The Closet Coach

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Update 10.6.11: Steve Jobs, 1955-2011. Rest in peace. You will be missed.

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Have you seen “Crazy, Stupid, Love” yet?* (If you’re a member of the Style List, you already heard me rave about it.)

One of the many funny scenes involves a manly makeover administered by Ryan Gosling’s ladykiller character to Steve Carell’s schlumpy married man, in which Gosling takes Carell’s white New Balance sneakers and throws them away, asking “Are you Steve Jobs? Are you the president of Apple Computer?”

The implication, as communications coach Steve Gallo wrote in a post for Forbes, is that Steve Jobs can get away dressed in white running shoes all the time, but you can’t–because he’s Steve Jobs and you’re not.

But it wasn’t always true, not even for Steve Jobs. Early on in his career, he wore suits and ties just like the rest of us.

It wasn’t until he returned to Apple, and returned the company to success, that he could afford to wear his now-standard uniform of black turtlenecks, Levi’s 501’s and white running shoes.

So what can Steve Jobs teach you about style?

• Dress for what’s next. Until you make your own million (or billion), dress for the job you want, not the one you have.
• Know what works for you. You don’t have to have a wardrobe as regimented as Jobs does, but when you find a look you like, let it guide you. There’s nothing wrong with creating variations on a theme.
• Be aware of where you are. It’s not by accident that the “uniform” Jobs settled on is one that works well in an environment of techies and creatives, as many of the Apple faithful are. He didn’t swap three-piece suits for golf clothes. Think about where you are. Are you dressing to fit in or stand out? No matter which it is, be deliberate with your choices.

This doesn’t mean that only successful technology executives can throw away the fashion rule book. They just have a little more freedom than we do!

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*Bonus fun

If you haven’t seen it, here’s a little taste of “Crazy, Stupid, Love”:

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