Fall Fashion: Dress For Success

fall-fashion

This article was published on the Brandman University blog.

Fall has officially arrived and just as the leaves turn our wardrobes must shift along with them. Whether you are in a state of mourning the annual passing of summer or praising coat season, we’re here to remind you that it’s important to look your best in the workplace. Here are some different looks for professionals to help them dress for success this fall season.

The Importance of Dressing For Success

To some it may seem far fetched but according to Forbes, dressing well can actually increase your income. Many of our formal human resource offices seasonally send out something along the lines of, “It’s important to strike a reasonable balance between comfort and professionalism within the workplace, particularly when customer contact is required.” But it also goes far beyond the clientele communication and allows you to brand and express yourself to internal stakeholders who may only see you during those few monthly meetings. Dressing well can help you build a positive and authoritative image in the eyes of senior executives that can give you a competitive edge against your peers.

Consider stylist, Lindsey Shores’ view of how a fashion forward mentality can be incorporated into building strong leaders and a strong culture within your organization.

It’s interesting to note that many companies whose employees never leave the office are forced to adhere to “out of date” and “out of style” dress codes.  Why make someone who sits at a desk in customer service suffer in polyester black pants and a tie that matches their socks? As a better plan, I would advise leaders to empower employees to determine the standards of what is best to wear. The process can promote camaraderie and productivity. In all likelihood employees will exceed your expectations if you and they arrive at a few simple guidelines.

She continues on to share a few do’s and don’ts on the basics of how to dress for success in the workplace:

Spend the time necessary to pull the pieces from your closet that imply your happiness, security and best qualities. Everyone has redeeming traits. Why not announce yours through your apparel? Also, no one likes seeing dirty shoes or grass stained jeans in the office. That carelessness makes everyone feel a little less ‘matured’ in their environment. Make sure you’re representing your title, your company and your colleagues well.

The Corporate Fashionista introduced blogger Jodie’s Fashion Formula to help professionals pick out the best outfit without the guesswork. It includes adapting to your daily agenda, the weather throughout the day, something new to spruce your excitement, and personal preferences.

As Told By The Experts

Ladies First

All About The Trends

From the runway to the hallway one of the biggest trends of the season is flaunting some flair with leopard or other printed coats and accents. It’s validated across the board, from Cosmopolitan, to Lucky and Elle, you can’t go wrong with this sassy yet sophisticated look. What’s next? This year pastels are not just for Easter and have broken into the fall fashion scene. One of the main reasons they have climbed into the nontraditional season is because of their simplicity and versatility. Even the queen of white Kerry Washington is breaking her usual mold to rock some softer shades this fall.

Who says superheroes are the only ones that get to wear capes? Those cozy shawls that seemed so old fashioned were proven to have a comeback this fall season. They not only save you from the weather, but also add a little bit of personality to your suit. Luxe outwear and leather accents are often rotating in and out of fall fashion trends but this time they come out in full force. Don’t forget to mix in some textures while paring your favorite items.

Lessons From The Fashionista

In the words of Lindsey Shores, “Respect, confidence and self-empowerment can all start with your diligence to apparel. Make sure to look your best every day. Prepare yourself as if you were planning to interview for your next big promotion. Dress in the way that is comfortable to you and in a stylistic manner that makes you feel fresh, professional, and well put together. If needed, spend an evening on a handful of ensembles that you can use as your go-to’s. That effort will save you time and frustration when you’re rushing out the door for an a.m. meeting.”

Your Turn Gentlemen

Art Deco Lines

Linear designs were everywhere this season in London’s fall fashion week. Although in some cases this may be a bit too bold for the boardroom, guys can incorporate the touch in different ways like ties and cufflinks.

Natural Greenery

According to GQ, in the absence of greenery on the trees during the colder months, designers are stepping in this season. Dark, lefty greens were seen all over the catwalks – a shade that’s ludicrously easy to wear no matter your style.

Raglan Sleeve Raincoat

This coming season outerwear is less structured, with sharp shoulders giving way to raglan sleeves – translated to when the shoulder seam runs diagonally from your armpit to your neck.

Earthy Browns

Black tie event? Go for brown! This time GQ predict brown eveningwear will break in a big way, either worn as a standout smoking jacket or as a full tux with co-ordinating trimmings.

Slim Slacks

Remember the looser trousers that have been filtering through for the past few seasons? Well, designers called an end to that trend. Sixties stovepipe slacks are the way forward, cropped around the ankle and worn with bigger, bulkier layers on top. For style inspiration, look at The Beatles circa 1964.

Lessons From The Shark Tank

Style is not just for the ladies. In fact, many times men care about shoes more than their female counterparts. Now that we have captured some of the top Fall 2014 let’s get some insight from the Shark Tank celebrity Daymond John on how guys can to dress for success in the workplace.

People respect a crisp, clean, unfettered disciplined look, like what I wear every day. That’s my uniform. My look is what I am, who I am. I’m very comfortable that way and it works.

He goes on to say that its not about money and that if you have a suit that only costs $150, go the extra mile and get it tailored to fit perfectly. Don’t forget to shine your shoes and manicure your nails. After all “it’s the simple things that people notice that get you far.”

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