or gender, some choices in style can affect the degree to which you will be respected in your career. Unlike the past, there are no hard and fast rules for personal grooming or assembling an ideal wardrobe—other than always being clean, demonstrating respect for the environment in which you are meeting others, and projecting an awareness of your colleagues’ expectations. However, with the keen candidates vying for attention in every company, you do need to periodically review the corporate climate of any organization with which you wish to align yourself.
Regardless of whether you are a man or a woman, wearing some form of a corporate logo will gladden the heart of most bosses, especially since it proclaims your company affiliation at professional events. To catch the eye of specific categories of people, consider incorporating recognizable insignia into your wardrobe--such as a class ring, pin, or tie tac from a distinguished society, fraternal organization or notable school. Sometimes a local accent is useful in establishing your connection to the community. Here in the American Southwest, both men and women enjoy wearing Native American jewelry, and often decorate their work areas with other arts of the region.
Finally, there is the issue of suitability. If your company is having a picnic, it would not be appropriate to show up in a suit--especially if you are currently working in the shipping department. Like most of the issues we have explored, launch your self-renewal by:
~ BEGIN WITH THE END IN YOUR MIND’S EYE.What do you want to project through your appearance? The question of What? should lead you to the answer to How?
~ DO YOUR HOMEWORK, AGAIN. What style elements reflect your work…and hopefully your personal taste? How can you personalize these elements to harmonize both your personal living and career? If you are an employee of another person or organization, you may have to find a way to balance your taste with aspects of your work life…
~ EVALUATE WHAT LIES IN YOUR CLOSET AND DRAWERS. Doing this before purchasing new items can be revealing, especially if you are making a shift in career or entering a new position within an organization.
Lay out potential combinations of clothing and accessories on a plain background and consider how they fit your vision of the next chapter in your life. If there are gaps in your wardrobe, consider whether two new shirts or blouses, a couple of new accessories (consider a high-end consignment shop) or a trip to a seamstress, will generate sufficient outfits for upcoming interviews and the first days of new employment.
Consider opening your closets and drawers (not just for clothing and accessories) and take out some of your favorite items. Spread them out on a plain background (a bed sheet will do). Do you see a pattern in your choices? This is your own color (and design) palette. Now consider what remains in your storage spaces and rooms? You may not be planning any major changes at the moment, but it might begin a process that will benefit you in the (near) future! Now add a few pieces of jewelry, napkins, and anything else that you enjoy using. If it is time to make some changes, consider whether there are people or organizations that may benefit from anything that you decide to delete from your possessions. I’d love to learn how this process works for you…you can send me a note through the Contact Page!
The jewelry designs I offer above are samples of my personalized statements of style. Although I'm not selling jewelry, wearing one of my own designs is often a conversational opening and it affords me the opportunity to demonstrate the design aesthetic I offer a client, or a professional or community organization. I'll let you guess the occasions for which I would be presenting the Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries, my professional brand, or the Southwest United States where I now live.
And, although we have not examined these issues, consider the vocabulary you employ, the tone of your voice, and the speed at which you speak. I’m sad to report that too often I fail at the last matter by getting too excited and rushing to present my thoughts…
What can you wear or carry to highlight your personality and style
…and even your status as a creative professional?
Aloha, Jeanne
