FASHION

In the last decade, women have made headway by climbing the ranks and becoming leaders. The significance of style and fashion is often overlooked in the world of business. Today, business attire is more confusing than ever before, and striking the perfect balance of professionalism and style can be tricky. It’s through your style, after all, that you can create a sharp, powerful, and confident first impression long before you are ready to seal the deal.

Most times when we think of a powerful business executive, we typically see them in an extremely corporate environment. However, the reality is more and more women who are business leaders have careers in start-ups where the atmosphere may be more casual. Fashion can be used to build your personal brand, your attire, often times can mirror your profession. Different businesses have different fashion styles; therefore, ensure that you understand what’s appropriate in your industry. For example, a CEO of a construction company may wear tailored denim with a blazer and steel toe boots for a visit to a job site over a skirt and heels.

As you can see in a modern workplace, the term business wear can mean anything from formal suits to denim. Here is a guide to the different types of business attire women can wear to work.

Business Casual

To most, this attire means laid-back, but also make sure you are well-groomed and put together. The point of business casual wear is to give room for individuality. Several options include cropped dress pants, a pencil skirt, khakis, tailored denim, sweaters, button-down blouse and simple accessories. Shoes can be boots, flats, heels, or sandals. Business casual is appropriate for casual Fridays, some afternoon conferences and work travel days. Business Professional Business professional wear is that attire in which your appearance makes the first impression. Most women in business have confirmed that how they dress influences their behavior and overall performance at work. This means that fashion has power over people’s minds. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not all about the power suit when dressing like a CEO. Dresses are a great way of channeling your femininity in a powerful way. Go for modest hemlines that are perfectly tailored and feature luxurious fabrics. Don't be afraid to mix-and-match pieces, either. Versatile power suit blazers pair wonderfully with knee-length pencil skirts as well as trousers. There’s no need to always stick to darker shades like black or navy just because they’re considered more business-appropriate. For every person, there’s a palette of colors that work best for them. Colors can exude sophistication as long as they’re not overly bright. When it

comes to shoes, never overlook comfort! However, with that said, there are a variety of work shoes that give you comfort without sacrificing an ounce of style. Our favorites include a pair of leather loafers, suede ankle boots, and a classic pair of black heels. Business Formal

Women dressed in formal business attire means they are dressing to impress. This is an upgrade to your typical day to day professional outfits. Business formal attire is needed for a more formal setting like corporate dinners, conferences and awards banquets. For business formal, women should wear a fancy but modest dress, a sophisticated jumpsuit, a sleek pantsuit or skirt, and formal flat shoes or classic black heels. Classic accessories are key: simple studs are the best earring option and a watch is the number one accessory for career women. If you feel like adding extra flair, try a simple pendant necklace. When in doubt, stick with a strand of pearls. In this case remember the rule: less is more. Be True to Yourself

Although rules are a wonderful starting point, your corporate wardrobe should ultimately be a reflection of your personality. When mastering workplace fashion it is always best to make sure you feel good and you are staying true to your authentic self so you’ll have the confidence that is necessary to be the leader you are. SWM

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