Dressing for success takes planning especially when you're still low on the rung to the ladder of success. Well tailored clothes that drape the body comfortably without being too tight or too loose in appropriate places give you an appearance of success. Clothes don't have to be expensive or lavish to give you an executive appearance. Buying less expensive clothing and having them tailored is one option that works for many.

Stylish jackets and well tailored blazers dress up any well coordinated pants and blouse or sweater. Classic skirts and pants stay in fashion and can be coupled with a variety of tops and accessories for a dressed up business look. Trendy fashions work while they're in fashion, but classic should be the mainstay of business casual.

Coordinate:

Look in your wardrobe for clothes that you can coordinate. Chocolate brown pants can be worn with beige, white , raspberry and a wide range of contrasting or complementary colors. Navy blue can be topped by almost all reds, teals, and earth colors. Black slacks are a must and will go with virtually any top you have in your closet. By selecting a few pieces of clothing and accessorizing, you'll expand your wardrobe without buying lots of extra clothing. Ask a friend for help and develop an eye for color and coordinate wisely.

Accessories:

Accessories are important. For casual business dress, the basic rule is, "less is more". Pins, scarves, necklaces dress up your wardrobe, but stay clear of flashy jewelry for office wear. Your finished appearance should be an overall statement of fashion and and not one dominating piece of clothing or jewelry if you want to look like a business professional.

Shoes

Shoes are loved by many professional women and they love to show them off at the office. Not everyone can afford to keep 50 pairs of shoes on hand however. For the office, you need to wear comfortable shoes especially if there's high activity inherent in your job. Stiletto heels are never a good idea for the office, but pumps are very becoming and promote an appearance of professionalism and success.

Choose a heel with adequate support that will be easy to walk in without embarrassing stumbling or mishaps. Heels with 2" to 2 1/2 " are comfortable and stylish. Finally, take good care of the appearance of your shoes with cleaning and polishing. If you notice executives shoes, they're always impeccable.

Certain professions require non-managers to meet with suppliers, vendors and other clients. If this describes your job, keep a classic cut jacket nearby to preserve a professional appearance for those unexpected meetings with clients.

Many people, including executives, enjoy the business casual dress code their company promotes in the company rulebooks, but they still manage to look like executives even without the formal suits. Regular employees too, have great latitude in choice of clothing and can create a business executive look that is uniquely theirs. Plan all clothing buys carefully and you'll look the part of an executive without the absorbent cost.

Learn more about this author, Mona Gallagher.
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