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Dress for Success: Building a Wardrobe for Work zz
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2005-01-14 22:02:00
If you�ve been wearing jeans and sandals on campus, you may be in for a bit of culture shock when it comes time to start dressing professionally. Although the specifics of your dress code will vary by geographic region, the industry you work in, and the culture of your particular employer, chances are good that you�ll have to change the way you think about clothes.
The information provided here covers three key areas of business dressing: interviews, business professional, and business casual. Keep in mind that these are only guidelines; you should always ask your employer about the dress code policy. Also, don�t go out and buy a whole new wardrobe right before you start your new job. Take some time to observe what your co-workers are wearing and learn what�s acceptable. You�ll make a better impression and feel more comfortable in the workplace if you�re dressed appropriately.
Dressing for interviews
Before you say a single word to the interviewer, you have already made an impression based on how you�re dressed. The guidelines given here are commonly accepted as appropriate for interviewing. Every company has a different dress code; how you dress at the job may have very little to do with how you dress for an interview.
Before you say a single word to the interviewer, you have already made an impression based on how you�re dressed. The guidelines given here are commonly accepted as appropriate for interviewing. Every company has a different dress code; how you dress at the job may have very little to do with how you dress for an interview.
The Interview Suit
- Generally, you should wear a suit with a skirt. Pants suits are becoming more acceptable, but when in doubt you should be more conservative.
- Your suit should be comfortable and fit you well; if your waistband is cutting you in half or your jacket is too tight, you won�t look or act your best. Some stores offer free alterations when you purchase a suit, or you may want to find a tailor to adjust a suit you already own.
- Interview suits should be simple and dark in color. Anything tight, bright, short, or sheer should absolutely be avoided. (Interviewers have been known to complain about the length of interviewees� skirts; if you have any doubts, it�s probably too short.) Knee-length skirts are suggested - Ally McBeal does not work in the real world. Very long skirts, while modest, are also considered too trendy for an interview.
- Wear a conservative blouse or shell with your suit. Do not wear bright colors, animal prints, or anything lacy, sheer, or low-cut. (A shell is styled a lot like a T-shirt but is made of dressier fabric. It usually has a scoop neck and short sleeves, which are more comfortable with suit jackets than long sleeves. Shells come in a range of lightweight fabrics and many colors; if you wear suits often, you will probably end up with a lot of them.)
- Make-up and nail polish should be understated and flattering; shades that are neutral to your skin tone are generally advisable. Avoid bright or unusual colors (e.g., purple lipstick) or very long nails. If you are unsure of what�s appropriate, you may want to visit a salon or make-up counter for a consultation. Make sure you specify that you want advice on a professional look, not a glamorous one � think "Job Candidate," not "Mimi."
- Keep your jewelry and hair accessories to a minimum, and stick to those that are not flashy, distracting, or shiny. One ring per hand is best.
- Shoes should be conservative and fairly low-heeled. They should be in reasonably good condition, not scuffed or run-down at the heels. Don�t wear shoes with an open toe or back; any shoes you would wear on a date or to a club are probably inappropriate. A basic pump is flattering, versatile, and will stay in style forever (once you own pumps, you can spend the rest of your money on fun shoes). The salesperson in the shoe store can steer you in the right direction.
- Your hose should be neutral (matched to your skin tone). Make sure the heels are not dyed black from your shoes and that there are no snags or runs. Only use the nail polish trick in an emergency; you may want to carry an extra pair of hose with you instead.
General appearance
- Dress in a manner that is professionally appropriate to the position for which you are applying. In almost all cases, this means wearing a suit. It is rarely appropriate to �dress down� for an interview, regardless of company dress code policy. When in doubt, go conservative (is this starting to sound familiar?).
- Your clothing should always be neat, clean, and pressed. If you don�t have an iron, either buy one or be prepared to visit the dry-cleaner�s often.
