I'm The It Girl

The workplace is no longer a place where men and women work side by side. It has become a place where men and women work together. Women are now the breadwinners in most families, so they need to be confident in their work attire.

This section will talk about how to dress for success at the workplace as a woman. The section will cover topics such as what kind of clothes to wear, what colors to wear, how to style your hair at the workplace, etc.

What should you wear for business?

– What kind of clothes should you wear?

– Should you dress up or down?

– What colours should you wear?

– How do I style my hair at the office?

Are you a female who is employed?  If you are, do you work in an office setting?  Although office related jobs are one of the best to have, as they allow you to work in a comfortable environment and they often pay well, there is much drama that is associated with office workplace settings. For that reason, you need to proceed with caution, especially concerning the clothes that you wear.

One of the many reasons why you should be careful with what you wear to work is because something simple, like your clothing, can be turned into a much larger issue.  It may become a large issue that may cause you problems at work or an issue that may cause you to quit or lose your job.  Since there is a good chance that you don’t want that to happen, you will want to continue reading on.

One of the many ways that you can avoid issues or complications at work is by carefully reviewing your workplace dress code.  Reviewing the dress code of your workplace is extremely important, especially if you are a new employee.  There are many companies that are a little bit vague on their dress code expectations and restrictions, but not all are.  It is common to find restrictions such as no dresses or skirts with hems above the knees or no tank-tops. If you are still unsure as to what you can and cannot wear at work, you may want to speak with your supervisor.  In this instance, it is better safe than sorry.

Another one of the many ways that you can avoid issues or complications at work is by placing yourself in the shoes of your customers. This is particularly important if you interact with your company’s clients and customers.  Since your actions, as well as your appearance will not only reflect highly on you, yourself, but your employer as well, it is important that you take your clothing into consideration.  For instance, if you worked as a loan officer, how do you think that your clients would feel if you showed up for work to deal with them in shorts and a tank-top?  If you wouldn’t business with someone looking like that, there is a good chance that others wouldn’t as well.

In addition to placing yourself in the shoes of your company’s clients and customers, it is also advised that you place yourself in the shoes of your coworkers.  There is a good chance that you are at least somewhat familiar with your coworkers. This means that you may already know what they talk or gossip about.  If one of your coworker were to show up at work wearing a short sundress, what you would you think about them?  In all honesty, there is a good chance that your thoughts wouldn’t necessarily be pleasant.  You need to remember that others likely think the same way as well. That is why you need to, personally, be careful with what you wear to work, unless you want to be the center of gossip.

One of the many ways that you can find appropriate clothing to wear to work is by using the internet to your advantage.  What you may want to do is visit the online websites of upscale clothing stores. Upscale clothing stores, especially those with a focus on career-oriented women, are less likely to have “skimpy,” clothing available for sale.  While you don’t have to make your purchases from the retailers that you examine online, you can still get some great clothing ideas.  It is also important to mention that many upscale clothing stores also place a focus on the latest fashions.  This means that you can dress appropriately for work, while still looking fashionable at the same time.

The above mentioned points are all points that you will want to take into consideration, especially when getting dressed for work first thing in the morning.  By taking a few extra minutes to think about your appearance for work, you may completely eliminate or reduce the chances of you being involved in shady workplace related issues, like gossip.

The way you dress for work can say a lot about you. Whether it’s the suit you wear to a job interview or the jeans and t-shirt you wear to your day job, your clothes are a representation of who you are and what your company stands for.

For this reason, it’s important that you take the time to get dressed with care in the morning. And while it might be tempting to just grab whatever is clean from your wardrobe, that’s not always the best idea when it comes to dressing for work. A bit of thought and preparation will pay off in the long run.

Do you ever wonder where all the dress rules have gone? Depending on when and where you are on any given business day, the words “distant past” might come to mind. It’s difficult to decide if people don’t know what to wear to work or if they have lost sight of the relevance of appearance to professional success.

Queen Elizabeth II is reported to have told the current king when he was still Prince Charles, “Dress gives one the outward sign from which people can judge the inward state of mind. One they can see, the other they cannot.” Clearly, she was saying what many people are reluctant to accept; that people judge us by the way we dress. In all situations, business and social, our outward appearance sends a message.

