Executive Style - Power in the Blink of an Eye.

By Joanne Blake & Terry Pithers, Style for Success Inc.

Imagine you’re attending a business function.  You look around the room and see two executives who are wearing almost identical suits.  They both make a visual impression on you.  Why is it that one ensemble creates an immediate impression of success, credibility and power and the other one somehow misses the mark?

 

 

Blink

We've recently read a fascinating book called Blink, by Malcolm Gladstone, which explores rapid cognition and the validity of judgments and first impressions that we form in the blink of an eye.  In a situation like this our mind takes in the executives and our subconscious relegates each detail to either the successful or unsuccessful side of a mental ledger and tallies it up in nanoseconds.  If we want to be perceived as the savvy, successful businessperson we are, we had better take a closer look at the elements that shape this phenomenon.

 

What causes the discrepancy in impressions?

 

Fit for a king or queen

Closer inspection reveals subtle differences.  One person’s suiting appears to fit better than the other’s; one has invested in alterations and the other has not.  The sleeves are just a little too long and the skirt or pants are a bit too tight.   Garments that have ease look richer and subconsciously make the wearer appear more successful than those that are too snug. Clothing should just skim the body and not create any horizontal crease lines.   Although sleeve length is determined in part by personal taste, our mind accepts the rule of thumb; that they should stop just above where the fleshy part of the thumb meets the wrist.  This doesn’t mean we have to look like a model but any poor fit in clothing tips the scale towards the “poor” or negative side.

 

 

Out of proportion

The polished executive is wearing a jacket that is in correct proportion and the other’s is a little too long for their physique.  Women, 5’4” and under, should select petite proportioned clothing.  A guideline that will serve men particularly well, is to wear their jacket long enough to cover the curvature of the buttocks.  This is especially important for people that have short legs in relation to their torso.  We may not be aware of any knowledge of proportion or even be able to articulate why a proportion seems wrong but our subconscious notes and evaluates it.

 

The Deluxe Details

Cuff’em

One executive has cuffs on their pants and the other does not.  Cuffs, while not appropriate on flat front trousers are aesthetically pleasing on suit trousers, where they add weight and assist proper drape.  All men can wear cuffs, however, the width will vary depending on the height of the man and the length of his leg.  A shorter man can wear a 1.5-inch cuff, while a taller man can wear one 2 inches wide.  Again our mind accepts cuffs as a richer look.

 

White collar

Now let’s have a look at their shirts.  The successful executive is not only showing some shirt cuff at the wrist but also their shirt collar balances their face.  The face is the focal point, the centre of communication, and the purpose of the collar is to lead the eye to the face.  The choice of collar needs to balance with the length and width of the face.   A longer, pointed collar for men or a V-neck collar for women will lengthen a face, whereas a spread collar or a square neckline will counterbalance a narrow face.  If the collar is out of balance it will throw off the overall impression.

 

Polish adds polish

The executive who misses the mark hasn’t paid enough attention to the detailing of pressing and maintaining their outfit.  Even expensive shoes, when they’re not polished score an unconscious negative.

 

Accessories complete the look

Our definition of accessories includes everything but the garment itself, so that’s our leather goods, shoes, bags, belts, jewellery, ties and glasses.   Even makeup and hairstyle are part of the equation.  They need not be expensive, but they must be rich looking and in current style.  Here less is more, quality versus quantity with not too much bling.  Accessories enhance a first impression if they subconsciously fit in with the garment on the success side of the ledger.

 

R.O.I.

Savvy executives should be savvy investors.  Think of your clothing as your portfolio.   Your suiting should be more classic, like your blue chip picks.  You can be more fashion forward in your accessories, which are your growth stocks.  Your clothing is an investment in your success, which can payoff in the blink of an eye.

Copyright Notice:

 

Please use our articles in your newsletters or bulletin boards.  Our articles may be copied or used for non-profit purposes, without the consent of the authors. Just include our credit statement.

Also Joanne and Terry would appreciate receiving an e-mail informing them of your use of any articles. Please provide the URL and a courtesy copy of any publication in which the article appears.

All contents Copyright ©2008, Style for Success Inc. - Terry Pithers and Joanne Blake except where otherwise indicated. All rights reserved worldwide. Duplication or reprints only with express permission or approved credits as indicated below.

Credit Statement to be included in Reprints:

This article was provided by Terry Pithers and Joanne Blake, business dining, image and etiquette experts, speakers and creators of the Dining for Success Video Online Training Program.
To subscribe to their free Style & Substance Secrets E-zine go to www.styleforsuccess.com
Copyright © 2008 Style for Success Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.