Has the fashion for dressing at work changed? On any day at work, forming a point of view can be as varied as the clothes you see. It’s difficult to figure out if perhaps professionals don’t know how to dress or if they have lost sight of the relevance of appearance to professional success.
Try going to a busy restaurant at lunchtime. Look at how others are dressed and see if you don’t make judgments about who they are, the industry their in, and how well they are doing. How ’bout you when in work clothes as opposed to casual dress. What you choose may telegraph hints of your professional competency. It is important to understand how to dress for business if if you want to be successful.
Think about four things when dressing up to go to work: the line of work you’re in, the job you have within that industry, the type of professional setting you’ll be going to; and finally, the impression you want to make.
When women first entered the professional work place, many thought they should dress to look like men in business clothes. What this led to 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 so to look professional and comfort. The reason is no longer to simply look like a professional male.
Business clothing shouldn’t be based on designer flavor of the month. An office and business woman has to be noted for her accomplishments instead of what she wears. A working woman’s office and business attire needs to be proper and well-suited for her industry and her position or title within the industry.
As for bags and briefcases, it can be anything appropriate for work such as hobo bags, tote bags, messenger bags, briefcases, and diaper bags. The possibilities are numerous, but you should get a office bag for women. These bags can easily carry laptops, tablets, and your things for work.
Choose a dark color suit (skirt or pants) for a traditionally professional style. A skirted suit is easily the most business-acceptable style. Somehow, dresses should have matching suit jackets to be a complete professional wear.
Choose a skirted suit or pants suit for a safe and old fashion styling. A dark suit with a skirt is regarded as the accepted professional design. With a few exceptions, dresses do not give out the same credibility unless you’re wearing matching jackets.
Skirts should be knee length. Thigh-length or shorter skirts may call for unwanted questions.
Suit pants should preferably end all the way down to the top of the shoe. While Capri pants and their fashion cousins that are shorter length happen to be the hottest trend, they should not be in the professional work and office places.
Fitted shirts supply a variety of mixes, color, and style to ladies’ fashion in general, but they should be appealing rather than revealing. Extra tight fits and low necklines might draw improper responses.
Women need to wear hose at work whenever appropriate. Neutral colored hoses can be the best pick in most work environment. Never wear dark hose with light-colored clothing or shoes. Keep a couple of extra pair of stockings in your desk.
All in all, just keep in mind that business clothing is drastically different from casual wear. Investing in a good business wardrobe is part of your career decision. We know that professional skills and experience are highly relevant, but so do professional appeal.
