Women’s Guide to Dressing for Success!

>> So the boys have already tackled what is proper attire for men in a business setting. I'm Melissa Graves [phonetic], and I'm here with Cassie, and we're going to talk about what women should wear in a business setting. [ Music ] So Cassie, I hear that you have a job interview coming up. >> I do. >> Great. And have you thought at all about what you're going to wear to the interview? >> Not exactly. >> Okay. Well, regardless of what you wear, you want to make sure that it fits properly. So if you go shopping and you're not able to find anything that fits exactly right, it's always worth it to go to a tailor. That extra money will go a long way. It's also important to know what kind of business setting you're walking into. So do a little research beforehand. Give the company a call just so you can gauge the business environment. So Cassie, what kind of business are you interviewing for? >> I'm interviewing with a major law firm in DC. >> Okay. Well that sounds like a formal business environment to me. So you want to make sure that you dress appropriately. There are a few business staples that every woman should have in her wardrobe [music]. >> These staples are. One good suit. Shirts in complementary colors. A blazer. Dress slacks in brown, black, navy, or grey. And dress shoes. Keep your shoes on the conservative side of the spectrum. When it comes to colors, neutrals over brights is always a good and safe bet. Navy, dark grey, and black suits or dresses look professional without being distracting. Small patterns like thin pinstripe are okay as well. As long as it's small enough to look solid from across a room. >> So Cassie, if you ever find that you're interviewing with a more casual business environment, fee free to take the suit apart. You can wear the pants with a nice blouse. Or you can wear the jacket with some cotton slacks. And you can add a little bit more color. The last things you want to remember is that if you have any tattoos, you want to make sure you cover up those that are visible. You also want to keep your hair, your jewelry, and your perfume as conservative and professional as possible. >> Even though I'm new to job interviews, I know some things that are almost never acceptable. Short, tight skirts that ride half-way up the thigh are inappropriate for work. Miniskirts, skorts, sundresses, beach dresses, and spaghetti strap dresses are inappropriate for the office. Inappropriate slacks or pants include jeans, sweat pants, exercise pants, shorts, bib overalls, leggings, and any other spandex or form-fitting pants. Tank tops, midriff tops, shirts with potentially offensive material, sweatshirts and t-shirts unless worn under another blouse, shirt, jacket or dress. Athletic shoes, flip-flops, slippers, and any shoe with an open toe are not acceptable in the office. >> The biggest thing to remember is that you don't want your attire to draw attention to you in a negative way. You don't want it to detract from the skills that you bring to the table. All right Cassie, do you think you're ready for your interview? >> I do. Thank you so much for all of your advice. >> Absolutely. For more advice on preparing for an interview, check out candidcareer.com [ Music ]