Dressing to fit in is the fastest way to blend in; dressing to stand out can also be awkward – it’s why you need to develop your authentic leadership style.
Being loud to be remembered is another way of wearing a mask. In this article, we will uncover outdated narratives around style and confidence.
You’ve probably heard it before: “Dress for the job you want.” Or maybe “Look the part.”
But here’s the thing: when you’re an ambitious woman with a bold mission, dressing for someone else’s version of success is the fastest way to get overlooked. Especially if you’re trying to lead, disrupt, or show up in a world that still expects women to follow a narrow script. One thing I have learned is that when you dress like your authentic self, you attract the type of people you appreciate.
And let’s be honest: how many women are told to follow the outdated styling rules before they’re ever encouraged to stand out?
In this post, I want to challenge and reframe the conversation around what it means to dress with confidence and impact, because your style shouldn’t be a costume to play a role, but a reflection of your real power.
The Psychology of Style: Why Clothes Affect Confidence
Let’s start with the science.
Enclothed cognition is a term used in psychology that describes the impact clothing has on our mental state and performance. Research shows that wearing clothes associated with certain traits (like leadership, precision, or creativity) can influence our cognitive function. It’s not just about what people see, it’s about how we feel in the clothes we wear.
This means your outfit isn’t just for the outside world. It’s for you, too. Authentic leadership styling will look different for everyone – what matters is how you feel when you step out onto that stage.
When we wear clothing that aligns with our identity and values, we reinforce our self-concept – and that boosts confidence. But when we wear clothes that are disconnected from who we are (think: an uncomfortable blazer you hate but wear because it feels “right for the meeting”), we send mixed signals to ourselves and others.
The Trap of Dressing to Fit In
Across boardrooms, stages, and startup spaces, women are still navigating a male-dominated space that doesn’t play by the same rules. Be assertive, but not aggressive. Be presentable, but not distracting. Be bold, but not too bold.
This creates a pressure to perform through clothing rather than express. Instead of dressing as ourselves, we end up dressing to match a mould. This can limit our authentic leadership style – and cause us to shrink.
And the irony? Trying to dress in a way you think you should is often what causes you to blend in, not stand out.
I see this all the time: talented women mimicking a look they think is “powerful” because it’s what they see other successful women wearing. Bold colours, statement dresses, chunky jewellery, but underneath it all, you can see they feel awkward or overexposed. And that discomfort reads louder than the outfit.
Bold Isn’t Always Bright: Redefining AUTHENTIC Power Dressing
Here’s what needs to change: we need to stop equating bold with loud. Wearing leopard print or a hot pink Ganni dress isn’t inherently bold if it doesn’t align with your natural energy.
True authentic leadership style confidence is about congruence – when how you look, how you feel, and how you act are in alignment.
I know women who walk into a room in all-black, tailored head-to-toe, and exude so much presence you can’t look away. Others wear soft neutrals and command attention with their calm certainty.
Boldness, in its truest form, is about being yourself unapologetically.
The Four Style Archetypes for Female Leaders
Through my work styling ambitious women at all stages of their journey, I’ve noticed four distinct style archetypes that emerge when women align their wardrobe with who they are. Authentic leadership styles can be explored below.
Each one thrives in different environments and communicates a different kind of authority. Here they are:
1. The Power Player
- Leadership energy: Visionary, decisive, commanding
- Style language: Strong lines, sharp tailoring, monochrome or high-contrast palettes
- Thrives in: Boardrooms, public speaking, high-level strategy
- Warning sign: May default to overly structured or cold looks if disconnected from emotional expression
2. The Elegant Strategist
- Leadership energy: Thoughtful, composed, detail-oriented
- Style language: Understated luxury, impeccable fit, timeless colours (black, white, navy, camel, ivory)
- Thrives in: Executive leadership, consultancy, client relationships
- Warning sign: Risk of playing too safe and being overlooked when bolder visibility is needed
3. The Soulful Creative
- Leadership energy: Empathetic, intuitive, visionary
- Style language: Soft textures, layered looks, unique accessories, earthy or pastel tones
- Thrives in: Purpose-driven business, creative industries, coaching
- Warning sign: Can appear less authoritative if style lacks structure or polish
4. The Fearless Trailblazer
- Leadership energy: Disruptive, innovative, outspoken
- Style language: Unexpected combinations, bold silhouettes, signature pieces (e.g. sculptural jewellery, boots, asymmetry)
- Thrives in: Entrepreneurship, media, innovation
- Warning sign: Can be misread as eccentric if not grounded in clarity and consistency
These archetypes aren’t rigid boxes – they’re style energies that reflect how you naturally lead.
