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Chris,
Great comment! I interpret that as "Like attracts Like". You will attract what you put out as the perceived "type" of person you are.
With your profile pic....you seem like a professional entrepreneur, happily married. You will attract people that are either that same way or want to be that way.
Correct?
Eric

[Joyce Penner Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 8]

Interesting topic Eric. I dress for success, always. Even bluejeans, if that what the occasion calls for, can be sharp and clean. I don't necessarily do it for appearance, I just feel better, project better even on the phone.

I pay more attention, in every situation, to someone who cares about themselves enough to avoid the "look at me I'm rich and a slob" attitude.

It's called respect.

Good topic and I think men look fantastic in a suit, with no tie, and carry the "I'm comfortable and relaxed in this professional attire" attitude.
Joyce

[Gil Jimenez Contribution Level: 2]

This is a great, under the radar, topic.

In my opinion if you wanted to be taken seriously,
dress seriously. On the other side of things, if the
message your trying to convey to your audience is
THAT powerful, THAT captivating, then what you
wear will not matter...to a certain extent.

Attire does have it's limits and shouldn't
be crossed. lol.

Again, it all depends on a persons personality, target market,
etc. With a topic like this that probably has hardly ever
been brought up, there seems to be so many details
that can be covered.

Got me thinkin!

Great post, thank you.
To your success,
Gil

[Contempo Marketing Contribution Level: 4]

What about dressing in a way of witch Identifies YOU ? Now I will say yes I am a lover of suits and ties, but I can be deemed a metro-sexual more times than none. My opinion of dressing for success is not necessarily dressing the part as to evoke a perception but dressing in a way that makes you feel most confident, comfortable, and that allows you to exude that confidence ...

Take a page out of Steve Jobs book...The Apple Guy

Identifiable by back mock turtleneck, blue jeans, and sneakers ....WOW .... the guy is a billionaire!!!!

Mark Zuckerberg - The Facebook brain .... in a hoodie ?

Bill gates didn't exactly make the GQ list .... with dork fashion that often included misaligned button down shirts, and corduroy pants ... Im sure his office mates were petrified by the idea of his pants rubbing together and eventually causing a fire ....

My take is DRESS WHO YOU ARE and not what others EXPECT YOU TO BE .... Yes a suit and tie gives the perception of leader, successful, and considered the wardrobe of alpha's ...

But when you take the incognito approach ... people will follow you ... as they relate to you as One Of Them....

[Mario Sanders Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 6]

I think what everybody has made a point here.
The main thing is to NOT Dress like:
1. wearing clothes that don't fit;
2.looking like you haven't eaten well in awhile;
3.look like you haven't taken a bath in awhile;
4.personal grooming not been done;
5.body odor, and not the latest craze of a cologne;
6.not speaking a proper language of that community;
7.not wearing clean clothes;
8.your body odor or outrageous cologne speaks before you enter the room;
9.loud and don't know what you are talking about or anything about the disscussion;
10.late

I was thinking about it today and as I look at Steve Jobs and his mach neck black shirts....I wonder if he is trying to be an extension of his brand.
It's hard to explain how and why Billionaire's dress because they are elevated from the norm.
But, one person on this discussion spoke about "respect".
Do you feel that even though you might feel comfortable and relaxed that if you speak at an event, you have to be perceived as professional but also show that you respect the audience by looking professional?

I was talking to a client last week about their struggles in the Network Marketing profession and they made the comment that they can't get anyone to focus on them and take action.
After about 30 minutes of walking through how they approach prospects and what they say...I realized that this person is walking up to people in jeans and t-shirt asking them if they are interested in learning about an exciting new opportunity....wow, that's tough and you better have thick skin!

I told them that first impression is everything and perception is reality....so if your prospect perceives you having success....success attracts success!

I think many people overlook this vital item...dressing for success!
Eric


www.theexpensetracker.com

[Contempo Marketing Contribution Level: 4]

Sometimes no matter the perception we attempt to exude all that matters is if you get that person's attention...

Eric you made a great point ... Success attracts success, but if success is simply something you wear then we have an issue...

I do wear suits at conferences, weddings, church, just about everywhere... it's because it's who I am, does it mean I am successful ? It depends...

I think if we are going to pay so much attention to clothing then.. is Michelle Obama less than respectable for shopping at bargain basement stores ?

Now lets expand this more ... Two guys ...

One wears a suite...portrays success ... but drives an 88 ford tempo
One that wears shirt and jeans, comfortable in their own skin, but you see this person jump in 125K thousand dollar car.
Or go a step further ... A Polo - Blazer, jeans and scoffed up shoes, drives a 45K Cadillac, and lives in a 400K home... that's Warren Buffet ...

Truth is success doesn't truly have an image ... as success is not what you look like, or even who you are, success it ultimately a mindset that dictates WHAT WE DO ...

funny story.....I picked up a client one day, from the airport ... in a suit, a Mercedes s550, and I was assumed to be the company driver ... oh man I have a bigger problem ... I'm latino & 29 years old... so not only do I have to dress a certain way I have to also bleach my skin too ?

Proof that no matter what we portray everyone is always going to perceive it one way or another

[Jennifer Buah Contribution Level: 1]

I agree that it all comes down to how you feel in what you are wearing. The main objectives are to portray respect, confidence and credibility. If one person does that best doing that in a suit/dress - great! If another feels they should wear a baseball hat and jeans - that's fine too. Always take your audience and occasion into account so you don't draw attention and seem out of place (taking away your credibility), but feel free to dress within those boundaries as you feel is appropriate. This is the whole idea behind fashion and individuality. We market ourselves and our brand not just through what we say, but also how we look. Everyone will differ.

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Contempo Marketing...I think you bring up great points!
I think one of the key items you bring up is the mindset and how it dictates "what we do"...I find this typical that if you dress up, it seems to change your mindset and put you in "productivity" and work mode.

Does everyone else "feel" this way that when you dress up...you seem to have a different mindset that when you wake up and put on shorts and t-shirt?
Thoughts?
Eric