Try going to a busy restaurant at lunchtime. Look around you at what people are wearing and see if you don’t make judgments about who they are, their line of business, their personalities and their competencies. Think about how you feel when you are dressed in your usual business attire as opposed to casual dress. Your choice of business apparel speaks to your professional behavior and credibility. It is important to understand how to dress for business if you wish to promote yourself and your organization in a positive manner,

How you dress depends on four factors: the industry in which you work, the job you have within that industry, the geographic area in which you live; and most importantly, what your client expects to see.

Professional Dress for Men

In men’s clothing, fashion does not change significantly from season to season but business attire is about being professional and not about being fashionable. It’s about presenting yourself in a way that makes your clients feel comfortable and confident with you. Dressing for success is still the rule. The professional businessman should keep in mind these few points when deciding what to wear to work.

Choose a conservative suit in navy, black or gray either pinstripe or solid. The quality of the material speaks as loudly as the color and can make the difference between sleaze and suave.

A solid white or blue dress shirt with long sleeves offers the most polished look. The more pattern and color you add, the more the focus is on your clothing, rather than your professionalism.

Ties should be made of silk or a silk-like fabric. Avoid the cartoon characters and go for simple and subtle if you want to enhance your credibility.

Socks should be calf-length or above. Make sure they match not only what you are wearing, but also each other. A quick glance in good light before heading out the door can save embarrassment later in the day. Check for holes as well if you’ll be going through airport security and removing your shoes.

Shoes should without question be conservative, clean and well polished. Lace-up shoes are the choice over slip-ons or flip flops. Don’t think for a minute that people don’t notice shoes. Many people will look at your feet before your face.

Belts need to match or closely coordinate with your shoes. Once again, quality counts.

Keep jewelry to a minimum. In a time when men sport gold necklaces, bracelets and earrings, the business professional should limit himself to a conservative watch, a wedding band and maybe his college ring.

Personal hygiene is part of the success equation. Freshly scrubbed wins out over heavily fragranced any day of the week. Save the after-shave for after hours, but never the shave itself.

The finishing touch for the business man is his choice of accessories: briefcase, portfolio and pen. When it comes to sealing the deal, a top of the line suit, a silk tie and a good pair of leather shoes can lose their affect when you pull out the ball point pen you picked up in the hotel meeting room the day before.

Professional Dress for Women

When women entered the workplace in the 1970’s and 1980’s in greater numbers than ever before and began to move into positions which had traditionally been held by men, many of them believed that they needed to imitate male business attire. The result was women showing up at the office in skirted suits or coordinated skirts and jackets with tailored blouses finished off with an accessory item that looked very much like a man’s tie. Happily those days are gone. While the business woman may now wear trousers to work, she does it out of a desire to appear professional and at the same time enjoy the flexibility and comfort that pants offer over skirts. Her goal is no longer to mirror her male colleagues.

The same overall rules apply to women’s work attire as apply to men’s. Business clothing is not a reflection of the latest fashion trend. A woman should be noticed for who she is and her professional skills rather than for what she wears. Her business wear should be appropriate for her industry and her position or title within the industry.

Start with a skirted suit or pants suit for the most conservative look. A skirted suit is the most professional. With a few exceptions, dresses do not offer the same credibility unless they are accompanied by matching jackets.

Skirts should be knee-length or slightly above or below. Avoid extremes. A skirt more than two inches above the knee raises eyebrows and questions.

Pants should break at the top of the foot or shoe. While Capri pants and their fashion cousins that come in assorted lengths from mid-calf to ankle are the latest trend, they are out of place in the conservative business environment.

Blouses and sweaters provide color and variety to woman’s clothing, but they should be appealing rather than revealing. Inappropriate necklines and waistlines can give the wrong impression.

Women need to wear hose in the business world. Neutral or flesh-tone stockings are the best choices. Never wear dark hose with light-colored clothing or shoes. Keep an extra pair of stockings in your desk drawer unless the hosiery store is next door or just down the street from the office.

Faces, not feet, should be the focal point in business so chose conservative shoes. A low heel is more professional than flats or high heels. In spite of current fashion and the sandal rage, open-toed or backless shoes are not office attire. Not only are sandals a safety hazard, they suggest a certain official agenda.

When it comes to accessories and jewelry, less is once again more. Keep it simple: one ring per hand, one earring per ear. Accessories should reflect your personality, not diminish your credibility.

Business attire is different from weekend and evening wear. Investing in a good business wardrobe is an investment in your professional future. For those who think it’s not what you wear but who you are that creates success, give that some more thought. Business skills and experience count, but so does personal appearance and that all-important first impression.