Tips for Selecting How to Pick Out Business Clothes for Women

As late as the 1990s, the business world was still considered a "man's world." Advice to women outfitted woman to look like men. You'd hear lines like, "wear dark solids," "blue conveys trust," and "wear power blazers." Racks were filled with shoulder-padded suits and other items that blighted out women's natural curves.  Thanks in part to the metamorphosis of the business world, that bad advice has been given the boot.

The term "dress for success" may be a tad cliché, but it is more important than ever in times of economic upheaval and fierce competition in the marketplace. Besides that, your workplace attire communicates much about you. A Fall 2006 study in the Journal of Business and Psychology concluded that caring about your appearance at work, works -- especially for executives and others who want to reach higher-level positions. In other words, appearance counts. People who are well groomed have a natural advantage over others, fair or unfair, in that they are assumed highly competent.

Moreover, your work clothes do a lot for you. They can instill a sense of confidence, give your control over creating your image and elevate the level of professionalism you maintain. All of that spills over into the way you work. Following are some pointers for women in picking out business clothes.

The Basics

Have a stash of blazers that coordinate well with several outfits. Only instead of trying to look like a man's suit, embrace your power as a woman and choose soft color palettes and textures. Fewer pieces in your closet will help you stand out more than a soft pink or pastel blue blazer in an office full of black, gray, brown and blue "uniforms." Also, look for jackets that slightly curve at the waist. This is called the princess cut, and it accentuates your womanliness without undermining your authority. As with your professional skills, standing out is critical to your success in the workplace.

Wear Dresses. Dresses are sort of a lost art in the business world. However, they are arguably the most comfortable and most versatile clothing in your closet. It is easy to dress them up with an added scarf or blazer and they can work well in all seasons.

Stock Up on Trousers. Work pants are a staple in every working woman's repertoire. Although you may want to stay away from busy patterns and stick to solids in black, brown, gray and khaki, you can still up your style game by choosing different stitching patterns. Have some pleated, darted, and high-waisted pants -- at least enough to not wear the same ones in a week. Round out your wardrobe with a bevy of skirts. Ensure they reach your knees to be appropriate for the office.

Select Smart and Sexy Shirts. Blouses, along with trousers, are an important part of your workplace wardrobe. With tops you can be your most creative, colorful and stylish. Get ruffle-front, peasant, sleeved and sleeveless, scoop neck, silk, cotton, and lacy and sheer (with a camisole). Match your shirt's fabric to complement your jacket's fabric. Don't place a cotton blouse under a wool jacket, for example. You'll burn up.

Size Up the Shoes. Wear comfortable shoes. You don't need to go in square-toed shoe-boxes, but you can enjoy stylish shoes within reason. You want your shoe to blend with your entire outfit, not distract from it. Save the stilettos for your night out. Keep your heel height lower than three inches.

Coordinate

• Pair patterns with solid colors.


• Accessorize. Add an accent, such as a scarf or pin to your blazer. Adding an accent belt is a great way to jazz up a dress. Don't overdo it with jewelry. A pair of earrings and a necklace is fine, but adding them to bracelets and brooches is overkill. Match jewelry metal. Don't wear a gold necklace with silver earrings, for example.


• Wear age-appropriate suits. Stay out of the junior department when looking for work clothes. Stay away from bubble-gum colors, like extremely bright or neon colors.


• Think about downplaying your problem areas. Consciously dress if you are significantly overweight, much taller than your boss or have distracting skin issues.


• Dress for comfort. Consider having your work clothes tailored if you have a hard-to-fit body.

The Not-So-Basics

Guard against landmines. Embrace your femininity, but know you can lose a lot of respect if you show too much cleavage in revealing, low-cut tops and strapless tops. You may also lose credibility if you get too creative with your makeup. Avoid wearing sweatpants and sneakers, even on casual days.

Follow the code. Abide by your company's policy for dress at all times. Be sure to review your employee handbook for those gray-area dress issues that may not be as obvious. For example, policies on open-toed shoes, flip flops and sandals vary widely; so do policies about what's expected of your hair and its color; acceptable t-shirt slogans on casual days.

Say No to the Hose. Pantyhose can be an oppressive piece of your outfit and a source of major embarrassment if you get a snag or run. Your office culture dictates, but avoid hosiery to the extent possible. It does not mean you have to wear pant suits more often, but it does require careful grooming of your legs at all times.

Keep Everything in Proper Perspective

We are talking about clothes here. They matter, but do not place so much emphasis on them to the exclusion of other work-related issues. All style and no substance is a quick route to ruin.