By: Michael W. Wilton

The world of fashion constantly goes through change and evolution. With the advent of hip-hop culture came baggy jeans, hoodies and T-shirts. But ask yourself, what’s really appropriate as business attire? What’s acceptable from one industry to the other mainly depends on interpretation and your employer.
 
 Nowhere do you find business attire any looser than what’s seen in the IT field. This is one industry where being overdressed can hamper your performance. And upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that men and women’s business attire have evolved quite differently.

Even in the world of banking, you constantly see the acceptance of dressing down. As much as possible, employers want employees to be more relaxed. It’s most noticeable at the teller window, but once you sit down to talk further business, dress usually changes to a suit.

Women’s fashion has seen the evolution of the women’s business suit and the many different ways to achieve the total look for the businesswoman. This brings us to the thin line between business and business casual. In the world of women’s fashion, the business look has become even more versatile, with various additions to the look. Women’s fashion has adopted the use of the man’s three-piece suit, but with a feminine touch.

As far as dressing down and still retaining a business look, men are able to get away with more. A fine example of the extremes of business casual, are the jeans/sports coat combination. In this manner you can achieve your goal of dressing down, while still managing to retain a look of class. But everything really hinges around the requirements of your job.

If your job is one in which presentation is of the utmost importance, you’ll only be allowed to dress down to a certain degree. If you want to look cool and also fashionable, remember to stick to what suits you. Fashion ideas can be adapted to anyone’s personal repertoire and, if done correctly, can end up looking even hotter than the male or female models who work the catwalks. 

A valuable asset to the man in touch with the world of fashion is the ability to learn how to blend colors. This new fashion season tends to have an array of color schemes. But you’ll be definitely be asking for trouble if you try to combine too many colors. A man should always have a pair of black slacks or trousers, since these can go with any outfit. Teamed with a bright trendy shirt and a smart pair of shoes, this creates a business look suitable for any meeting.

Secondly, always have a nice suit jacket or sport coat. This can define a man’s style. Worn with a shirt and a tie, a great jacket gives the look a sense of sophistication. Worn with a casual top, you can achieve a very relaxed feel with the sport coat unbuttoned.

Every businesswoman’s attire should include a pair of black, brown and grey slacks. Also include blazers in the same colors. To top off the business attire of a female executive, always include an overcoat. This should be one that definitely fits your style. A coat that is fur adorned, will give the coat a feeling of luxuriousness, and possibly even push you to that raise you’ve been seeking.

Here are some fashion pitfalls women should avoid:
     

• You would never dream of making an obvious fashion faux pas, such as wearing seamed hose with sandals. But at times, even the finest fashion mavens run the risk of making fashion mistakes. Never rely too heavily on the fashion media to rule your wardrobe or you definitely run the risk of being a fashion victim.

• Remember, most magazines and TV programs present the clothes you want to buy on the models you want to look like. You should already know not to buy something too small (with losing weight in mind), even if it’s a $10 “Pucci” dress that you got for a steal! The best way to get the correct fit is to have the garment tailored.

Dressing for success is definitely no myth when it comes to jobs. The rule of thumb is to dress for the interview, not for the job. If men wear a suit, wear a tie also. It’s important to make a good first impression. Traditional dress for men would be a tailored suit, with a 100 percent cotton shirt and a silk tie. For women, a traditional skirted suit in aggressive female colors such red, purple or raspberry is generally more acceptable than pants. Keep your controversial outfits for after work hours.

Women should wear one main accessory, such as a necklace or earrings that accent the face. It’s important to dress as part of the team. If you suspect the skirt you want to wear is too short, then don’t wear it! Wearing clothes similar to those your colleagues wear, gives you the sense of fitting in.

Dressing like a team promotes equality and gives each team member a sense of company spirit. And just as important as what you wear, are the colors you wear. Women want colors that that accent their equality with men and command authority. Wearing red could give the impression that the woman is not a team player. While pinks or baby blues give the effect of a much younger image.

Yellow is a color you wear to be definitely recognized. The color brown can give the impression of being safe, homey or boring. Gray is one of the safest colors for projecting a responsible image. Of course, if you’re related to the employer or self employed, some of these rules can be bent.

Of course, clothing is only the icing on the cake. If your outlook is as professional as your apparel and you always present yourself at your best, others will base their guidelines of you on your total package.

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