Look the Part for the Classroom and the Work Place
Office of Career Services
As an up and coming professional, you represent a brand
and that brand is YOU! The way you talk, walk, act, and
look reflects the brand. Before you even speak a word,
most people will size you up by your appearance.
appearance
That’s why it is imperative that you build a wardrobe
that sells the brand. The following slides provide some
tips and insight on creating a winning brand.
While you are considered an adult, what you wear and the way you
present yourself speaks volumes about your character and
the manner in which people, including your professors, will
treat and respond to you. College is a place of higher learning
and wearing pajamas, sagging pants, too short dresses,
h
house
shoes,
h
andd head
h d scarves/wraps
/
on campus contradicts
t di t
a higher level of thinking and being. While it isn’t necessary to
wear a suit to class,
class it is expected of you to dress like you are
suited to learn and not doing chores around the house.
Baseball caps or hats
Low cut shirts
Visible bra straps
p
Midriff shirts
Pajamas,
j
longg johns
j
or underwear styles
y
Hair scarves, wraps and doo-rags
Flip flops
Suggestive or vulgar wording or pictures on apparel
Frayed or torn clothing
Tight, formfitting shorts, pants, jeans, dresses and skirts
Inappropriate Class/On-campus Attire
Appropriate Class/On-campus Attire
Business attire is appropriate for full
time
full-time
interviews and professional places of employment.
Business attire is different from weekend and evening
wear. Investing in a good business wardrobe is an
investment in your professional future.
future While skills and
experience count, so does personal appearance and
that all important first impression.
impression
g, fashion does not change
g
In men's clothing,
significantly from season to season but proper
business attire is about being professional and not
about being fashionable. It's about presenting
yourself in a way that makes the interviewer and
your potential
i l clients
li
feel
f l comfortable
f bl andd
confident with you. Dressing for success is still the
rule Keep in mind these points when deciding
rule.
what to wear to an interview as well as to work.
Business Attire
Consultant Lydia Ramsey
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8
8.
9.
10.
Pressed and professional suit; dark colors: gray, navy, black, or brown. Solids or muted
pinstripes
Jacket and pants should be same color. Button jacket when standing; unbutton when
seated
White or conservative color dress shirt. Straight
g collar;; longg sleeves. Cuffs extendingg ¼”
beyond jacket sleeve
Conservative tie
Polished shoes and matching belt
D k socks
Dark
k to compliment
li
suiti andd long
l enoughh that
h skin
ki is
i not seen when
h legs
l are
crossed
Hairstyles should be conservative; get a haircut if necessary
Hands and nails neat and clean
Keep cologne to a minimum
Earrings, tongue rings, eyebrow rings, nose rings and visible tattoos are unacceptable
(use a concealer to hide visible tattoos)
Men’s Business
P f i l
Professional
When women entered the workplace in the 1970's and 1980's
in greater numbers than ever before and began to move into
positions which had traditionally been held by men, many of
them believed that they needed to imitate male business
attire. The result was women showing up at the office in
skirted suits or coordinated skirts and jackets with tailored
blo ses finished off with
blouses
ith an accessory
accessor item that looked very
er
much like a man's tie. Happily those days are gone. While the
business woman now wears pants to work, she does it out of
a desire to appear professional and at the same time enjoy
the flexibility and comfort that pants offer over skirts. Her goal
is no longer to mirror her male colleagues.
Business Attire
Consultant Lydia Ramsey
The same overall rules apply to women
women'ss work
attire as apply to men's. Business clothing is not
a reflection of the latest fashion trend.
trend A woman
should be noticed for who she is and her
professional skills rather than for what she
wears. Her business wear should be appropriate
for her industry and her position or title within
the industry.
Business Attire
Consultant Lydia Ramsey
Š
Š
Š
Š
Š
Š
Š
Š
Š
Š
Š
Š
Pressed and professional pant or skirt business suit
Solid colors are best: navy,y, black,, ggrayy or brown
Solid or muted pinstripes
Skirt length should be at or right below the knee
Shirt collar or jjewel (rounded)
(
) neckline, blouse or shell. No visible cleavage
g
Flesh-tone hosiery; no bare legs (bring an extra pair in the event of an emergency)
Hair styles should be conservative in style and color
Polished closed-toe shoes no higher than 1½ inches
Hands and nails should be clean and neat, nails no longer that ¾ inch with
conservative nail polish
Tongue rings, eyebrow rings, nose rings and visible tattoos are unacceptable (use a
concealer to hide visible tattoos)
Limited jewelry – earrings no larger than a quarter and one ring per hand, one
necklace etc.
