How To Signal Power Through Clothing?

Ever walk into a bank?

What do you notice?

You know what I mean…

Strong stone walls on the outside. 

On the inside, everything is over engineered down to the engravings on the lock box. 

It’s secure & well kept.

Why is this?

I think you’re onto the point by now.

You’re giving them your money – it has to be the safest place in town!

But is it? Money is moved around online all the time.

The truth is it doesn’t really matter if it is or isn’t.

It’s all about the image, and the power signals that are sent. 

Today’s video and article is all about how to signal power with your clothing.

1. Leverage The Power Suit

A great deal of respect and authority comes with a dark, well-fitted suit. It’s been studied that if a man wearing a good suit decided to jaywalk – 3 times as many people would follow him compared to those who’d follow someone else. So that says a lot of about the way we perceive suits.

It’s almost engrained in our society to look at a one’s suit and give that man more time and attention. A power suit means a leg up in job interviews, presentations or other professional occasions. That’s why every guy should be ready to dress up in it at some point. It can make or break a first impression.

Here’s a formal outfit that’s most flattering to the majority of gentlemen:

• A solid dark, classic style suit (either charcoal gray or navy)
• A light-colored dress shirt (ideally white)
• A tie of a deeper hue and a simple, repeating pattern (red is an excellent choice to help you be more persuasive)
• Dress shoes that are either black (for charcoal gray suits) or dark brown (for navy suits)

It’s through these colors that you’ll get people to take you seriously. It’s all rooted in the psychology of color in style – something all men should take time to learn about.

2. Add Unique Or Special Accessories

When you put emphasis on the smaller details, you’ll stand out from the crowd easily. That’s what makes accessories quite useful. Yes – some of the best ones are pricey. But others are also stylish because they’re antique (and look more amazing as they age). Or others have a distinct original quality that can’t be found in anything else.

Watches

A watch heightens your status while making you feel powerful the whole time. The classier it looks, the stronger the signal is. And that’s especially the case for a dress watch which focuses on simplicity and wrist proportion.

I can tell you about one company that specializes in unique dress watches: Original Grain. They make elegant timepieces to complement all kinds of formal and business wear. Check out their different collections of Chrono, Classic, Minimalist and Barrel watches.

Pocket Squares

These serve as small but effective add-ons to your blazer or suit. Keep in mind that pocket squares are NOT handkerchiefs. They’re sophisticated decorations that highlight a man’s eye for detail. If you know how to fold them, you’ll look more dashing and start many great conversations.

Hand Luggage

Maybe your father has a 30-year old leather bag that he wishes to pass on to you. Should you respectfully decline? Not at all! There’s beauty in this “old” piece of luggage. As long as it’s functional and has that authentic leather smell – it’s a fantastic accessory. Find out what makes a perfect leather bag so you can fully understand.

3. Know The Rules, Then Break Them

If you think every rule in the book of style is rigid – time to reshape that point of view. The fact is these “rules” are just guidelines for the most part. You have to realize what your goals really are – since fashion is a means to an end.

All style choices should revolve around you. It’s your brand to build, your confidence to grow. You should be the center of attention – not the clothes themselves. So it’s only appropriate to bend or break the rules in a way that benefits you.

It can be something as simple as a suit that’s not all buttoned up. This might help you appear more relaxed and less uptight. Or maybe you’re exploring colors for your day-to-day outfit. Back in the day, a colorful ensemble was viewed as less masculine. Nowadays – color is simply color. Feel free to combine colors and stay secure about your manliness.

It’s good to be bold with personal style – provided you’re well-aware of your audience, environment and underlying message. There’s a fine line between being edgy and going off the rails.

4. Wear What You Want With Confidence

Whether or not you end up breaking some rules in your style – pulling it off is really about confidence. It’s a liberating feeling when you find yourself outside of society’s little box.

A good example of a guy who does this so well is Facebook’s pioneer Mark Zuckerberg. He’s always wearing the color gray in full – from gray shirts to gray hoodies. It’s almost like he lives in a different world where power and prestige go hand-in-hand with ordinary clothes.

But guess what – this is someone with a current net worth of over 50 billion US dollars! He’s not some rookie who’s making his way through the ins and outs of entrepreneurship. He’s not searching for partners and investors. He’s an established businessman who calls all the shots for his company. That’s why he wears what we wants – and rocks it!

Zuckerberg is one in a billion. But he prefers to come off as the same normal guy who spent tons of hours writing code back when he was a student at Harvard. He seems to be influenced by the signature wardrobes of Bill Gates (big sweaters) and Steve Jobs (turtlenecks).

The message is clear regarding Zuckerberg’s wardrobe: the image of computer genius first, CEO second. By limiting his clothing options – he can devote more time and energy to the actual work. He’s a guy concerned with only the most important everyday decisions. That’s how he wants to represent himself.

Find the courage to embrace your individuality and act as a trendsetter. Don’t worry if people aren’t following you. Stay true to yourself and soon enough, your style will do wonders for the way you perform at work AND in life (especially with the help of #5).

5. Get Custom Clothing

The ultimate luxuries in fashion are clothes made FOR YOU. They look, feel and fit exactly how you want them. They represent the best and most genuine version of you.

Custom clothing is about controlling your whole image. You wear them to stand out and distinguish yourself from other guys in the room. They evoke positive reactions. They send the right messages. They give you the confidence and drive to go from good to GREAT. The effect is known as enclothed cognition.

The 3 major things to customize are fit, fabric and function. You have to know your body type and find the different measurements for your physique. You’ll need all the info before going to a tailoring shop. That’s where it also helps to listen to the expert’s advice and ideas so you can see things from another angle.

Afterwards you can try out unique fabrics or see which additional features you may want on a certain item (such as extra pockets). Remember that these add-ons are all affordable! They’ll make you look like a million bucks – while you only have to spend a hundred!

Surgeon’s Cuffs

• These are cuffs for suits/jackets that have functioning buttons
• They can be unbuttoned and rolled back similarly to shirt sleeves

Pick Stitching

• This is the distinct line of small stitching that runs along the pocket flaps, the lapel and sometimes the breast pocket

Bright Inner Lining

• This can include a monogram (embroidery of 2-3 letters that usually correspond to the wearer’s initials) which adds personal character to your clothing

Bonus Items

Like your wardrobe, body language is one important tool that signals massive power and confidence. Learn the right gestures to stay a few steps ahead in the game of non-verbal communication.

Eye Contact

• The focus point should be the lower face, from the eyes down to the chin
• You should still maintain natural eye movement

Sitting Posture

• Flaunt the vitals instead of guarding them
• Keep your chin raised, your chest puffed and your legs slightly spread

Standing Power Stance

• Let your shoulders and hips face forward
• Make sure the neck, chest and stomach are uncovered
• Your arms should hang comfortably at the sides with the hands resting lightly on the hips

Dominating Handshake

• Your arm should be relaxed and extended far enough so that personal space isn’t breached
• Turn the palm downward when you offer your hand
• Shake firmly but not forcefully