The old axiom is, “Dress for the job you want.” If you’re committed to this idea- if you see yourself as Chairman of the Board, Head of Accounts, Dean- you’ll need at least one suit in your rotation that knocks everyone who sees it off their feet. This is the ancient and mighty art of power dressing, and it’s been practiced at least since Louis XIV wore high-heeled shoes to make himself taller. You need to convince everyone who sees you in the office, on campus, at the site, that you are in charge, even if you’re not at the top. You want to be at the top. You want people to think you’re at the top. That’s how you should dress.
Your typical lounge suit (as business suits are classically called) is, in 2014, a two-piece number in some shade of gray or blue with notch lapels and pants that may or may not have pleats. This leads to the first rule of power dressing: the more fabric in your suit, the more power it has. Go beyond two pieces and reach for the additional fabric of business’ other suit styles. The three-piece suit has an air of formality granted by its vest, which also means you stay suited up even when your jacket is off. It commands respect. Even higher in might is the double-breasted suit, which swaths you in an enveloping jacket that strengthens your torso and broadens your shoulders with its peak lapels. There’s a good reason your boss’ boss probably has at least one double-breasted suit: it is the prototypical dress of the Masters of the Universe.
When you’ve picked out a suit, you can’t stop- consider your shirt and tie next. Go for a striking shirt in a bright color, a bold stripe, a large gingham. Your suit should be a neutral shade already, giving you a backdrop from which to experiment with shirt and tie combinations. Be bold, again, but don’t scream. Coordinate your colors, and take care when mixing patterns, contrasting a strong pattern in your shirt with a subtle pattern or texture in your tie. A key element of power dressing is elegance. You want everyone to notice you, but you don’t want to be seen as a buffoon. After all, power properly exercised is a matter of control. You must display your power without unleashing it, except at the right moment- then you’ll win your audience’s awe.
