“I think that when you are dressing professionally, not only do you take yourself more seriously, but you take the position that you’re interviewing for seriously,” human resource management junior Amanda Silverstone said. “You’re 10 times more likely to get the role if you dress the part.”

Assistant Dean for Career Services in the Russell Palmer Career Management Center, Marla McGraw, agrees with Silverstone. She explains that the way you dress not only represents the company you're working for but also your personal brand.

“It is important that folks are listening to what you’re saying, and so you want to make sure you’re dressed in a way that represents who you are and backs up your brand,” McGraw said. “Bottom line is it should reflect who you are and should be focused towards the role you are looking for.”

But where to begin? Most workplaces use umbrella terms like business casual or business professional when describing their dress code to new employees. Traditionally, for men, this means dress shoes, slacks, button up shirt, a tie, and occasionally a suit coat. Women in the workforce have a bit more flexibility with this term, which can make shopping a bit more challenging. 

For women, professional wear can extend from dresses and skirts to suits, slacks, and sweaters. The freedom in this creates hardships in being able to decipher what's considered appropriate for business attire. 

“There's definitely some things that you want to avoid,” Silverstone said. “Such as low cut tops or something that may be a bit too revealing, like a short skirt, or wearing dirty gym shoes. It could come across to your employer as you being sloppy and careless.”

As a good rule of thumb, it’s important to avoid anything that shows too much cleavage or is cropped. A good alternative is finding a higher cut blouse or adding a cardigan. It is important to make sure you're pairing a professional top with an even more professional bottom. Skirts and dresses that either fall right at your knee or just past it. Maxi skirts and pencil skirts are a great choice, for example, as they are typically an appropriate length and style. 

Color-wise, there are no major colors you should avoid, but neutrals are always a safe bet. Although featuring one pop of color in an outfit will help you stand out from the crowd and convey a bit of your personality. Smaller things that are equally important include no huge graphics on clothing, neutral makeup, and simple jewelry. 

Shoes are an essential part of an outfit that often gets overlooked, but similar guidelines apply to them. Closed-toe high heels, some sneakers, and Mary Jane shoes are all currently favored within business attire because of both practicality and their appropriateness. Other shoes that are more like slippers or are open-toe give a more relaxed impression that isn’t fit for an office. 

While dressing professionally, it is important not to let your personality get lost. Finding pieces that are bold and colorful does not mean that they are unprofessional. Being aware of workplace fashion rules and knowing where to shop is the perfect equation to discovering your personal work style. 

“When building a professional wardrobe, it’s important to not get lost in feeling like you have to buy high-end brands,” Director of Multicultural Business Programs within Broad College of Business Ed Tillett said. “You should worry about how confident you are in what you’re wearing.”

As overwhelming as it may seem, shopping for these pieces is simple and can be on the cheaper side depending on the store. Express, Aritizia,  Ambercrobie & Finch, Banana Republic, and J. Crew all have great selections with a wide range of styles, colors, and cuts. On the more cost-effective side, Target, Amazon, Zara, H&M, and T.J. Maxx all have equally good options. 

But if you’re in a pinch to find clothes, an alternative that is offered out of the Broad College of Business is the Empowerment Closet. This program functions as a rental service that will rent business professional clothing out to all students for free for up to 48 hours.