Many people in the business world say that you should “dress for success,” but what does that really mean? Do clients actually care or notice your clothes? For the most part, clients aren’t going to pay much conscious attention to your attire. They could probably come up with a general description of what you wore during your last meeting, but few would remember brand names or details like the fact that you were wearing a diamond-studded watch or had freshly cut hair.
Still, despite the lack of conscious attention to your appearance, what you wear does impact how others perceive you, but it happens mostly on a subconscious level. Knowing that, you might be wondering if you should be fashionable when meeting with clients, and the answer is that it depends.
Fashion is always subjective
First and foremost, fashion is subjective, and despite common trends, what is considered fashionable will always be a matter of personal taste. You could dress the same as a magazine model and still be perceived negatively because of your style.
Don’t like to dress up? Try outsourcing client interactions
If you’re overly concerned with presenting yourself professionally, or you feel like you don’t look right in professional clothing, you might want to consider finding a way to work remotely where you don’t need to meet with clients at all. Or, perhaps you can outsource your client meetings to a professional.
For example, it’s common for real estate investors to hire a management company to handle all their client interactions. That’s what Dallas property management company Green Residential has been doing for clients for decades. It takes the stress off the investor and ensures all clients have their needs met.
If you can hire someone to meet with your clients, you’ll never have to worry about what you wear. You can still direct your representative on what to wear, but at least you won’t have to be the one dressing up and feeling awkward.
Some industries require being fashionable
Certain industries come with an expectation of being fashionable. For example, well-known actors, dancers, and musicians try to be fashionable all the time, even when meeting with people, because they know someone might take a photo of them out in public. Similarly, if you’re in an industry that places a heavy importance on fashion, then your clients will probably expect you to look good when you meet.
Are you having a casual meeting?
If you’re meeting up with a client at your local coffee shop just to go over some details or you’re meeting them for the first time, you probably don’t need to show up wearing a suit and tie. It’s a good idea to dress nicely, but don’t overdo the fashion in an attempt to impress your client. Even if you’re meeting with someone extremely wealthy, you’ll probably be surprised when they show up in jeans and a t-shirt. If you show up overdressed for the meeting, it will just make you look like you’re trying too hard.
3 Tips for looking good without overdoing it
No matter what style you sport, there are some factors that can help you look even better.
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Wear clothes that fit properly
If you show up wearing clothes that are either too tight or too baggy, it can give clients the impression that you either don’t know how to choose your clothes correctly or you never look in the mirror. Clothes that are too big can send the subconscious impression that you’re hiding something while tight clothes can project a lack of confidence.
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Be bold
If you’re going to wear a suit to a client meeting, make it bold with embellishments. Add your personal flair to your outfit to show clients you’ve got the energy and drive to help them.
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Match your client
If you’ve met with your client before, match them in style. If they wear suits to your meetings, wear a suit; if they wear jeans and a polo, match that. This will make them feel more comfortable and help you build rapport. Sometimes casual attire is all you need to impress a client.
Fashion is all about matching your environment
Overall, listen to your intuition and use your own inner guidance to choose your attire when meeting with clients. What is appropriate for one meeting may not be okay for another. However, some situations require specific attire, so be sure to follow those customs when relevant. Always dress for the occasion or venue, but be flexible enough to match your client when possible.
Images from Urban Colors Wave by Giovanni Gori & Andrea Aldrovandi – see full story here.
wow the ages old question! I am working in fashion and even when working with people from the industry you have to know when and what is appropriate. For most of us there’s a pretty uniformal daywear, being fashionable dressed as if you are going out for a night out on the town is surely not appropriate for meetings or work…. most fashion people don’t overdress even on fashion week!