It’s an issue facing many people in the world today. I mean literally today. Saturday: The day when any self-respecting Property Addict will venture out into the world in search of Property Mecca. Of course, in order to reach to Mecca you need to cross the Black Sea; the army that is Real Estate Agents resplendent in their black attire of choice.
This unspoken rule of said attire is just that; a rule. One to be followed without exception. As a female, I have trotted out the application of this rule in some way on virtually every single day of my working life, although equally males seem to apply this mantra also. Why? I have compiled a list of possible options which Agents may subconsciously consider when selecting their daily uniform:
- Black is known as the most slimming colour, hence when leading people up flights of stairs to a top floor apartment, it is rather more forgiving on ones’ rear end.
- Black hides dirt. This is important:
- When venturing into a cesspool of a property within which an Agents’ clothing may come into contact with one or many surface/s.
- When an Agent’s clothes become a chamois whilst squeezing back into their car after an inspection because the person beside has parked too close.
- When an Agent takes their caffeine hit in the car between inspections and has to brake suddenly
- When an Agent has to wipe their hands on their clothes after having their paws grappled by a polite, but rather germ infested client.
- Black is viewed as a non-offensive colour choice. As an Agent, I need all the help in being non-offensive as I can get. This is particularly important if said Agent has had a couple of cheeky beverages on a Friday night and the odour seeping from their pores is conversely, highly offensive.
- Black is viewed as a powerful colour, projecting a professional image. Referring back to point 4, I need as much help in both departments as I can muster.
- Black is a receding colour, therefore assisting the Agent in blending into the background. Sometimes this is unhelpful when the Agent is spotted by The-Most-Annoying-Person-At-The-Inspection hiding against the stark white wall.
Feeling that black might be viewed as a somewhat intimidating colour option, I attempted an experiment: a new version of professional Agent suiting, that being a single colour outfit. The colour selected was Light Beige (or Nude), also an inoffensive neutral tone. Upon arriving at the office, an older male co-worker complemented me on my garb. The comment was “I like the top you are almost wearing”. The Nude palate lasted about 15 minutes until the desk version of point 2, section 3 came into effect, when my bottom half became adorned in an unflattering shade of latte.
Back to Black it was for me then.
Do you feel that Agents have an unusual tendency towards black clothing? Do you defer to this wardrobe staple in your own working life?
