If your clothes could talk, and believe me, they do, what would they tell others about you?  You may not be aware of it, but what you wear sends clear messages to others, and subliminal messages to yourself.  People who see you regularly don’t make a determination about you because they see you in just one outfit.  It’s your parade of outfits that collectively say everything about you.  Even more importantly, your very own clothes are sure to enhance or alter the way you see and feel about yourself.

Think of what you feel like when you have somewhere special to go that requires you to put special effort into how you look.  You feel amazing, right?  You should experience that same feeling on a constant basis with your everyday clothes without the necessity of a special place or occasion.  No doubt about it though, when you feel that good on a consistent basis, others are sure to respond to you in a favorable way, too.

Do you look current?
I can’t tell you how relevant this question is when I’m working with new clients, many of whom have not updated their wardrobe in some time, thinking that what they have owned should continue to serve them in some way.  Your lifestyle and the need or desire to appear modern and relevant in both professional and social spaces makes a review of your existing wardrobe essential.

Often clients are concerned about how well their existing clothes still fit their bodies, which have changed over time.  I say you have to consider how well the clothes still fit your mindset, which has also changed over that same span of time.  In fact, quite often I will identify that someone’s body hasn’t changed nearly as much as their attitude.  When we are reviewing a piece of clothing and whether it’s serving a client in the here-and-now, we’re identifying any possible attitude adjustment, and how the wardrobe must make a parallel adjustment as it continues to develop and grow as a reflection of where you are in your life today.

Do you send the right messages?
If you’re like many clients who come to work with me, you’re likely to be going through some sort of transition.  Changing jobs, even changing roles due to a successful promotion, may lead to temporary chaos.  But you don’t want to look like you can’t handle the winds of change.  You want to show that you can handle your new role and responsibility.  Whether it’s with strength or grace, there’s a look for whatever message may be true for you.

People experiencing personal changes, like becoming young women and men, or adults experiencing relationship changes, also need to send the right messages.  In these cases, it’s not just about making outward impressions.  It’s so important to build or re-build personal presence in order to move forward with greater confidence and self-esteem.

A properly chosen and edited wardrobe actually helps you look current and send the right messages.  The styles and colors of your clothing non-verbally and subliminally communicate a great deal of information about your personality.  As people interact with you, they can’t help but take in your entire presence, and that includes what you’re wearing.  Maybe you haven’t considered your wardrobe’s messages as much as you consider how well your clothes fit. But when you give this its due attention, you’ll wear your authenticity on your sleeve.

Joseph Rosenfeld helps high-profile individuals revitalize, manage, and be secure in their personal visual brand. Visit JosephRosenfeld.com for details.