There are many ways to recognize different personality styles in people around you, and one of the on-the-nose ones is attire. How are people coming to work (or showing up on Zoom) dressed?
Picking an outfit might seem easy, but you say a lot about yourself with your clothes, whether you want it. You are what you wear. And so are others around you. So, you can use work fashion to find out who you are working with really.
Here is what clothes are telling you.
Did they dress for success?
A high D likes to wear something that shows how proud they are of their accomplishments, so this will be their attire:
Men:
- classic attire in terms of the white-collar environment
- a suit that’s crisp and clean
- bold color (straight blue, straight red) that gives off an impressive feel
- college ring and an expensive watch (Rolex, Omega) as an accessory.
Women:
- monochromatic suits
- expensive jewelry (diamonds, emeralds, pearls).
High Ds worked hard to get to where they are now, so they want their success to be clear from the moment you see them. They want to show off their degrees and awards, so anything that traditionally sends a message that someone is successful will be part of their wardrobe.
High D: power suit that goes great with a corner office.
That’s a fun outfit!
High Is are all about fun, so their clothes will send the same message. You can recognize them by flashy suits, bright colors, fun ties, and colorful socks that usually match.
Their favorite dress-up day is Casual Friday, when they can go crazy and demand attention to themselves in a fun, fashionable way.
When accessorizing, I styles will use costume jewelry and a lot of it. They want to stand out so they can create a conversation. High I styles love to chat!
Do you even remember what were they wearing?
Muted colors, earthy tones, and tiny jewelry are signs of a High S. They prioritize comfort and concealment over flair and want to blend in as much as possible. When picking out an outfit for a High S, the key is how not to be noticed in a room full of people.
You can recognize them because they will not wear anything controversial, nor pieces of jewelry that can spark a conversation. This is because they just want to do their job unbothered and go home.
Women Ss will use flowy, easy-to-wear, comfortable pieces of clothing. Often, they will use little or no makeup, and that’s because they are so comfortable with who they are and their natural style.
Function, function, function!
When talking about clothing, there are some stereotypes, and they are based on a bit of truth. So, suppose you think about a nerdy character from an 80’s movie and their attire. In that case, you can picture thick glasses and a pocket protector on their short-sleeve button-down shirt. And while today’s Cs don’t dress like that, it’s a good analogy for how they dress. In today’s world, you can think of Sheldon from TBBT, who is always wearing a T-shirt over a long-sleeve shirt with straight-fit pants, as he finds it functional for the job he is performing.
High C: function over fashion trends.
They are not concerned with how other people perceive them and want to wear clothes that will not affect their day-to-day tasks. They see a suit as a work uniform and often wear just a couple of outfits in a rotation. They don’t need to try something new when they already have something that works.
Make note that the business environment is somewhat restraining in terms of attire. In many places, your work will demand you wear a uniform, so when trying to identify the personality style of a boss or a colleague, check what they are wearing outside of work.
These dress tricks will give you an idea of someone’s personality, but don’t forget to get a complete image by checking their office and body language too.
