There's a rule a lot of women in business are still following, and that a lot of women are actually still worried about – whether to dress professionally, and how to dress the part for the event they’re going to. For some women it really changes the way they carry themselves and speak, and for some it determines whether they’ll actually turn up in the first place.
But where did that rule actually come from? And does it still hold?
In this episode I challenge the idea that formal equals credible, and explore why dressing with personality, colour and individual style doesn't undermine your authority (and that it can actually strengthen it).
I’m going to tell you about the difference between dress code and personal style. This is a conversation about what you wear, why it matters, and who you're actually dressing for in the first place.
In this episode I cover:
The networking room moment that challenged my previous thoughts about professional dress
Why context matters and the industries where dress codes exist for real, legitimate reasons
The impossible tightrope women are still walking when it comes to appearance in business or in the workplace
The difference between a dress code and personal style, and how one is imposed and one is chosen
Why the most distinctive women in business are often the most trusted and remembered
How dressing for yourself rather than for external approval changes everything
Why business casual for women has nothing to do with abandoning professionalism and everything to do with authenticity
Key takeaways:
You don't have to dress like everyone else to be taken seriously
A dress code is a rule someone else gave you. Your style is yours.
The women who look like themselves are usually the ones people remember
Dressing for other people's approval is tiring, and it shows in what you do.
Your style is part of your brand. Don't sacrifice that to please other people.
Nobody wrote the professional dress rules for you. You don't have to follow them.
Mentioned in this episode:
My new membership – The Rise Community. There will be just 22 founding member spaces. After that you will sign up at the full monthly price. If you want one of those slots you need to be on the waitlist. Join that here: https://terripugh.com/the-rise-waitlist-may-2026/
A quick heads up - my transcriptions are automatically generated. For this reason there may be errors, incorrect words, bad spelling, bad grammar, and other things that just seem a little 'off'. You'll still be able to understand what is being said though, so please just ignore that and enjoy the episode.
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