We’ve all heard the phrase “dress for success,” and most people realize that if you want a certain job or want to reach certain goals, what you wear can make a difference. Research has even shown that what you wear can change the way you perform.
Sometimes, however, it can take a bit of extra inspiration to help you understand how dressing for success can really impact you.
Thankfully, if you’re a movie buff, you don’t have to look any further than your favorite films. If we talked about every movie where clothing made a difference in people’s lives, you’d be reading all day.
But, we’ve got some great examples of dressing for success in film that can remind you of the importance of your wardrobe and how it can impact your life.
Climbing the Corporate Ladder
Will Smith stars in Columbia Pictures’ drama “The Pursuit of Happyness.”
Photo Credit: Robert Zuckerman.
There are countless films about business. If you want to get inspired by corporate fashion, consider watching films like:
- “The Wolf of Wall Street”
- “Billionaire Boys Club”
- “The Intern”
- “Boiler Room”
- “Margin Call”
Most people understand the basics of “business casual” attire, but what you choose to wear, whether you’re looking for a job or promotion, can make a bigger difference than you might realize. One movie that showcases this subtly yet powerfully is “The Pursuit of Happyness.” Will Smith’s character, Chris, has to go to his first job interview at a brokerage firm covered in paint, wearing jeans and a t-shirt, because he had just been arrested for failing to pay parking tickets.
Chris gets the job in the film’s final scene and comments he thought it was appropriate to wear a shirt. It was a joking, full-circle reference; however, it showed just how far up the corporate ladder he had climbed throughout the movie, and how his style of dress reflected that. “The Pursuit of Happyness” is one of the best films about climbing that ladder and achieving your dreams. While the clothes don’t make the man in this film, they are a great representation of where that man has been and how far he’s come.
Giving Yourself a Fresh Start
Steve Carrell and Ryan Gosling in “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” Photo: Carousel Productions (II).
Dressing for success doesn’t always have to mean moving up in your career. Sometimes, you might want to change your look to reinvent yourself or accomplish other goals, like starting a relationship.
In “Crazy, Stupid, Love.,” Steve Carrell’s character Cal undergoes a wardrobe makeover in an attempt to win back his wife and repair his marriage. While the things Cal has to go through are a bit more extreme (and comical) than you might choose for yourself, you can get some ideas for how to dress to impress someone in your personal life. Need some quick tips? Try the following:
- Wear what makes you feel comfortable and confident
- When in doubt, wear something black
- Make sure your clothes are fitted but not tight
- Dress according to your personality
Whether you’re giving yourself a makeover or just want to upgrade your wardrobe, it’s never too late to dress for success in your personal life, even if you don’t have Ryan Gosling to guide you.
Discovering Who You Can Be
Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in “Pretty Woman.” Photo: Touchstone Pictures.
Sometimes, what you wear can make you realize that you’ve been hiding your true potential and personality. Or, it can help you to realize your potential when it was stifled before. One of the greatest films to portray that is “The Devil Wears Prada.” While the entire film is based on the fashion industry, it takes the main character getting immersed into that world to see that she can be something more than she ever thought.
Granted, she loses her true sense of self for a while along the way. But, by the end of the film, she discovers that she can let her real personality shine and live the life she loves while still “upgrading” some things. That starts with fashion and ends with her confidence being boosted; it’s boosted enough to leave the industry and venture out to become a journalist—what she always wanted.
“Pretty Woman” is another great example of how dressing for success can make you realize your potential. It’s a classic “makeover” story (not that Julia Roberts needs to be upgraded in any way).
While the premise of the film is based on Roberts’ character Vivian getting paid for her escort services, she quickly starts to realize what her life could be. She grows more confident in herself as a person—not just based on appearances. It boosts her mental health and self-esteem and allows her to see herself in a different light. In the end, she even ends up “rescuing Edward right back.”
While films might take dressing for success to another level, they can show us how much your pride in your appearance matters. So, whether you’re trying to land your dream job, reinvent yourself, or realize your full potential, take notes from these films, and start dressing your best.
*Article submitted by Frankie Wallace.
