The Queen of England is reported 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, the other they cannot." Clearly, she was
saying what many people are reluctant to accept; that people judge us by
the way we dress. In all situations, businessand social, our outward
appearance sends a message.
Try 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 feel when you are dressed in
your usual businessattire as opposed to casual dress. Your choice of
businessapparel speaks to your professional behavior and credibility.
It is important to understand how to dress for businessif you wish to
promote yourself and your organization in a positive manner,
How you dress depends on four factors: the industry in which you work,
the job you have within that industry, the geographic area in which you
live; and most importantly, what your client
expects to see.
Professional Business Dress for Men
In men's clothing, fashion does not change significantly from season to
season but businessattire is about being professional and not about
being fashionable. It's 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 keep in mind these few points when
deciding what to wear to work.
Choose a conservative suit in navy, black or gray either pinstripe or
solid. The quality 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
more the focus is on your clothing, rather than your professionalism.
Ties should be made of silk or a silk-like fabric. Avoid the cartoon
characters and go for simple and subtle if you want to
enhance your credibility.
Socks should be calf-length or above. Make sure they match not only what
you are wearing, but also each other. A quick glance in good light
before heading out the door can save embarrassment
later in the day. Check for holes as well if 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 over slip-ons or flip flops. Don't think
for a minute that people don't notice shoes. Many people will look at
your feet before your face.
Belts need to match or closely coordinate with your shoes. Once again,
quality counts.
Keep jewelry to a minimum. In a time when men sport gold necklaces,
bracelets and earrings, the businessprofessional 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.
Save the after-shave for after hours, but never the shave itself.
The finishing touch for the businessman is his choice of accessories:
briefcase, portfolio and pen. When it comes to
sealing the deal, a top of the line suit, a silk tie and a good 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 Business Dress for Women
When women entered the workplace in the 1970's and 1980's in greater
numbers than ever before and began to move into positions which had
traditionally been held by men, many of them believed that they needed
to imitate male businessattire. The 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.
Happily those days are gone. While the businesswoman may now wear
trousers to work, she does it out of a desire to appear
professional and at the same time enjoy the flexibility and comfort that
pants offer over skirts. Her goal is no longer to
mirror her male colleagues.
The same overall rules apply to women's work attire as apply to men's.
Business clothing is not a reflection of the latest
fashion trend. A woman should be noticed for who she is and her
professional skills rather than for what she wears. Her businesswear
should be appropriate for her industry and her
position or title within the industry.
Start with a skirted suit or pants suit for the most conservative look.
A skirted suit is the most professional. With a few exceptions, dresses
do not offer the same credibility unless they are accompanied by
matching jackets.
Skirts should be knee-length or slightly above or below. Avoid extremes.
A skirt more than two inches above the knee raises eyebrows and
questions.
Pants should break at the top of the foot or shoe. While Capri pants and
their fashion cousins that come in assorted lengths from mid-calf to
ankle are the latest trend, they are out of place in the conservative
businessenvironment.
Blouses and sweaters provide color and variety to woman's clothing, but
they should be appealing rather than revealing. Inappropriate necklines
and waistlines can give the wrong impression.
Women need to wear hose in the businessworld. Neutral or flesh-tone
stockings are the best choices. Never wear dark hose with light-colored
clothing or shoes. Keep an extra pair of
stockings in your desk drawer unless the hosiery store is next
door or just down the street from the office.
Faces, not feet, should be the focal point in businessso 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 certain official agenda.
When it comes to accessories and jewelry, less is once again more. Keep
it simple: one ring per hand, one earring per ear. Accessories should
reflect your personality, not diminish your credibility.
Business attire is different from weekend and evening wear. Investing in
a good businesswardrobe is an investment in your professional future.
For those who think it's not 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.
© 2005, Lydia Ramsey. All rights in all media
reserved.
About the Author
Lydia Ramsey is a businessetiquette expert, professional speaker,
corporate trainer and author of MANNERS THAT SELL - ADDING THE POLISH
THAT BUILDS PROFITS. She has been quoted or featured in The New York
Times, Investors' Business Daily, Entrepreneur, Inc., Real Simple and
Woman's Day. For more information about her programs, products and
services, e-mail her at lydia@mannersthatsell.com or visit her web site
http://www.mannersthatsell.com
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