DRESS TO IMPRESSDRESS TO IMPRESS

Right or wrong, you are first judged by the Right or wrong, you are first judged by the way you look instead of by what you know way you look instead of by what you know and what kind of a person you are. Almost and what kind of a person you are. Almost everybody does it, including you. You everybody does it, including you. You have to look the part or you may not get to have to look the part or you may not get to play the role.play the role.

Class and elegance have nothing to do Class and elegance have nothing to do with money – they are a look and an with money – they are a look and an attitude. You can have both if you are attitude. You can have both if you are willing to invest the time to learn a new willing to invest the time to learn a new skill.skill.

Most Dress for Success violators fall intoMost Dress for Success violators fall into

three categories. They feel that:three categories. They feel that:

They don’t have enough time or money to They don’t have enough time or money to dress nicelydress nicely

Appearance is superficial and unimportantAppearance is superficial and unimportant

The rules don’t apply to themThe rules don’t apply to them

10 Mistakes You Can’t 10 Mistakes You Can’t Afford To MakeAfford To Make Not making your best first impressionNot making your best first impression Thinking that it takes a lot of money to be Thinking that it takes a lot of money to be

able to have a great lookable to have a great look Not knowing how to look great every dayNot knowing how to look great every day Not owning the “perfect” suitNot owning the “perfect” suit Dressing too casuallyDressing too casually Not looking as if you have a sense of styleNot looking as if you have a sense of style Not accessorizing correctly Not accessorizing correctly Not dressing correctly for your jobNot dressing correctly for your job Not understanding how to use “color”Not understanding how to use “color” Not looking promotableNot looking promotable

First Impressions - What First Impressions - What Message Are You Message Are You Sending?Sending?

One negative impression at the One negative impression at the wrong time could hinder your wrong time could hinder your careercareer

One instant positive image could One instant positive image could change your lifechange your life

Thinking That It Takes A Lot Thinking That It Takes A Lot Of Money To Be Able To Of Money To Be Able To Have A Great LookHave A Great Look Buy quality instead of quantityBuy quality instead of quantity Buy classics instead of trendsBuy classics instead of trends Spend the most money on the Spend the most money on the

clothes you spend the most time inclothes you spend the most time in Go shopping in your own closet to Go shopping in your own closet to

coordinate with new purchasescoordinate with new purchases Buy clothes that fitBuy clothes that fit

Not Knowing How To Not Knowing How To Look Great EverydayLook Great Everyday If you don’t look great every day (or If you don’t look great every day (or

most days), it means that on the day most days), it means that on the day you did look great it was an accidentyou did look great it was an accident

Great looking accomplished people Great looking accomplished people come in all shapes, sizes and agescome in all shapes, sizes and ages

You can stand out without standing outYou can stand out without standing out Wear boardroom looks instead of Wear boardroom looks instead of

backroom looksbackroom looks Invest in a wardrobe that works for Invest in a wardrobe that works for

you, not against youyou, not against you

Not Owning The Not Owning The “Perfect” Suit“Perfect” Suit A perfect suit is classic in style – it’s A perfect suit is classic in style – it’s

solid-color neutral, the pieces of which solid-color neutral, the pieces of which (jacket and pants/skirt) can be (jacket and pants/skirt) can be interchanged to give you more looksinterchanged to give you more looks

It will fit as if it was made especially It will fit as if it was made especially for youfor you

From a quality standpoint, the fabric From a quality standpoint, the fabric will feel good to the touch and be well will feel good to the touch and be well cut so that it drapes beautifullycut so that it drapes beautifully

It will give you the exact look you want It will give you the exact look you want for the officefor the office

Dressing Too CasuallyDressing Too Casually

What does “Business Casual” mean?What does “Business Casual” mean? Unfortunately, a standard definition of “business Unfortunately, a standard definition of “business

casual" does not exist. For some organizations casual" does not exist. For some organizations and employees, it may mean khaki pants and an and employees, it may mean khaki pants and an oxford shirt; others may see business casual as oxford shirt; others may see business casual as wool slacks and a blazer. The words “business wool slacks and a blazer. The words “business casual” are subject to multiple interpretations casual” are subject to multiple interpretations depending on the environment. Err on the depending on the environment. Err on the conservative side – don’t take the word “casual” conservative side – don’t take the word “casual” too literally. too literally.

Do not mistake business casual for business Do not mistake business casual for business sloppy!sloppy!

