Do women actually judge you on a first date based on the pants that you wear to the bar or the restaurant?
To answer this question, Barley & Britches (and their Everyday Chinos) conducted a survey representative of 1,300 respondents.
Some interesting findings on men and their "first date pants" include:
* If you want women to think you're rich, responsible and a perfect long term partner, wear khaki colored pants.
* If you want to seem like a wild, adventurous, offbeat, or creative date, wear colorful pants like dark red or bright blue - but you also run the risk of being seen like just a hookup.
* If you want ladies to think you like the finer things in life, wear dark but still colorful pants - such as dark purple.
* Wearing green pants will communicate that you're a world traveler - but that you also may live with your parents.
Which raises the question, "How are career women perceived by what they wear at work?"
“The women are thinking fashion, but the men are thinking team ... to many men, work clothing is nothing less than a team uniform.” Pat Heim, “Hardball for Women”
If you are serious about being promoted … then take heed.
There is one problem that career women face that often goes unaddressed. It is what it means to be wearing the right clothes.
A woman’s wardrobe is an essential component of her presentation. It is as important as her handshake, her eye contact and her attitude.
The faux pas many women make is that they believe their wardrobe is a reflection of who they are. They are attempting to project their distinctiveness and their individuality. Others prefer to wear what is comfortable thinking that this is appropriate since they’ve noticed others in the office also dress this way. And then there are those who want to be known for their style and creativity. They want to stand out from the crowd.
All these women, instead of sending the right message they are signaling to those above that they are not a team player, that they are not ready for promotion.
The mistake is that they don’t view the clothes they wear to work as their corporate uniform.
If you’re like most women, this is eye opening. Don’t lose the point that the real purpose of “the uniform” isn’t for erasing your identity; its purpose reflects the symbolism that “you’re part of the team.” It creates a visual representation of a common goal and a shared purpose.
In the corporate world, the business suit is still viewed as the uniform. This means that, when its leaders are representing the firm, others are not distracted by what they wear but rather the intent is to keep them focused on the message.
