Best Style Options: Does Your Style Speak to Your Team?

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07 Jul 2025

Beyond the power suit: can your style create connection?

Does your style speak to your team?

I recently shared a slightly controversial thought on social media, about senior leaders needing to think about how to create a style that creates connection.

It sparked interesting conversations I wanted to explore further here.

The gist of it?

In today’s multi-generational corporate world, does the way senior leaders, particularly women, dress truly impact their approachability or even alienate some staff members?

The classic image of “dressing for a senior corporate role” often conjures up traditional suiting – sharp, structured, and undeniably formal.

But with evolving workplace cultures and a more diverse workforce, is this still the only, or even the most effective, uniform for leadership?

My social media post proposed that highly tailored casual fabrics can be just as suitable for a senior role as traditional suiting.

This isn’t about ditching professionalism, far from it.

It’s about a nuanced approach to dressing that considers not just authority, but also connection.

Think about it: in a team comprised of various age groups and backgrounds, a rigidly traditional suit, while signalling authority, might inadvertently create a perceived distance.

Conversely, well-chosen, tailored pieces in more relaxed fabrics – perhaps a beautifully cut linen blazer, a sophisticated silk blend blouse, or impeccably fitted trousers in a modern fabric – can project confidence and professionalism while also conveying an air of openness and relatability.

Your style is a powerful non-verbal communicator.

It speaks volumes before you even utter a word.

For senior women leaders, this isn’t about looking “the part.”

It’s about strategically leveraging your wardrobe to support your leadership style and foster the kind of environment you want to create.

So, let’s dive deeper.

Why is this even a conversation worth having?

Generational Shifts: Younger generations often prioritise authenticity and a less rigid hierarchy. A leader who appears approachable through their style might be seen as more relatable and inspiring.
Organisational Culture: Many workplaces are moving away from hyper-formal dress codes, embracing more flexible and inclusive environments. Leaders whose style aligns with this shift can reinforce the company’s values. How many men in your workplace re still regularly wearing ties?
Personal Brand: Your clothing contributes significantly to your personal brand. For senior leaders, this brand should encompass not just competence but also qualities like empathy, collaboration, and approachability.
Comfort and Confidence: Let’s be honest, well-fitting, comfortable clothing in quality fabrics can boost your confidence, allowing you to focus on your work rather than feeling constrained by your outfit.

This isn’t to say traditional suiting is “bad” or should be abandoned.

There’s absolutely a time and a place for it, and for many, it remains their preferred power uniform.

The point is to expand our understanding of what constitutes “power dressing”.

It’s about having options and making intentional choices that resonate with your authentic self, your team, and your organisation’s culture.

Particularly, within the APS in Canberra.