As many of us enter the corporate world and establish our footing in the workplace, our style and fashion sense must also evolve and find its own footing. When it comes to working in a corporate setting, your presentation is key. How you dress can say a lot about the type of employee you are. If you are new to the corporate setting or even if you’re trying to find your own personal style at work, the Corporate Fashion 101 Series is here to guide you. Let’s kick off the series with: The 3 Fashion Commandments.
Commandment #1: Wear what fits your body best
First and foremost, it’s important to know what kind of clothes look best on you. Take a good friend along with you to the mall, select and try on different styles of clothing, and have your friend give their honest opinion on what style looks best on you. If your friends are unavailable, ask a sales associate; they’re usually more than happy to help. Secondly, make sure that your clothes actually fit. I know some of us, including myself, don’t like to take the time to actually try on our clothes in the store but it’s important! Say NO to extra tight or baggy clothes; wear your size. If nothing seems to fit you just right, consider getting some items tailored to get that perfect fit. Thirdly, have stylish shoes without sacrificing comfort. It would be great if we could wear our most comfortable house shoes to work, but… they’re called house shoes for a reason. When shopping for shoes, ladies, aim for heels smaller than 4 inches; and gentleman, opt for shoes with a breathable leather lining.
Commandment #2: When in doubt, stick to the basics
Nothing says, “I mean business” more than a crisp white button-up shirt or blouse with a fitted, black pant suit. When you’re shopping for new sets of business clothes, start with neutral-colored items first; go for shades of whites, blacks, grays, navy blues, and beige. Also, always have a go-to suit along with a variety of button-up shirts and/or blouses that way you can always mix and match. When in doubt, you can never go wrong with a suit BUT it must be fitted…Commandment #1.
Commandment #3: Be confident.
My motto is: “When you look good you feel good; and when you feel good, you do good.” Now that you’ve followed Commandments 1 and 2, you can walk into the office with confidence!
Don’t forget to check out our article 8 Things Successful People Do.
