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Career Clothes
Dress for Success Without Breaking the Bank
By Debra Weaver
Everyone knows that to be successful you have to also look the part. "Wardrobe is extremely important," says Jane Harvey, a wardrobe consultant from Tucson, Ariz. "Numerous studies have been done that prove the first impression you make is from your appearance alone, before you ever open your mouth."
Dressing well doesn't have to cost a lot. Start with a little planning, and ask yourself these questions:
What do other people in your office wear?
What do you want your clothes to say about you?
What image do you want to project?
After determining the look you want to achieve, go shopping – in your closet! What do you already own that is suitable for office wear? Maybe you already have a nice black suit. Decide what you can pair with it to get different looks.
Now review your shopping budget. The main point here is to buy the best you can afford. Inexpensive items are no bargain if they look worn out after a couple of cleanings. If you buy quality items to go with pieces you already own you'll have your wardrobe complete before you know it.
"I always advise my clients to start with a nice suit – a jacket, skirt and slacks," Harvey says. "This is where you should invest your money. To those 'core' pieces add less expensive or trendy accessories. I like to have from three to five tops for each bottom. Maybe a crisp white shirt, a sweater set or even an animal print top that is so fashionable now."
Harvey offers these additional tips:
- Don't get caught up in size. You don't have to be a size 10 to look beautiful in your clothes. Proportions and architecture of a person's body determine what styles work best. It's all about fit on an individual.
- Always try on the clothes before buying. What looks good on the hanger might not look good on you. Pay to have the item altered to fit you nicely, a small price to pay for comfort and appearance.
- With a few quality pieces that you can mix and match along with accessories such as jewelry, belts, scarves, the results can be outstanding.
"Building a career clothing capsule is an easy, efficient way to have a small wardrobe that expands to a great number of different looks," says Charmaine McClarie, a style and image management expert and head of McClarie Group in Los Angeles, Calif. "A capsule wardrobe anchors itself around flattering fabrics and styles and two main colors. It then uses an accent color and accessories and interchangeable dress items to turn a small group of clothes into a variety of outfits."