What you wear and how you carry the attire is what gives you the look of a competent professional. They say that a book shouldn’t be judged by its covers. And yet, the way you look has a lot to do with how seriously you are taken as a professional. To achieve the right business look you would need to consider the clothes you wear and also the accessories that go with it. Business attire for women can be broadly classified as general, formal and casual. The business look you opt for would depend on whether you are attending a business meeting or a presentation, having a business discussion over dinner or working in office.
The formal business look: The formal business look can be achieved with a well tailored pant suit or skirted suit, which is teamed up with apt hosiery and footwear, usually closed toed.
The general look: This would include formal work clothes such as pantsuits and skirts with blazers, but not as conservative. You could team skirts and dresses with well tailored jackets.
The casual business look: The casual business look is smart and professional and yet, not traditional. It can include pants and skirts with suitable shirts and tops. Suit and jackets are not the conventional norm for this look. Some businesses may also include jeans with shirts in the casual business look, while others may not.
Once you have understood the basic guidelines to dressing for the workplace you need to look for clothes that suit your body shape and size, and also your coloring. What looks good on a colleague may or may not look as great on you. The confidence that ought to go with the business look comes not just from the clothes but also from your attitude. Thus, it is important that you are comfortable in your business clothes. Do ensure that you buy clothes that are flattering and fit well.
Suits and jackets are expensive and are a long term investment. It is best to go with conservative colors such as grey, navy blue and black. These colors will never go out of style. If you want to add some color to them you can do so with a blouse or an accessory. Other clothing items to consider are blouses, skirts, belts, scarves. It is beat to keep to simple and elegant accessories.
It is important to look neat and presentable at all times. This makes it important for you to choose fabrics that don’t wrinkle easily. Clean and well ironed clothes are the first step to dressing for business. Your clothes are a fair indication of what you think about yourself and the work that you do. Do keep this in mind every time you dress for work.
The Esani Institute is a Paul Mitchell Partner School. The institute offers a range of courses in cosmetology and skin care. It is ideal for people who want to learn how to achieve the right look with the resources at hand.
