Business Attire for Women in the Workplace

1
JOBTALKS
PROFESSIONAL DRESS FOR WOMEN
Indiana UniversityKelley School of BusinessC.
Randall Powell, Ph.D
Contents used in this presentation are adapted
from Career Planning Strategies and used with
the permission of the author.
2
Womens Dress Business Professional and
Casual
How Should One Dress for the Interview and
On-the-Job?
3
Business Casual for Women

• Appropriate attireknow difference between
  business casual and casual attire
• Fewer than 1/3 of all white-collar workers still
  required to dress formally
• 4 out of 5 of those dress down one day a week
• Gain edge in business with appropriate attire
• Be sensitive to your industry
• Dress the part for the role you play

4
No Suits??

• No, suits still important
• Business casual - blazer or cardigan sweater and
  a coordinating skirt
• Business casual is NOT same as casual attire
• A womans attire must say that she means business
  with authority

5
Who Cares?

• A woman must look the part
• Appearance may make or break her career
• First impression continues to make a lasting
  impression
• Recognize the value of companys business casual
  guidelines

6
Basics of Business Casual

• A classic suit
• A navy or black blazer and skirt
• A cardigan sweater
• A plain white or cream blouse in silk or rayon or
  a tailored tee
• With a light colored jacket or sweater wear a
  darker colored blouse.

7
Pants and Pantsuits

• Pantsuits are great investments on business
  casual days.
• Trousers and a blazer or a cardigan sweater are
  also appropriate.
• Twill pants in black, navy, or khaki are
  appropriate.
• If you are unsure if slacks are appropriate,
  simply mirror the highest-ranking female in your
  company.

8
Other Choices

• Basic skirts in black, navy, khaki, or taupe
• Skirts should be same length as business
  professional skirt length or longer
• A long skirt makes a feminine statement for
  business casual

9
Belts, Shoes, and Hosiery

• Coordinate with the other items worn
• Classic leather pumps or flats in black, navy,
  taupe, or burgundy
• Hosiery should be the same shade or lighter than
  shoes and hemline
• With short-sleeved jacket or top skin-toned
  hosiery is a must
• Make black, navy, or burgundy handbag and
  briefcase the smallest size possible to still be
  functional

10
Jewelry

• Jewelry should be the same as business
  professional--gold-tone or silver jewelry is best
• Basic is best--follow the rule of 13
• A woman cant get into trouble being dressed in a
  simple, elegant manner

11
Hairstyle, Make-up, and Fingernails

• Hair should be or give appearance of shoulder
  length or shorter
• Makeup should accentuate features rather than
  jumping out--eyes and lips important
  communication tools
• Fingernails should be well maintained with subtle
  polish or the natural look

12
Mistakes in Business Casual Dressing

• Dressing too casually
• 4 of the most commonly made business casual faux
  pas
• Not wearing hosiery
• Wearing a skirt that is too short
• Wearing sleeveless or halter tops and see-through
  blouses
• Wearing stretch pants
• How to decide what is appropriate
• Look good
• Dress up a notch
• Thinking an outfit inappropriate means it
  probably is

13

• Dont wear business casual attire when
• Not yet invested in business casual attire
• When talking about salary or a performance
  appraisal
• When unsure of outfit
• When outfit is not cleaned or pressed
• When unsure about an organizations dress code on
  a visit
• When interacting with potential clients or
  international clients
• Are jeans appropriate?
• When the highest-ranking woman or CEO wears them
  to work
• And, only if they are cleaned, pressed, and in
  good condition

14
What Does a Womans Personal Appearance Say About
Her?

• Respect for herself and others
• How much attention to detail she has
• Interest in professional future

15
Business Professional Dress

• Women must look right to get foot in the door
• Only suits?
• Some companies have unwritten rule for suits only
• In other companies, business professional dress
  can mean suit, dress, pantsuit, or blazer and
  skirt

16
Business Professional Basics

• Suits in black, navy, gray, and taupe
• Brighter colored jackets and skirts from business
  casual may be blended into business professional
• Skirts that are calf-length are appropriate
• A blazer and coordinating skirt is appropriate
  when policy is more relaxed
• Long-sleeve classic style dress in a good color
• Black, gray, navy, and tan are good color
  choices--project authority
• Avoid floral designs and other prints

17

• Best fabrics
• Wool, gabardine, cotton, and silk
• Man-made fabrics that give the same lookscrunch
  test

• Blouses
• Solid colors
• Cream, white, and other muted as well as bright
  colors
• Cotton, silk, and blouses made of man-made fibers
  that have quality look
• Blouses of good quality, styles, and colors

18
Belts, Shoes, and Hosiery

• Match or be compatible with outfit
• Classic leather pumps with closed heel and toe
• Black, navy, taupe, and burgundy.
• Heels -- 1 ½ to 3 inches high
• Hosiery same shade or lighter than shoes and
  hemline -- Dark hose with same color long-sleeved
  suit
• Accessoriesleather, classic, black, navy, taupe,
  or burgundy
• Purse/ briefcase compact and functional--small as
  possible

19
Jewelry

• 14 carat gold or sterling silver
• Accentuate professional attire
• Eliminate a piece when in doubt
• Simplicity is key
• Follow the rule of 13
• No dangling earrings
• Classic-style watch with black, gold, or
  silver-tone band

20
Hairstyle, Make-up, and Fingernails

• Easy to maintain hairstyle
• Hair lengthappearance of shoulder length or
  shorter
• Make-up--accentuate features
• Eyes and lips are important communication tools
• Fingernails--well maintained, subtle polish
  colors or natural look
• Eyeglasses
• Glasses denote serious/intelligent
• Conservative frames

21
Appropriateness

• Dress up a notch rather than down a notch
• Give extra edge by looking good on her way up
  ladder
• Quality clothes
• Investment
• Thinking an outfit inappropriate--probably is

22
What Does a Womans Appearance Say About Her?

• Respect
• Attention to detail
• Credibility
• Achieve professional goals

23
Business Dress Codes

• Company manual
• Distributed to potential and present employees
• Followed
• Enforced
• Dress by and for example
• Knowledgeable
• Sensitive to own industry
• Dress the part for the role you play

24
Sources

• What Does Business Casual for Women Mean? What
  Does Business Professional Dress Mean for Women
  Today? Ann Marie Sabath, founder of At Ease, Inc.

25
EVALUATION QUESTIONS

• USEa. Strongly Agreeb. Agreec. Disagreed.
  Strongly Disagreee. Dont Know

• 1. I found the presentation material easy to
  understand.
• 2. This discussion session increased my knowledge
  on the subject presented.
• 3. I will be able to use some of the information
  from this discussion session in the future.
• 4. The presenter was well prepared for this
  session.
• 5. This presentation should be repeated in future
  semesters.

26
If you would like to learn more, Career Planning
Strategies textbook will supply additional
information on this topic.