Do You Dress for Success?

The way you dress tells people who you are the minute you walk into a room. So what does your work wardrobe say about you: professional and stylish or too casual and clueless? Some offices have a strict dress code, but when the standard is “business casual” the lines of what is and isn’t appropriate start to blur. Women who look too sexy won’t be taken seriously, and even an intern who isn’t dressed work-appropriately will lose out on a key meeting or opportunity.

“[At my job] we’re constantly interacting with C-level executives that are our clients, and I feel the way you dress conveys respect to those with whom you interact, and it helps you feel confident,” Lori Turbé, audit partner at Grant Thornton, tells PINK. “I recommend that our people dress a level above their job titles so they engender that much-desired level of respect, especially the women.”

Ready to dress for the job you want? Look at what the higher-ups in your business are wearing: neatly styled hair, a nice sweater and polished shoes are always a safe bet.

There are ways to “dress down” and be put together: stick to cotton and linen rather than jeans and open-toe shoes. When in doubt, remember it’s better “to be overdressed than underdressed.“

Keep it simple with accessories: leave the bright shoes for the weekend and steer clear of clanging bracelets and flashy earrings that can distract. You want your customers and coworkers to be focusing on you, not what you’re wearing. Still crave some flare? Try a funky or vintage brooch pinned to a cardigan or blazer.

Bonus PINK Link: Find you wear is key to helping you rock that interview.

By Caroline Cox

“Neglected and untidy clothes reflect a neglected and untidy mind.” Unknown