Dress for Success

1. Dress for Success

2. Your BRAND • First impression • Messages conveyed • Confidence • Ability • Organized

3. Y O U • Four words that describe you • Your favorite outfit you owned (or one you liked) • Your last clothing purchase • What you typically wear on a daily basis

4. The event • Your current job • Class • Graduate school fairs • Employment meetings • Interviews • Job fairs • Networking meetings

5. What would you consider a conservative work environment? • Any corporate business work • Banks • Law, Architect, Accounting Firms • Some non-profits

6. What environments would be business casual? • Education • Non-profits • Smaller work environments

7. Business Casual • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QiwAf8ltuk • Context • Observe • Crisp and neat

8. What NOT to wear • Why?

9. Never appropriate • Flip-flops • Shorts • Tight or baggy fitting clothes • Missing buttons, tears and rips • Invitations- when in doubt ask the host or sponsor

10. Conservative No-No’s: The Cleavage

11. The Short Skirt

12. Invest in an iron • Take your own appearance seriously • Portrays attitude • Mandatory for all occasions • Hint- iron board • Have suits and special blouses dry cleaned

13. Dress like your boss • “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” • Different in every environment • Shoes are clean and not scuffed up • Favorite shoes? Update them Don’t forget to polish

14. Overdress rather than under • Plan as if you have an important meeting with an important client • “What’s the worst that can happen? You are the best dressed at the party?” Rachel Zoe Quality over quantity • Basic office apparel (suits, skirt, pants) in black and navy will be a good investment

15. Less does not equal more • Anything with a “Too” in front of it should be thrown in the weekend pile Comfortable=Confidence • Tailor outfits to our job tasks & activities • Dress for stressful days

16. Be yourself Dare to be different • No longer black and white • Colors, prints, details, and accessories • Personalize with your brand (four letters your wrote down)

17. Dressing for an Interview • http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/what-not-to-wear-how-to-dress-for-an-interview.html

18. Accessories & colors • http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/what-not-to-wear-how-to-dress-your-best/ Jewelry • A watch (your cell phone is NOT one) • Creative industry, more flexibility • Interviewing- more conservative

19. Makeup • Natural looking and conservative • Nails should be well groomed and polished Shoes • Toes should be covered for interviews • Not what your wearing to the clubs …aka ROME

20. How do you build a good executive wardrobe? The University of Missouri Business School gives these tips: • Suits/dresses: Look for… • Classic fabrics, patterns, and colors which are always in style and easy to accessorize. • Dresses in solid color or conservative print. • Contoured jacket collar that fits smoothly around the neck with no space between it and your shirt. • Smooth, straight seams and hems

21. $$$ • Marshalls, TJ Maxx, consignment shops, Goodwill • New York & Company (15% off for college students, same with JCREW) • Overstocked.com