How to look like a super villain at work

I hesitate to join this thread out of my firm belief that we have quite enough villains already in the business world. While recognizing that you are soliciting advice on appearance, not actual villainous behaviour, I might humbly suggest that rather than aspiring to intimidate you try to simply look rich.

I don't know your age or budget but if you can invest in perfectly tailored and fully canvased suits, impeccable British oxford shoes, fine shirts with French cuffs and seven-fold Italian ties, you will, if not intimidate, certainly impress your colleagues and clients. If you want them to suspect you got a huge bonus and they didn't, so be it. When they ask, just smile. In fact, smile often.

It has been my experience that the people who would be intimidated by appearance aren't the ones you are trying to influence, and the ones you are trying to influence aren't intimidated by appearance.

Jacobs said:

It has been my experience that the people who would be intimidated by appearance aren't the ones you are trying to influence, and the ones you are trying to influence aren't intimidated by appearance.

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Seconded.. Trying to intimidate by appearance is bizarre idea.

buy a painting said:

Seconded.. Trying to intimidate by appearance is bizarre idea.

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One should, however, endeavor to impress by appearance. In my career (managing large newsrooms and staffs of reporters and editors) I never felt I was the smartest guy in the room--far from it--but I always seemed to get the "smart guy" assignments and promotions. I attribute that in large part to the fact that I dressed the part. In short I looked like the guy who should be in charge.

maxalex said:

One should, however, endeavor to impress by appearance. In my career (managing large newsrooms and staffs of reporters and editors) I never felt I was the smartest guy in the room--far from it--but I always seemed to get the "smart guy" assignments and promotions. I attribute that in large part to the fact that I dressed the part. In short I looked like the guy who should be in charge.

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On a few occasions I had to promote someone and I couldn't decide between candidates, my choice was based on general appearance. Able to dress well played significant part. Strangely I used to feel guilty about such decision and to this day I probably do.

Two stories about looking "menacing" (or whatever). When I was about 40, I was in the best shape of my life and considerably more imposing than in my shriveled old age today. Anyway, a young woman who joined our staff told me her first impression of me was "a villain in a James Bond movie who would despise Americans for their lack of fitness and come to a sticky end out on the ski slopes." She also promptly fell in love with me. (Well, they do say women love bad boys!)

Also, when I was active in the dog game, there was another man, a deputy sheriff, in my city who had Tosas. He was a huge man, but trim, solid and muscular. I may have looked imposing, but he made me look like Ichabod Crane! Anyway, I hadn't seen him for a few years and then ran into him at a street event. He had grown a Fu Manchu and (if I remember aright) had shaved his head to look more intimidating to the bad guys. Hell, that guy would have looked intimidating as hell even if he had been wearing a pink seersucker suit, a straw boater and had been strumming a ukelele!

If what you are looking for is to be seen as more assertive, I suggest picking up the book "A$$hole" by Martin Kihn. Funny memoir of his attempt to do that. (Short version of his advice: Keep it under control, but have the ability to turn it on)