This document discusses the importance of personal branding and dressing appropriately for your role in business. It recommends dressing in a way that shows you belong in your position, such as wearing suits if you want to be taken seriously. Grooming and appearance also matter, with advice for both men and women on hair, makeup, and clothing choices. Ultimately, your lifestyle should show through your appearance and demeanor, so maintaining a healthy lifestyle and dressing the part can help you stay employable, especially during an economic downturn.

1. Personal Branding
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Dress Like You Mean Business
By Jon-Michail
Westpac CEO Ross Kelly, a staunch power dresser
‘Appearance matters in business, dressing appropriately for the occasion is essential.’
Ensure that you’ve done as much as you can with your appearance to shield you from the worst of the
economic downturn. You may have given the boss your best working years, but if you’re one of the
older and probably more expensive employees, that alone won’t save you. My advice is to look the part,
and dress appropriately to get the respect of those you work with. If you don’t look as though you are
part of the decision-making business, you have let yourself down; we call this self sabotage and career-
limiting behaviour.
Dress to suit the role. Wear quality suits if you want to be taken seriously, for example be fashion aware
if you’re in retail, and contemporary classic if you are in corporate. As a first guide, look at the CEO to
decide whether a tie needs to be worn or if women should power dress.
Grooming is very important. For men, the ideal is a clean-shaven face and professionally styled short
hair cut in an up to date style. Don’t concern yourself with premature hair loss, these days its seen as
quite acceptable and joining the shaved head brigade is also kosher.
For further information on this handout and the consulting
and coaching programs available please contact:
Image Group International
Asia Pacific Head Office
T: (+61 3) 9824 0420
E: info@imagegroup.com.au
www.imagegroup.com.au
©2012 1 of 1

2. My advice for those wanting to keep up is change is good, it keeps you on your toes and the best time
to do it is NOW. Clothes must be chosen carefully so that there are no straining seams or gaps between
buttonholes. Use dark colours to streamline the figure, but forget about contrast belt colours and too-
short ties – they highlight expanding girths. Those women who have worn their hair long without any
upgrading should consider trimming it. Subtly alter its colour to enhance the eyes and look a little
younger, in a competitive world, everything matters.
Silver hair (not grey) can look becoming on a man and is seen as a sign of seriousness and responsibility,
but it is not so easy for women; unfortunately I don’t make the rules and experience tells me few can
get away with it. For them, grey (or silver) hair can be aging and if so, it would be better coloured, unless
you choose to make it a trademark and part of your personal brand.
Lila Pilakis, a leading Australian hairdresser and makeup artist, believes that with makeup less is more,
particularly with older women. She says that clear skin is the ideal, with fresh modern makeup carefully
applied to just where it is needed. ‘In the long run, looking after yourself is the most economical thing
you can do.’
Some employers do not expect their employees to work to a ‘corporate’ ideal so that they feel
comfortable in their working environment, but this is rapidly changing in the new economic
environment. However, if they need to see clients, they should have the ‘added extras’ on hand to
create a more managerial impression. In industries and businesses where employees are frequently in
the public eye, they must meet the standards expected of them. Clothing can express one’s personality
and yet still be right for the position. Good choices can also express one’s suitability for the next rung of
the corporate ladder.
Ultimately, your lifestyle will show in your face and no amount of extravagant dressing will alter that
fact. To stay employable in times of an economic downturn, remember these tips:
 Present like you belong there, not “I just work here”
 Get plenty of exercise and eat properly
 Have your hair professionally styled
 Use makeup and fragrance sparingly
 Dress like you mean business
 Unless you have a silver-spoon benefactor that will support your lifestyle; avoid all career-
limiting behaviours
For further information on this handout and the consulting
and coaching programs available please contact:
Image Group International
Asia Pacific Head Office
T: (+61 3) 9824 0420
E: info@imagegroup.com.au
www.imagegroup.com.au
©2012 2 of 1