Top Tips for dressing for success in the office
- Dress for your situation - Your attire should not upstage an event or the person you are meeting with or those you work alongside and for. You want to be remembered for your skills and abilities, not for a see-through top or thigh-length boots. Men, you don’t want to be remembered for sweaty armpits and damp shirts!
- Don’t flash - Clothing that reveals too much cleavage, your back, your chest, your feet, your stomach or your underwear is most definitely not appropriate for your place of work, even if you work in a business casual environment. Buy natural fibres which can breathe or wear layers that you can take off when you feel too hot. Men, never wear a short sleeve shirt to the office. Wear long sleeve (double cuff preferably) and roll your sleeves back if you are warm, roll them back three times to the elbow. It looks better to take your tie off and open the top button than it does to loosen the tie and open the button. One looks like a busy businessman the other looks like a slob!
- Use colour - Colour plays a big part in professional image. Traditional business colours include red – often worn as ties by the men (passionate and assertive), navy (trustworthy and safe), grey (conservative and chic) and black (dramatic and powerful). Most of these colours work well in trouser suits, skirts and shoes and mix black with softer feminine colours that are appropriate e.g ice blue, lilac, soft pink, teal, emerald and ivory. Men, why don’t you buy yourselves a lightweight sand coloured linen suit – very Italian and will keep you cool too! It must be left to air for 24 hours between wears though.
- Keep a jacket handy - Wearing a jacket serves notice to the world that you’re there to do business. When you wear a jacket, you're wearing the business person's uniform. Even if you take your jacket off in your own office, it’s a good idea to wear a jacket when you attend a meeting or see clients. This guideline applies just as much to women as it does men. Putting a jacket over a collarless top instantly elevates your presence to one of business.
- Today, trouser suits are considered to be as professional for a woman as the skirt suit. This wasn't always the case though! Pinstripe material or a dark matt fabric will give you the greatest professional presence.
- The most flattering jacket (whether part of a suit or not) for most women is a fitted style with a v-neck and the hem finishing at the hip bone. Low top button for a more slimming look and high top button for a broader look.
- Women's shirts allow you to maintain a sense of gravitas when the jacket is removed. If you work in a male dominated environment then the shirt option is always a good one when attending meetings.
- Accessories are best kept subtle when your most professional look is needed. In a high impact environment a statement piece of jewellery will get you noticed and make you memorable. The key is to use it at the right time!
- Make-up is a key part of your grooming, even a little natural make-up is better than none at all. Research has shown that make-up does help your promotion opportunities.
- In uncertain times it is crucial that you portray a consistent image to your colleagues, your managers, your team and most importantly your customers. In the current climate others need to feel confident in your value. Now is a good time to take a look at the impact you make on others. Is it consistent with what the business offers or are there perception gaps?
First impressions last and any damage takes a long time to repair - in some cases the opportunity will be lost forever. Success in business comes from the ability to portray the values of your company through your appearance, behaviour and communication style. It raises your profile above those of your peers.
Sarah Setterfield, Director, Impact for Success
sarah@impact4success.com