BAD IDEA

Too Casual

BAD IDEA

Too Casual

Not Looking As If You Not Looking As If You Have A Sense Of StyleHave A Sense Of Style Develop a sense of style that fits your Develop a sense of style that fits your

personality, the person you want to be, personality, the person you want to be, and is more than perfect for the job and is more than perfect for the job you have right nowyou have right now

You can create any look and wear any You can create any look and wear any style you wish (that’s appropriate for style you wish (that’s appropriate for the office) as long as you get the scale, the office) as long as you get the scale, fit and balance right for your size and fit and balance right for your size and shapeshape

Not Accessorizing Not Accessorizing CorrectlyCorrectly The way you use accessories The way you use accessories

communicates your individuality and communicates your individuality and presence. They can also tell others about presence. They can also tell others about the attention you pay to detailthe attention you pay to detail

When used properly, they can “pull” your When used properly, they can “pull” your outfit together to give you a polished lookoutfit together to give you a polished look

Accessories include: any jewelry, scarves, Accessories include: any jewelry, scarves, ties, ornate buttons, belts, socks, shoes, ties, ornate buttons, belts, socks, shoes, purses and even your glasses and your purses and even your glasses and your hair!hair!

BAD IDEAGet Sized and Wear Something

That Fits

BAD IDEAGet Sized and Wear Something

That Fits

Not Dressing Correctly Not Dressing Correctly For Your JobFor Your Job Play by any dress code “rules” Play by any dress code “rules”

your workplace or industry has your workplace or industry has (written or understood)(written or understood)

Wearing clothing viewed as Wearing clothing viewed as appropriate for your workplace appropriate for your workplace gives the impression that you are gives the impression that you are highly competent and a team highly competent and a team playerplayer

Respect traditionRespect tradition

BAD IDEADress Correctly For the Job

BAD IDEADress Correctly For the Job

Color PowerColor Power

When you want to get it right every time,When you want to get it right every time,

the most important skill you can learn isthe most important skill you can learn is

how to combine colors in a way that giveshow to combine colors in a way that gives

you a great look. Learning this new skill willyou a great look. Learning this new skill will

serve you well for the rest of your life. It’sserve you well for the rest of your life. It’s

your most important accessory and it’s free.your most important accessory and it’s free.

BAD IDEAMake Sure Your Make-Up Will NotDetract From What You Have to

Say

BAD IDEAMake Sure Your Make-Up Will NotDetract From What You Have to

Say

LOOKING PROMOTABLE

Some classic signs that your lack of Some classic signs that your lack of professional attire may be hurting your professional attire may be hurting your career:career:

A superior has flat-out told you that you need to A superior has flat-out told you that you need to wear more professional attire to be considered for wear more professional attire to be considered for another position.another position.

Someone in your office always feels compelled to Someone in your office always feels compelled to remind you to “dress nicely” for special events like remind you to “dress nicely” for special events like meetings, presentations or other functions.meetings, presentations or other functions.

A co-worker with equal or lesser skills but nicer A co-worker with equal or lesser skills but nicer wardrobe was promoted over you.wardrobe was promoted over you.

On those odd days that you do take a little extra On those odd days that you do take a little extra time with your professional attire, your co-workers time with your professional attire, your co-workers want to know if you’re going for an interview.want to know if you’re going for an interview.

You keep asking to be considered for a more visible You keep asking to be considered for a more visible role in your company, but all you get is role in your company, but all you get is management “runaround.”management “runaround.”

RULE # 1RULE # 1

Remember - always look greatRemember - always look great

Whether you are wearing classicWhether you are wearing classic

business, business casual, ethnicbusiness, business casual, ethnic

or formal clothes, you canor formal clothes, you can

always look great! always look great!

RULE # 2RULE # 2

Dress smart, look smart, be smartDress smart, look smart, be smart

This means, among other things,This means, among other things,

playing by any dress codeplaying by any dress code

guidelines your workplace orguidelines your workplace or

industry has (written orindustry has (written or

understood). Create a look for understood). Create a look for yourselfyourself

that is even more attractive, yetthat is even more attractive, yet

businesslike, than the code suggests. businesslike, than the code suggests.

RULE # 3RULE # 3

Dress equal to, or better than,Dress equal to, or better than,

the top executive in yourthe top executive in your

workplaceworkplace

Think easy elegance, notThink easy elegance, not

overdone - quality, not quantity.overdone - quality, not quantity.

RULE #4RULE #4

Invest in a wardrobe that works for Invest in a wardrobe that works for youyou

From now on, don’t buy anythingFrom now on, don’t buy anythingunless it’s equal to or better thanunless it’s equal to or better thanthe best look you have right now.the best look you have right now.Spend the most money on clothes Spend the most money on clothes you spend the most time in. Learn toyou spend the most time in. Learn topass up a bargain if it doesn’t lookpass up a bargain if it doesn’t lookgood on you. good on you.

RULE # 5RULE # 5

Don’t sacrifice comfort for looks Don’t sacrifice comfort for looks or looks for comfortor looks for comfort

Comfort can be found in any styleand shape so it’s never

necessaryto make this sacrifice. When youtry something on, sit in it, walkaround in it and ask yourself howit feels on your body.

Remember………Before an interview, look in the mirror and ask yourself, “Is this the best I can look?”

Because that is exactly what you’re

telling a potential employer.