---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you can't be better than your…"
description: "\"If you can't be better than your competition, just dress better.\" — Anna Wintour"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/anna-wintour-2501_competition_if-you-can-t-be-better-than-your-competi_2735899.jpg"
---

#  If you can't be better than your competition, just dress…

![“If you can't be better than your competition, just dress better.” quote by Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/anna-wintour-2501_competition_if-you-can-t-be-better-than-your-competi_2735899.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/anna-wintour-2501_competition_if-you-can-t-be-better-than-your-competi_2735899.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/anna-wintour-2501_competition_if-you-can-t-be-better-than-your-competi_2735899.jpg)

> “If you can't be better than your competition, just dress better.”

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

When performance lags, visual presentation can compensate and influence perception.

**In simple terms:** Dress well to offset weaker performance.

Key Takeaway

Invest in personal appearance.

Themes

image competition strategy

Mood

confident stylish

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- fashion
- business
- sports

Key Concepts

branding psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How does appearance affect your confidence?
- When is style more important than skill?

A Different Perspective

Superficial focus may neglect core improvement.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Better Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-competition-748123/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Competition Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition-just-2238118/) [Dress Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dress-better-1634763/) [Dresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dresses/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Fashion trends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion-trends/) [Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Just Dress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-dress-624628/) [Monday morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monday-morning/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Style icons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style-icons/)

## Related quotes

> [I think to be a true style icon, you just have to dress yourself. There are so many actresses floating around who have people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-sevigny/i-think-to-be-a-true-style-icon-you-just-have-to-dress-yourself-there/)

[Chloe Sevigny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-sevigny/)

> [Girls don't dress for boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsey-johnson/girls-don-t-dress-for-boys/)

[Betsey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsey-johnson/)

> [You can never take too much care over the choice of your shoes. Too many women think that they are unimportant, but the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-dior/you-can-never-take-too-much-care-over-the-choice-of-your-shoes-too/)

[Christian Dior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-dior/)

> [Anyone can get dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their days off that are the most intriguing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-wang/anyone-can-get-dressed-up-and-glamorous-but-it-is-how-people-dress-in/)

[Alexander Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-wang/)

> [Don't be into trends. Don't make fashion own you, but you decide what you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianni-versace/don-t-be-into-trends-don-t-make-fashion-own-you-but-you-decide-what/)

[Gianni Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianni-versace/)

> [Decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianni-versace/decide-what-you-are-what-you-want-to-express-by-the-way-you-dress-and/)

[Gianni Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianni-versace/)

> [You can never take too much care over the choice of your shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-dior/you-can-never-take-too-much-care-over-the-choice-of-your-shoes/)

[Christian Dior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-dior/)

> [“As you get older no doubt you'll change automatically, just like I did. You will learn all the tricks. You will dress much better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-blackwood/as-you-get-older-no-doubt-you-ll-change-automatically-just-like-i-did/)

[Caroline Blackwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-blackwood/)

> [There may be those on earth who dress better or eat better, but those who enjoy the peace of God sleeps better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-holdcroft/there-may-be-those-on-earth-who-dress-better-or-eat-better-but-those/)

[Thomas Holdcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-holdcroft/)

> [“Some wounds don’t scar over. They just learn to dress better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janus-lucky/some-wounds-don-t-scar-over-they-just-learn-to-dress-better/)

[Janus Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janus-lucky/)

> [I think toward the end of my run as an Emmy nominee, I started to dress better. At the beginning I was overdressed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-pickles/i-think-toward-the-end-of-my-run-as-an-emmy-nominee-i-started-to/)

[Christina Pickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-pickles/)

> [I think Indians dress better than anyone, but I don't want to imitate more than a detail or two; I prefer my clothes humdrum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-frazier/i-think-indians-dress-better-than-anyone-but-i-don-t-want-to-imitate/)

[Ian Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-frazier/)

> [Yes, U.S. travelers dress better. The British are always so conspicuous in hot climates. They don't seem to wear shorts. American men seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/yes-u-s-travelers-dress-better-the-british-are-always-so-conspicuous/)

[Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/)

> [I want to learn as much as I can from the people around me that know how to dress better than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nav/i-want-to-learn-as-much-as-i-can-from-the-people-around-me-that-know/)

[Nav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nav/)

> [I don't have memorabilia but try to take a bit of wardrobe, usually because they dress me better than I dress myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/i-don-t-have-memorabilia-but-try-to-take-a-bit-of-wardrobe-usually/)

[Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/)

## More by Anna Wintour

> [It's very important to me that I look good when I go out publicly. I like looking at my clothes rack in the morning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-i-look-good-when-i-go-out-publicly-i/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

> [I never pay any attention. I'm sure it's not such a good way to be, but I don't really follow market research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/i-never-pay-any-attention-i-m-sure-it-s-not-such-a-good-way-to-be-but/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

> [I think Beyonce is every woman. She's superwoman, she's an extraordinary business woman, she's a force of fashion. She totally understands the way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/i-think-beyonce-is-every-woman-she-s-superwoman-she-s-an/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

> [We're all used to hearing the word 'authentic' a little too often these days, but in Senator Gillibrand's case, it's entirely accurate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/we-re-all-used-to-hearing-the-word-authentic-a-little-too-often-these/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

