Dress for success: Business shirt must haves!
photo by Darwin Bell
Okay…so you’ve gotten your first job or you’ve gotten the promotion you so rightly earned. It’s your first day working or in your new position. What do you wear? Should you go with your favourite (yet somewhat worn) business shirt or do you purchase a new custom business suit with a new business shirt and tie to go with your new employment position? If you want to get your career going on the right track (and chances are you do) then you should follow the pieces of advice to help you make the right dressing decisions.
How to dress for your success
The way your wardrobe is going to look will depend on your professional environment. You’ll either be going business casual or stay completely professional; either way you make the look a reflection of your style and make no mistake you have all kinds of options to choose from.
If you want to make a big impression, it’s best to dress just one step above than the actual dress code. A true profession businessman (or want-to-be) may always wear a tie but he can always add in a tie bar or pocket square to the attire and put himself above everyone else.
The little details you do and show can speak a lot about your personal appearance and how much you care about it. This little difference that says you do take notice and appreciate the importance of such miniscule things.
Always expect the unexpected
It cannot be said enough that you should be ready for the unexpected. After all, you never can know when you’ll be called for a presentation or to meet with the Board of Directors who may want to know what a report says. Thus, you should make sure to keep extra clothes in your office such as white business shirts with a collar. A shirt like this can mix and match with just about anything and can be worn with a tie or not.
Make sure the shirt fits you well and if you can wear it, use a slim cut. You should also have a clean pair of underwear and undershirts along with another tie and blue blazer. When you have these on hand, you don’t have to worry with running home and changing.
Keep your fashion simple
The last place you need to be making a fashion mistake is at your office. This is place you want to make a name for yourself or show that you earned that title. Don’t use colours, fabrics or patterns that bring unwanted attention toward you; you want people to listen to you not your clothes.
Be sure to use one of these coloured suits:
- Black
- Grey
- Charcoal
- Navy blue
Use a combination of business shirts (not just white and blue) but you can use solids, patterns or strips in colours such as red or green (be sure these are used on rare occasions). Your ties can be solid or striped but they must compliment your outfit. Don’t make them stand out. Shoes ought to be 100 percent leather, well-fitting and slim with colours of black or brown; always polish them.
Your wardrobe can say a lot about you and your accessories are no different. Don’t forget to use a watch, have a shave and wear cufflinks. You can always experiment with your outfits. You want attire that matches your personality as well as your surroundings.
Be a major in the minors
Your wardrobe should always be well put together but dressing well is only the beginning. Remember to smile warmly, have a firm handshake and be respectful to your superiors and co-workers. You should also put a 100 percent into everything you decide to do. Use these strategies to help further your career and pay.
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