---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Power dressing is combat gear for the…"
description: "\"Power dressing is combat gear for the trip to the top.\" — Valerie Steele"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/valerie-steele-42675_combat_power-dressing-is-combat-gear-for-the-tr_1228184.jpg"
---

#  Power dressing is combat gear for the trip to the top.

![“Power dressing is combat gear for the trip to the top.” quote by Valerie Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/valerie-steele-42675_combat_power-dressing-is-combat-gear-for-the-tr_1228184.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/valerie-steele-42675_combat_power-dressing-is-combat-gear-for-the-tr_1228184.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/valerie-steele-42675_combat_power-dressing-is-combat-gear-for-the-tr_1228184.jpg)

> “Power dressing is combat gear for the trip to the top.”

[Valerie Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-steele/)

## About This Quote

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

Clothing can be used strategically as armor to project confidence and authority in professional advancement.

**In simple terms:** Dress strategically to gain advantage.

Key Takeaway

Use attire to boost presence.

Themes

confidence career image strategy

Mood

assertive professional

Type

motivational practical

When to use this quote

- job interview
- leadership meeting
- networking event
- promotion pitch

Key Concepts

social signaling self‑presentation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does your wardrobe affect others’ perceptions?
- Can clothing replace competence?

A Different Perspective

May prioritize style over substance, leading to superficial judgments.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Combat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combat/) [Dressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dressing/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [We've come a long way. Power dressing now is designed to let the woman inside us come through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/we-ve-come-a-long-way-power-dressing-now-is-designed-to-let-the-woman/)

[Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/)

> [The Greeks could be a crushing bore. I recommend dressing everyone in combat fatigues or S&amp;M gear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/the-greeks-could-be-a-crushing-bore-i-recommend-dressing-everyone-in/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [I'm not good at dressing myself; I need people to help me do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-agdal/i-m-not-good-at-dressing-myself-i-need-people-to-help-me-do-that/)

[Nina Agdal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-agdal/)

> [I like to pick out a certain part of each show I'm in and I watch it when I'm not onstage or in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-donnell/i-like-to-pick-out-a-certain-part-of-each-show-i-m-in-and-i-watch-it/)

[Colin Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-donnell/)

> [I have never been a bad influence in the dressing room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-adebayor/i-have-never-been-a-bad-influence-in-the-dressing-room/)

[Emmanuel Adebayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-adebayor/)

> [I love dressing up and putting on the makeup and the hair and the clothes and just being a different person for a day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-stone/i-love-dressing-up-and-putting-on-the-makeup-and-the-hair-and-the/)

[Lara Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-stone/)

> ['Arnold Layne' just happens to dig dressing up in women's clothing. A lot of people do - so let's face up to reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-barrett/arnold-layne-just-happens-to-dig-dressing-up-in-women-s-clothing-a/)

[Syd Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-barrett/)

> [And then, all of a sudden, you're like, all that's great and fun, but Arthur Miller's in my dressing room. This is the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-krause/and-then-all-of-a-sudden-you-re-like-all-that-s-great-and-fun-but/)

[Peter Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-krause/)

> [The minute I'm off that stage, I try to get as 'me' as possible. I do that by piling on my black eyeliner, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troian-bellisario/the-minute-i-m-off-that-stage-i-try-to-get-as-me-as-possible-i-do/)

[Troian Bellisario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troian-bellisario/)

> [You have different characters in the dressing room. If you have a go at someone, someone might answer back, other people will take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/you-have-different-characters-in-the-dressing-room-if-you-have-a-go/)

[Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/)

> [I've worked with so many teams, so many dressing rooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/i-ve-worked-with-so-many-teams-so-many-dressing-rooms/)

[Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/)

> [I take apart restaurant menus everywhere I go. I kind of tick off a lot of chefs in restaurants because I'll say, 'You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-williams/i-take-apart-restaurant-menus-everywhere-i-go-i-kind-of-tick-off-a/)

[Montel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-williams/)

> [Most dressing rooms are sterile and they feel like someone else's space. But over two weeks of previews, before the show officially opens, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathew-horne/most-dressing-rooms-are-sterile-and-they-feel-like-someone-else-s/)

[Mathew Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathew-horne/)

> [“Take care of your costume and your confidence will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/take-care-of-your-costume-and-your-confidence-will-take-care-of-itself/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [I love fashion. I like dressing how I feel, and my music shows how I feel - they go hand in hand. My performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/i-love-fashion-i-like-dressing-how-i-feel-and-my-music-shows-how-i/)

[Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/)

## More by Valerie Steele

> [The stiletto is the icon of erotic femininity. You're taller, thinner and curvier, all at the same time. What's not to like?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-steele/the-stiletto-is-the-icon-of-erotic-femininity-you-re-taller-thinner/)

[Valerie Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-steele/)

> [Fashion is a part of the world and part of history. It's not a meaningless swirl of meaningless clothes. They (clothes) reflect the times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-steele/fashion-is-a-part-of-the-world-and-part-of-history-it-s-not-a/)

[Valerie Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-steele/)

