Dressing For Success: Could Your Style Be Turning Clients Off?
What we wear matters.
When I was 18, I did a very short stint out of real estate for 6 months and worked for a corporate firm in the city as a junior receptionist.
My boss - the office manager, who mind you, wasn’t the nicest woman, sent me off to do a one day workshop on how to be a better receptionist - or something like that.
My biggest takeaway from that day?
I needed to dress better.
I couldn’t believe that after everything the speaker had said and taught us that morning, and after building up the courage to approach her and ask a few questions at the end of the session, the one thing she said to me was I needed to dress better.
Offended - a little.
Definitely taken aback. Who says that?!
As I walked out of the auditorium and begrudgingly marched up the street back to my office, I couldn’t get her words out of my mind.
That weekend, I cleaned out my wardrobe and went shopping for some new work clothes.
Funnily enough, my work colleagues actually noticed my change in style.
The big boss who was always on the fly and forever jet lagged even managed to swing me a compliment.
“You’re looking very sharp these days”, I recall him saying, in between a dash from one meeting to the next.
As an 18 year old, I wasn’t too bothered about the way I presented at work, and coming fresh out of the real estate industry, I didn’t think it mattered what I wore.
No one ever mentioned it before.
But the moment I started to dress up a little, I noticed a shift in people’s perceptions of me, and this made me feel good and did wonders for my confidence.
Making the effort to look on-point.
Since those days, I’ve always made an effort to present in a way that makes me feel confident and I’m mindful about the impression I’m making through the way I choose to dress.
I went down the path of buying style books and learned how to dress for my body type and shape.
I wanted to learn everything I could about how I could use my clothes to make the right impression on people - and not just the boys in the nightclub. The people I wanted respect from - my work colleagues.
I read a book called The Science of Sexy and it really shifted my perception on how anyone with any body type could look amazing if they chose the right clothes and knew how to dress for their individual shape.
The author showcased images of celebrities whom he had styled for events and it blew my mind how he was able to transform them into sexy sirens on the red carpet - even the overweight celebs!
What was different about this particular book was that it was based on a formula for creating a stylish look for your individual body type - it wasn’t a fast-fashion read.
This was exactly what I needed.
And so began my style journey.
Nowadays I feel I have my wardrobe pretty well down pat.
Personal branding is a big thing these days and the concepts I learned about dress sense back then still ring true.
As a woman who works in real estate, I often have to get a little creative about what I wear because I’m forever battling the elements of being in and out of the car and moving between the office environment and the property inspections one.
Anyone who works in real estate will understand.
For us women, heels can be a real challenge because yes, we all love our shoes and want to look powerful and sexy at the same time (and for me - a little taller) but stilettos sinking into a front lawn are not going to serve you well!
I thought I had mastered the art of scaling a steep driveway in heels but a fall in 2015 that saw me smash my iphone and embarrass myself in front of a very handsome auctioneer set my heel height down a few inches.
And then there’s the sweaty make-up look we’re all trying to avoid during those summer months.
Working in the property industry can be a real challenge when it comes to balancing your outfit choice to include style, comfort and practicality.
We all want to look professional without sacrificing looking awkward and flustered because our outfit is failing us in that moment.
My style is clean, simple and safe. A blend of masculine for power and feminine for warmth.
Thankfully, after several decades in the game, and many wardrobe malfunctions later, I now have some good solid staple items in my walk in.
My Personal Style Standards.
Let’s start with the shoes shall we!
Everyday, inspections heels - If I know I’ll be encountering a steep driveway or sloping lot I’ll pack the flats, but otherwise, you’ll see me in a solid heel (usually open toe) that I can easily slip on and off at the front door. I do love my nude louboutins (pictured above) as they have a slightly thicker heel but I’ll only wear these if I have one or two inspections - not a whole Saturday’s worth.
Auction heels - if we’re in-room, I’m busting out the stilettos. Yep, it’s time for my red louboutins to steal the show! If the setting is right, I absolutely love wearing these heels because the moment I put them on I feel my confidence skyrocket.
If we’re bidding on-site at the property, I’ll opt for a thicker heel.
In-room auctions are the perfect excuse to wear my Louboutin stiletto heels.
Clothing - I like to wear clothes that require minimal ironing (because I’m always in a rush) and follow a basic print or pattern.
Nothing too busy.
Think Saba, Country Road and Witchery.
For a thriftier spend, Scanlan Theodore do some great classic cuts. I love my cream crop jacket with gold button detail. It gives my navy Dior (pictured above) a good run for it’s money at one tenth of the cost, but then again, we all know I’m a Dior fangirl so the investment for me was well worth it!
I follow a simple style guide:
nothing too short or revealing
classic cuts and simple prints
heels that can easily be slipped on and off
minimal natural make-up
… and don’t forget the red lips for an instant polished look.
Every woman looks on point in the right shade of red lippy.
A final note on style.
Despite all the rules and guidelines, I believe you should always dress in a way that makes you feel confident and beautiful.
Authentic style that matches your individuality often feels the most comfortable but as a career woman playing in the business world, you do need to be mindful of the message you want to send to your ideal client.
Sometimes too sexy can be off-putting.
Gym gear looks like you’ve got other priorities.
And under-dressed can send the impression your care level is low.
The goal is to get your balance right and then have a set of standards that you stick to.
If you want a helping hand getting your personal style on-point, my Masterclass for Women in Real Estate devotes an entire module to developing your Personal Brand which includes a personal styling component to help you curate a wardrobe that aligns with you.
Explore the Masterclass here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wendy Russell writes about the realities of a career in real estate. She is a self-made woman and Independent Buyer’s Advocate based in Brisbane Australia, representing busy professionals in luxury home purchases.