When you understand your dominant energy (and how it shifts in different environments), you can curate a wardrobe that reflects who you are – without losing credibility, polish, or professionalism. Now you might feel that you don’t fully fit into these leadership archetypes – and that’s normal.
Some women will see themselves in these descriptions, but others see themselves as a blend of one dominant archetype with a hint of another, and some subtle nuances or more creative differences. With my 1:1 style coaching, we find your unique identity and bring that to the forefront, whilst identifying key areas we want to nurture and incorporate as well.
Leadership styling isn’t about looking good, it’s about knowing who you are and dressing in a way that tells the world you know yourself, and you know your subject matter…
Confidence About WEARING A Pink Suit
Let me say this clearly: there’s nothing wrong with a pink suit. It might even be your WOW colour – but putting one on in hopes it will make you feel truly confident and truly authentic is like putting on 5-inch heels and hoping you’ll be able to walk in them all afternoon without breaking your neck.
Style doesn’t create identity – it amplifies it. If a pink suit doesn’t resonate with your true identity, you will feel like a fraud wearing it, even if it is masked by the feeling of bravery. Just like if heels aren’t your thing, don’t force it.
The growing trend of dopamine dressing has often been oversimplified as the antidote to boring basics with some people defining “wild prints and neon colours” as their neutrals. Dopamine dressing is about joy, not to be confused with bright colours. It’s about what makes YOU feel uplifted – not what the algorithm says is bold, or what an influencer posts on their Instagram feed.
So, if a clean white shirt, a tailored pair of trousers, and a bold red lip make you feel unstoppable – that’s your version of dopamine dressing.
You don’t need to wear sequins to be seen. You don’t need to wear glitter to sparkle.
I’ve often been quoted as saying that sometimes wearing too much bright clothing, patterns and prints makes me feel like a clown. That’s an important self-realisation, and if you can relate to that, it’s because you don’t feel in alignment. It’s OK to admire how others dress, but honouring your version of dopamine dressing and authentic style is how you become unstoppable.
I love wearing black and white, but I do enjoy a pop of colour now and then. I like tailoring, but I prefer oversized fits. I like feminine, but balanced with my masculine cuts. I like simple, but with an edge. Once you find your unique set of style attributes, you can build your style personality to be unique to you.
Why AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP STYLE Matters Now More Than Ever
LinkedIn’s 2024 Women in Leadership report shows women still only hold around 30.6% of senior leadership roles. And those who rise to the top are often those who invest in their presence, positioning, and confidence – not just their credentials.
But there’s also a quiet confidence revolution happening. More women are rejecting the one-size-fits-all approach to showing up and shunning the “suit formula” for power dressing. They’re redefining what presence looks like on their terms.
That’s the real flex: identity and style alignment.
Because when your wardrobe reflects your values, supports your energy, and aligns with your goals, you don’t need to shout to be heard. You show up. You lead. And people feel it.
The New Style Strategy IS TO LEAD WITH AUTHENTICITY (BE YOU)
This isn’t just about looking good. It’s about feeling powerful in what you wear – your choices – your values.
When you know your leadership style archetype, understand the environments you’re stepping into, understand yourself, your needs, and align them with what you need to wear – and then curate your wardrobe accordingly, you create a style strategy. And that’s when confidence becomes effortless. Using my IMPACT Sustainable Styling Framework, no stone is left unturned in the quest to build you a style you truly love.
This isn’t about colour analysis and shopping – this is about seeing yourself differently and knowing who you are and what you stand for.
So the next time you ask yourself what to wear to the pitch, the meeting, or the panel talk, don’t reach for the trend. Reach for what reflects the woman you already are.
Because standing out doesn’t mean shouting, or being remembered for ‘that outfit’
It means showing up fully as you..
Want to define your style archetype and create a wardrobe that works as hard as you do? Get in touch. And drop a note below, I’d love to know which leadership style archetype you are.
