How to dress for success and appropriately for the office

You may have heard the adage, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” This may be more relevant now with casual workspace cultures eclipsing traditional office environments and remote work making it way too easy to wear lounge clothes on Zoom calls.

Yet, the effort to dress well, whether in-office or virtually, is essential if you want to be taken seriously by your colleagues, management, or potential clients – the reality is that perception plays a very real part in our careers. After all, when comparing two people in the same role where one person shows up donning a tailored suit and the other is wearing worn-out jeans and a t-shirt, well, which person would you want handling your business?

I’m not knocking wearing comfy old jeans and your favourite t-shirt if your workspace culture is all about it. But here’s an interesting fact to chew on: within the first 10 seconds of meeting someone, they will decide how successful and intelligent you are before you’ve said a single word.

So if you’ve got your eye on that next promotion or want to land that next big client, then you now’s the time to level up on your professional wardrobe. Let’s look at some ways you can dress more professionally to command authority and respect, while looking seamlessly stylish.

1. The seamless pant hemline

This is a game-changer for professional outfits. When your pants are too short for your shoes, it throws the whole look off (with the exception of crop pants, which I’ll get to in a later post!). You want to have the hem line of your trousers 1.5 to 3.4 of an inch off of the ground, appearing like it’s almost dusting the floor. This creates a more polished and streamlined look and has the added bonus of making your legs looks longer.

2. The proper skirt hemline

It can be a challenge to find professional length skirts when everything is made so short these days. You want your skirt’s hemline to be in the knee zone, just past the bottom of your knees (aka midi length), middle of the knees, or just above the knees. This means no mini-skirts, ladies. Make sure the skirt hemline is an appropriate length for the office and save the short skirts for outside the office.

3. The classic blazer

Blazers come in all lengths these days, from cropped to oversized boyfriend blazers. If you are going to invest in a good work blazer, get one where the hemline falls to your hip bone – where your leg joint meets your hip. It’s the sweet spot for style and professionalism. The sleeve length for a classic blazer should fall somewhere between your wrist and the first joint on your thumb.

4. The power pumps

The pointed toe shoe is classic, elegant and powerful all at once. In fact, wearing pumps will automatically make your body stand straighter, giving the impression of confidence. If wearing heels is not comfortable to you, wear pointed toes flats. Experiment with wearing the same colour of pointed toe shoes as your pants or skirt, which will help lengthen your whole look.

5. The baubles and bling

Accessories tell a lot about your professional level and status. The higher your position, the more luxurious your accessories may be – like an expensive watch or beautiful leather handbag, which tend to be symbols of status. But none of your accessories should break the bank – choose something affordable that is business-like and delicate.

6. The monochromatic suit

Whether it’s all navy, all black, or one vibrant color, monochromatic suits

are a must-have in your professional wardrobe. Wearing a suit all in one color is dynamic, sophisticated and can elongate your look, giving the appearance of looking taller.

Tip: If you are investing in a few different suits for work, select items with the same fabric, fabric density and texture. That way, you can switch and swap your jackets up with the bottoms to get more outfits.

7. The work environment

Have a look at what upper management is wearing. You’ll get a clue of what’s appropriate to wear – and what you should be wearing to be noticed and taken more seriously. When it comes to Casual Fridays, a good rule of thumb is to dress one level down from what you would typically wear through the week. And when in doubt, look to your (successful!) colleagues for cues.

Want to learn more about how to create a look that’s stylish, professional, and meets your unique tastes? Get in touch with me here to find out more about my services.