Three tips for flawless professional dressing all summer long

Summer is finally here, and the weather is hot. Should this affect how you dress for work? Not so much. There’s a line between acceptable workwear and what you’d wear to the bars, and being on the wrong side of it has the potential to hurt your standing in the workplace. The objective of professional dressing is to represent yourself—and the company—in the best possible light.This will get you noticed both inside and outside of the company, which could lead to promotions and new opportunities.

But dressing appropriately doesn’t mean you have to dress down and neglect your personal appearance. Styled, healthy hair, makeup applied with a light hand, and a chipless manicure and pedicure all work toward this goal. What I’m saying is that just because it’s hot outside doesn’t mean it’s okay to start showing lots of skin at work. Your corporate dress code doesn’t change with the weather. If you don’t have a dress code, use these tips as your dress code. It will take you far.

Tip 1: Just because your favorite celebrity is pictured wearing something that’s cute, it doesn’t mean you should show up to work wearing something similar. Celebrities live in a different world than we do. Part of their job (movie star, singer, musician) is to have a larger-than-life persona. That means their hair, makeup, and their style of dress (not mentioning the way they carry themselves) doesn’t apply to our professional lives. In fact, 95% of the fashion you see in the media isn’t acceptable in the workplace. Pick outfits that will work in your everyday life, not on the runway.

Tip 2: Being the best dressed is never a bad choice. Clients always ask me, “What if I’m the most dressed-up person in the room?” My answer is always the same: “So what?” When you walk into a room full of people, who does your eye naturally follow? Someone who’s dressed unremarkably, or someone who looks like they care and have it all together? Who do you unconsciously determine is one of the leaders? The person who is dressed to impress.

You will never lose by being the best dressed in any group of people. Best dressed doesn’t equal ball gown. It’s whatever is best for what you’re attending, and, in this case, it’s your professional life. You have worked hard to get where you are professionally and probably want to keep moving up, which means more hard work. Why not show the same excellence in your appearance as you do your work?

Tip 3: Attractiveness is not a certain body shape, type, size, or age. It’s about what you do with what you have. Being attractive is showing people you’re proud of who you are. Your attractiveness isn’t determined by our culture of perfection—being 19 years old, a size zero with flawless skin, a big chest, no hips and flawless, straight, waist-length hair—your attractiveness is determined by you. When you exude confidence and joy, people are naturally drawn to you, and, when you combine that with dressing the best you can and keeping yourself well-groomed, you will be seen as attractive.

 

These professional dressing tips will not only get you through the summer, but through the whole year.

Not all shoes and purses are appropriate for all work places. Trade out for ones acceptable for your place of work.