> [Fashion museums think the more you know about the significance of clothes culturally, the more interesting they are. We certainly don't neglect the aesthetic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-steele/fashion-museums-think-the-more-you-know-about-the-significance-of/)

[Valerie Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-steele/)

> [Unlike art, the consumption of fashion is not based primarily on knowledge or education but functions through visual awareness, a type of sensuality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-steele/unlike-art-the-consumption-of-fashion-is-not-based-primarily-on/)

[Valerie Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-steele/)

> [Very rarely is there actually a functional reason for a fashion rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-steele/very-rarely-is-there-actually-a-functional-reason-for-a-fashion-rule/)

[Valerie Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-steele/)

> [I think fashion is probably one of the most accessible and immediate forms of visual culture. In 1978, when I realized that I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-steele/i-think-fashion-is-probably-one-of-the-most-accessible-and-immediate/)

[Valerie Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-steele/)

> [Fashion has been collected and exhibited for many years. People were picking up clothing of famous individuals, like Marie Antoinette's shoe or Napoleon's hat.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-steele/fashion-has-been-collected-and-exhibited-for-many-years-people-were/)

[Valerie Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-steele/)

> [The item of clothing that makes us feel powerful is the one that makes us feel confident and self-assured, that magically makes us look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-steele/the-item-of-clothing-that-makes-us-feel-powerful-is-the-one-that/)

[Valerie Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-steele/)

> [I think that a lot of our fashion history shows do touch on important issues. Fashion and Technology obviously does, because technology is impacting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-steele/i-think-that-a-lot-of-our-fashion-history-shows-do-touch-on-important/)

[Valerie Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-steele/)

[Explore all 10 Valerie Steele quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-steele/)

## More Combat quotes

> [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/)

[Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/)

> [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [Im a ham. I was immediately attracted to fencing because it seemed like a romantic, melodramatic form of combat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dickinson/im-a-ham-i-was-immediately-attracted-to-fencing-because-it-seemed/)

[Bruce Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-dickinson/)

> [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/)

[David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/)

> [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

> [Success flourishes only in perseverance ceaseless, restless perseverance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/success-flourishes-only-in-perseverance-ceaseless-restless/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“It is believed by many that the military life is one of adventure and excitement. In truth, that life more often consists of long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-zahn-star-wars-thrawn/it-is-believed-by-many-that-the-military-life-is-one-of-adventure-and/)

[Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-zahn-star-wars-thrawn/)

> [The fight against syphilis demands a fight against prostitution, against prejudices, old habits, against previous conceptions, general views among them not least the false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-fight-against-syphilis-demands-a-fight-against-prostitution/)

[Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/)

> [The United States can certainly defeat North Vietnam, but the United States cannot defeat a guerrilla war which is being raged from a sanctuary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-united-states-can-certainly-defeat-north-vietnam-but-the-united/)

[Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/)

> [As a soldier and combat veteran, I believe American military forces should only be used in the defense and furtherance of our nation's vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-ernst/as-a-soldier-and-combat-veteran-i-believe-american-military-forces/)

[Joni Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-ernst/)

> [A warrior is always aware of what is worth fighting for. He does not go into combat over things that do not concern him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/a-warrior-is-always-aware-of-what-is-worth-fighting-for-he-does-not/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/an-untrained-or-uneducated-marine-deployed-to-the-combat-zone-is-a/)

[James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/)

> [Either we stand united and agree to combat climate change or we will all stumble and fall and condemn humanity to a tragic future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enele-sopoaga/either-we-stand-united-and-agree-to-combat-climate-change-or-we-will/)

[Enele Sopoaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enele-sopoaga/)

> [But despite their heroic acts, the Vietnam Veterans of America continued to struggle to establish a combat badge in honor of these brave pilots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-holden/but-despite-their-heroic-acts-the-vietnam-veterans-of-america/)

[Tim Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-holden/)

> [Any physical practice can be a competitive sport. What level you can take postures to create the maximum challenge and show your maximum skill,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajashree-choudhury/any-physical-practice-can-be-a-competitive-sport-what-level-you-can/)

[Rajashree Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajashree-choudhury/)

[Browse all 1,019 Combat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combat/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Power dressing is combat gear for the trip to the top.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Valerie Steele"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-steele/power-dressing-is-combat-gear-for-the-trip-to-the-top/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Combat"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-steele/power-dressing-is-combat-gear-for-the-trip-to-the-top/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/valerie-steele-42675_combat_power-dressing-is-combat-gear-for-the-tr_1228184.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/valerie-steele-42675_combat_power-dressing-is-combat-gear-for-the-tr_1228184.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/valerie-steele-42675_combat_power-dressing-is-combat-gear-for-the-tr_1228184.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Power dressing is combat gear for the trip to the top.” — Valerie Steele",
                "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": "Valerie Steele",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-steele/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Power dressing is combat gear for...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-steele/power-dressing-is-combat-gear-for-the-trip-to-the-top/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-steele/power-dressing-is-combat-gear-for-the-trip-to-the-top/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
