How to Dress for Success

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How to Dress for Success

• By Stacy Wells

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Thought Provoking Questions

• Would you wear a bright orange hard hat to work
  in a coffee shop?
• Would you wear high heals and a skirt to work in
  on a construction site?
• Would you wear a pink tutu to work in a Corporate
  environment?
• Would you wear a suit to work in at a butchers
  shop?

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Men Clothing Donts

• Casual
• Dont wear loud, bright colors such as greens,
  reds or purples. These colors can be used
  sparingly as accents or accessories, such as
  ties.
• Dont wear jeans or t-shirts
• Dont wear ripped jeans.
• Dont wear sports clothes with emblems. Avoid
  clothing with large designer labels.
• Interview
• Dont wear white socks
• Dont wear a brown suite. This is usually
  unacceptable.
• Dont wear a suite that has large pinstripes.
• Dont wear a v-neck style undershirt since the
  neckline may show.
• Dont let your tie extend below your belt.

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Men Clothing Dos

• Casual
• Do wear buttoned shirts, leaving only one or two
  buttons open at most, not showing chest. Polo
  shirts can be acceptable, but needs to be tucked
  in.
• Do wear slacks that are similar to Dockers and
  other makers of cotton material pants or nice
  looking dress synthetic pants.
• Interview
• Do wear a tie. Make certain that it is knotted
  firmly, not loosely around the shirt collar.
• Do wear a two piece matched suit. The following
  colors are acceptable navy, dark grey, or black.
• Do wear quality silk ties.
• Do wear leather, lace-up or slip-on business
  shoes, preferably black or cordovan. Invest in a
  good pair even if you don't wear them daily on
  the job, you'll need them for other occasions and
  you should expect to get lots of years out of
  good shoes.
• Cordovan shoe leather is regarded as the most
  luxurious and durable leather available. The cost
  of this leather is high due to its limited
  supply. Made from the rump of a horse, only two
  or three pair of shoes can be made from a single
  hide. With proper care, a well made pair of
  cordovan shoes can last a lifetime, with
  improving patina and luster throughout its life.
• Both
• Do wear clean, ironed clothes.
• Do wear shirts that are yellow, white or a light
  blue.
• Do empty pockets beware of bulging keys and
  tinkling change.
• Do inspect for tags, dangling threads, etc.
• Do wear dark socks that are mid calf length. You
  dont want any skin to show.

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Women's Clothing Donts

• Casual
• Dont wear jeans, denim outfits, tank tops,
  shorts or other very casual clothing.
• Don't confuse club attire with business attire.
  If you would wear it to a club, you probably
  shouldn't wear it in a business environment.
• Interview
• Dont wear tops with large prints or bright
  colors.
• Do not wear open toe or open heel shoes or heels
  higher than 2 inches
• Both
• Dont wear it if you are in doubt about wearing
  it.
• Dont wear anything too short, too tight or too
  sexy. Skirt length should be no more than one
  inch above the knee.
• Dont wear a low-cut or see-through blouse.
• Dont wear big jewelry or hair ornaments.

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Women's Clothing Dos

• Casual
• Do wear tailored knit sweaters and sweater sets
  are appropriate business casual choices for
  women. Cotton, silk, and blends are appropriate.
• Do wear fabrics that are crisp colors that are
  generally be solid navy, black, gray, brown and
  khaki are always safe bets. For the most
  business-like appearance, pants should be creased
  and tailored neither extreme of tight or
  flowing.
• Interview
• Do wear a tailored pant/skirt suite.
• Do wear closed-toe pumps. Regardless of what is
  in style, avoid extremes no stilettos or chunky
  platforms. Make certain you can walk comfortably
  in your shoes hobbling in uncomfortable shoes
  does not convey a professional appearance.
• Do wear a tailored blouse in a color or small
  print that coordinates nicely with your suit. A
  fine gauge, good quality knit shell is also
  appropriate underneath your suit jacket. Don't
  show cleavage.
• Both
• Do wear clean, ironed clothes.
• Do match your purse color with your shoes. The
  purse should also be small and simple.
• Do keep makeup conservative.

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Examples of Dos and Donts
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Examples Cont.
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Examples Cont.
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Examples Cont.
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Examples Cont.
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Note for Interview Attire

• You dont want to be remembered for what you were
  wearing, this probably means that you made an
  error of judgment with your attire.
• Your attire should be noticed as being
  appropriate and well-fitting, but it should not
  take center stage.

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STORES

• WOMEN
• Elder-Beerman
• JC Penny
• Sears
• Maurices

• MEN
• Elder-Beerman
• JC Penny
• Sears
• Wal-Mart

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How to tie a tie

• http//www.tie-a-tie.net/windsor.html

Other Sources

• http//www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/dress/about.html
• (University Of Illinois Extension)
• http//www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/interview/APPEAR
  NC.html
• (Virginia Tech Career Services) (Very Good)
• http//www.uncw.edu/stuaff/career/students/dressfo
  rsuccess.htm
• (University of North Carolina Wilmington)

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• THE END