Today’s power dress for men and women is still the full matched suit in a dark business color like navy or grey. It’s a badge of authority and a business uniform that lends one credibility and commands respect
Since the early 1900s, when the Duke of Windsor made the full suit the mark of a distinguished society gentleman, the suit has moved into the working wardrobes of management-level men, distinguishing them from “blue collar” workers.
The “power” of the suit was “borrowed” by women in the workforce in the 1980s. As they made significant inroads into higher professional capacities, even running for political office, they needed to “compete” with men and distinguish themselves in less traditional fields.
With few visibly successful career women as role models to emulate, women took on masculine-styled tailored suits – with skirts or pants – in dark colors in order to cut an image of authority and power.
Today, power dressing is still alive but with more options – depending on your industry, dress culture, job positions, locale and your day’s business agenda.
Just as the dress has evolved to fit into a fast-changing world, so too has people’s expectations of what is acceptable work dress.
Current trends point towards making dressing more of an expression of individual choices. For example, a wider spectrum of patterns, colors and fabrics are seen in men’s tie even at formal business meetings.
People want and need to express their creativity, so the rules of appropriate workwear have also been bent to allow for this. Gone are the huge shoulders and power cuts of the ‘80s. The focus of clothes today is on comfort and more room for individual expression.
However, in the area of public speaking, the suit remains standard attire. Why? Because, within the first few minutes of a presentation, an audience will instinctively decide whether to listen to you or not!
Thus, it is crucial that your visual image is as positively impactful as your verbal message in order to sustain audience attention.
Of course, there are exceptions. Corporate CEOs, like Steve Jobs of Apple Computers, have been seen delivering keynote messages to employees in the most informal attires.
Such “dressing down” is intentional, a move away from the authoritative leader image to create rapport and identity with employees via dressing.
The suit can also be left on the hanger when a speaker, who has earned considerable respect, makes a presentation to an audience that he or she is familiar with and well received by.
For instance, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong invariably delivers his National Day message in an open collared shirt and simple trousers. Yet, to an audience of world leaders, even he opts for the power look of a dark full suit.
When in doubt, a safe rule is to err on the side of conservative dress and sport a power suit! |
