Defining moments in your career are often summed up and shared through a promotion announcement in a media outlet, an interview on a TV program, a photoshoot for your book cover, or an acceptance speech for a deserving award. When you think over the years, months and days you’ve spent developing your career, it is largely shaped by a few key decisions, conversations, and actions. It’s the small things that add up to the bigger defining moments. Sometimes these moments are spontaneous and significant only in retrospect. Other times these moments are intentional, strategic and on purpose. No matter how you arrive at your major career moments, the following tips will help you meet those key career opportunities with style and grace.
- Start With The End In Mind – Plan ahead! Visualize the impression you want to make. How do you want to see yourself? How do you want your audience to see you? Give yourself enough lead time to choose the appropriate look, including hair, nails, and make-up. Think through as much as you can to see your vision realized. Consider:
a. Color – It can add to your story and create a mood
b. Silhouette – Alluring, modest, trendy, flowy, etc.
c. Location – Is it local, is travel required, are you inside or outside, etc.
d. Timing – Season-appropriate, i.e your book cover photoshoot is in January, but your book release is in June – choose a season neutral look. - Reinvent Yourself – Defining moments can be a fun time to update your appearance. Reinventing yourself does not Angianein Wallace is the CEO of 8th Reign Group, an Image and Style Consulting Agency. She is an image consultant, professional wardrobe stylist, creative director, and thought leader. Her agency is designed around the belief that “Style speaks louder than words.” TM involved. To look and feel your best is how you honor those moments. When preparing for your memorable moments, be open to ask for and receive feedback on your style choices. You can also create a new experience and hire a wardrobe stylist to partner with you to make your defining style process seamless.x mean forfeiting your authenticity. Instead, it is a good time to elevate your already-defined style. Raise the bar with added details like statement accessories or an unexpected pop of color. `
- Consider the Source – There are so many ways a defining moment can be captured. If you know and understand the style of the medium used, you can proactively present yourself in the best way. For instance the difference between an in-person, television, or Zoom interview. Each will require slight style adjustments to get the best outcome.
- Be Consistent – Within your career there may be several defining moments. Using your established “Personal Brand” as your benchmark is the key to maintaining consistency across any and all captured moments. Whenever choosing your defining moment “looks,” keep your clarifying words that describe your personal brand in mind. Use wardrobe choices including details already mentioned above (color, silhouette, location, timing, and source) to visually display your brand.
- Get Feedback – Don’t miss the mark! Asking for help is a powerful tool. Lean on those that are rooting for you and want to see you succeed. Establish trusted sources within your network, tribe or community. Career defining moments are not required to be on a big stage with a big platform. Whether big or small in scale, they are often “history in the making moments” for those involved. To look and feel your best is how you honor those moments. When preparing for your memorable moments, be open to ask for and receive feedback on your style choices. You can also create a new experience and hire a wardrobe stylist to partner with you to make your defining style process seamless.
Angianein Wallace is the CEO of 8th Reign Group, an Image and Style Consulting Agency. She is an image consultant, professional wardrobe stylist, creative director, and thought leader. Her agency is designed around the belief that “Style speaks louder than words.”