The Entrepreneurial Savant

Looking successful doesn’t always mean an Armani suit (although it sure doesn’t hurt!). If you are an artist it might mean paint spattered clothes in the studio and a little black dress at the opening. People like to be associated with successful looking or ‘interesting’ people. A good look says you care about the details, are in good physical shape, whether you’re large or small, and that you have the self assurance that helps so many successful people stay that way through thick and thin.
If you are on a low budget consider the following:

• Accessories like belts, ties, minimal jewelry and shoes should all be the best you can get. Stay understated and avoid flamboyance unless your profession demands it (like maybe you’re a casino gambler or a gigolo). Wear a nice simple watch. Swiss Army watches have the same guts as a Rolex for a tenth of the cost.
• Don’t wear your phone on your belt. And make sure it is turned off for all meetings. Never answer the phone while in a conversation or eating. The only exception is if you have a call you’re waiting for and you warned your guest that you may need to take it.
• Be neat. This doesn’t mean conservative, it means that your taste rather than laziness determines your style.
• Natural fabrics look better than synthetics. Buy real over fake. They last longer and continue to look good even when they’re beat up. And buy one well made piece over several cheap ones- well tailored clothing makes you look better- taking off a few pounds or even adding a little stature if you need it.
• Dry Clean your shirts- on hangars, lite starch. Having a few pressed shirts in the closet means you can look good fast even with jeans.
• If you aren’t interested in clothes, have someone who knows how to dress help you out with your shopping. These shoppers are usually thrilled to be recognized as experts.
• When meeting new clients or business resources, dress one step up from the norm for the first meeting or until you get a feeling for what is comfortable.
• Keep a sports coat in the office on a hangar just in case- dark blue goes almost anywhere.
• Don’t ever wear clothing with logos on it- those days are long gone unless you want to look like a repair person. Especially polo shirts with tech logos- no. no. no.

Why bother with something so material and mundane? Because it makes a difference, sometimes subliminal, in how others assess you as a person or a potential resource and in how you feel about yourself.

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