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Dressing ProfessionallyCareer Development Conference
Birmingham Education Foundation, Birmingham Rotary Club, and Birmingham Urban League Young Professionals
+Why Dress Professionally?
How you dress is a huge part of the visual impression you convey, especially on a first impression. In some cases, you may only have one opportunity to convey the kind of employee you are and you want to do it right!
Dressing professionally also shows that you appreciate and understand cultural norms in a specific setting, industry, and workplace. It shows that you are respectful of and are willing to engage in those norms.
+Dress codes and different types of attire
Black or white tieSemi-formalBusiness formalBusiness casualCasual Uniform
Business formal and business casual are the styles that will most often apply to interviews and many corporate/professional jobs. You may inquire at the interview what kind of attire is recommended for daily wok.
+General standards for work attire
Clothes should: Fit properly – not too loose or too tight Be clean Be appropriate to the job and setting Be tucked in Be described as ‘neat,’ ‘crisp,’ and ‘classic,’ rather than
‘trendy’ or ‘expressive’
** Note: the following recommendations are for most traditional, conservative workplaces; you should observe your workplace to determine specific expectations around attire, which may be more relaxed or more formal than described below
+Business Formal - Men
Dark business suit – Black, blue, or gray If opting for separates, pants and blazer should match If you jacket has two buttons, button only the top; if it has
three, button the middle; unbutton your jacket to sit
Dress shirt – traditionally, white, blue, or gray; may incorporate subtle stripes or other pastel solid colors Avoid loud colors such as bright yellow, orange, and certain
shades of red.
Conservative tie – solid colors, stripes, or modest prints Ties should be tied so that the bottom corners hit just
above the belt
Leather dress shoes and dark dress socks – if wearing a belt, match the belt to your shoes
+Business Formal - Women
Suit jacket and appropriate-length skirt (most formal) – dark colors: Knee-length skirt should cover thighs when seated Longer skirts acceptable if not billowing or too tight If you wear a slip under the skirt, make sure it does not show If you cannot walk comfortably, it is probably too tight Sheer stockings (neutral or dark to match skirt)
Suit jacket and matching pants or dress (less formal) – dark colors
Tailored blouse or shirt under jacket – opaque fine-gauge knit shell sleeveless or a sleeved knit top, a tailored knit
sweater, sweater set, or twinset
Conservative closed-toe heels – recommended ½-2 inches
+Business Casual - Men
Long- or short-sleeved collared shirt or polo – white, light blue, other pastel solids, or subtle stripes
Khaki, corduroy, or chino pants – stick with neutral colors Dress pants can also be worn with the above shirt options
Seasonal sport coat, blazer, or v-neck sweater V-neck should only be low enough to expose shirt collar
Tie (optional; same rules apply as for business professional)
Leather loafers or boat shoes and socks
+Business Casual - Women
Skirt, khakis, or pants in a neutral color Hosiery is not essential for business casual
Blouse, collared shirt, knit shirt or sweater Bright colors are allowed for business casual
Conservative shoes May be heels or flats In some cases, sandals may also be acceptable
+Accessories - Men
Conservative watch
Black or brown belt to match shoes with normal-sized buckle No customized belt buckles
Well-groomed facial hair and hair styles
Remove visible piercings
Briefcase or business-style bag for belongings
+Accessories - Women
Make-up should be classic and not overly caked on
Subtle jewelry No chokers or anklets Earrings (studs preferred over long dangling earrings) Piercings only in earlobes
Fingernails at reasonable length and not overly-stylized nail colors or designs
Hair in natural-looking colors (may be dyed, but should not be green or purple or blue, for example) and classic hairstyles Ponytail or bun are acceptable up-dos Wear hear half-up or all the way down Curly or straight
Briefcase or tote bag for belongings
+What not to do
Do not: Wear saggy pants Wear clothes that are revealing Wear clothes that show off tattoos
Avoid: Lots of jewelry Overwhelming perfumes Non-traditional hair colors Flashy styles and prints
+Other - Black Tie
Men: Black suit jacket and matching trousers Formal white shirt Shirt studs and cuff links Black bow tie with black cummerbund to match tie, or a
vest Black patent shoes and black dress socks
Women: Formal (floor length) evening gown Dressy cocktail dress Your dressiest "little black dress"
+Other - Semi-Formal
Men: Dark, business suit Matching vest (optional) Dress shirt Tie Leather dress shoes and dark dress socks
Women: Short afternoon or cocktail dress A "little black dress” Long dressy skirt and top Dressy separates
+Other - Casual
Khakis or good jeans (clean, no holes), sundress, skirt, or shorts
T-shirt, polo shirt, turtleneck
Casual button-down shirt and/or sweater
Loafers, sneakers (with or without socks), sandals
+How can I express myself and still dress professionally?
Once on the job, you may be able to experiment with your attire to express your personality, but be careful to observe how other people do so and what levels of expression are appropriate in your specific job.
You may choose to express yourself through: Mildly colorful or printed accessories such as ties and
scarves Hairstyle Jewelry Shoes
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What dress code styles are the following outfits?
What would you change about the outfits?
How can they be modified to meet a different dress code?
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