By now, most working professionals are well aware of the rules that have come to define corporate-appropriate presentation: Skip flashy designer logos, steam blouses and dress shirts, avoid open-toed shoes, and if it’s described as “office siren,” ditch it altogether.
There is another detail, though, you might be overlooking when getting ready for the office: your phone case.
To Michelle T. Sterling, an image consultant and personal stylist with over 20 years of experience, a phone is similar to a pair of shoes or a watch. It’s an accessory.
“It’s an extension of your outfit,” she said. “Just like having well-groomed nails is an extension of how you’re preparing yourself and presenting yourself, your phone is also a representation of you.” (Fittingly, the fashion aficionado’s current case features a mirror.)
Corporate stylists and image consultants who spoke to Business Insider advised to treat this shiny little device as though it’s sending a message about you — because it likely is, whether you intend it to or not. This is especially true in professional environments where even the tiniest of details can make the biggest impact.
“People do notice these things,” Sterling said.
Accessorize for success
Some may argue that placing such significance on a phone case may teeter into the realm of superficial.
Still, as image consultant and former Fashion Institute of Technology instructor Carol Davidson said, because humans are such visual creatures — and because our judgments are often snap decisions — these overlooked points of presentation are “all more important than people sometimes give credit for.”
“All of these things add to the impression that you make,” she said. “So you want to make sure that all of the details line up.”
The idea that the case one chooses for their phone, or the decision to go without one altogether, indicates one’s personality is a relatively new development. “Twenty-five years ago, I might have been commenting on the pen that someone used,” said Davidson. “But we are a digital society … so anything that comes close to our digital devices is going to be important because they are on display.”
“We constantly have our phone in our hand,” agreed DeJhauna Smith, an Austin, Texas-based image consultant who primarily works with women, “whether you’re at a networking event or you’re at a business meeting.”
In Smith’s experience, a number of C-suite executives she’s met actually don’t have cases on their phones, instead opting to keep their devices bare. From her observations, these people, who are already in a position of power, are communicating that they are responsible and know how to “carry themselves,” she said.
“There is less of a concern of ‘I have to protect this thing,'” Sterling added. Not having a case “shows that you probably take care of your items, and you’re confident it’s not going to fall or break.”
A cracked or discolored case can communicate the opposite, and even undermine someone’s otherwise professional presentation. Sterling likens a damaged or noticeably worn case to scuffed shoes; Davidson compares it to wrinkled clothing or unkempt hair.
If an executive walks into a business meeting, pulling out a phone with a damaged case could shift the focus, said Smith. At best, they might think this person is a busy parent whose kid dropped their phone one too many times.
At worst, she said, a damaged or worn case could signify that this person doesn’t “pay attention to the smaller details,” which could translate into their work. On an important project, for example, they may worry that this person would focus only on the bigger picture and miss important details.
The devil’s in the details
In Davidson’s work, she often focuses on the idea of image integrity, meaning that all components of your image should align to support your message. “If you pay attention to the details in your appearance and how you present yourself, there’s the assumption that you will pay attention to the details in your work.”
The type of phone case one selects is no exception to this — and, rather, can also signify a person’s point of focus.
Those who opt for a more heavy-duty, multifunctional case — one that features a strap or a wallet — may signal that they’re not overly showy, and are instead dedicated to their work. “They prioritize peace of mind over aesthetics or the status of it all,” Davidson added. “There’s a sheer practicality and pragmatism to having a functional case.”
Image consultants who spoke to Business Insider have a few hard-and-fast rules for ensuring your phone case is work-appropriate.
“It’s important to get an iPhone case that’s practical, that doesn’t get dirty, that doesn’t break, that doesn’t peel,” said Sterling. She recommends investing in something durable; a designer case isn’t a necessity, though she has had clients who’ve purchased a $520 Bottega Veneta iPhone case.
According to Smith, you can’t go wrong with a clear (though not yellowing) case. But for those who like to sport a more colorful, adorned, or funky case, Smith recommends having two cases: one for work and one for outside the office.
However, Smith also said nobody should feel like they have to “hide” their phone case. “It’s just something to consider if you’re aiming to get into a certain role, or if you’re aiming to be in front of a specific audience, be aware of what you’re communicating,” she said. “And with that awareness, then choose: Am I going to have my phone out or not?”
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