It's no secret that the clothes you wear directly affect the level of success you'll have in life. In fact, studies have shown that people who dress well are more likely to get promoted in their respective line of work. So if you're looking to climb the corporate ladder, follow these tips to dress for success.
Trousers, Not Jeans
One of the most common mistakes that people make when getting dressed for work is wearing jeans. Denim jeans are arguably the world's most popular style of pants. Worn by millions of men and women throughout the world, they offer the perfect combination of style, comfort and durability -- a combination that's simply not found elsewhere. However, this doesn't necessarily mean they are the best choice for work. On the contrary, jeans are typically too casual for the professional workplace, which is why it's a good idea to wear trousers instead. Suit trousers or even khakis or chinos are all excellent choices for the workplace. They'll help you create a more formal appearance, which reflects positively upon your character.
Wear Clothes that Fit
Regardless of what clothes you intend to wear, it's important to make sure they fit. Even if it's a high-quality suit made of the finest wool fabric, it's not going to prove beneficial in helping you achieve a professional appearance unless it fits. Unfortunately, finding the perfect fitting outfit isn't always an easy task. You can search at countless retail and department stores, only to come away empty-handed. If this sounds like a familiar scenario, consider ordering a suit here at
StudioSuits. When ordering, you can specify your exact measurements, which we'll use to customize your suit so it fits perfectly.
Don't Forget to Press Your Clothes
Before wearing clothes to the workplace, make sure they are pressed and wrinkle-free. There's no such thing as a completely wrinkle-free fabric. While some synthetic fabrics are less susceptible to wrinkles than others, the bottom line is that all fabrics and clothes will develop wrinkles. It's just something that comes with the territory. But wearing a wrinkles suit or outfit to the office is a sure-fire way to create a bad impression on your boss. It tells the world that you don't care about your appearance and aren't willing to spend the time or energy pressing your suit. This is easily avoided, however, by ironing your outfit before wearing it. Assuming the fabric is iron-safe, go ahead and iron it. A hot iron should smooth out most, if not all, wrinkles.
Don't Wear the Same Outfit for Two or More Consecutive Days
There's nothing wrong with wearing the same outfit several times per week, but you shouldn't wear it back-to-back. If your wear your favorite all-black suit on Monday, for instance, you should change it up with a different suit or outfit on Tuesday. That following Wednesday, however, you can go back to your all-black suit. Wearing the same outfit for two or more consecutive days reflects poorly on your attire, and some people may perceive you as the type of individual who doesn't care about the way he or she looks. The bottom line is that you shouldn't wear the same outfit for multiple consecutive days. Changing up your fashion choices is a great way to maintain a professional, high-end appearance -- and that's exactly what you should strive for when choosing your attire.
Check Your Colors
It's easy to overlook color coordination when you're getting dressed for work in the morning. As such, many men and women are guilty of making another critical mistake with their outfits: mismatching colors. Going back to the basics of fashion 101, certain colors like black and brown don't match. On the contrary, they clash with one another, making them a poor choice for the workplace (or any place for that matter). You don't have to wear an outfit consisting of just a single color, but you should choose colors that match and/or flow cohesively with one another. Black and white is a classic color combination that's safe for nearly all occasions. Another idea is to stick with a neutral color like dark gray.
Follow the Dress Code
Assuming the company for whom you work has one, follow the dress code. Some companies have a strict dress code, requiring all workers to wear a specific type of outfit. Others, however, are more lenient, allowing workers to wear whatever they please. Familiarize yourself with your respective company's dress code, following it on a daily basis as you get dressed for work. If you don't know your company's dress code, or even whether or not it has one, ask your employer for assistance. He or she should gladly provide advice on what outfits are suitable to wear in the workplace.
Don't Forget the Shoes
Shoes are an important component in work attire, more so than what many people realize. It's not uncommon for workers to wear a clean, pressed suit, only to pair it with dirty sneakers or tennis shoes. In doing so, they negate all of the positive elements of their suit, which are overlooked due to their poor choice of footwear. A simple and classic type of footwear for the office is leather loafers. Made of genuine leather, they are comfortable, stylish, and look great with most styles of suits and formal wear.
Watch the Lint
In addition to wrinkles, another fashion faux pas to avoid is lint. If your outfit is covered in lint, it's not going to help you achieve a clean and formal appearance. This problem is easily avoided, though, by using a lint-roller before heading into the office. A simple $1 lint roller will remove most lint, pet hair and other dirt/debris on your clothes. As such, it's not a bad idea to keep a lint roller in your car. Before exiting your car and entering the office, you can run over your outfit one last time to remove any lingering lint or debris.
