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Business Rule #4:
Dress the Part
September 29, 2004
(PAGE 2 of 2)
As you may remember, I’m preparing to introduce a clothing line: LaVelle Style. I naturally invited several designers up to my offices for interviews. By and large, these people were dressed to kill. The ladies had on executive business suits that absolutely impressed me, while the men wore suits as sharp as they come. This was perfect because my line is going to include executive fashions and I was able to see what type of fashion sense they really had.
For once my day is going great, when in walks this guy dressed in tattered jeans, filthy boots, and a denim jacket. I couldn’t believe this bum was trying to sell me on letting him design my executive clothing line. Was he crazy? Did he believe that I was going to hire him based on how he presented himself? You’re probably saying to yourself, “But LaVelle, what was his presentation like? You can’t judge a person based only on their looks, can you?”
Let me be blunt. I own the company; so yes, I can judge a person based only on their looks. Mind you, I’m not talking about only hiring the most beautiful women and men in Chicago. I just want them to realize that it’s a high-profile environment and I’m not going to have a person represent me and everything that I’ve worked so hard for, who can’t—at the very least—dress the part. And just for the record, his presentation and sketches sucked. Yes, sucked.
It’s certainly not groundbreaking news that sex sells. The early victories gained by the women in season one of The Apprentice were, to a large extent, dependent on their sex appeal. They always took account of the environment they were in and dressed accordingly. The guys sold lemonade in suits; the ladies put on jeans. Now, in season two, the ladies put on evening wear in a casual low-key neighborhood and wonder why their décor ratings are so low. Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression; so make sure you look the best you can at what you’re doing at all times!
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Have you ever noticed how we tend to pigeonhole people in certain professions by their appearance? It’s a form of shorthand just to be able to say your basic “advertising exec” or typical “copier salesman” when describing someone. Every profession has a certain look or standard. Just say “banker,” and you’ve saved yourself a thousand words. It’s not always fair, but that’s how it works.
Be aware though that just because someone looks the part doesn’t mean that he can act the part. Your attire is literally a costume. I’ve known some terrific looking scam artists and lot of well-dressed bums.
Being tasteful is just that, no matter what line of
work you’re in. Always make sure to dress the
part. As you can tell from this week’s episode, it makes the difference from getting the job to
hearing, “You’re fired.”
LaVelle Ward
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Let me be blunt. I own the company; so yes, I can judge a person based only on their looks.
