Power Dressing

Dressing for success is not only for the career-minded. Wardrobe is one of our most powerful tools to command, attract and persuade, which anyone can leverage. It starts with aligning wardrobe to intentions, then knowing the colors, lines, shapes and silhouettes that best support your personal goals. From changing your life to simply standing out in a crowd, here are the top power plays for power dressing:

1. Colors
   Deep, dark colors communicate authority, power and expertise, so embrace your best dark neutral when wanting to be taken seriously. Also, bright colors are assertive though too bright upstages the wearer so don’t go overboard. Cool hues tend to be reserved and intimidating, while head-to-toe monochrome lengthens, strengthens and is the ultimate wardrobe power play.

2. Color pairings
   Beyond hue, how colors are paired together matters too. For a high-impact look always choose high-contrast pairings. Match a light value color with a dark value one like black with white or soft yellow, midnight navy with light beige or dove gray and any jewel tone with optic white. Also consider colors opposite each other on the color wheel, making sure one is a deep and dark value and its opposite is in the light and soft range.

3. Fabrics
   If you want to level-up your look, consider fabric finish. Even a material’s texture communicates a message. Smooth, crisp and shiny qualities present as serious and polished, while textured, flowing and patterned fabrics project a more approachable, disarming and soft image.

4. Structure
   For those wanting a competitive edge, choose corners over curves. Straight lines and sharp angles convey professionalism and authority, so always wear structured silhouettes like classic suiting, tailored shirting and strongly defined shoulders to be taken seriously.

5. Focal points
   Focal points give the eyes a places to rest, so be deliberate when accessorizing. To frame the face, try statement huggies, a bold lip or a short necklace. Eyewear is another powerful tool that says a lot with very little, so choose heavy and angular frames for a studious and serious power look. If showcasing your shape is the goal, draw attention to the waistline with a belt, V-neck or three-quarter length sleeve. And always remember that less is more when it comes to décolletage, and that foundation garments have the power to make or break a great outfit.

See BestLifeOnline.com press feature here.