Expert From Head to Toe

When I speak to groups I always try to arrive a few minutes early so that I can meet some of the audience participants and get a feel for what their particular issues are. At a recent meeting of the National Association of Women Business Owners, women were chatting in groups of six or eight, and I asked them if they ever felt dismissed or if they were treated with disrespect when they were in a meeting with mostly men. “And how!” was the unanimous response. And several women said the men assumed they were there to take notes of the meeting!

The way you look and dress announces the outcome other people can expect from you. Women need to dress more powerfully. In particular, they need to ditch anything that looks like “daddy’s jacket” as well as girly colors and styles. When they dress more powerfully, my female clients tell me that they notice a difference immediately in the way that they are treated. Suddenly people are asking them for their opinion, people listen to what they have to say, they are being treated with the deference and respect that comes from looking like an expert from head to toe.

My goal for over 30 years has been to level the playing field with men in the business world. In my forthcoming book, “Powerful Women Don’t Wear Pink” (due for publication in late 2009) I will show you how to make powerful image changes. When you apply these changes, you will never again be looked down on, or asked to “get me a cup of coffee, honey” or “sweety.”The “rules” for clothing were established in the 1400s. Men were the breadwinners; women didn’t work. In order to present themselves as substantial, they wore substantial fabrics and dark authoritative colors. Women, on the other hand. could wear anything they wanted, and change styles frivolously, because it didn’t matter. We still dress that way for the most part. Except for the tragic period when we were advised to “dress for success” by dressing like a miniature man. This left us open to ridicule and most women hated it. Women need to wear fashionable suits that are tailored for our hourglass figures, wear bolder colors and accessories to announce their power. Bold colors include black, navy, red, magenta, royal blue, racing green. Wear colors that men can’t wear to distinguish yourself at gatherings! And when you wear navy blue or black, accessorize like crazy so they don’t look severe. Food colors tend to be flashy (lime, lemon, orange, mustard, etc.) while jewel tones are classy. Grunge colors are, well, too grungy to signal power and success.