What is the link between personality and style? So many people, by “people” I mean stylists, focus on what effect someone wants to create with their outfit. But it’s another case where there is a more direct way to the same outcome: dressing as yourself.
In this article, I’m talking about one of the most well-known personality typing systems out there: DISC, and the benefits and limitations to using it to inform your style. Because the most effective way to communicate through personality and style is simply to stop hiding who you actually are.
What DISC Actually Measures
Let me start with a story that sparked this whole episode.
I was driving around looking at paint jobs – I have a small part of my business where I help people choose paint colors. I stopped at an open house to meet the realtor and connect with a painter he knows. In our conversation, I asked him if he knew his Myers-Briggs type. He said, “In real estate, pretty much everyone uses DISC.”
That’s brilliant, actually. There are only four categories, and it’s much easier to spot quickly and tailor how you present information. So I said, “You probably saw me get out of the car and knew I was…” He said, “ID.”
Here’s the thing: I was dressed incredibly simply that day. A flowy, sleeveless, knee-length dress and Chacos. Nothing strategic about it. But I felt like myself, and because of that, I was able to show up as myself and be seen as myself.
DISC measures two things: your pace and your focus. Fast-paced people (D and I types) are quick to act, urgent, sometimes impatient. Slow-paced people (S and C types) are more deliberate, patient, methodical. Then there’s focus: people-oriented folks (I and S types) prioritize relationships and collaboration, while task-oriented people (D and C types) focus on results and efficiency.
How Each DISC Type Could Dress Strategically
Now, if you wanted to strategically communicate your DISC type, here’s what that might look like.
D types want to signal “I’m the decision-maker here.”
- Power colors and tailored styles work beautifully
- Structured pieces that project authority
- Clean lines that say “I get results”
I types want to signal “I’m interesting and well-connected.”
- Color is your friend – bright, engaging choices
- Fun styles that invite conversation
- Pieces that make people want to include you
S types want to signal “I’m loyal and won’t rock the boat.”
- Expected styles work perfectly here
- Either classic pieces or whatever’s commonly worn within your group
- Looks that make people feel comfortable confiding in you
C types want to signal “I do quality work and have the expertise.”
- Tidy, well-groomed, crisp presentation
- Attention to details like a button-down collar on dress shirts
- Everything polished and purposeful
These strategic approaches work. When you dress to communicate your DISC type, you attract the right opportunities and the right kind of recognition.
But Here’s What I Discovered
The most effective way to communicate through personality and style is simply to stop hiding who you actually are.
I wasn’t strategically dressing as an “ID” type that day. I just chose clothes that felt like me – comfortable, flowing, unpretentious. But because I wasn’t hiding my personality, my natural communication style and energy came through immediately.
This connects to something hilarious about my own DISC results. Years ago, I took the assessment and scored 6-6-6-6. I thought it was the funniest thing! I either was the antichrist to another level or I had no personality at all.
The Deeper Truth About Personality and Style
This is why I use Myers-Briggs in my style work rather than something like DISC. DISC tells you about behavioral adaptations – how you act in different situations. But Myers-Briggs reveals your core cognitive patterns, the deeper processing style that stays consistent regardless of how you adapt your behavior.
When you understand and express your actual personality through your style choices, you don’t have to strategically signal anything. Your strengths become visible naturally. People see your value automatically because you’re not working against yourself or hiding behind something that isn’t you.
The most effective way to communicate through personality and style is simply to stop hiding who you actually are. If you want to understand your cognitive wiring and how it relates to style, book your personality profiling session today.
Here’s something simple you can do this week to integrate these principles into your wardrobe: Look through your closet and identify one outfit that makes you feel most like yourself. Not the most polished or strategic – the most like you. Notice what about those pieces feels right. That’s your starting point for letting your personality shine through naturally.