Does your personal style cut the mustard in the workplace?
Hello! Most of you know that I work freelance as a personal and home stylist, but do you know that I am also a corporate stylist? Want to find out more? Then please read on…
Corporate styling or branding is an area that is crucial for any business, regardless of its size. Employers commission me to deliver one- to three-hour presentations on personal branding for their employees. The motivation for this is that businesses would like their employees to present themselves in a way that builds positive self-image, improves relationships and ultimately results in better overall performance.
Below is one of the pitches I put together for businesses interested in my services, amongst them Barclays Bank, General Electric, International Women’s Enterprise, White Stuff, Tata International, Rothschild and L.K. Bennett. Other, smaller, businesses include accountants, solicitors, estate agents and schools.
If as an employer, employee or business-owner you would like to find out more, please get in touch. I would be happy to meet you to discuss the diverse presentations I offer, which I can tailor-make to your business’s exact requirements.
Do Your Clothes Cut The Mustard?
Your clothes are your ‘brand’ – they affect how others perceive you. What are you communicating, consciously or unconsciously, through the clothes you choose to wear?
What Do the Details Show?
Research demonstrates that you can tell a lot about someone’s personality, politics, status, age and income just from looking at the way they dress for work, in particular in their choice of accessories, such as shoes.
When you’re dressing or grooming, consider what your choices say about you and whether this is in line with the message you want to communicate. There’s no right or wrong; it’s all about context.
Did you notice that whenever Barack Obama addressed a crowd of working-class Americans, he would speak without a jacket and with his sleeves rolled up? In this way he silently and instantly communicated to his audience that he was on their wavelength.
Your Clothing Impacts Your Thinking
Dressing smart is important for your confidence and sense of self-empowerment. New research shows that it actually impacts on how you think. One study found that dressing appropriately and in line with a company’s values increases positive thinking and gives people a broader perspective.
What’s the Workshop About?
In this fun, interactive workshop, we will explore what personal style looks like and we will focus on some of the most obvious dressing and grooming challenges in the corporate world – and how best to overcome them. We will go through key aspects of your branding step-by-step; it’s all about making the most of what you have, consistently. We will examine a few rudimentary rules of the style manuals, such as what colours and shapes work on you, and we will look at how you can add some personality to your clothes whilst continuing to respect the professional dress code of your industry.
Anita Feron Clark is a personal and corporate stylist. She has worked as a clothing buyer and as an associate lecturer at the London College of Fashion. She was style editor for Essence, Surrey’s premier lifestyle magazine. Eleven years ago, Anita set up her own company, www.feronclarkstyle.com, to work with individuals and corporate teams to improve their image and personal presence. She is a multi-award-winning image consultant. Clients describe her as professional, approachable and energising.
Best wishes and I look forward to hearing from you,
