We all know that how we dress affects the way we feel about ourselves, for better or worse. Our wardrobes also have a major impact on our ability to do good work and move up in our careers.
Even though this is a proven fact, many workers across the country don't spend as much time and effort on creating their own business professional wardrobes. These clothes can sometimes get a bad reputation for being boring and out of style. Luckily, that's simply not true!
We're here to help you develop your own personal style for your business life that will help you feel cool, composed, and confident every workday!
Define Business Attire
The first step in building a wardrobe for your work life is to clearly define what a business professional dress code looks like for your specific company.
Every workplace has a different culture and way of handling things, the dress code is definitely including in those differences. Having this clear definition is key to making sure you fit within the expected look and aren't over or underdressed. This also makes sure you don't waste your time and money on items you won't end up wearing after all.
Defining the status quo can be done by taking advice from professionals about what constitutes professional attire and what doesn't. But, more importantly, it's a good idea to look around at what your co-workers and higher-ups are wearing to get a clear vision for your own clothing choices.
Start With the Basics
Once you've figured out what business attire means in your job, it's time to start building up your wardrobe. It's always a good idea to start with the basics and work your way up from there.
When you find nice, high-quality staples you're setting yourself up with a solid foundation to be able to look presentable at work for years to come. The pieces will never go out of style and can be mixed and matched with others to stay current forever. These basics include button-up shirts, slacks, and blazers for starters.
These pieces are worth the investment because of the use and wear they'll get year after year, regardless of the setting. They'll make any outfit feel elevated and special.
Add-in Special Touches
Getting the basic pieces of a business professional wardrobe should always be the priority, but once those have been accumulated you can start to add in some more trendy, special pieces to the collection.
If you're not careful, a professional wardrobe can quickly turn monotone, boring, and bland. The dark colors and polished finishes don't always scream special and can make you feel older than necessary. Luckily, that doesn't have to be the case. There are plenty of options that make the traditional special with a few added details.
Look for unique buttons, an extra stitching pattern, and unique (but tame) color choices. Just because you want to look professional and put together doesn't mean you have to look the same as everyone else in the office!
Pay Attention to Fit
An easy way to make any piece of clothing feel extra luxe and special is to get an exceptional fit. The more tailored the item of clothing looks the more one-of-a-kind it seems and the more unique it is.
In order to really get the best fit, it's helpful to work with a professional to get sizing right and then plan any alterations that could be done to make it exact. It's also important to start with high-quality materials that won't stretch out and lose their shape or size after being worn.
The difference fit can make in the overall presentation of clothing is remarkable. It will easily take you from sloppy, casual dress to proper business attire.
Don't Forget Comfort
Now building a business professional wardrobe is obviously all about how you look and present yourself in a way that sends the message you're looking to send. But it should also be about comfort as well.
We spend most of our time every day in our business attire, having constricting and uncomfortable pieces makes for long days. You'll never reach for those pieces you know you'll be regretting wearing in just a few hours. So save yourself the anguish and money by buying pieces that feel as great as they look.
Comfort is another great advantage of properly fitting clothes. You won't have things falling off or restricting your body when they have the proper sizing.
High-quality fabrics make such a difference in how they feel against your skin, how they move with your body, and how they hold up against the tasks of a workday. It's worth the extra effort to find pieces you'll love wearing even when a major deadline keeps you at the office late.
Be You
It's easy to lose your personality when trying to follow a business professional dress code. And that's why it's so important to make sure you're still you and your personality shines through your clothes.
The best way to do that is to add pattern, color, and texture to classic shapes and pieces. This makes things interesting while still staying professional and within your guidelines. You can feel confident that people will trust your ability to do your job but still get a clear sense of who you are as well.
Developing a Business Professional Wardrobe
Once you have your ideal business professional wardrobe in your closet, you'll find getting ready to go to work so much more enjoyable! Your look will match your abilities and skillset, pretty soon they'll be no stopping you!
The key to any great wardrobe is high-quality, beautiful pieces like the ones you can find from Hansen's Clothing. These pieces are staples that also carry a special quality to help you stand out among a crowd. There's nothing better to build your business professional wardrobe.
If you're interested in getting your hands on some of our amazing wardrobe pieces and some expert styling advice, contact us today!