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FEATURE ARTICLE
How To
Project a Great Image Even When It's Cold
While driving
my daughter to school earlier this week, a teenaged boy crossed in
front of me at the stop light, heading toward the high school. He
wore a knit cap, a long sleeve t-shirt, a pair of pants, and some high-end
tennis shoes. Nothing out of the ordinary, I suppose, except that it
was around 25ºF (0º C) outside and this kid wasn't wearing
a coat. His shirt sleeves hung empty, flapping in the wind, because
he'd pulled his arms out of his sleeves and wrapped them around his
body for warmth. All in all, he looked ridiculous - not the
"cool" he was after, I'm sure.
Now I used to
think this sort of crazy behavior was only limited to teenagers. But
after living in Houston for nearly a decade where I saw many people
"brave the elements" without outerwear during those
infrequent cold snaps rather than wrinkle their clothes under a coat,
I know such antics have little to do with age. Heck, I even knew
folks who refuse to wear seat belts for fear of the errant crease in
their clothes. So what you have to endure from Point A to Point B is
of little consequence, so long as you look good when you get there, right?
Wrong.
There's a thin
line between caring about how you look and caring SO MUCH about how
you look that you leave common sense at the door. One makes you look
like you've "got your act together." The other makes you
look vain and vapid.
So before you
inadvertently nullify your grand entrance with foolish "pre-performance"
behavior, consider this story from John T. Molloy, the father of the
"dress for success" movement:
When assessing
which elements of dress made men appear successful, Mr. Molloy
conducted a series of experiments to see how the average person
responded to different pieces of clothing, like suits, jackets,
shoes, etc. Whatever pieces scored most favorably became part of the
"dress for success" wardrobe.
One of these
experiments concerned the color of trench coats. Two men, dressed
identically except for the color of their trench coats (one beige,
one gray), were asked to personally deliver an envelope to the CEO of
several mid-sized businesses in a large city. They were then told to
record how long they were kept waiting until they saw the CEO.
The man
wearing the beige trench coat was kept waiting anywhere from 30
seconds to 2 hours at each stop. The man in the gray trench coat was
kept waiting anywhere from 1 hour to 2 DAYS.
So because the
man wearing the beige trench coat was perceived as being more
successful and therefore of more importance by receptionists than the
man in the gray trench coat, he was granted easier access to the
person in charge. The end result? Hours of a man's time were
controlled by the preference for a certain color.
So what does
this study have to do with you?
Well, if you
never leave your house, probably nothing. But if you ever make sales
calls, go to restaurants, hail a cab, or interact with others when
it's cold or wet, it could mean a great deal. For if a receptionist
has the power over a man's time based on the color of his coat, it
stands to reason that all sorts of people at all levels of the social
hierarchy could exert a similar influence over YOU while you're
transitioning from Point A to Point B, based on how you're dressed.
With that in
mind, here are some things to think about when you're headed out the
door on those foul-weather days:
1. If It's
Cold, Wear A Coat
Simple, basic
stuff, I know, but words that bear repeating. You may think you can
handle the cold for the few moments that you're exposed to the
elements, but you can't always expect that it will only BE a few
moments. Delays happen. Plans change. Weather gets worse. So if
you're ever caught without a coat, it should be by surprise, not by choice.
2. Choose
Classic Styles For Maximum Versatility
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Classic styles
offer the most options and are the best choice if you're on a tight
budget or if you live in a warmer climate that doesn't always require
a heavy coat. Trenches, pea coats, and wool dress coats can be worn
with business, dress, or casual wear, so if you only want to buy one
coat, make it one of these in a neutral color. They'll last for years
without looking dated. |
 
SmartBargains.com
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3. Match
Your Coat To The Mood of Your Clothing
If you're
wearing casual clothes, wear a casual coat. If you're wearing dress
or business clothes, wear a dress coat. Don't pair a snow jacket with
a business suit or an evening wrap with your jeans. It makes you look
like you don't know what you're doing.
4. Match
Your Outerwear Accessories To The Mood of Your Coat
In the same
vein, a ski mask paired with an elegant wrap looks about as classy as
hiking boots with a pin striped suit. So don't wear them together.
Match the tone of your clothing to your outerwear coat and
accessories and you'll always look pulled together.
5. Remember
That You Don't Have To Buy Everything At Once
Since building
a versatile outerwear wardrobe can be costly, don't think you have to
buy everything at once. Buy the pieces that will have the biggest
impact first, like a warm coat and gloves, and fill in with other
items as your budget allows, like an evening wrap or different types
of boots. Borrow if you can, shop end-of-season sales when possible,
and don't forget to add these items to your birthday or holiday
lists. You'll have a nice selection before you know it.
Looking good
in bad weather doesn't have to be a challenge if you plan
appropriately and build a versatile outerwear wardrobe. What's more,
by making a conscience choice to dress adequately for whatever the
day might bring, you'll be delighted by how well you're received and
treated by those you meet. In fact, as Molloy discovered, you may
even find yourself being brought to the front of line.
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Want more
in-depth information on how to build an outerwear wardrobe? Download
a copy of BUSINESS WEAR MAGIC
http://www.businesswearmagic.com
to see how
income-boosting an appropriate business wear can be, whatever
business you're in. With an entire chapter devoted to outerwear,
you're sure to discover the pieces that will have the most impact for
your industry - and your bottom line. |
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