Personal Brand and Fashion

It’s big day full of meetings and exciting events. You wake up, know exactly how you’ll dress, do your hair and makeup. Next, you get ready and head off to tackle a momentous day. You’re soaring through the day fully confident and aware of every move you make and the impression it leaves on others – your personal brand. Leaving them to wonder how you do it so well. You don’t think twice or look back over your shoulder for approval of those around. Are you with me? Is this you? Have you ever walked out of a room and known exactly how you left your presence with others?

You Confident Little Rockstar, You

Not quite there? THAT’S OK! You’re in the right place and I’m here to help. Personal brand is a topic I’ve studied and coached others on for years. I’ve attended several events, conferences and workshops on all things personal brand. It’s the reason Feast On Fashion and Boss Gal exist. If you love fashion keep reading, it certainly plays a part in personal brand.

Personal Brand – What the Heck is it?

So what is this whole personal brand thing? Guess what? You’re already living it to some capacity. Huh? I know, right?! Let me walk you through. Building your personal brand is building what you want to put out into the universe – aka, how you want others to perceive you, even when you’re not around. You may be thinking “I don’t care what I wear or if/how I do my makeup” – that’s fine but branding is so much more than your physical appearance. It’s also about your online presence and your presence when you’re not around.

Personal Brand on the Internet

Google yourself. Yup, do it. Scared? Have you ever tried? Did you check the links AND images that popped up? Are you pleased with what you see? Whether you are or not, someone else has and will continue to Google you in search of info. Whether it’s a job, friend, family member or the general public – know what’s out there and control it! Believe it or not, you have some power over your online personal brand.

So you don’t like the results…

What can you do to fix this? First of all, delete what you can by going to the site location the results appear from – there’s a good chance you own the account or know there person that does. If you can’t then create online content about yourself that you WOULD want others to see. Search engines push content to the top based on what is most relevant or up to date. The easiest way to create content is to design a personal website. Now – let’s be honest, not a ton of people have time for that nor do they have the desire to do it and maintain it. So – there are other options.

Your Personal Brand through Social Media

Social media is a big one, create Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram, etc accounts (or at least a few to push content to search engines. Don’t just create an account though, be CREATIVE with it. The worst thing I could do would be to say I’m a “fashion and beauty blogger” – there are a million of them out there – what makes me different? What you put there will show up in a Google search so just keep the whole personal brand thing in check while creating content. Another option is to create a profile on About.Me. It’s a free site that allows you to do just that – write a blurb about yourself and throw it out into the World Wide Web. BAM!

So you’re not in the room… Does reading that sentence make you uncomfortable? Red flag! Time to get that personal brand in check, my friend. What would someone say about you if you weren’t in the room? If you’re confident it’s positive – great job! If you’re questioning, start paying attention to the way you interact and handle situations a little closer throughout the day. Take a moment to evaluate how you just handled a meeting or a situation. Fashioning your own personal brand is also how others perceive you when you’re not around. So – if two managers are discussing your ability to receive a promotion or take on a large project, or a client is trying to decide if you have what it takes to represent them, you want to make sure your personal brand is on point.

Personal Brand Says – Dress for Success, yo!

Ok, so we can’t be serious ALL the time, I had to throw in a “yo” there. Hopefully I got a smile or laugh out of you. Anyway, I use the term success loosely as it looks different for everyone. Some have a hard time measuring success because they spend their time comparing themselves to others – STOP THAT RIGHT NOW! Let’s be honest, we’re all guilty of it at some point but I can tell you my “success” is way different than yours. We may have the same morals and values but at the end of the day it’s measured in different ways.

So how do you dress?

What does success look like for you? If it’s the corporate life then button up that suit and leave the hot pink platforms for the club (we all have witnessed someone like this). Want to work for a company like Abercrombie? Wear their clothes! You might say that makes no sense with this whole personal brand thing – but at some point you decided Abercrombie was part of what makes you you and enhances your personal brand. Seeking a career at a gym? Do I even need to tell you what to wear here? NO!

At this point you get the idea, you are what you put out there. At the end of the day, make sure you are confident you have successfully fashioned your own personal brand. Anyone can throw on any brand of clothes and wear them like a champ but it’s how you carry yourself, fashion is a way of life – your way of life. So do the damn thing and own it/carry it/wear it proud, my friends. Confidence in your personal brand is the most powerful thing you can own. OWN IT, Boss Gal.

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-Alicia