Business Fashion for Women

A classic black suit fits in most business situations.

Business attire for women, over the past decade, has evolved into more of a personal fashion statement and less of a dictated format. Standards vary from industry to industry and personal expression reigns second behind company image. Maximize your professional punch by following office standards and creating a stylish signature look.

Respect Boundaries

When dressing professionally, it is best to err on the side of conservatism. Less is often more when it comes to accessories. Regarding clothing, classic is almost always safe, while exposed cleavage and too-much leg are almost always wrong. Wearing branded logo goods, besides your company's, is taboo.

Industry Influence

Let your trade influence the subtle details of your look. Certain trends prevail within particular industries.
Examine banking. Its industry-wide standards include tame hair, muted makeup and moderate business suits. Navy and black are prevalent. Jewelry is in-scale, meaning it does not overpower the wearer by popping; instead, it blends in. Now contrast that to the fashion industry's mode of style. Women within its ranks are ever-current on trends and make less traditional fashion choices. Their individualistic style directly reflects brands under promotion. These business women tend to be style-savvy fashion adventurers.

Office Suits

Business suits are worthwhile investments. Take into account fabric and workmanship. If you are on the executive track, these two features speak quality and are career-boosters. Your suit should be as conservative or trendy as your industry.
A "little black suit" is as indispensable as the famed "little black dress" that Coco Chanel introduced, while a muted pale suit is ideal for spring and summer months. Consider your office climate and your industry before making suit purchases.

Core Wardrobe

Assemble a core wardrobe. Core pieces blend well. They mix and match with ease. They have only slight variations that add a twist. Invest in several skirts, one or two pairs of basic pants, a simple sheath dress, a couple of perfectly executed jackets and a matching coat. These pieces become the core, or nucleus, of your business wardrobe. Career dressing becomes simple once your wardrobe has a core.
To achieve unity the shades must be the same and fabric finishes must match; whether mat, shiny, sleek or textured, keep them complementary.

Signature Style

To avoid a cookie-cutter image, create your own signature style, a look appropriate for the business world. To do this, gaze within your industry. Examine the executives. Emulate their style, and add a personal twist. Take your fashion cues from the top.
Accomplish this by first putting together your basic wardrobe, then add the flair. Examples include: cuff bracelets worn consistently with a white man's-style shirt, black leather sling-back kitten heels with your pant suits. This brands you by setting your appearance apart.

Fit

Fit makes or breaks a look. Impeccable tailoring screams success. Never let clothing cling to your or fit so tight that it hikes. Excess fabric creates a sloppy appearance. Your suit and core pieces must fit to a T. Money invested in tailoring is well spent.

Guidelines

Never compromise company standards for style. Check employee manuals and confer with Human Resources for clarification. Be advised, too short, too low or too clingy can all be offensive in a workplace environment. Review company dress standards before making wardrobe investments.

References

• Federal Way Public Schools Organization