Keep perfume and scented lotions to a minimum
Women’s Business
P f i l
Professional
p business casual is appropriate
pp p
Campus
for career fairs,
employer information sessions, class and for
g
of an on-site interview.
informal segments
Š
Š
Š
Š
Š
Š
Š
Pants or skirt: Jacket is not necessary. Darker colors best; soft colorsbusiness patterns.
no trendy or campus attire
patterns Stay professional
professional—no
Skirt length: At knee or just below. No short skirts or tight skirts or pants
Woven Shirts: Cotton or cotton/polyester blend. Any muted, conservative
solid stripe,
solid,
stripe or plaid.
plaid Button
Button-down
down or straight collar.
collar Long sleeves are
best. Not even a hint of cleavage. Ensure that button closures across
chest are not too tight
Knit Shirts: Cotton
Cotton, wool,
wool cashmere or silk blends.
blends Short or long sleeve
sleeve.
Sweater sets. No hint of cleavage
Shoes: No bare toes. Black, burgundy, brown leather. Pumps or flats with
1 ½ ” heel; no stilettos
Pantyhose, tights or socks
Tongue rings, eyebrow rings, nose rings and visible tattoos are
unacceptable (use a concealer to hide visible tattoos)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ask your human resources
department for official guidelines.
Business casual means different
things at different companies.
Before you go casual, check your
daily planner to make sure you
don't have any meetings that
require
i formal
f
l bbusiness
i
attire.
tti
Select clean, wrinkle-free clothes.
Wear a good-quality blouse or knit
shirt. Include a casual blazer or
cardigan if appropriate.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Wear pressed khakis or other
slacks, or a dress or skirt. If a
dress is sleeveless, wear a blazer
or cardigan over it. Check your
company's
' policy
li before
b f you decide
d id
to wear jeans to work.
Wear shoes that are comfortable
i t for
f your outfit.
tfit
andd appropriate
Keep the makeup light. Let your
natural beauty shine through.
Accessorize with a silk scarf or
classic bracelet to give your casual
outfit a polished look.
eHow Fashion
Women’s Business Casual
C
Campus
& on the
h JJobb
Š
Š
Š
Š
Š
Š
Š
Pressed slacks--jacket is not necessary. Check for proper rise fit and inseam.
Jacket and pants do not need to be same color
Woven shirts: 100% cotton or cotton/polyester blend. Any muted, conservative
solid, stripe, or plaid. Button-down/straight collar. Long sleeves
Knit shirts: Natural fibers and blends. Must have collar. Short or longg sleeve. No
crew neck (t-shirt) collars. Sweater vest or sweater over collared shirt
Ties: Not necessary, but acceptable
Shoes and belt: Dark leather slip on or lace-up. Polished and clean. Belt should
match shoe color
Socks: NO WHITE SOCKS. Dark color should complement pants/shoes. Light to
medium weight
T
Tongue
rings,
i
eyebrow
b rings,
i
nose rings
i andd visible
i ibl tattoos
t tt are unacceptable
t bl
(use a concealer to hide visible tattoos)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ask your human resources department for
official guidelines.
guidelines Business casual means
different things at different companies. At a
large corporation, it may mean a sport
coat with a tie; at a smaller company, it may
mean khakis and a ppolo shirt.
Check your daily planner to make sure you
don't have any meetings that require
formal business attire.
Select clean,, ppressed and wrinkle-free
clothes. Your outfit should communicate
professionalism.
Wear a collared shirt with an undershirt.
You can break up the oxford shirt
monotony bby wearing
i a lilinen or flannel
fl
l
shirt or one with a band collar. Knitted
shirts and polo shirts are also generally
acceptable. A casual sport coat is
appropriate.
appropriate
5.
6.
7.
8
8.
Wear khakis, chinos, corduroys or other
non-denim
slacks. Check your company
non denim slacks
company'ss
policy before you decide to wear jeans to
work.
Wear a belt that matches the color of your
shoes.
Wear socks that match the color of your
pants leave white socks or tube socks in
your gym bag.
Choose oxfords,
oxfords loafers
loafers, rubber soled
leather shoes or boots for casual day.
Wingtips are often too formal. Worn-out
shoes, sandals or athletic shoes don't
make the grade.
eHow Fashion
Men’s Business Casual
Campus & on the Job
The old adage: First impressions are lasting impressions
rings true especially when it comes to your attire. You don’t
don t
have to spend a million bucks to look like it. Style is just as
much about attitude and class. Go through your closet and get
rid of those items that don’t speak to your desired
professional and personal path; as well as those items that are way
too small for you. What’s the point of earning excellent grades but not
scoring a great job or keeping it because of your appearance.
Visit the Office of Career Services for more information on
appropriate attire. We are more than happy to assist you.
Contact the Office of Career Services to schedule an
appointment
i
for
f a mockk interview,
i
i discuss
di
career options,
i
or get assistance in writing your cover letter and resume,
and other career-related matters.
Monday-Friday
9:00am – 5:30pm
SBE, Suite 230 or 672-1205
www.uncfsu.edu/CareerServ/