2 gigs in a day and a quick wardrobe change!
I had a technical rehearsal in the morning and a media training session in the afternoon. It was a busy day which saw me running between different locations and what really helped me transition between events were my clothes. Besides being fully prepared for either ‘event, having a plain white tee and different coloured jackets on hand saved me time and effort in switching clothes for different gigs.
Scientific research has shown that the ‘power suit’ or ‘power tie’ is a real thing — where your clothing can make you feel powerful, change your mood and help you think better.
If you want to be a big-ideas person at work, suit up. A paper from Social Psychological and Personality Science asked subjects to change into formal or casual clothing before cognitive tests. Wearing formal business attire increased abstract thinking, which is an important aspect of creativity and long-term strategizing. The experiments suggest the effect is related to feelings of power.
We’ve also heard plenty about how your appearance affects the perception others have of you. But could it affect the perception you have of yourself? The simple answer is yes. Not only does dressing well for your work improve how others perceive you, but it increases your own confidence as well. You can use your clothing as a tool to help you take ownership of your job and do it with confidence and authority.
In my case, changing up helps me refocus and switch gears from being a moderator to being a media trainer. I choose a brightly coloured jacket that captures the eye and signals authority. That, and a slick of red lipstick helps me get into the right frame of mind for different scenarios. This in turn makes a big difference to how I feel and come across to others.
So what are some of the key tips here? Dress appropriately when presenting on camera and know what kind of audience you’re addressing. Have basic staples like neutral coloured t-shirts and flattering-coloured jackets in your wardrobe – it’s hard to go wrong with this combination and makes for easy change-ups when the occasion calls for it. #wardrobehack #presenter #yvonnechan