Happy Veterans Day to my US readers!
Remembering anyone special today? Most of us know many people who’ve served our country. I hope this day affords you some time to reflect on them.
Let’s get right into our content for this week.
The evening before that meeting…
You’re meeting a prospect tomorrow. She’s talking to four other people who do pretty much the same thing you do, and you’d obviously like her to choose you. Meanwhile, you’re standing in front of your closet holding two blazers and wondering if either one looks right.
This scenario plays out in millions of women’s closets VERY. SINGLE. EVENING. Are you one of them?
And if so, are you tired of this constant wardrobe confusion? Even more tired of feeling like every outfit can make or break your paycheck?
As you know, COVID did a number on professional wardrobes. Suddenly, people who wore suits to work every day could wear a nice shirt and PJ pants. And while things did level out to normal whatever this new normal is, we never really did go back to how things were…for better or worse.
I recently read about a study done at Princeton University. Headshots of men were shown to participants. There were two pictures of each man. In one headshot, they wore wealthier-looking clothes, and in the other, they wore plain clothes.
Same man, different clothes. This might not be a surprise to many of you, but the men wearing wealthier-looking clothing were judged to have more positive traits overall than the same men wearing plain clothing. Even when participants were later told to ignore the clothes altogether, the results didn’t change much as the impressions stuck.
What does all this mean? The human brain is wired to scan for perceived value and status. It’s a survival mechanism. And as much as we might argue that this isn’t fair or nice, we still have bills to pay. That’s why getting dressed is a STRATEGY. Not an emotional decision. Not a “Do I look cute?” concern. NOT even a " Do I look professional?” question.
When it comes to key business decisions, these micro judgments absolutely shape how others form their impressions of us. Are we seen as competent? Can we handle the task at hand? Can we manage the assets?
I found that in some financial sectors, women earn 53 cents for every dollar a man earns. That’s much higher than the salary gap in many other fields.
This got me thinking: in these fields, where meeting after meeting, strategy session after strategy session… Are women being taken as seriously as men? And if not, what factors can we control?
Light Loves Color is a rebrand of world-renowned image consultancy, The Image Architect, which was built by my mentor, Sandy Dumont. I learned so much under Sandy’s guidance. When I took over The Image Architect in 2018, the professional image topic was much simpler. AND, if I were to do every single thing that we did back in 2018 today, I would look dated.
Things indeed have changed since COVID.
But how do we move forward with the bold, modern, and instantly credible image we need so we can level this playing field, especially in these sectors?
That’s what we’re exploring in this series.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where I give you my non-negotiable rules for your always-ready, instant-credibility wardrobe, tell you which garments to invest in (and where you can save), and take you from wardrobe confusion to ready-for-anything confidence.
Until next time, here’s to your best impressions,
Tatyana
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The 15 Minute Closet Audit
Pick one real meeting
Write down who’ll be there, what they’re deciding, and how you want to come across. Be specific. “I’m meeting a couple who’s interviewing three advisers. I want to come across as clear and steady when we talk about what they can afford to retire on.” Now pull out the jacket, trousers, and shoes you’d wear for that conversation. Let’s try something most of us have: navy slacks, a well-tailored jacket, and dark pointy shoes.
