Guest Author - Deborah Crawford

For women, dressing for work can be a nightmare. Nobody wants to be underdressed or overdressed or just plain wrongly dressed, even in this culture of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton style.

Here are few tips for dressing for success in the business world. This is for the standard corporate office. Some industries require a very formal wardrobe and some are fine with anything you wear. But for the most part, professional apparel will work in most offices.

Interviews: Job interviews almost always require a business suit. A black, navy blue or charcoal gray suit will last you ages. Buy the jacket, skirt and pants, and make it the best suit you can currently afford. Pair it with a light-colored or white tailored blouse, classy black pumps and simple jewelry. Now, all you need is a Padfolio or similar notebook to hold your resume, references and interview questions.

Dress similarly your first few days on the job. Once you’ve been there awhile, you will get a feel for the place and what everyone else is wearing. Some industries are more casual than others. An accountant in a bank dresses totally differently than an accountant in the construction industry.

Client Meetings: No matter how you dress on “in-the-office” days, whenever you meet clients, you should dress up a bit. You can go almost anywhere in a pair of black trousers or slacks, a nice blouse, and a lightweight jacket or even a dressy sweater. It’s a look that works for both casual and professional environments.

Moving Up: If you are hoping for a promotion or more responsibilities, dress a tad bit better than your current level. For example, if your peers wear business casual khakis and polo shirts but the people one level above you wear khakis and dress shirts, wear the dress shirts.

Affordable Style: Many retailers now sell business suits in a variety of prices. You can mix and match jackets and pants or skirts to create many outfits from just a few quality pieces. Find a personal shopper in your favorite store. Make her your ally in finding great deals in your price range, and give her your cell number so she can call you when your favorites go on sale. Try outlet stores and online shops where you can often find coupons or specials. And, see if your area has a good consignment store. Classics are called classics because they do last a long time and are usually appropriate in different settings.

Shoes and Accessories: Some people say that cheap shoes can ruin an outfit. In reality, cheap-looking shoes can ruin an outfit. You can find great-looking shoes at all prices. Just like with clothes, put your money in the classics (get a great pair of pumps and loafers) and bargain-hunt for trendy shoes. I have been complimented on $1 earrings as much as on $100 earrings, and I find it much less distressing to lose the dollar pair. Keep jewelry simple; a little bling goes a long way.

Never Evers: Some things are no-no’s no matter what industry or environment. Vow to never wear to work:

Musical jewelry
Holiday or other “themed” sweaters
Suntan-colored pantyhose
Spandex
Tees with logos or slogans
Ripped or torn or dirty anything
Too big or too tight anything

Always Smile. Make sure that whether you are in sweats or Prada, the last thing you put on is your smile. Grouchy, cranky people are so fifteen minutes ago.

To learn more about what to wear to work, try this book from Amazon.com:

Chic Simple Dress Smart for Women: Wardrobes that Win in the Workplace