I’m a little obsessed with clothing, fashion and style, but not in the way you might think. I love reviewing the Oscars and Met Gala outfits as much as anyone – so much to look at and dissect. Clearly, how we dress is a form of self-expression that can have many implications. It’s an often underestimated creative outlet for us to be more authentically ourselves, though not everybody sees it this way.

For some, clothing can be purely functional and utilitarian (like Steve Jobs’ black turtlenecks chosen to minimize decision fatigue – here’s an interesting back story on his “uniform”). Clothing choices can also convey a broader message, for instance about one’s power or position (consider the recent Trump team commentary on Zelensky around the perception of “proper” attire) or signal a political stance (think women’s white suits and pink pussyhats). We express ourselves with more than words.

Our clothing can be used to help us blend in and belong or stand out and make a statement. And regardless, others will have opinions about what they like/dislike or find appropriate/not about us and others. Sadly, women’s outfits are more often debated than men’s which I was reminded of in Paris (with the pressure to “dress like a Parisian”).

Figuring out what constitutes “appropriate” attire is an opportunity to uncover our authentic style and this is likely to evolve over time, though this may not be easy. As a city slicker, I mostly wore black – it was both chic and practical and working in corporate often required wearing heels. Fast forward, since I spend most of my time in a rural farming area, denim, camouflage and flats often feel more relevant.

Yet, I’ve been feeling called to wear more color. Not long ago, I had my colors analyzed for my complexion (here’s one person’s experience) which was eye-opening. Winter tones (pinks, purples and blues) are best for me. Completely ironic given that I probably spent a decade in brown and orange (autumn tones) which don’t flatter me at all.

Every year a slightly different color calls me and I respond. Last year was plum, this year is bright pink with pale blue thrown in for good measure. I’d like to think it has nothing to do with the Pantone color of the year or Anna Wintour and Vogue pulling puppet strings behind the curtains (cue the infamous cerulean sweater scene). I recently developed an inexplicable love of army green (not in the Winter palette) that my mother always wore and I hated, so go figure!

I’ve come to value the power of color in relation to our energy and frequency the more I work with the chakras and crystals. And I will often choose clothing based on my mood (usually starting with my shoes – boots, sneakers or slippers). Though my style qualifiers (the key values that drive my choices) have shifted from professional, powerful and edgy (which led to black pant suits, and pinstripes) to creative, comfortable and self-expressed (which translate to jewelry, jeans and bright colors).

“Color is a power which directly influences the soul.”
— Wassily Kandinsky, artist

We get to define our personal style as much as our leadership style and both can and will change over time, depending on our age and stage, circumstances and priorities. Where are we working (office or home, city or country) and who are we working for, with and around? Formal or informal environments can also influence how we want to show up, so it can be confusing to consider.

All the more reason to KNOW OURSELVES! Do we want to fit in or stand out and how will we reflect our environment? How can we feel more confident? It’s a conscious choice to be fully ourselves.

How to Be More Yourself

Two stories came to mind. Advising a young graphic designer on his LinkedIn profile, I noticed his rapper style baseball hat photo. Thankfully, I ignored an instinct to recommend something more “professional” once he shared his focus on the music industry, since he was in fact completely “on brand”. His hat choice was on target and signaled he knew who he was and how he wanted to show up, reminding me how short-sighted it can be to judge others by their appearance and the power of personal expression.

For a recent 5-day trip, I packed a bullet wardrobe (just enough clothing to fit in a backpack), while another woman brought 2 suitcases (1 large and 1 carry-on). She had multiple outfits in contrasting colors and patterns for each day, while I wore the same sneakers and jeans most of the time. While I may have wanted more choices, I enjoyed having much less to worry about. We get to choose our experience and obviously we had different needs and priorities.

So, how might you apply these ideas to your life and work?

• Consider the impression and impact you want to make on others – what are your goals?
• Identify and use your values to guide your leadership approach (they can serve as style signifiers to direct decisions).
• Know your priorities as you prepare for your situation and how you want to show up – do you want to blend or differentiate?
• Consciously choose what’s important to express, recognizing that clothing and body language can be just as important as what you say and how you say it. How might certain clothing, color or other choices send or reinforce the message you want?

If someone doesn’t like your style or criticizes your choices, they may not be your people. If you can’t be yourself at work, it may not be your place. And we can learn strategies to center in our own confidence and presence to minimize others impact on our experience.

Recognize that you may be choosing to wear a uniform to fit your job – which you can also put on and take off at will. Your work does not have to be your only identity. Ideally, you will find the work, environments and style that let you be most yourself, most of the time, so you can focus more on your impact and self-expression!

More perspective

I incorporate the power of color, chakras and other mystical elements within my book, So What Do You Do? The Authentic Alchemy Path to Find Who You Are. These supplement my main change framework by giving you more insight and context for your hero/heroine’s journey. You can find a free resource highlighting these with a tarot spread here. You can also use the chakra references, which address key energy centers in the body, to clear areas where you’re blocked, along with practical exercises and personal practices that can guide you to more self-awareness and purpose in your life and work.

Please share your positive book feedback and reviews on Amazon or GoodReads! Your input helps make this book more accessible to others.

If you would like to show up more fully as your authentic self, own your power and embrace your leadership style, let’s connect. Together, we will explore what you want to create for yourself and what may be holding you back from your full leadership and impact.

To being fully self-expressed,

Lenore