Dress For Success At Any Professional Setting

It’s October and the weather sure is getting colder, but interviews, first days of work, and networking events still loom around the corner. How do you dress to achieve success in these professional settings?

Your attire can speak numbers of your professionalism. Wearing the right attire can improve the impressions you make during an interview or in the office with your boss and coworkers. Furthermore, the right attire can help boost your own self-perception and confidence, allowing you to be at the top of your game.

Let’s take a look at how we can dress for success and be prepared for any professional occasion.

How to Dress to Impress During a Job Interview

During an interview, first impressions can make or break the interview.  A well-dressed candidate immediately gets placed into higher consideration compared to the candidate who overlooks this area.

Men’s Interview Attire

• Wear a solid two-piece suit. Think neutral colors, such as black, navy, grey, or cream.
• Pair it with a long sleeve dress shirt in either white, solid light blue, or conservative stripes.
• Color coordinate with a solid or neutral colored tie. Some designs are acceptable, but keep them minimal.
• Wear dark socks that are mid-calf length to prevent skin from showing when sitting down.
• Wear comfortable business shoes, preferably black (Tip: Invest in a quality pair because good shoes can be worn for years.).
• Double check that your nails are neat and trimmed.
• Carry a portfolio or briefcase with paper and pen prepared to jot down notes.
• Pay attention to any strong scents, such as aftershave or cologne. Overpowering scents can make a negative impression.

Women’s Interview Attire

• Wear a solid two-piece suit. Think neutral colors, such as black, navy, grey, or cream.
• Pair it with a blouse in either white, solid light blue, or conservative stripes.
• Wear comfortable shoes, preferably those that have been worn for a couple of times so you’re not distracted by pain some new shoes cause.
• If wearing a skirt, always make sure to wear tan or light stocking.
• Avoid flashy jewelry and instead opt for conservative ones. You don’t want your jewelry to distract the employer from what you’re saying.
• Don’t over do any fragrances because everyone has different tastes and what smells pleasant to you may be overwhelming for the interviewer.
• Double check that your nails are neatly trimmed or manicured.
• Pair your outfit with a conservative bag or portfolio and make sure to slip in a pen and paper for any note-taking!

Examples of proper interview attire for men and women.

How to Dress to Impress During Your First Day of Work

If you can’t ask ahead for the right dress code, try to recall how your coworkers and interviewers were dressed during the interview. For the first day, it’s always better to be overdressed rather than underdressed. So a safe bet for men is wearing a two piece suit in neutral colors, such as black, navy or grey and pairing it off with a long sleeved dress shirt. Match your outfit with a conservative tie. If you feel overdressed, you can always lose the suit and tie. For women, wear a neutral colored two-piece suit with a dress shirt and some comfortable shoes. You never know how many people you might meet on the first day, so looking well-dressed and wearing comfortable shoes are both important elements to a first day.

How to Dress to Impress During a Networking Event

The great thing about networking events is that they usually have a dress code you can find out in advance. These can range from business formal, business casual, and smart casual.

Business Formal

For men:

• two-piece suit
• dress shirt
• conservative tie
• leather shoes and dark socks

For women:

• two-piece suit with dress shirt or business-style dress with a suit jacket
• heels or conservative flats
• stockings when wearing a dress

Business Casual

For men:

• seasonal sport coat or blazer
• dress shirt, casual button-down shirt, or polo shirt
• slacks or khakis
• loafers or loafer-style shoes and socks
• ties are optional

For women:

• open-collar shirt, dress shirt, sweater, or knit shirt
• skirt, khakis or pants
• casual-style dress
• heels or conservative flats

Smart Casual

For men:

• seasonal sport coat or blazer
• button-down shirt or polo
• slacks
• ties are optional

For women:

• dressy top with skirt
• dressy top with nice jeans or pants
• flats or heels