by Jennifer Metz

Created on: September 27, 2008   Last Updated: April 27, 2011

How we can dress can effect how we feel about ourselves. If we dress well, we are more apt to be confident and happy. Confident and happy people are also more likely to succeed in their careers.

Additionally, people form their initial impressions of you within the first minutes, seconds even, of meeting. If you will be meeting with client's, the public, or even just colleague's, you must dress the part in order to garner respect.

Analyze your closet. Does it contain the necessary pieces of a career woman's wardrobe? If you are a professional, you must make sure you have the essentials in your closet. This will help make daily wardrobe decisions much easier. The following is a list of must-have's for every professional, or career, woman.

1. Wardrobe necessities No. 1 ~ 10 Shirts. This should include sweaters and blouses.

2. Wardrobe necessities No. 2 ~ 5 skirts or slacks. At least 2-3 of these should be in basic black in order to maximize your outfit selections.

3. Wardrobe necessities No. 3 ~ 1 or 2 business suits. This should be a compete suit. Do not try and buy the pieces separately unless you are experienced in the area of business suits.

4. Wardrobe necessities No. 4 ~ 3 pairs of dress shoes, at a minimum. Shoes should be dressy, well kept and match well with your outfits.

5. Wardrobe necessities No. 5 ~ 1-2 necklaces and 1-2 pins. Jewelry should be kept to a minimum, and used just to accent your outfits. Too much jewelry can be gaudy and distracting.

6. Wardrobe necessities No. 6 ~ Multiple handbags, in various colors and styles. Do not go with bold or bright colors that can distract. The rule of thumb is "Keep It Simple".

Portraying a professional image will open up opportunities for you. Your colleague's will respect you, client's will trust you and your superiors will be impressed by you. If you are new in the business, remember the old saying, "fake it till you make it". It is also important to care properly for your wardrobe to keep it in tip top shape. Follow care instructions on tags, and keep clothes and items put away neatly.

Remember to be confident in yourself, and your appearance. If you don't feel your best in the outfit you are wearing, it will show through. It can be a fine line between confidence and arrogance so be cautious you don't overdo it. Arrogance will have a negative effect on your career, while confidence will have a positive one.

So, do you have all the above mentioned items in your closet? If not, head to the mall! A little shopping therapy is good for everyone every now and then!

Hint: If you are on a tight budget and do not have the money to spend on new items, there are many organizations that will help get you started. "Dress for Success" is one such organization that will help you out with one business suit if your funds are low. For those of you in business already, consider donating any used, but well kept, clothing to this organization.

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