Dress for Success

1. Dress for Success Winning First Impressions for the Corporate World

2. First Impressions • YOU ONLY HAVE ONCE CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST GOOD IMPRESSION. • Your appearance tells others how you feel about yourself, which can define how they treat you. • Dress for Success and you will look like YOU BELONG TO THE TOP!!!

3. First Impression Test – Women Who would you hire?

4. First Impression Test – Men Who would you hire?

5. What influenced you? • Apparent level of sophistication • Color of tie, shoes, dress • Well-groomed appearance • Conservative appearance • Non-verbal signals • Apparent level of self-confidence

6. What do your clothes say about you? • Convey strong feelings of trust to a prospective employer. • A sense of self-confidence, dependability and professionalism. • Determines how people you meet will react to you.

7. COLORS THAT WORK FOR AN INTERVIEW • Dark to medium range of blues • Navy Blue – respected by all socio-economic levels. • Gray • Camel/Beige • Black • Dark Brown • Burgundy • Rust

8. The Suit Guidelines • Two-piece matched suit • Knee-length skirt for women • Fitted pressed pants for men and women • Fitted, long-sleeve shirt or blouse • Minimal jewelry, perfume/cologne and makeup • Dressy leather lace shoes for men, closed-toe pump for women

9. Accessories - Guidelines • Shoes – dark colors • Belts – classic, match color of shoes • Purses – small, dark-color, leather • Jewelry – minimal, nothing flashy • Scarves and ties – simple print or design

10. Colors to AVOID -Guidelines • Women • Most pastels, especially pale yellow • Bright orange • Men and Women • Most shades of green • Mustard – bad, bad, bad • Dark colors make you seem powerful

11. GROOMING - GUIDELINES • Hair – clean and neat • Details – no missing buttons, lint or tags • Hands – clean, manicured fingernails • Fit- clean, pressed and proper fit • Smell – little or no cologne, no cigarette odor, where deodorant • Breath – fresh, clean breath, use mints

12. Do Your Homework -Guidelines • Learn the corporate culture before you interview • Dress appropriately for the position that you are applying. You convey respect to the person you are meeting. • Define your audience – clients, management, colleagues, staff; fit perceived image for the position.

13. Shopping On A Budget • End-of-season sales (January – July) • Put things on lay-away • Garage Sales • Resale shops • Promotions and Coupon’s • Online Basic Wardrobe Needs • Black, Navy or Gray suit • Contrasting jacket and skirt or pants • Two-piece dress (for women) • Several white (off-white) blouses or shirts • One pair of gold, one pair of silver earrings. (for women) • Basic ties that match pants or suits • Black or brown shoes • Black, brown, navy socks or stockings(women) • Black handbag (for women) • All weather coat

14. When you are CONFIDENT about your clothing, it will reflect in the way that you carry yourself and lead to your SUCCESS!