- Shower or bathe the morning of the interview. Wear deodorant. Don�t wear perfume � you don�t want to smell overpowering or worse, cause an allergic reaction.
- Make sure you have fresh breath. Brush your teeth before you leave, and don�t eat or smoke before the interview.
- Your hair should be neat, clean, and conservatively styled. Banana clips, brightly-colored scrunchies or elastics, and cheerleader-type ponytails look out of place with a suit. You may want to wear your hair in an updo, pull it back into a low ponytail, or wear a barrette (this suggestion does not include the tiny little barrettes that only hold the front of your bangs back). The idea is to look polished and professional, not to advertise what a creative genius your hairdresser is.
- If you have a facial piercing, remove the jewelry. Remember that you are dressing for the position you are interviewing for; piercings rarely fit in with a company�s desired image.
While it may be appropriate to dress more casually for a second interview, you must still dress professionally. It�s much better to be too dressed up than too casual.
This may sound like a lot of rules, but these are the generally acceptable guidelines you should follow when deciding what to wear to an interview. Dressing professionally shows respect for yourself, the interviewer, and the company. You may not have to dress like this everyday, but you are more likely to be taken seriously when you present yourself in a professional manner and take the time to attend to details.
Dressing for work
This is one of those areas where there is a lot of room for confusion. Again, your working wardrobe is going to depend on the region, climate, industry, and company where you are working; a graphic designer in California is going to have much different guidelines than an investment banker in Chicago. The following suggestions are for dress codes that require a suit or "business professional" attire, rather than business casual.
There are pros and cons to dressing formally for work. The bad news is, this isn�t always the most creative or exciting wardrobe; you may feel like your personal style is stifled, and having to wear pantyhose on a 95-degree day is just awful. On the other hand, once you make the initial investment and get a couple of good suits, you won�t have to do much more shopping for work clothes. You can be creative with accessories and mix-and-match pieces to get more use out of your basic wardrobe.
More and more offices are moving toward "business casual" in place of suits, but the rules are often not very clearly defined. Even experienced professionals sometimes have trouble deciding what�s appropriate. Business casual is especially tricky for women, who have more choices in clothing and accessories. Pay attention to what others in the company are wearing before you ditch your current wardrobe. And when in doubt � you�ve heard this before � go conservative!
This is one of those areas where there is a lot of room for confusion. Again, your working wardrobe is going to depend on the region, climate, industry, and company where you are working; a graphic designer in California is going to have much different guidelines than an investment banker in Chicago. The following suggestions are for dress codes that require a suit or "business professional" attire, rather than business casual.
There are pros and cons to dressing formally for work. The bad news is, this isn�t always the most creative or exciting wardrobe; you may feel like your personal style is stifled, and having to wear pantyhose on a 95-degree day is just awful. On the other hand, once you make the initial investment and get a couple of good suits, you won�t have to do much more shopping for work clothes. You can be creative with accessories and mix-and-match pieces to get more use out of your basic wardrobe.
- Most of the rules for interview dressing apply if your company has a business professional dress code, but with more flexibility regarding cut and color. Pants suits, coordinated separates, coat dresses, and dresses with jackets may all be appropriate. Be sure to get a copy of your company�s dress code policy before you go shopping.
- As a general rule, try to fit in to the culture in your company. If everyone else wears pastels and you dress in black everyday, you will stand out � and usually not in a good way. Dressing to fit in with the company culture shows that you are a team player and are concerned about the kind of image you and your company present to clients.
- No matter what your company, it is not appropriate to wear tight, sexy, or trendy clothing to work. This is especially important for women, who may be judged by their clothing more harshly than men. Yes, it�s unfair � but this is not the time for you to try changing American cultural standards.
- Go for quality over quantity. A well-made jacket in a quality fabric may cost you quite a bit more than one that is cheaply made, but it will look better, fit better, and last longer than the inexpensive version.
