Large companies have added yet another consultant to their roster – he or she is a style consultant and they are hired to comment on your clothing on company training days and social events!

Casual clothing is being used as the latest tool to spot future leaders, what your private clothing choice says about you is being assessed by companies who are checking their staff for leadership potential on courses and at any outdoor events and social gatherings that the company organises. These consultants may not even turn up in person – they can simply assess your personality via video taken on the day.

What to watch out for

Apparently, childish clothing, such as pompoms on hats or jumpers, cartoon characters on T-shirts and gloves on strings around the neck, are complete no-nos – they say that the person wearing them will try to evade responsibility and has not developed an adult sense of proportion about the world.

Bright colours can be dubious too – if worn in combination. It seems that wearing red, yellow and green in three different garments, or say, a pink shirt with a yellow T-shirt underneath and a pair of purple socks, says  that you think of yourself as rebellious and a rule breaker, which can be good in creative industries, but also suggests you will be bad at handling authority if it is given to you, and won’t supervise other staff effectively.

What to aim for

Classic colours and one bold statement – say a green T-shirt with black jeans and a black jacket, say you have a sense of style and a sense of proportion – in other words, you can balance your needs and desires with those of the company. This makes you an ideal candidate for leadership.