Dress for Success

So you’ve made it through your studies in a pair of ripped jeans and a grubby old t-shirt. Low and behold, you’ve passed through the transition from relaxed student to the realm of the employed. Hopefully it wasn’t too nerve-wracking, because there’s another step just around the corner!

For the twentysomething seeking their first promotion or with an eye on a management position, the image you project is essential for the role you imagine yourself playing in the future of the company. As business has become more and more mobile in recent years, with a tendency towards increased flexibility in the workplace location, many have interpreted this state of flux as conducive to a more casual approach to dressing for the job.

In theory this sounds fantastic, but in practise the opposite has become evident. Don’t let your wardrobe hinder your career or your chance for a promotion. Appearance is almost as important as your skills, as many employers and bosses still interpret personal ability as akin to any external projection through clothes, shoes and personal grooming.

Yet how can you dress for success in a casual or corporate workplace? It’s a matter of good dress sense and judgement. Just because your designer jeans are from Dior Homme or your jewellery from Dolce & Gabbana doesn’t always make it appropriate.

As a rule of thumb, dress the part. Adhere to the specific industry dress codes, and recognise that finance, accounting and law, for instance, require a more conservative approach. In other industries, you can let your career ambitions mingle with individual style and let your unique personality shine with designer dresses or shirts from Fendi, Maison Martin Margiela or Marc Jacobs. A good guide is to follow the example set by the interviewer in terms of dress code, and never underestimate the appeal of a suit, quality briefcase and a decent pen!

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