Dress for Success

A guide for women entering

the workplace

Business Professional Dress

Guidelines for dressing for the

“business professional” work place

OR

Interviewing clothes

The Biggest Non-Verbal Cues

How you dress

Your handshake

Remember…

Your wardrobe reflects who you are, don’t let it say the wrong things!

No matter what you wear, be professional

Your attitude should reflect your ambition

Be Professional

Suit, blazer with a skirt or dress (should be conservative and below knee length)

Tailored skirt suits in dark colors, i.e. black, navy, or charcoal gray

Blouses should be simple in style, white or soft color

Stockings that match your skin tone

Can I Wear a Pants Suit?

In a recent study, 90% of college recruiters agreed pants suits for women are acceptable.

Accessories

Shoes should be pumps or medium heels

Purses should be medium or small sized purse that matches your outfit

Other Accessories-Jewelry

Earrings have gained popularity for both sexes in recent years, but they really are only appropriate for females in the career fair/interviewing arena.

Wear one pair of simple earrings for these events. Watches are good for both sexes, - same caliber as the rest

of your appearance. Rings and bracelets can be worn but in moderation and if

they are essential to you. One ring is most appropriate. Jewelry should never be a distraction for you

or the employer.

Other, Other, Other

Portfolio to carry resumesLight on the perfumeBreath mints

DRESS FOR SUCCESS-MEN

Suit-Dark blue, gray, muted

pin-stripes Shirt-White, pale blue or

yellow Tie-Conservative, classic Shoes-Polished dress shoes

What NOT to Wear in an Interview-Top 20 Wardrobe Malfunctions

1. Carrying a backpack or fannypack instead of a briefcase or portfolio: Some image consultants suggest women ditch their purse, too!

2. Sunglasses on top of your head or headphones around your neck.

3. Too-short skirts: Forget what some of those gals on 'The Apprentice' are wearing. Your skirt should cover your thighs when you are seated.

4. The wrong tie: Ties should be made of silk, no less than three and a quarter inches wide with a conservative pattern. Image consultants say the best colors are red or burgundy.

5. Overly bright or large-patterned clothing: With the possible exception of creative fields like advertising, it's best to stick with navy, black or gray.

Top 20 Wardrobe MalfunctionsContinued

6. Heavy makeup on women (or any makeup on a man)

7. Earrings on men:: avoid wearing any jewelry unless it is a wedding ring, class ring or watch.

8. More than one set of earrings on women

9. Facial piercings, tongue jewelry or visible tattoos

10. Ill-fitting clothes:Few people can wear things straight off the rack. Spending $ for tailoring.

Top 20 Wardrobe Malfunctions-Continued

11. Long fingernails, especially with bright or specialty polishes.

13. Short-sleeved shirts, even worse when worn with a tie

14. Fishnets, patterned hosiery or bare legs (no matter how tan you are).

15. Men whose socks don't match their shoes, or whose socks are too short and leave a gap of

16. Rumpled or stained clothing: If interviewing late in the day.

17. Scuffed or inappropriate footwear, including sneakers, stilettos, open-toed shoes and sandals

18. Strong aftershaves, perfumes or colognes: Many people are allergic to certain scents.

19. Belts and shoes that don't match

20. Telltale signs that your wearing a new suit. Remove all tags and extra buttons -- and remember to cut off the zigzag thread that keeps pockets and slits closed!

Dress for Success

A guide for women dressing “Business Casual”

Don’t Wear This!

The Basics

Wear shoes that are well maintained Press your clothing Keep a “business professional” outfit at the

office for emergencies

Business Casual In A Conservative Company

May mean a blazer and skirt Less conservative company may mean a

light sweater or knit top worn under a blazer with a skirt or slacks

The best guide is to tune into the dress of those moving up the corporate ladder

The Don’ts

Don’t wear more than 13 accessories Don’t wear slacks to work if you’ve never

seen top-level women at your organization wear them

Don’t wear hosiery and shoes that are darker than your hem

Tips

Business casual does not give you license to wear short skirts

Wear skin-toned hosiery when your business outfit consists of a short-sleeved jacket or dress

Dress for the position you want, not the position you have

Don’t know what to wear?

Your business casual wardrobe should consist of the same type of clothes and accessories described in your organization’s dress code.

If your company does not have a documented business casual code, emulate the dress of the person whose position you want!