Physical appearance and corporate image: do clothes make the man?

Did you know that 82% of people believe that appearance has a real impact on their professional life? ( source: cairn.info )

In this episode of Café sans filtre avec ton RH , we explore the impact of appearance in business with Laurence Claude , lawyer and founder of the image consulting firm Wonder Executive Image .

An inspiring exchange to better understand how image influences professional opportunities, work relationships and self-esteem .

I – Professional appearance: a universal but biased language.

Stereotypes still powerful.

In the professional world, appearance is often—wrongly—associated with skills or character traits. Formal attire can be perceived as a sign of seriousness, while a more casual style can be seen as unprofessional.

These unconscious biases can marginalize certain profiles and harm the self-confidence of employees.

For HR, these hasty judgments can hinder diversity and harm the building of an inclusive culture .

A gendered and social norm.

Expectations are not fair:

• Women are under increased pressure to look good.

• Employees from modest backgrounds may feel a cultural gap when faced with implicit dress codes.

A study by the Center for Talent Innovation found that 64% of women believe their appearance influences their career, compared to 29% of men .

👉 Take our LinkedIn poll on this topic and join the discussion!

II – Companies that redefine the codes.

Google.

Google, known for its inclusive culture, has implemented a flexible dress code, encouraging employees to dress authentically as long as they feel professional. This approach enhances team well-being and creativity.

• Result: A significant increase in employee satisfaction and a more collaborative work environment.

Patagonia.

At Patagonia , a California-based technical mountain and surfwear company, employees' appearance is aligned with their environmental and social values. Casual, sustainable attire is not only accepted but valued as a reflection of the company's commitments.

• Result: Consistency between internal culture and external image, strengthening employee and customer engagement.

III – Why corporate image is a major issue.

At a time when inclusion and authenticity are valued, it becomes essential to question the imposed standards .

Tip 1: Initiate collective reflection.

Open the dialogue between employees, managers and HR to rethink what “having a professional image” means in your context.

Tip 2: Raise awareness, co-construct.

Organize exchange workshops to deconstruct stereotypes and encourage more open practices.

Tip 3: Highlight your uniqueness.

As an employee, assert your identity through a style aligned with your values and your company's codes. This strengthens self-confidence and a sense of belonging.

Watch an excerpt from our podcast on "Image in Business"

Listen to an excerpt from our podcast , "Café sans filtre avec ton RH," on the topic of professional image. For the full episode, click here 🎧

IV. Recommended reading.

1. 📚 The Magic of Elegance – Élodie Joy Jaubert: A modern guide to harmonizing your personal style with professional expectations.

📚 The End of Average – Todd Rose: A fascinating essay that challenges uniform standards, including those related to appearance.

Conclusion: Do clothes (always) make the man?

Appearance isn't everything, but it does strongly influence first impressions . It can become a lever for trust and alignment, provided it doesn't become a constraint or a factor of exclusion.

Want to go further? Listen to our episode with Laurence Claude on all podcast platforms.

🎧 Share your thoughts with us on LinkedIn or in the comments.

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