10 tips for professional attire

By Greg Dardis / Guest Editorial

Seven seconds.

That’s the amount of time it takes for someone to form their first impression of you. So before you’ve said much of anything – if anything at all – others have already sized you up.

On what did they likely base their judgment? Your attire.

We grew up being told not to judge a book by its cover and that appearances can be deceiving. These are both true. However, in the business world, what you wear, whether you’re groomed and how you hold yourself speaks volumes about your professional competence. To think otherwise is naïve.

It’s something I realized early on as I helped business professionals improve their communication skills. A well-executed presentation misses its mark if the presenter is wearing a tight suit, slouchy pants or a dated tie. An ill-chosen ensemble is at least a distraction, and at worse, a detraction from a presenter’s message.

Many clients have confessed to me that they had underestimated the importance of workplace attire, and they felt a whole lot better once we had helped outfit them in tailored, sharper clothes. That translated to improved confidence and a greater focus. In short, it helped them prepare to bring their A-game to the office as soon as they got dressed in the morning.

Here are 10 tips for looking your best this summer:

  1. Keep your socks covered. Trousers should be long enough to rest on the top of your heel and slightly break at the top of your shoe. When you sit, no skin should show above your sock. For women, this means choosing pants based on the height of heel you’ll be wearing.
  2. Don’t pop your pleats. If your single or double pleats pop on the front of your pants, they’re either too tight or worn too low. For men’s pants, the general rule is to wear them one inch below the navel.
  3. Give your Adam’s apple room. When your shirt collar is buttoned to the top, one finger should fit between your neck and shirt. Women, meanwhile, should make sure their blouses and camisoles button appropriately so that no undergarments are apparent.
  4. Reach for the stars. Your shirt should be long enough to tuck in and not come out when you lift your arms.
  5. Match your slacks. Your socks should match your pants, not your shoes.
  6. Belt it out. If your pants have belt loops, you should wear a belt. It should be darker than your pants and have an understated buckle. If you wear suspenders with formal attire, they should button – not clip-on. Never wear suspenders and a belt together.
  7. Don’t forget the shoes. Dark, lace-up leather shoes are key in a man’s wardrobe. Formal shoes should have thin soles, be well kept and shined. This applies to women too: Shine up those shoes if they’re scuffed, or buy a new pair.
  8. Stay on point. Make sure your hands and nails are clean and well kept. Avoid fake nails that are gaudy or too long.
  9. Frame your face. If you wear eyeglasses, keep your style updated and make sure they fit well. Rounder faces should opt for angled glasses, and white faces benefit from rounded frames.
  10. Accessorize for color. Use accessories to introduce color into your outfit, add visual interest and make a statement. Women should avoid flashy or noisy jewelry in the office, and be wary of bulky, bubble necklaces.

 

This is just a starting point for curating a professional image through your wardrobe. As I’ve said before, your overall business look needs to reflect the core values of the industry in which you work. With a well-fitting and appropriately composed ensemble, you’ll convey leadership, experience and self-awareness, matching that first impression to the message you want to express.

 

 

 

Greg Dardis is the CEO of Dardis Inc., located at 2403 Muddy Creek Lane in Coralville. For more information, visit www.dardisinc.com.