- Buy versatile fabrics and dark or neutral colors and you�ll get more use out of individual items. Some suits are sold with both pants and a skirt for extra versatility. That red suit may be stunning, but chances are people will remember it every time you wear it. Until you have a larger wardrobe, stick to less conspicuous items that you can mix and match.
- Learn how to accessorize. You�ll get a lot more use out of basic items if you can change your look by wearing a scarf or changing blouses. It�ll also keep you from getting bored with your wardrobe.
- Invest in a good raincoat and winter dress coat. You�ve worked hard to cultivate your professional image � don�t spoil it by wearing a barn coat over your suit.
- Take care of those good-quality items that you�ve invested in. Find a reliable tailor and dry cleaner � they are about to become important people in your life. At-home dry cleaning kits can be very economical for blouses and sweaters, but unless you�re a whiz with the iron, you�ll still want to have your suits professionally cleaned.
More and more offices are moving toward "business casual" in place of suits, but the rules are often not very clearly defined. Even experienced professionals sometimes have trouble deciding what�s appropriate. Business casual is especially tricky for women, who have more choices in clothing and accessories. Pay attention to what others in the company are wearing before you ditch your current wardrobe. And when in doubt � you�ve heard this before � go conservative!
Here are some general guidelines:
- Casual does not mean sloppy! Whatever you wear should be clean, pressed, and in good condition. Check for missing buttons, dangling threads, and signs of wear and tear.
- Stores and catalogues that have a "business casual" section frequently show khakis on their models. While this doesn�t necessarily mean that you have to wear Dockers every day, the style is a good guideline; very loose or flowing pants, leggings, or jeans-type styles (even in a dressy fabric) may be questionable.
- If you choose to wear a skirt, stay away from short hemlines, high slits, and anything tight. Take the "sit" test; try the skirt on in front of a mirror and sit, cross your legs, stoop, reach � anything you would do during the course of a normal day. Check to make sure you�re not showing too much leg and that you�ll be comfortable wearing this item.
- Sweater sets and tailored shirts are a safe bet. Avoid anything sheer, tight, or low-cut, just as you would when preparing for an interview; unlike an interview, you have more room to experiment with colors and patterns. Remember the general rule: If something looks like you could wear it to the bar, you probably shouldn�t wear it to work.
- Don�t wear athletic shoes, sandals, or trendy styles like platform shoes.
- You can be more creative with your accessories when dressing in business casual, but don�t be extreme; your 15 bracelets shouldn�t clank together every time you move your arms, for example. How much flexibility you have with wardrobe details like this will depend a great deal on what industry you work in.
- When in doubt, be more conservative (have we reinforced that yet?). This isn�t the most fun or glamorous wardrobe imaginable and it might not express your personal style, but it�s essential to appear professional if you wish to be treated as a professional.
- Remember that it�s easier to move from a conservative look to a more casual one than the other way around. See what other people in your office are wearing to get a clearer idea of what is acceptable. Pay attention to how your boss dresses; the staff may look ready for a night on the town and your supervisor may look like she�s straight from the pages of an Eddie Bauer catalog � but she�s the one who got the promotion. Successful people tend to look the part.
Some stores and catalogs have a specific department for business casual clothing. There are also books to help guide you through the potential pitfalls of building a professional wardrobe. Some suggestions include:
- "The Complete Idiot�s Guide to Successful Dressing" by Karyn Repinski (available in the CDC)
- "Attention to Detail: A Woman�s Guide to Professional Appearance and Conduct" by Clinton Greenleaf III and Stephani Shaefer
- Many other books on dressing professionally have been published and are readily available at the library or bookstore. Make sure the copyright is fairly current � outdated advice won�t be nearly as helpful.
- LandsEnd.com�s "The Art of Business Casual"(www.landsend.com) offers an interactive shopping guide with widely applicable suggestions for business casual clothing.
- Find a store with styles you like and cultivate a working relationship with a salesperson whose suggestions you trust.
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