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Physical appearances are important as they tell others about who we are. They become doubly important when you are a professional functioning in an office setting. During the course of a work day you will interact with several people who are bound to take you more seriously if you are dressed right.
A professional look is the right mixture of clothes, accessories, hair and make-up (for women). You need good taste and good judgment to have an adequate professional wardrobe. Your clothes should be comfortable, suitable for your career and make you feel good about how you look. Use the following checklist to equip your wardrobe.
For women:
Formal suits that consist of jacket, skirt and pants are a must. Have a light colored one for summer and a dark one for winter. Also choose a neutral colored cardigan and an appropriate blazer. Get a couple of basic skirts. Choose straight or flared ones, whichever suits your figure. One pinstriped blouse and two plain shirts should suffice for starters. Get yourself one classic dress and change the look with different accessories for different occasions. Scarves, belts and jewelry can make a dress look quite different. An all weather coat will also come in handy.
For men:
Suits are a must in an office environment. Invest in year-round ones. Get yourself a couple of solid color jackets or blazers that can be teamed up with most of your trousers. Choose medium to dark colors for trousers in durable fabrics. Shirts can be light, pin striped or good old white. A few fashionable shirts can be included for the entertainment scene in the office. A couple of good quality belts in sober colors are a must. It would be a good idea to have both lace-up shoes and slip-on ones in black and brown. Lace in for formal wear and slip-ons for casual wear. Wearing well worn shoes is just not done. Accessories like fine leather briefcases do add personality.
It is true that when you wear quality it shows and gets you results by giving you an air of authority. So buy good clothes in solid colors that you can mix and match to give yourself a variety of looks. Quality clothes often last long and wear well. On the other hand clothes of inferior quality look shabby in a very short time. Subtle colors are the best bet for office wear. If you must wear bright colors, do so occasionally. Be consistent in your looks. Shoddy one day and all dressed up the next sends out the wrong message. Pay attention to your looks and people will pay attention to you.
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