A Clothes Encounter In The Business World

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

The Queen of England is said to have told Prince Charles,”Dress gives one the outward sign from which people can judge the inward state of mind. One they can see, another they can’t.” Clearly, she was saying what many folks are reluctant to take; that we judge us by how we dress. In all scenarios, business and social, our outward appearance sends a message.

Consider 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 are feeling when you’re dressed in your usual business attire as opposed to casual attire. Your choice of business apparel speaks to your professional behavior and credibility. It’s important to understand how to dress for business if you wish to promote your own business in a particular way,

The way you dress depends on four factors: the industry in which you work, the job you’ve got within that industry, the geographical region where you reside; and most importantly, what your client expects to see.

Professional Dress for Men

In men’s clothing, fashion doesn’t change significantly from season to season but business attire is about being professional and not about being fashionable. It is all 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 remember that these few points when deciding what to wear to work.

Choose a conservative suit in navy, black or gray either pinstripe or solid. The standard 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 greater the focus is on your clothing, rather than your character.

Ties must be made of silk or a silk-like cloth. Avoid the cartoon characters and go for simple and subtle if you would like to improve your credibility.

Socks must be calf-length or over. Make sure that they match not only what you are wearing, but also each other. A fast glance in good light before heading out the door can save embarrassment later in the day. Check for holes as well in the event that 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 within slip-ons or other flops. Do not think for a moment that people don’t notice shoes. A lot of individuals will have a look at your feet before your face.

Belts will need to match or closely coordinate with your shoes. Yet 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. Conserve after-shave for later, but never the shave itself.

The finishing touch for the business man is his choice of accessories: briefcase, portfolio and pen. In regards to sealing the deal, a top of the line suit, a silk tie and a fantastic 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 started to move into positions which had traditionally been held by men, many of them believed that they needed to imitate male business attire. The end 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. Thankfully those days are gone. While the business woman may now wear trousers to work, she’s doing it from a desire to appear professional and at precisely exactly the identical time enjoy the flexibility and comfort that pants offer over skirts. Her objective is no longer to mirror her male colleagues.

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

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

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

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

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

Women will need to wear hose in the business world. Neutral or flesh-tone stockings will be the top options. Never wear dark hose with light-colored shoes or clothing. Keep an excess pair of stockings in your desk drawer unless the hosiery store is next door or just down the road from the workplace.

Faces, not feet, are 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 specific official schedule.

If it comes to accessories and jewelry, less is once much more. Keep it simple: one ring per hand, 1 earring per ear. Accessories should reflect your personality, not diminish your credibility.

Business attire differs from weekend and evening wear. Investing in a fantastic business wardrobe is an investment in your professional future. For people who think it is not exactly 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.