Meet a well dressed professional

Whatever your career, there is an appropriate and inappropriate way to dress. This would depend on your business environment and your position in the company, whether you are low profile, medium profile or high profile.

To be perceived as successful and capable, or professional and business like, you must dress accordingly. Remember, that people make decisions about you in the first few minutes of meeting you. The impact you make visually is critical to how you are perceived. So make the most of it by dressing yourself in clothing suited to the occasion.

Low Profile
You are low profile if you spend most of your time interacting within your company. Your dressing may be more casual and less conservative but suitable for the business environment you are in.

Medium Profile
You are medium profile if you spend between 30% to 60% of your time involved in interacting externally. Your dressing should also be smart and business like, ready for the opportunities which come your way.

High Profile
High profile people spend at least 60% of their time outside the organisation. Your dressing must be suitable every day. A high profile person has to be ready to expect the unexpected. Clients will be impressed to meet a well dressed professional.

You may be in a high authority position but low profile. In this case, you need to set an example for your employees and dress suitably. You are a role model; you set the standards. Whatever you do, your selection of clothing must be appropriate and it should fit the environment you are in.

Dressing for your business environment does not mean having to spend lots of money to dress up. Instead, it is about dressing appropriately to suit your profession and project your image. There are four mistakes women make. They are;

Dress glamorously
Confusing day with night dressing

Dressing poorly or too casually
Wearing something which is worn out or too casual. Example; wearing slippers in the office especially those meant for the bedroom or outdated. It is difficult to project an up to date image when you dress like you are from the 80s

Dressing sexily
If you want to be considered a professional and be taken seriously, wearing short skirts or plunging necklines wont help you.

Dressing to look like men
We are women; it is perfectly acceptable to look feminine.

Appropriate Business Dress Guidelines
Dress, skirt suit, separate skirt and jacket, skirt and blouse, pants suit, trousers with blouse, simple elegant jewellery, belt, scarf, pantyhose, court shoes and briefcase or handbag

Inappropriate Business Dress Guidelines
Worn out, crushed or stained clothing, tight clothing, jeans, or any type of denim, sequins, lace, shiny fabrics and chiffon, bare shouldered outfits, sleeveless blouses without jackets, sweat shirts and T shirts, low cut necklines, shorts, miniskirts, stirrup trousers and leggings, excessive and oversized jewellery, dangling earrings, knee high stockings with skirts, running shoes, sandals and slippers and worn out shoes

Remember dressing up is the icing on the cake. It is necessary to ensure the basic essentials of grooming have been attended to. No matter how well dressed you are, if you are badly groomed, you are going to make a poor impression. Besides cleanliness and body care, pay attention to inappropriate business grooming which is untidy hair, no makeup, glamorous evening make up, too much perfume and chipped nail polish. Investing in a business wardrobe is like investing in blue chip stocks - low risk and good returns.