For many women, getting dressed used to be simple. Not because it was easy, but because the rules were clear. There was a template, a uniform, a version of “professional” that promised safety, credibility, and belonging if you followed it closely enough. But somewhere between leaving corporate roles, starting businesses, working from home, and stepping into leadership on our own terms, those rules quietly disappeared. And in their place came this vague, unsettling directive to “just be authentic.”

In this episode of The Visibility Shift, I explore why that instruction feels so confusing (and sometimes downright unsafe), especially for women who were trained early in their careers to prioritize executive presence over individuality. I unpack the tension between performative style and authentic style, ask where you might still be dressing to appease, fit in, or avoid risk, and define what it would mean to choose alignment instead.

2:25 - The unspoken rules many women are still following long after the workplace that created them is gone

4:06 - Why authenticity feels liberating in theory but terrifying in practice

6:53 – The meaning of executive presence in today’s work environment

8:08 - The hidden comfort of templates (and the quiet cost of relying on them)

10:48 – What makes authentic style so hard to nail down and what it takes to find yours

14:44 - How to bridge the gap between performative, dress-for-success style and authentic style

16:41 - Why being seen clearly matters more than being universally approved

18:57 - A reminder you may want to return to the next time playing it safe feels tempting

Mentioned In When Executive Presence Stops You From Showing Up Authentically

Stop Dressing to Fit In and Start Showing Up Authentically

Are You Dressing Like the Face of Your Brand or Who You Used to Be?

Why Playing It Safe With Style Keeps You Invisible as a Personal Brand

The Hidden Style Rules Holding You Back (and How to Break Them)

The Compliment Trap and How to Reclaim Your Personal Style

The Visibility Edit

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The waitlist for my Standout Style Kick-Starter program is officially open. This is my signature one-on-one styling experience where we align your style with your overall brand strategy. If you're ready for more than just another shopping haul that leaves you with a stuffed, chaotic closet, then this is for you.

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