Dallas Fashion Consultant, Julie Bartlett, with ColourIQStyle.com, offers her perspective on an article in the Dallas Morning News.
As your Dallas Fashion Consultant, I hope you read the Sunday, May 2, Business Research article on page 8D, from McClatchy Newspapers, entitled ‘CEO’s Sharp Looks Pay Off, Study Shows’. The study, though very limited in scope, linked a CEO’s looks to his paycheck.
The study was conducted using photo’s of white males only and found that those who “looked competent” were paid more than those who appeared to be “more likable, more warm, more trustworthy, but less competent”. The professors were hoping to prove that corporate pay structures are not as influenced by looks, as say, political vote casting. The article ended with a comment from a CEO who “doesn’t buy into the research findings because he’s not the most handsome CEO.”
Most of the comments in the article are targeted to facial features and not apparel, which is why I bring it to your attention. Wearing the wrong colors can cause us to look unhealthy and tired. Even a bad hairstyle can offset the attempt to have an attractive image. It’s difficult to know what affect the study participants apparel had on the outcome. In fact, the study failed to include this influence in its outcome.
In addition, our personal value system has an affect on our determining someone as attractive, handsome or competent. If those being interviewed in the study were a cross-section of the American population, the results may have been different. Every day we meet people we would consider competent because they’ve used all the elements available to them to help them look like they could help us accomplish our business or personal goals.
- Is wanting to work with competent looking people a sign of shallowness?
We are taught to wrap our gifts nicely because packaging is important. Aren’t we the gift worth packaging well? Or, should we show up for work with morning hair and pretend that that’s a sign of brilliance?
- Does your wardrobe convey your competence?
If the answer to the question above is not a resounding ‘YES’, then we should talk.
As your Dallas Fashion Consultant and Personal Shopper, it is my mission to help my clients always look fabulous, without being a slave to the whimsical ways of fashion trends. I am passionately committed to making sure my clients always look their very best in order to help them achieve their personal and business goals. If you have any questions or are interested in a personal consultation, please give me a call at 214-223-2200.