Today's Attention Economy: How to Stand Out in a Crowd

Dress for Success

Exuding confidence is a guaranteed way to stand out in a crowd. “Confidence is the best accessory,” says celebrity stylist Todd Hanshaw. You can gain confidence by wearing clothes you feel good in and that flatter your figure. “A signature style is something that everyone needs to have, but very few actually do,” he says. “It’s when you’re looking at someone and you say, ‘Wow, they look really cool.’ They’re dressing for their personal style and know what works on their body.”

You can do that by spending a little time putting together your outfit for work or for going out the night before and trying it on to make sure you feel good in it—and that it plays up your best features, whether that’s your curvy hips, long legs or slim arms.

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“You don’t want to look in the mirror and say ‘good enough,’” says Hanshaw. “That means your confidence isn’t there and you’ll look like everyone in the crowd.”

How you dress conveys your personality. If you come to work in clothes that are too big, it can come across as sloppy—not exactly the kind of attention you want to garner from your boss.

The fast fix: Get your clothes tailored so they not only look neat, they also flatter your body. “It’s a little thing that can make a huge difference,” say Hanshaw. Even if you can't afford an expensive, designer wardrobe, getting your clothes tailored to the perfect fit can make an inexpensive, $9.99 top look like a million bucks. 

Wearing clothes to work that are clean (no stains!), ironed and tailored to your body makes you look polished, professional and sharp—and that can get you noticed. According to a CareerBuilder.com survey, 41 percent of employers said that people who dress better or more professionally tend to be promoted more often than others in their company.

But if you already work in a polished, buttoned up environment, you don’t want to blend in with the other suits. Stand out by adding a pop of color to your work outfit. “Plenty of people wear black suits every day—it’s easy and there’s nothing wrong with it, but you can change what’s on underneath,” says Hanshaw. “Take a black, gray or khaki suit and add an emerald green, royal blue or Chinese red top, and it will really pop.” The same suit can take you from season to season, but what you wear with it can make it look fresh, notes Hanshaw.

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If you’re going out on the town, you can look sexy without bearing boatloads of cleavage—in other words, less is more. “You can still exude a sexuality without being slutty,” says Hanshaw. “Try a form-fitting sheath dress to show off your curves.” You can also try a mid-thigh skirt (with or without tights) to show off your legs or an off-the-shoulder top or dress to bare sexy shoulders.