Style Tips for Creating a Professional Impression at the Office  

Building a professional wardrobe is a key part of putting your best foot forward at work. While your wardrobe certainly isn’t the only thing you need to worry about, it is an area that a lot of really smart, qualified, women neglect or forget. Maybe they think it’s not important. It is! Like it or not, people still make snap judgements based on our appearance every day.

Start with some foundation pieces. Your wardrobe foundation pieces should be comprised of classic, versatile, quality pieces. Quality doesn’t have to be expensive though. That said, if you have the means to  splurge a little, the foundation pieces are where you should do it.

Depending on your line of work, you might want to start with a good suit or dress. A good suit can be mixed and matched a number of ways. The blazer can be paired with jeans, for a more casual look, for example. The pants can be worn without the blazer with a printed blouse and some closed-toe, medium-height heels. You can dress up or down your foundation pieces easily.

Similarly, a classic dress, like a solid black sheath dress, can be paired with a classic blazer or dressed-down with some less formal accessories, such as an interesting necklace or an armful of bracelets. Or put on some statement earrings. Be sure to let one accessory dominate though; too much jewelry can look cheap or gaudy. That’s not the message you want to convey at work. Keep things classic and tailored.

Know Your Best Look: Color and Fit are Key  

One thing I’d really recommend is getting a professional color analysis. Once you have that, you can spend money confidently on your investment pieces without worrying about the color being off or not working with you for some reason. The real reason a lot of things don’t look right is because they are either the wrong color or the wrong style/fit for your body type. If you have quality items in your wardrobe and something just seems off, it’s probably one of these two things.

Know your body type. Women come in many shapes: pears, triangles, hourglass, and athletic. What you should strive for is balance. If you are wide on the bottom, you are going to want to add something on top, around your shoulder area, to create balance and symmetry. And vice versa. There is a great book about dressing for your body type and building a wardrobe by Kim France and Andrea Linett called The Lucky Shopping Manual: Building and Improving Your Wardrobe Piece by Piece. It’s mostly pictures and very easy to read. I highly recommend it!

The Power of Accessories to Transform an Outfit

Accessories are an area that can either elevate a look or make it look more casual. The most popular accessories right now are statement necklaces and earrings, and scarves. Scarves, if you wear them, should look young, fresh, and flowy. If you are over forty, however, choose wisely; the wrong scarf can actually make you look older than you are. Conversely, for a younger, hipper vibe, try some leather necklaces and bracelets. Experiment and see what looks best on you. When in doubt, leave it out. That’s my motto.

For work, closed-toe pumps are the way to go. Shoes are an area where spending a few extra dollars will make a big difference. Ever see a woman in beautiful clothes who ruins her look with cheap shoes? Quality footwear is easy to spot. By a few pairs of quality pumps in classic colors: black, white, cream, and navy. From there, you might want to add few trendy pairs, such as those with prints, dots, or bright colors.

Similarly, you need at least one, high-quality, go-to, handbag. A handbag can seriously elevate an outfit. Moreover, a bright-colored handbag can add an interesting pop of color, regardless of price. Be sure the quality of the bag reflects the overall statement you want to me. Classic and minimalist design portrays class. Metallic bags can take even a conservative outfit into nighttime with ease.

How You Present Yourself Speaks Volumes

We can’t talk about wardrobe without mentioning makeup and hair. Keep your makeup and hair work-appropriate. These areas are not the best for being adventurous. Keep the colors conservative and tasteful. Save more creative expression for post-work activities.

At the end of the day, your wardrobe choices say a lot about you. Of course, at work, you need to show up on time or be early, put in a full day, and do a good job. But don’t forget to pay attention to your wardrobe too. It’s saying more about you than you might realize.