We humans defer to individuals who we perceive as dominant and powerful. The results of a 2014 study by Michael Kraus, a Yale School of Management professor, indicate that when you dress for success you are seen as more powerful – and you feel more powerful.

In the study, the men in suits averaged about 10 percent more profit in mock real-estate negotiations than men who were dressed very casually (sweats and flip-flops, to be precise). These guys compromised less because they felt strong suited up. (This particular study included men and not women. I’m assuming the results would be similar if women participated but I could be very wrong.) It was noted that if a suit was worn every day, the powerful feeling would diminish.

Should we all wear suits? Absolutely not. But it is worth considering.

Whether you work in an old-school business formal workplace, and only about 10% of us do (here’s a Gallup poll on workplace dress styles back in 2007), or a very casual-dress workplace, if you can project your strengths confidently and consistently, you will be seen as more authoritative and credible. Ultimately, you should consider your brand: how do you see yourself and how do you want others to see you? If you want to be seen as a leader, determined, powerful, donning a suit at certain times might work for you.

What we wear is often seen as superficial yet these pieces of cloth that we put on our bodies convey so much about how we see ourselves and about how we want others to see us.

What do you think? Do you believe it doesn’t matter how you dress at work? 

Why? Why do the social media giants keep messing with our dashboards? The change from posts appearing in chronological order to curated order happened first with Facebook, then Twitter in February, now Instagram (owned by Facebook). 

As a branding professional (I do personal and small business branding), I spend more than my fair share of time on social media sites. And I completely understand corporate reasons for curating user feeds: 1) To zone in on consumer interests to make sites more marketable for corporations; 2) To make the experience better for the users. My gut tells me that reason one greatly outweighs reason two (tell me if you think I’m wrong). 

Hey, I’m a big girl. Social media sites are, in theory, money-making corporations who have their own missions and pressures. I understand why they are making this change to curated over reverse chronological. I just prefer to have the power to see what I want to see and curate my dashboard feed myself. 

I do believe that 89% of my best friends have come from places I have worked (I haven’t done an actual statistical analysis…). 

I worked as a temp at a desk-top publishing business in the very early ‘90s for a hot minute – one of my very best friends is from that experience. I worked in development and communications for 13 years at an amazing Visiting Nurse Association – several of my great friends are from there including my friend from the temp job who I managed to bring in to cover my job during a maternity leave (she never left! Hi Susan!). I worked at The Emily Post Institute – add another best friend.

According to a Ross School of Business study, only about 30% of Americans had a work bestie in 2004 compared to 50% in 1985. I can only assume that the statistic has dwindled in the past 10 years. And I don’t even know if these office friends were personal life friends.

I’m curious: Do you have co-workers who have become life-long friends? Have you experienced a down-side to the work/personal life crossover? Are women more likely to embark on the work/personal friendship path? 

Did you watch the Academy Awards last night? Just watched Chris Rock’s opening monologue? Or maybe followed the Red Carpet action? I watch snippets, glean the high points, and oggle the fashion, of course. Honestly, everyone looked beautiful, handsome, [INSERT YOUR OWN POSITIVE ADJECTIVE HERE!]. My favorite dresses were worn by Rooney Mara, Naomi Watts, and Cate Blanchett. I also adored the overall vibe of Mindy Kaling, Lady Gaga, and Chrissy Teigen.

This set is inspired by ever-elegant Cate Blanchett. The work-appropriate looks are very loosely based on her mint floral-applique Armani Prive gown. Very. Loosely. Based.