Personal Shopper How to Dress:

PROFESSIONAL DRESS

Dress for Success
Dressing for success is not a new concept. Most business professionals recognise that the expression “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression” is true. The simple fact is that in and out of the business world, people are judged on their wardrobe. The clothing you wear can have an adverse affect on your career.

There used to be a time when the basic business suit was the norm for men and women in workplace situations. But more businesses have adopted “business casual” policies, so knowing the proper articles of clothing to buy is critical.

Perceived Image Is Everything
The image a professional presents should make prospects and clients feel comfortable with who he or she is. There are three areas of professional presence; the “three V’s”: Visual, Vocal, and Verbal. They are the communication signals we send to other people. The visual is what we look at: dress, body language, and facial expression. The vocal is your voice. The verbal is the words you choose.

What is most interesting is that these three signals are far from equally weighted. The visual component has the most initial impact. Remember that the next time you are dressing for an interview or meeting. How you look can colour what people hear you saying. Many companies today have “dress-down” and business casual days. Today’s employees appreciate having casual dress policies because they more closely match their own personal values. Some offices may have a business casual dress standard from one to five days a week. More companies are having “casual Fridays” or are relaxing the office dress code. But dressed down doesn’t mean sloppy or shabby clothing. A neat, clean, conservative and well-groomed businesslike appearance applies when a business casual standard is in place.

Do your clothes help you project the image you want? Each person should develop a style that reflects his or her own personality and individual taste. The image presented to clients, whether in their office or yours, is of utmost importance. If you are in doubt about whether a garment is appropriate, it’s probably not.

Tips for Men
Solid white, pale blue, and light grey dress shirts are staples of a business wardrobe; they're accepted in just about any environment and dress code, and offer a crisp, classic look. They're also very versatile as you can match them easily with most ties. Unfortunately, patterned shirts -- such as plaid, striped and chequered -- tend to be less versatile, and for many they can be a nightmare to mix and match. As a general rule, you can wear a striped shirt with a striped tie as long as the stripes aren't identical in size. Make sure at least one colour in your tie matches either your suit, shirt, or your belt and shoes. Avoid wearing a striped shirt with a striped tie and a pinstriped suit. Matching three similar patterns together is rarely a winning combination.
 

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