Dress for success

Black Collegian, Feb 2001 by Espy, Portia Ballard

Whoever coined the phrase "you can't judge a book by its cover" was certainly out of touch. Although the intent of the phrase holds true, the reality of it is that we all make judgments of one another based on presentation. In fact, we make statements all the time without uttering a single word, and rest assured, others will certainly take note of what we have to say. You want to be sure that your look is making the right statement about you.

Although the dress code for corporate America is taking a turn for the casual these days, you should not simply assume a casual state for interviewing. According to Harriette Cole, author of How to Be - A Guide to Contemporary Living for African Americans, one should "err on the side of conservative in the beginning," at the job interview and/or the first few days on the job. She recommends taking note of the ways peers and management dress. This should give you a good indication of how you should present yourself. But if you're just beginning to interview, there are some standard things to consider when preparing your interview wardrobe.

Women usually have a greater range of fashion choices for interviews than do men, but they should keep in mind the following wardrobe rules:

DO

* Consider the suit as the major mode of dress for interviews.

*Solids, pinstripes and muted plaids are acceptable colors.

* Cotton-polyester, wool, and natural synthetic blends work well.

* Err on the conservative side when choosing skirt length.

* Choose a blouse with long sleeves that will allow the cuff to show about a quarter or half-inch beyond the jacket sleeve. Colors such as white, gray, or blue are most acceptable. Stick with natural fibers.

* Wear conservative shoes with a closed toe. The heel should be about 1 1/2 inches high. Black, brown or navy are standard colors that should compliment most suits,

* Hose should also be neutral or skin tone.

DON'T

* Wear a shirt and blouse or casual dress.

* Choose attire that will cause undue attention such as florescents or animal prints.

* Wear natural fibers that wrinkle easily. You may arrive at the interview looking as if you just rolled out of bed!

* Choose a skirt length that may be uncomfortable to you as well as those around you. A short skirt may send the wrong message and be a distraction during the interview.

* Pair a suit with a sleeveless blouse. You never know when you may need to remove your jacket and bare arms are not appropriate for an Interview.

* Wear those three-inch heels you wear to the club. They're not considered conservative and may not be comfortable for walking should you be asked to visit other offices during your interview.

* Even think about wearing hose that incorporate wild patterns or colors.

John Molloy, author of the bestseller, The New Dress for Success and image consultant to such corporate giants as General Motors and Merrill Lynch, advises that students should take note of "what's been worn by those who are considered successful and influential. You'll want to emulate their mode of dress." For women, something that looks expensive is the best choice. "Cross shop. Go to the most expensive/conservative shop in town. Look at the shades, styles, and textures. Then go to the store that you can afford and find a suit combo that looks most like those in the more expensive store," says Molloy. He also contends that if your jacket does not match the bottom part of your outfit, it is not considered a suit. For an interview, the suit should be uniform.

According to Debra Paige, Corporate Employment manger with SAKS, Inc., "In order to get your foot in the door in corporate America, you've got to take a conservative approach." Paige has the opportunity to see young hopefuls on a regular basis come through the doors hoping to be accepted into the corporate fold. Her best advice to young women is to consider the word 44 conservative" as the benchmark. "You don't want to show up for an interview dressed too trendy or showing a lot of skin. Stay away from "flashy" clothing, make sure the hemline on the dress/suit is appropriate, and no open toe shoes or sandals should be worn. You come across much more professionally when you wear a nice pump. Also, if you have tattoos, you should conceal them, if at all possible. People tend to think you're wild, eccentric or even rebellious - not professional. These labels may be far from the truth, but that's the perception."

Does this advice really help you get in the door? It not only gets you in the door, but it can lead to the ultimate reward of employment in corporate America. Let's take the case of Chandra Leach, who recently graduated magna cum laude with a degree in math from Tuskegee. She had a successful interview stint and landed a position with Lockheed Martin as a satellite systems engineer. When asked how she learned the ABC's of self-promotion and presentation, Leach commented that, "My campus Placement Office gave us advice on what to wear for interviews. This information was contained in a handout that was given to each student scheduled for interviews. Women were advised to wear dark suits (either black or blue), a white shirt and skin tone hose." Young women were also advised not to wear pants or dresses."