Dress in the Workplace
Dressing for work in the morning can be a difficult job, especially if you're a person who cares a lot about how they look. This can be easily solved by reading this article, How to Dress in the Workplace.
Steps
- Start with the basics. This may include sophisticated pencil skirts, cowl neck sweaters, scoop-necked tops, and cashmere cardigans. You don't want to wear the same thing everyday, so make sure you have at least three bottoms (preferably skirts if you're a woman) and four or more tops.
- Know your budget and stick to it. Having an appropriate apparel selection doesn't have to cost you a fortune. Look in stores such as Sears, the Bay, and Winners. If you have the money to spend, look in stores such as Ralph Lauren, Saks Fifth Avenue, Holt Renfrew, Neiman Marcus, Barneys, etc.
- In the case of high heels ... Only wear heels if your workplace doesn't do anything active. If you're not expected to be running up and down staircases all day or teaching a gym class, feel free to wear them. But if you are, be prepared to have your heels snap or your feet ache.
- Have a large selection handy. Having a large selection of suits available saves a lot in the long run. Ideally, one very nice, expensive suit and two cheaper, not-so-nice suits is perfect. Don't spend all your money on suits, and don't wear suits everyday -- wear suits to important meetings and interviews.
- Don't take advantage of "Dress Down Day". Even if Fridays are "Dress Down Days", don't take advantage of said day. Taking advantage only makes you look sloppy and tacky. If you must, dress down by toning down the makeup and removing your pearl necklace, but don't go overboard by wearing light-wash, torn jeans and a tank.
Tips
- How you dress affects people's perceptions of your working abilities. If you always dress nicely, with your hair neat and your suit clean people will take you more seriously then they would if your suit was rumpled and your hair was frumpy.
- If you have a shedding cat or shedding dog, make sure not to wear your work clothing at home or leave them lying around. Have them folded in your drawers or hung up in your closet, always. Animal hair can cause allergic reactions and make you look frumpy, both embarrassing.
Warnings
- Don't wear labels. With a shirt with DKNY splashed across your chest, you'll look tacky.
- Don't wear articles of clothing to work that has a noticeable logo. For example, don't think about wearing Hollister or Abercrombie and Fitch (especially if you're a teacher) because some people in the workplace may not take you seriously if you dress like a teenager.
Things You'll Need
- One expensive suit, for meetings and interviews
- Two cheaper suits
- Two pencil skirts, one cream and one black
- One cowl neck sweater, brown or grey
- Two cashmere sweaters, in white
- Three pairs of neutral colored high heels
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