> [If my style is too direct for some, maybe they should toughen up a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/if-my-style-is-too-direct-for-some-maybe-they-should-toughen-up-a-bit/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

> [I don't have a high-powered life out of work. I like to go to the country for the weekend with the kids and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/i-don-t-have-a-high-powered-life-out-of-work-i-like-to-go-to-the/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

> [I’m very driven by what I do. I am certainly very competitive. I like people who represent the best at what they do. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/i-m-very-driven-by-what-i-do-i-am-certainly-very-competitive-i-like/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

> [The young people we hire today at Conde Nast are fearless polymaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/the-young-people-we-hire-today-at-conde-nast-are-fearless-polymaths/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

> [Imperfection is fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/imperfection-is-fine/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

> [We all have a role to play in creating safe environments where everyone can be free to work without fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/we-all-have-a-role-to-play-in-creating-safe-environments-where/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

> [In my own personal career, I have felt almost the most difficult thing to deal with is someone who doesn't tell you what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/in-my-own-personal-career-i-have-felt-almost-the-most-difficult-thing/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

> ['Vogue' and 'Vice' may appear to some to see the world through different lenses. But in my view, both are fearless and breathtaking, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/vogue-and-vice-may-appear-to-some-to-see-the-world-through-different/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

> [Part of the pleasure of editing 'Vogue,' one that lies in a long tradition of this magazine, is being able to feature those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/part-of-the-pleasure-of-editing-vogue-one-that-lies-in-a-long/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

> [You either know fashion or you don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/you-either-know-fashion-or-you-don-t/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

> [I don't go to the afterparties. I think people always feel if I go to the afterparties, they have to behave well, which, after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/i-don-t-go-to-the-afterparties-i-think-people-always-feel-if-i-go-to/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

[Explore all 163 Anna Wintour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

## More Competition quotes

> [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/)

[Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/)

> [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/)

[Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/)

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [People think that the Club World Cup is an easy competition, but it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keylor-navas/people-think-that-the-club-world-cup-is-an-easy-competition-but-it-s/)

[Keylor Navas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keylor-navas/)

> [If you ask another competitor, they may tell you they felt very competitive towards me. But I can tell you that my biggest competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-ask-another-competitor-they-may-tell-you-they-felt-very/)

[Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/)

> [“At times, competition can be a good thing. But a person's value isn't something that can be ranked, is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hotaru-odagiri/at-times-competition-can-be-a-good-thing-but-a-person-s-value-isn-t/)

[Hotaru Odagiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hotaru-odagiri/)

> [Our competition has always been anything that is wasting your time when you're bored at work. In a broad sense. We want people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/our-competition-has-always-been-anything-that-is-wasting-your-time/)

[Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/)

> [I've always considered making it legal for Americans to import their prescription drugs a free-trade issue. Imports create competition and keep domestic industry more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-grassley/i-ve-always-considered-making-it-legal-for-americans-to-import-their/)

[Chuck Grassley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-grassley/)

> [Honestly, we’ll compete with everybody. I love competition. As long as people invent their own stuff, I love competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/honestly-we-ll-compete-with-everybody-i-love-competition-as-long-as/)

[Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/)

> [The "health, education, and welfare" section of government is another boondoggle. First we manufacture indigent and superfluous people by legal monopolies in land, money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurance-labadie/the-health-education-and-welfare-section-of-government-is-another/)

[Laurance Labadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurance-labadie/)

> [I try to keep up with everything - all wrestling across the board. I want to know what the competition is doing, what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hardy/i-try-to-keep-up-with-everything-all-wrestling-across-the-board-i/)

[Matt Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hardy/)

> [Sometimes in England, people look down at the Europa League, but being from the continent, I've always realised what an important competition it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mignolet/sometimes-in-england-people-look-down-at-the-europa-league-but-being/)

[Simon Mignolet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mignolet/)

> [“There is a scene in one of the Rocky movies where after the match Apollo Creed and Rocky are waiting for the scoring of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-passaro/there-is-a-scene-in-one-of-the-rocky-movies-where-after-the-match/)

[John A. Passaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-passaro/)

> [I've always written. When I was in school, the only teacher who ever liked me was my creative writing teacher. I used to enter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-townes-earle/i-ve-always-written-when-i-was-in-school-the-only-teacher-who-ever/)

[Justin Townes Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-townes-earle/)

> [Competition between men is a fuel that's useful to us. We have to be careful that it doesn't tell the same story over too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-irwin/competition-between-men-is-a-fuel-that-s-useful-to-us-we-have-to-be/)

[Bill Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-irwin/)

[Browse all 3,894 Competition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you can't be better than your competition, just dress better.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anna Wintour"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/if-you-can-t-be-better-than-your-competition-just-dress-better/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Competition"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/if-you-can-t-be-better-than-your-competition-just-dress-better/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/anna-wintour-2501_competition_if-you-can-t-be-better-than-your-competi_2735899.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/anna-wintour-2501_competition_if-you-can-t-be-better-than-your-competi_2735899.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/anna-wintour-2501_competition_if-you-can-t-be-better-than-your-competi_2735899.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you can't be better than your competition, just dress better.” — Anna Wintour",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Anna Wintour",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you can't be better than...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/if-you-can-t-be-better-than-your-competition-just-dress-better/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/if-you-can-t-be-better-than-your-competition-just-dress-better/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
