Secrets of professional dress and grooming

"silly, one of our field representatives, Showed up at the regional office on a hot summer day wearing a low-cut sleeveless blouse and very short skirt.we were shocked.we are a conservative organization and we thought silly understood this.I lost all respect for her that day.'

understand the importance of professional dress. Managers and human resource personnel frequently tell me that their employees know the jobs and/or technical information but they just don't look as credible or powerful as they need to in the clothing they choose to wear. Many, they say,are not promoted because of it.

Ask yourself," Is what I'm wearing appropriate?'' Is your clothing suitable for your job,profession,company,the event or activity that you're attending, the region of the country or the world that you're working in? look around you and see how respected people in higher positions dress. you can usually take your cue from them.In many organizations especially dotcoms and high tech ventures, the dress code can be very casual. if you work for a casual company then you would probably feel out of place wearing a suit to the office. Just make sure that your causal wear is still appropriate.

Choose clothing that fits properly. your clothing needs to fit without over emphasizing your body.Nothing should fit too tightly, and there shouldn't be any buttons pulling or bulging of fabric.Men need to be able to button their jackets and make sure their pants are long enough.Women need to be able to move their arms and must not expose things like cleavage.

Buy the most expensive clothing you can afford. you spend most of your time at work, so spend most of your clothing budget on work clothes.You don't need to buy a lot; you want to buy good quality, classic clothing-nothing too trendy. It usually is made better, lasts longer,wears better and doesn't go out of style as quickly.Less really is more when it comes to professional clothing.

Know what message you're sending. what is your clothing saying about you? does it project the image of a serious professional? If a man shows up at a meeting in business casual clothing , but every other man in the room is wearing a professional suit- what message is he sending? If a woman wears a sexy,tight, seductive dress to a company party,what message is the sending? you want to be viewed as someone who pays attention to the details and is ready for work.

when in doubt, choose a business suit. the business suit is still the most powerful look for both men and women.darker colors convey more authority than lighter colors, but big men need to be cautions with black.It can be intimidating . if a woman wears very bright colors ,she may draw too much attention to her self for the wrong reason.

shoes matter, I've numerous recruiters tell me that one of the first things they notice about a candidate is his or her shoes. One sales representive told me that as he wsa leaving the interview with his future boss, the boss said."you didn't hear it from me.but I wouldlose those shoes!" shoes should be polished and in good condition. thinner-soled shoes are more elegant fir men and a shoe with a lace is more appropriate when wearing a business suit. women need to avoid very high heels a 2' to 2 1/2 ' heel is appropriate.

don't skim an accessories. A good quality leather briefcase , umbrella, and leather gloves are all a must. buy the best watch you can afford.Handbags also should also be good quality.

Be prepared. In case of emergency keep mouthwash and dental floss in your office or desk drawer.men should keep an electric razor for five o'clock shadow. Women should keep an extra pair of stockings and a nail file.

consider a personal shopper. If you are uncomfortable choosing your own clothes,get help! pick a good store and develop a relationship with their personal shopper. He or she will help you find clothes that are suited for you.

Have a hairstyle. wear a style that is current and falters your face.I had to tell one man I coached that his new spiked hairstyle was not appropriate for his Fortune 100 job.

Don't break the rules out of ignorance. you can break all these guidelines , but you can't break them out of ignorance. you must know that you can pull it off. and don't you just tell me can pull it off,You must get feedback from others that you can.