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FEATURE ARTICLE
Are You
Ready to Walk the "Red Carpets" In Your Life?
Another
Oscar™ season has come and gone with the fashion critics all in
agreement: everyone looked smashing this year. From Hilary Swank's va-va-varoom
Guy Laroche to Natalie Portman's beautiful Grecian-style Lanvin, the
"oohs and aahs" for this year's Oscar™ dresses were
loud and plentiful. No bicycle pants-wearing Demi Moore or wild Cher
outfit in the bunch.
Much to the
skeptics' annoyance, I'm sure. There's nothing like a fashion misfire
to send tongues wagging or cameras flashing. Oftentimes, the biggest
"fashion losers" of the night snare the lion's share of publicity.
So what does
all of this have to do with you?
Well, if you
think that the only people who get scrutinized and snickered at for
their fashion faux pas are those who make truckloads of money and
grace the silver screen, you're wrong. People pass judgment on YOU
every day based on how you look. And if those people happen to impact
your paycheck in some fashion, be they clients or potential
employers, how you present yourself could mean a HUGE difference in
how much you ultimately make.
Think for a
moment about your favorite red carpet darling. Is it Halle Berry?
Selma Hayek? Nicole Kidman? Catherine Zeta-Jones? All are known for
their sense of fashion and all consistently turn heads at industry-related
events. So how have their extra efforts paid off over the years?
Well, they all
have top designers vying for their attention and legendary jewelers
offering to drape them in mind-boggling gems. They also frequently
land magazine covers, which keeps them in the public eye and on the
minds of producers and casting agents. Then there's those lucrative
cosmetic and fragrance contracts, which help them further fund the
lifestyles to which they've become accustomed.
Now you may be
thinking that you could look pretty hot, too, if you had an army of
stylists and wardrobe people at your disposal. But you know what?
These gals didn't start out that way.
When Hilary
Swank won her first Oscar™ five years ago for "Boys Don't
Cry" (1999), she made just $3,000 for the role - which is the
only acting gig she had that year. She couldn't afford health
insurance. But after a decade in Hollywood, she knew the importance
of looking good on the red carpet, and working the Hollywood awards
system, managed to score some beautiful gowns for the 2000 award
season, including the stunning Randolph Duke she wore to the Academy
Awards that year. Almost instantly, her profile, acting
opportunities, and income skyrocketed.
So what can
you learn from all of this?
That looking
good, keeping a high profile, and taking home a big paycheck all go
hand-in-hand. I've cited the entertainment industry here, but think
about the industry you're in and see if it doesn't hold true.
Who are the
leaders in your chosen field? Who's writing the biggest orders?
Penning the most talked-about articles? Getting the plum speaking
invitations? It's probably NOT the person who shows up to work
looking like she slept in her clothes.
Often, the
difference between success and bigger success can be subtle.
My husband is
a college professor with a doctorate in Bio-Chemistry. He usually
reports to work in casual pants (like chinos and khakis) and a
collared shirt. The students in his lab and classes refer to him as
"Dr. Sikes."
One of his
peers is a woman of similar training who often goes to work in
t-shirts and pants that look like they were stuffed in a drawer. The
students in her lab and classes call her by her first name.
Both
professors log the same kind of hours and manage similar groups of
undergrads. Yet while Robert is enjoying an escalating career that
includes choice speaking gigs and an elected office in one of his
industry associations, the woman is not really well known outside of
the university.
Needless to
say, she refuses to believe the difference in their profiles has
anything to do with how she dresses. She cites "luck" and
limited opportunities for women in science as the reasons for her
stalling career. One of these days I'm going to coax her into a
consultation to show her how wrong she is, but until then, she's
resigned herself to the "B-list" of her industry.
Have you?
Are you
settling for less than you should because it's a lot of trouble to
dress for the "red carpet" moments in your work life, like
interviews, presentations, and meetings? Are you missing plum
opportunities because you think that the only place to get nice
clothes is at expensive department stores or boutiques? Are you
waiting until you land that big promotion to dress like you should
have the role?
If so, you're
probably working a lot harder than you need to. Packaging yourself
properly is SO crucial in our society that to underestimate it is,
well, foolish.
Think all your
red carpet favorites would still be your favorites if they always
dressed like they were ready to garden or wash their cars? Probably
not. They also wouldn't have the cosmetic contracts, magazine covers,
or script offers that they currently enjoy. They know full well that
much of their success stems from how well they play the role of
screen star WHENEVER there's a camera around.
So think about
that the next time you're tempted to cut corners in your business
attire. If you're always ready for the "red carpet" moments
in your career, you'll be astounded by how many MORE "red
carpet" moments will come about as a result.
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