How to dress when moving up the ladder

Black Enterprise, Oct, 1996 by Cassandra Hayes

MEN:

* Have your shirts custom-made. If you're moving from a mid-level to a senior-level position, make the transition to cufflinks. "Nine out of 10 of the executives I know wear them," says McClarie. Stay away from faux French cuff shirts with buttons.

* Consider a bow tie. Make sure to learn how to tie it, never use clip-one. If that's not your style, then try ties in different colors and patterns. Cuffed trousers and suspenders have a classic appeal. Also, make sure your socks are not too short, and replace them if the bands are worn and don't stay up.

* Always wear an undershirt. It's very unprofessional to see skin or the wave of hair under your shirt, says Respress-Churchwell. "At all costs, leave the short sleeve shirts at home for the weekend. They should not be worn to the office, no matter how expensive,N she adds.

* Keep your hair in check. Visit the barber regularly and keep facial [including nose and ear) hair well groomed. * Invest in a tuxedo, and consider having it and the shirt custom-made. You don't want to be at the mercy of a rental company should you need one on short notice.

RESOURCES:

Wardrobe Strategies for Women by Judith Rasband, Delmar Publishers, Florence, Kentucky (800-347-7707); $32.95 paperback.

The Elegant Man: How to Construct the Ideal Wardrobe by Riccardo Villarosa and Guiliano Angeli, Random House, $35 hart/cover.