Lady Shark: Real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran talks dressing to impress for ABC's "Shark Tank." Photo: Courtesy ABC
As a young woman, Corcoran borrowed a $1,000 loan from a boyfriend and parlayed it into a real estate empire she eventually sold for a whopping $70 million. (Not bad for someone who admits to "D" grades in high school).
Corcoran is one of the five mega-millionaires starring in ABC's "Shark Tank," which starts its new season at 8 p.m. tonight (Sept. 28). She'll be the lone woman in the group of power-brokers, who consider investing on the businesses of aspiring entrepreneurs who hope to make it big.
Corcoran has definite personal style -- feminine but all business. We asked her about it, and, not surprisingly, she has some well-thought out ideas on the topic.
StyleList: Your clothes always read serious, but you manage to work in feminine details. How did you cultivate your professional style?
Corocoran: "My mantra with clothes is make it easy. I approach it by a process of elimination. I only like saturated colors. I don't like prints. I wear things that compliment my skin tone. I like strong blues. I like strong pinks. I wore a lot of red in real estate. Basically, I keep my wardrobe down to about six colors and I wear white t-shirts with everything. I have about 12, so one is always clean. I like a neutral shoe and a white skirt. They elongate my legs. I have short legs. I think it is nice to show some leg and in my case, have it seem a little longer than it really is.."
StyleList: Color? You wore a lot of dark clothes when "Shark Tank." made its debut this summer.
Corcoran: In real life, I dress nothing like I do on "Shark Tank." In fact, when I'm not working, I can be a slob. I don't have a stylist for the show, but the producers (including "Survivor" creator Mark Burnett) want me in black or gray, because a shark is dark. They also want us to coordinate with the set. I don't love it, but I agree with the concept. It looks good on television. It just doesn't flatter me much. I wear my own jewelry, which is how I work in some feminine detail. It is impossible to look soft in a black outfit.
StyleList: You wrote a book called, "If You Don't Have Big Breasts, Tie Ribbons to Your Pigtails." The message was?
Corcoran:. When I was 17 I had a job as a waitress. My competition was another waitress who was a blonde bombshell with these Dolly Parton breasts. She used to balance coffee cups on her chest. I couldn't compete. I told my mom about how discouraged I was and that was her advice. I did what Mom told me and kind of played the feminine innocent. Some of my customers, especially the men, liked it. It made me seem all virginal and sweet. I started to get more tips and give the girl with the boobs some real competition. It was a real lesson in making the most of what you have.
StyleList: You interviewed thousands of job candidates for your former real estate company, the Corcoran Group. Can we have some advice for dressing for job interviews, especially in this economy?
Corcoran: Dress the next level up. Say you are applying for a job as a legal secretary, then dress like a lawyer. But look feminine. Wear some nice jewelry, a skirt. There is nothing wrong with looking like a woman. It is something a guy can't do.
StyleList: Which of the male sharks dresses best?
Corocoran: Daymond John (founder of the FuBu clothing line). He looks so great in his custom-made suits with his big diamond stud earrings. He has great style. And he is a very funny, likable man, not at all the quiet, calculating guy you see on the show. And he wouldn't be wearing a suit in the pit if he didn't have to. He would prefer just to wear a vest. That's more him. It is just the show requires something more serious. We have to seem intimidating, like sharks.