Dress for Success

1. Dress for Success A guide for women entering the workplace

2. Business Professional Dress Guidelines for dressing for the “business professional” work place OR Interviewing clothes

3. The Biggest Non-Verbal Cues • How you dress • Your handshake

4. Remember… • Your wardrobe reflects who you are, don’t let it say the wrong things! • No matter what you wear, be professional • Your attitude should reflect your ambition

5. Be Professional • Suit, blazer with a skirt or dress (should be conservative and below knee length) • Tailored skirt suits in dark colors, i.e. black, navy, or charcoal gray • Blouses should be simple in style, white or soft color • Stockings that match your skin tone

6. Can I Wear a Pants Suit? • In a recent study, 90% of college recruiters agreed pants suits for women are acceptable.

7. Accessories • Shoes should be pumps or medium heels • Purses should be medium or small sized purse that matches your outfit

8. Other Accessories-Jewelry • Earrings have gained popularity for both sexes in recent years, but they really are only appropriate for females in the career fair/interviewing arena. • Wear one pair of simple earrings for these events. • Watches are good for both sexes, - same caliber as the rest of your appearance. • Rings and bracelets can be worn but in moderation and if they are essential to you. One ring is most appropriate. • Jewelry should never be a distraction for you or the employer.

9. Other, Other, Other • Portfolio to carry resumes • Light on the perfume • Breath mints

10. DRESS FOR SUCCESS-MEN • Suit-Dark blue, gray, muted pin-stripes • Shirt-White, pale blue or yellow • Tie-Conservative, classic • Shoes-Polished dress shoes

11. What NOT to Wear in an Interview-Top 20 Wardrobe Malfunctions 1. Carrying a backpack or fannypack instead of a briefcase or portfolio: Some image consultants suggest women ditch their purse, too! 2. Sunglasses on top of your head or headphones around your neck. 3. Too-short skirts: Forget what some of those gals on 'The Apprentice' are wearing. Your skirt should cover your thighs when you are seated. 4. The wrong tie: Ties should be made of silk, no less than three and a quarter inches wide with a conservative pattern. Image consultants say the best colors are red or burgundy. 5. Overly bright or large-patterned clothing: With the possible exception of creative fields like advertising, it's best to stick with navy, black or gray.

12. Top 20 Wardrobe MalfunctionsContinued 6. Heavy makeup on women (or any makeup on a man) 7. Earrings on men:: avoid wearing any jewelry unless it is a wedding ring, class ring or watch. 8. More than one set of earrings on women 9. Facial piercings, tongue jewelry or visible tattoos 10. Ill-fitting clothes:Few people can wear things straight off the rack. Spending $ for tailoring.

13. Top 20 Wardrobe Malfunctions-Continued 11. Long fingernails, especially with bright or specialty polishes. 13. Short-sleeved shirts, even worse when worn with a tie 14. Fishnets, patterned hosiery or bare legs (no matter how tan you are). 15. Men whose socks don't match their shoes, or whose socks are too short and leave a gap of 16. Rumpled or stained clothing: If interviewing late in the day. 17. Scuffed or inappropriate footwear, including sneakers, stilettos, open-toed shoes and sandals 18. Strong aftershaves, perfumes or colognes: Many people are allergic to certain scents. 19. Belts and shoes that don't match 20. Telltale signs that your wearing a new suit. Remove all tags and extra buttons -- and remember to cut off the zigzag thread that keeps pockets and slits closed!

14. Dress for Success A guide for women dressing “Business Casual”

15. Don’t Wear This!

16. The Basics • Wear shoes that are well maintained • Press your clothing • Keep a “business professional” outfit at the office for emergencies

17. Business Casual In A Conservative Company • May mean a blazer and skirt • Less conservative company may mean a light sweater or knit top worn under a blazer with a skirt or slacks • The best guide is to tune into the dress of those moving up the corporate ladder

18. The Don’ts • Don’t wear more than 13 accessories • Don’t wear slacks to work if you’ve never seen top-level women at your organization wear them • Don’t wear hosiery and shoes that are darker than your hem

19. Tips • Business casual does not give you license to wear short skirts • Wear skin-toned hosiery when your business outfit consists of a short-sleeved jacket or dress • Dress for the position you want, not the position you have

20. Don’t know what to wear? • Your business casual wardrobe should consist of the same type of clothes and accessories described in your organization’s dress code. • If your company does not have a documented business casual code, emulate the dress of the person whose position you want!