Personal Branding: Elle Woods Style

I’ll admit it — Legally Blonde is one of my guilty pleasures. I often find myself looking to Elle Woods for inspiration; whether it be life in general, fashion and yes, even career. The fictional fashionista-turned-lawyer is a powerhouse and always seems to know what to say and how to act. Elle Woods is also a stellar example of how one should personally brand themselves.

Here are just a few ways PR professionals can follow in Elle’s footsteps and craft their personal brands.

Photo courtesy of giphy.com

Don’t be afraid to be creative.

Elle Woods never turns away from the opportunity to be creative. She crafted a video for her Harvard application rather than write the traditional essay. She was able to craft creative ideas throughout the movies, in almost any situation. She even used pink, scented paper for her resume. Elle Woods utilized creativity in almost every aspect of her life.

Stay consistent.

If you’ve seen Legally Blonde, then you know that pink is Elle’s signature color. Her resume was pink, her Delta Nu ring was pink, her suit was pink; in fact, most of her clothing throughout the movie was pink. People began associating the color with Elle. I’m not saying that you need to make your entire wardrobe your favorite color; however, staying consistent with colors and fonts throughout your resume, portfolio and business cards is a great idea.

But still try new things. 

Elle Woods was a fashion major at UCLA who turned into a powerhouse law student at Harvard. Though Elle had to work hard to get into law school, her efforts were definitely worth it. Her willingness to try new things allowed her to make a splash in the legal scene, as well as gain new skills. Same goes for public relations professionals. Do not be afraid to try new activities that will further develop your skillset or introduce you to new contacts.

Photo courtesy of giphy.com

Don’t let stereotypes control you.

Numerous times throughout Legally Blonde Elle was stereotyped; however, she never let those words control her. PR practitioners are often stereotyped — “spin doctors,” “no appreciation for anything not digital,” etc. Public relations professionals need to let the negative comments roll of their back as well. Remember, everyone needs a PR person at some point.

 

Natalie Gloady is a graduate student at Waynesburg University and the PRSSA 2017–2018 Publications Editor in Chief. Follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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