Dress for Success

Your BRAND• First impression• Messages conveyed • Confidence • Ability• Organized

Y O U

• Four words that describe you• Your favorite outfit you owned

(or one you liked)• Your last clothing purchase • What you typically wear on a

daily basis

The event

• Your current job• Class• Graduate school fairs• Employment meetings• Interviews• Job fairs• Networking meetings

What would you consider a conservative work

environment? • Any corporate business work• Banks• Law, Architect, Accounting Firms• Some non-profits

What environments would be business casual?

• Education• Non-profits• Smaller work environments

Business Casual

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QiwAf8ltuk

• Context• Observe • Crisp and neat

What NOT to wear

• Why?

Never appropriate

• Flip-flops• Shorts• Tight or baggy fitting clothes• Missing buttons, tears and rips• Invitations- when in doubt ask the host or

sponsor

Conservative No-No’s: The Cleavage

The Short Skirt

Invest in an iron

• Take your own appearance seriously• Portrays attitude• Mandatory for all occasions• Hint- iron board• Have suits and special blouses dry cleaned

Dress like your boss

• Shoes are clean and not scuffed up• Favorite shoes? Update them

Don’t forget to polish

• “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”

• Different in every environment

Overdress rather than under• Plan as if you have an important meeting with

an important client• “What’s the worst that can happen? You are

the best dressed at the party?” Rachel Zoe

Quality over quantity• Basic office apparel (suits, skirt, pants) in black

and navy will be a good investment

Less does not equal more

• Anything with a “Too” in front of it should be thrown in the weekend pile

Comfortable=Confidence• Tailor outfits to our job tasks & activities• Dress for stressful days

Be yourself

Dare to be different• No longer black and white• Colors, prints, details, and accessories

• Personalize with your brand (four letters your wrote down)

Dressing for an Interview

• http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/what-not-to-wear-how-to-dress-for-an-interview.html

Accessories & colors

• http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/what-not-to-wear-how-to-dress-your-best/

Jewelry • A watch (your cell phone is NOT one)• Creative industry, more flexibility • Interviewing- more conservative

Makeup• Natural looking and conservative • Nails should be well groomed and polished

Shoes• Toes should be covered for interviews• Not what your wearing to the clubs

…aka ROME

How do you build a good executive wardrobe?

The University of Missouri Business School gives these tips:

• Suits/dresses: Look for…• Classic fabrics, patterns, and colors which are

always in style and easy to accessorize. • Dresses in solid color or conservative print. • Contoured jacket collar that fits smoothly around

the neck with no space between it and your shirt. • Smooth, straight seams and hems

$$$

• Marshalls, TJ Maxx, consignment shops, Goodwill

• New York & Company (15% off for college students, same with JCREW)

• Overstocked.com