Dressing For Success In Corporate America

Ebony, Jan, 2001

IN corporate America, there's never a second chance for a first impression, and first impressions are lasting ones. In this environment clothes may not only "make the man" or woman, but they may also make or break a career. Thus, whether you're in the market for a new career or in line for a promotion, you should showcase your corporate look--and let your employer know that in addition to your skills, you're a natural leader.

Experts say the first rule of thumb is to recognize that dressing to impress in social circles is very different from dressing to impress in the corporate environment. For instance, dressing to impress for some may mean thigh-high boots, a leather miniskirt, matching baguette bag and a hot pink boa. For some men, impressive attire may mean hard-starched blue jeans, a dangling platinum earring, and $200 gym shoes.

Impressive? In some circles, yes. Appropriate for the corporate environment? Never. Brothers and Sisters who dress for success in the corporate world have mastered the corporate style without killing the soul that got them there.

AT THE INTERVIEW

"When I'm hiring a candidate, before he or she even speaks I look at them," says Hosea Belcher, senior vice president marketing, Artisan Home Entertainment. "If they're not wearing a suit jacket or if they're wearing a big shirt with floppy collars, I would think that they don't care enough about the job to want to impress me."

Belcher and others say the workplace is a community and you must abide by the roles of that community. So never mind about the office dress-code policy--at the interview you must always wear your finest suit, and your overall look must be strictly conservative. Young executives should invest in a good, quality suit and make that their interview uniform.

"It's better to spend money on one good-looking suit and wear that to a number of interviews, because those interviewers will never know how many times you've worn it," advises Olive Waugh, director of Chicago State University's career development center. "If you buy flashy, cheap clothes just to have variety, you're making a huge mistake."

The bottom line is that you want to convey to your future employer that you can fit in at the office, not stand out, explains Penny Ralston, dean of the Human Sciences College at Florida State University.

"As a new executive, you want to portray that you're interested in the goals of the company," Dr. Ralston says. "Dress that stands out too much gives the appearance of someone who's not as interested in the company as they are in themselves."

Be sure to ask your interviewer if there are special dressing rules. For example, if your interview with Ford Motor Company includes visiting the plant, you may be asked to dress casually and wear hard-toe shoes. In that case, a clean white shirt and navy blue slacks would be appropriate.

Here, then, is a corporate dress code for Brothers and Sisters. Adjust your wardrobe accordingly, and your boss can focus on your outstanding performance, not your eye-popping style.

THE CORPORATE LOOK FOR SISTERS

HAIR. Your hairstyle should be neat and your hair color should be natural-looking and complementary to your complexion. "Your hair should be coifed professionally, whether it's short, mid-length or long," states Waugh. "[Weaves] should be able to be combed. Hair that looks glued on is not acceptable in the work environment." Avoid popular hair decor such as barrettes, ribbons, butterflies or glitter.

NAILS. Long, elaborately decorated nails may be frowned upon in some companies. Exotic nails may cause your employer to doubt your ability to do your job. Short, clean nails in French manicure, or one-tone polish (nude, baby pink, earth tones, or classic red) are always stylish.

MAKEUP. Your makeup should be subtle and complementary to your overall polished look--steer clear of the overly dramatic after-5 or runway looks. "We don't need to look like Barbie dolls," advises Waugh. "We need to choose shades that are flattering to our complexions."

DRESS. Remember, your clothes can say more about you than your mouth ever will. Your clothes should not be too short, too form-fitting, or too revealing in the office--it could send the message that you are not serious about your job, according to Al Barron, director of career services at Southern University, Baton Rouge. "You should have a nice `church look' at work," Barron says. "Women really dress up for church, normally a business suit that is very comfortable and not necessarily revealing. The church look is a very distinguished look that says, `I'm here for business and I'm confident.'" Darker shades of blue, various earth tones and basic black are good conservative colors. Stick with darker suits (navy and black) for the interview.

It's also a good idea to save the red power suit for special occasions, says Exxon Mobil Attorney Ramona L. Ortiz. "I try to be reserved in my power suit, and I primarily wear it when I have something special or extraordinary to accomplish," Ortiz explains. "For example, if I have a presentation to do, I will wear the power suit so that the audience's attention is focused on me. It sends the message that I'm in command and that I'm an authority on what I'm going to present."