The universal language of shopping
- Danielle Hughes
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
What personality brand really means (and why it matters at work)
OMG I love that! It looks great on you. Love that color! Where’d you get that?
Not to genderize these statements, but there’s probably not a woman reading this that hasn’t said or been told these words at some point. Paying someone a compliment and liking something they’re wearing is a tale as old as time.
I said do you speak-a my language
I was on a call with a woman recently and somehow the topic of shopping came up. I think we were talking about how we never really “dress” anymore but when we do have to go somewhere, it’s nice to have something that isn’t athleisure. After many minutes of talking about Poshmark, thrifting, and how a dress is an entire outfit, she said “it’s the universal language of shopping.”
Sometimes I’m mad I didn’t think of this first. This is one of those times.
Shared experience
More than just sharing a love for clothes and shopping (although less these days), to me this statement was more about the shared experience as women. And as women who run their own businesses and work from home.
We both could instantly relate to not needing a closet full of slacks and blazers.
To preferring joggers to jeans and sweatshirts to blouses.
But also the understanding that getting dressed today is more special. We reminisced about how we used to have to do that every single day! And pack lunch. And get things dry cleaned. Oh the horror! How did we ever cope?
This was a shared experience. One of having worked in an office for decades.
Commuted.
Shopped.
Refreshed wardrobes.
Wore makeup and did our hair every. single. day.
I truly can’t fathom it. But I remember it.
And so did she. So we could bond over this shared language of workplaces of yore.
We immediately related to each other.
Built rapport.
Understood the other person.
Because they were like us. Trust established. Credibility established. Ease of language established.
I see you boo
Just like when you share a hobby in your LinkedIn headline.
Or you have a really amazing photograph behind your desk on a Zoom call.
Or you wear a sweatshirt or hat with a school logo or place you’ve traveled.
You’re sending a signal to others that you’re a human with interests and experiences.
And that those interests and experiences might be the same as theirs.
You’re saying you have a shared language.
That language is Personality Brand.
It’s the language of being yourself and allowing others to do the same.
And it makes all the difference in fostering connection in the workplace and everywhere else.
Here are some ways you can do that…
If you enjoy my content, have attended a free workshop, or simply want to do something nice, feel free to buy me a coffee (or glass or two of wine).
Is it actually okay to show personality at work — or will that make me look unprofessional?
Yes, it’s okay — and no, it won’t make you unprofessional (unless you’re being wildly inappropriate, and that’s a different blog post). Showing personality isn’t oversharing; it’s letting people see how you think, what you value, and what makes you different from the 47 other people with your job title. Professional doesn’t mean beige. It means credible — and credibility grows when people feel like they know you.
How do I build a personal brand without feeling fake or try-hard?
If it feels fake, you’re performing. Your personality brand isn’t a costume — it’s what’s already true about you, just turned up enough so others can hear it. The stories you tell, the opinions you hold, the way you approach your work — that’s the good stuff. Borrow someone else’s vibe and it’ll always feel off. Own yours and it feels surprisingly natural.
Why does sharing hobbies or personal details on LinkedIn even matter?
Because people don’t connect over bullet points — they connect over shared language. When you mention the marathon, the thrift store obsession, the book you won’t shut up about, you’re giving someone an “also me” moment. And those moments build rapport faster than a polished headline ever could. It’s not fluff. It’s connection.
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