How to Use Clothing to Establish Your Authority

I heard from several readers in the Gulf Coast area who are working around the clock to either dig out of the mess made by Katrina or to help the evacuees get back on their feet. The stories are heartbreaking - everything from losing family members and beloved pets to seeing homes lived in by generations of the same family blown away by the hurricane. Like the tsunami last December, it's been a grim reminder of just how fragile life can be.

Reader Joy-Anna Wadsworth of Birmingham, Alabama has spent the last week volunteering at one of the evacuee shelters in her area, along with family and friends, and asked me to convey these words to you:

"In your next weekly message, can you express thanks, from the South, to all that have made donations toward relief? Right now, the BJCC shelter has run out of room to store the donated items and I am sure they are not alone in this fact.

MONEY (donations to either the Red Cross or Salvation Army)
BLOOD (visit your local Red Cross blood bank)
TIME (if you have a shelter, or any relief efforts in your area...volunteer)

So what's on tap for today's article? How to use clothing to establish your authority.

Instant Thank You Letters

What if you had a secret stash of pre-written thank you notes for personal things like wedding gifts, baby shower gifts, or support during an illness, that you could send promptly when "the moment" was still fresh? What if you could quickly dash off a note of thanks for business stuff like job interviews, referrals, or trade show appearances? How appreciative - and in control - would you look? Probably very. Which is why those people who make it a habit of thanking promptly are the most likely to be remembered and treated well again.

Want to join them? Then grab a copy of "Instant Thank You Letters," where you'll find a "thank you" template for every occasion. Never face a blank note card again. Get it written, get it out the door, and become the most courteous person you know.

http://www.dianaprefers.com/books/thankyou.html

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you thought you'd be taken seriously, but weren't? Like during a business meeting, in the classroom, at a community event, or in some other setting in which you were playing a prominent role? You went in thinking you'd make an impact, but then received either a tepid reception or were outright ignored. When all was said and done, you were left scratching your head, wondering what went wrong.

If so, you're not alone. I've seen men and woman both step in front of a group of people to teach, preach, demonstrate, or debate, only to be overlooked or dismissed. And almost every time, it was because of what they were wearing.

Authority pieces are clothing items that establish credibility and point to your aptitude and include key elements like collars, sleeves, and jackets in firm fabrics and neutral colors. Authority pieces lend substance, then instantly fade into the background to allow your audience to focus on your words or abilities. With them, you're viewed as competent enough to command attention; without them, you're not. In fact, you may even be ridiculed or overlooked, depending on the situation.

Collar

Since collars go around the neck, collared shirts and tops are generally among the most modest of garments. They cover up the torso, framing and forcing attention to the face. Collars have long been part of the well mannered person's wardrobe, and are still required today on private golf courses, on the polo field, and in traditional business settings.

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Attention goes right to the neck and face

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Attention lingers on bustline and waist

The more skin you show, the less formal it becomes, and sleeves are no exception. While killer biceps might earn you respect at the gym, they'll pull attention away from your words (and perhaps draw envy) just about everywhere else. If you keep your upper arms covered, you'll have a better chance of keeping attention on your face.

Jackets have been a part of the effective business wardrobe for nearly five hundred years with good reason: they command respect like no other garment. Whether you wear a power suit every day or wouldn't be caught dead in one, make sure your basic wardrobe includes one classically-styled jacket that you can put on any time you want to add gravitas, like meetings, presentations, semi-formal dinners, or even funerals. Whether you wear it over an expensive skirt or a t-shirt and jeans, a jacket has impact. Remember that.

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A basic A-line or pencil skirt in a neutral color that fits you properly can take you just about anywhere in the world you need to go, like a business meeting, a school board meeting, the ballet, or a bar mitzvah. A pair of neutral-colored classically styled trousers will do the same thing. They both offer simple silhouettes that cover appropriately and allow attention to return to the face.

Firm fabrics like cotton, wool, ramie, and rayon lend substance to your apparel and to your silhouette. Clothes that hold their shape without being too sheer or too fussy will help reinforce your no-nonsense agenda.

Neutral Tones

Navy, black, brown, red, gray, and tan tend to draw more favorable responses from audiences than most other colors. Call them boring, call them uninspired, but they're still tops in winning people over. What? You want to shock 'em with your hot pink suit? You probably will, and they'll talk about it for weeks to come. But they probably won't remember what you said. So bear that in mind before you search high and low for a shocking pair of shoes to match.

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If you want to be seen as an authority figure in your work, church, or community, you need to dress the part - especially if you don't have a commanding voice or presence to help you reach your goal. True, you may sometimes find yourself in impromptu leadership situations where you won't have time to plan your apparel, but when you do have that luxury, make good use of it. Choose simple, classic pieces that offer good coverage and force attention to your face so that others will heed your words. It's the easiest way to be taken seriously.

Want some other guidelines for how to use your clothing to ensure success? Download a copy of Business Wear Magic

http://www.BusinessWearMagic.com

to see how easy dressing appropriately for business can be - whatever industry you happen to be in.