Finding Confidence in Style and Career

It takes a pretty bold person to wear pink pants to an office filled with khaki chinos. We all know that confidence can be the key to many of our problems but where do you start? Having confidence in my style and having a certain standard has offered a lot of opportunties. See some ways you can find confidence in your style and career.

In the blogging world, there’s this saying “Content is King” which means that no matter how great your Instagram looks, the content you put out reigns number 1. In life however, I’ve come up with a new motto…”Confidence is King”. (or let’s be serious Queen because we’ve all been watching GOT).

Before I left my very first post-college job, we started the blog and I started pushing my workplace style limits. It took a lot of confidence to walk into the room with a houndstooth coat and red slacks but that confidence brought me to something greater…a new career.

About 2 weeks after I really started challenging myself and being confident in my style, a top executive in the company came up to me and said “Sydney, I have a question for you… You always look so nice and put together and I have a big meeting today and need to know which blazer looks best?” And BOOM, just like that we clicked. We started talking about style and fashion (something they enjoys as well) and from there the relationship grew. They were able to offer more challenging work to bolster my resume and so graciously opened his network up to me to explore a better career path. A few months later, I was able to fully change my career and started at a new company. And yes with higher pay.

It’s amazing how the universe works in allowing something so small, or even what some would deem vain, lead to such a huge opportunity. You can start showing confidence in the smallest ways, like style, and from there become confident in other areas of your life like your work, or relationships. When you dress well, own your outfit, people notice. To me, style can set the standard on how I expect to be treated.

Whether we like it or not, people DO judge and you are absolutely treated differently based on how you’re dressed. In my case, the way I present myself, especially in the office, can grant opportunities that I didn’t expect. That could be new responsibilities like managing a team, taking lead on a presentation, or being tasked with building a new client relationship.

One of my favorite mottos is, “When you look good, you feel good” and it’s 100% true. If I’m ever feeling down, I decide to get dressed and feel at least 75% better. Putting your best self forward

So for all those reading this who are stuggling with confidence, here’s some easy ways you can challenge yourself particularly in your style.

Start small – If it’s your first go at this and maybe feel you’re a bit unexperienced, wear something bold but small. Maybe a staple handbag or a bold pair of earrings to start to ease yourself into the bold style pond.
Go Bright – Nothing gets you noticed like a red orange sweater (see above)! Odds are, the office is pretty toned down when it comes to colors so there’s a lot of opportunity when it comes to brightening up the office. Plus, you can always “tone it down” with a neutral piece.
Give Compliments – See a piece on someone you like, tell them! As much as receiving compliments feel good, giving them can do the same. There’s enough love to go around and it will return to you somehow.
Don’t Reinvent the Style Wheel – Saw an outfit on someone you love? Re-create it and when you’re ready, rock it! You already know it looks good! I love using Pinterest for inspiration by searching for something
Accentuate your FAVORITE features – Love those calves of yours? What about your height? Play up those favorite features of yours and the confidence will come.
Walk it like I talk it – Body language is a subtle but powerful way to show confidence. Keep your back straight, head up, SMILE and OWN IT the minute you walk into the office. The energy will radiate all throughout you so be prepared ;)