Young entrepreneurs need to dress the part just like older entrepreneurs. Your clothing choices matter. A t-shirt could be just the right uniform, or a suit could help to sell your professionalism. What style will attract the best attention from potential customers or investors?
At The Vanity Project, which sells lifestyle clothing, it might look strange if employees showed up to pitch potential customers without any of the clothes in hand. Think about your business and environment says Rhonda Abrams in the USA Today article, “Small Business Strategies: Why Clothing choices are key.“
Facebook‘s Mark Zuckerberg might be known for his hoodies, but as a young entrepreneur your business might require a different kind of clothing. In addition, your dress could impact how others judge your professionalism.
Abrams suggests thinking about “levels of dressing.”
- Level One: Informal Business Casual includes khakis or nicely pressed jeans.
- Level Two: “Spiffy Business Casual” is the normal dress style for many business meetings. For men this means a sport coat, no tie, and slacks. For women a pants outfit or coordinated skirt.
- Level Three: Business Formal for professional environments. This includes a suit for men and women.
That’s great advice for young entrepreneurs. As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression!
It’s always a good idea to dress appropriately for the situation, no matter what age you are..