Dressed For Success

Album: Look Sharp! (1989)
Charted: 18 14
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The phrase "Dress For Success" comes from John T. Malloy's 1970s books Dress For Success and its follow up Women's Dress for Success. These books started off the idea that working men and women should dress in a professional manner so as to be taken seriously. John T. Malloy was America's premier scientific image consultant and his books kick-started the image consulting industry and encouraged corporate women to wear for work full-jacketed sober suits.
  • Marie Fredriksson of Roxette explained: "I was so mad when I did it. Everything about that session went wrong, we argued about the arrangement, we changed the key, I was dead tired of the song when I went in to do a guide vocal. Did it in one blast and suddenly realized, 'hmm... this is it.'"

Comments: 3

  • LtsThis is a great song! One of the best pop/rock that is. Very intense!
  • Paul from MelbourneMost Roxette lyrics confuse me. lol.
  • Craig from Sturgeon Bay, WiConfused about some of the lyrics to Dressed For Success. the grey believers, another town where I get close to the bone/ blow the dust/ hitting a spot?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?