Dress Like a leader! Not Boss!

I knew it right from the beginning that it isn’t going to be just another easy-peasy job! 

Well, what I am talking about here is my rendezvous of fitting into the managerial shoes when I reached my mid-20s. And just like my early premonitions, it turned out to be absolutely true. One of my team members complained about me during the very first week of my work.

The complaint was I am being too bossy! 

I knew I would face it quite early in my career but what really shook me was this complaint was from a woman. 

What else? I wasn’t dressed appropriately to be a boss! I was somewhere aware that my ‘too blunt attitude’ would obviously come in the way of my decision-making process but dressing? How is it even related to me managing a team!     

  

Well, tough times call for tough actions. My boss had asked me to dress more ‘manager’ like. Hence, I had to peel away from my hippie or ‘girl next door’ vibe. 

I think I was never so persevered about something in my life. I knew if I am going to change my style statement, I am going to do it like a leader, Not a Boss! 

My new role demanded me to maneuver through office presentations, client meetings, and extended motivational rants to my team members. Now, believe it or not, adding some creative layers to your outfit can boost your self-confidence in such cases and this is a basic necessity in the corporate environment. I vividly remember for those extra tough days I used to don a crisp blazer and high heels (It sorta give me a feeling that I am in control). Later on, I also got myself a personalized leather tag from the Initial Studio that I added to my handbag. Trust me; it gave true oomph to my personality. I also added a number of personalized stuff from the brand to make an individual statement.   

 

Most workplace set-ups are slowly gravitating towards a more casual way of dressing and this allowed me to keep some of my old outfits intact in my wardrobe. I loved how I customized a lace dress as per my requirement. They are partially transparent yet they can easily turn into a classic choice for an office dress. What I did was got a petticoat to give it a more fuller and traditionalistic look. For important client meetings, I used to team it up with a Pashmina, which used to look absolutely stunning. 

Another important thing I did was, choosing the hues of blue, maroon, and mustard yellow. I loved putting on dark lipstick, polished plums, and make a classic hair bun and here I was! Ready to slay! 

In the end, though gaining a style statement has become more of a norm, even in the corporate world. But remember—it isn’t about carrying it underneath but on your sleeve—unapologetically!  

 

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