Dressing as the Visionary: What to Wear When You’re Building Your Legacy
A couple of weeks ago, I had a challenging business situation that forced me into an existential crisis.
I’m a big advocate of dressing for the life and roles you have RIGHT NOW, versus dressing for a fantasy life. There’s nothing worse than having a closet full of clothes from a past life, reminding you of the good times, and sometimes making you question your life decisions. Or holding on to clothes that literally fit a different person size-wise, and letting them taunt you. Or other people who are collectors, grabbing formal wear when their life is casual at-home days.
This is why I’m such a big advocate of our Youniform Framework, because it teaches you how to choose the situational outfits YOU NEED right now.
Need clothes for the office? Covered.
Fancy date night or theater soirees? Done.
Retired, stylish lounging at home? 100%
Because our style should feel like a natural extension of our true self, no matter the context.
But my recent existential crisis had me questioning again the path I’ve chosen for my expression of style. I often wonder what my “TED Talk” Youniform would be…that is my version of my most visionary self. But since they haven’t actually invited me to speak, that feels a little “fantasy self.” Definitely part of my future, but not my current reality.
And my daily cute, modest, print dresses sometimes don’t scream seven-figure CEO. Then I remind myself that people like Steve Jobs (RIP) and Mark Zuckerberg don’t need the flash of three-piece suits and ties to be a billion-dollar success. Which brings up the question of why women are held to a different standard, but let’s just assume we’re smashing that idea and taking back the right to dress with logic and systems.
Considering all this, I challenged myself last week to choose clothes that the visionary everyday version of me would wear. A bit of juxtaposition existed between the fun mom look and the entrepreneur look. I chose a print dress for both, but regular me chooses colorful prints with a bit of whimsy, while “fancy” me opts for two-tone prints with a more traditional pattern. Even though I need a sweater in 68-degree AC, I choose different sweaters based on my mood; fun colors when I’m feeling playful, or a simple, dark cardigan when I aspire to be taken seriously, like a CEO.
To me, this challenges the idea of who we are all the time, especially when no one is looking. I spend most of my days at home with my family, doing homeschool in the mornings, business in the afternoons, and relaxing time in the evenings. My clothing choices are based on fit (like dresses), ease of use (dresses and cardigans), looking good (the right colors), and my mood (serious or playful).
If I were invited to a TED talk, I’d still choose a dress, just a shift version in a flattering color, with a different vest style completer piece. I already have those dresses, typically used for brand photo shoots or guest speaking opportunities.
But in the day to day of my life, being the visionary means holding all the things that are building my legacy…and that includes teaching grammar, and navigating sibling arguments, hopping on calls with my team or coaches, and jetting outside in the afternoon for some screen free fresh air and movement.
So maybe being the visionary of your Radiant Life isn’t about getting dressed for one iconic moment, but getting dressed for every small moment that builds to a meaningful heritage that outlives you.
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