These tips for dressing professionally were developed after consulting with sales reps, professionals from career and placement services, Indeed, and Glassdoor. You could use these tips for a client meeting, an interview, and/or the job.
Women's Dress Clothing
Select a skirted suit, pantsuit, or a conservatively tailored dress that draws the eye to your face.
If you want a more business casual look, wear a solid-colored skirt or slacks with a matching blouse, sweater, or dress.
Skirts are traditionally knee-length, but those slightly shorter or longer are also acceptable.
Select blouses or sweaters that provide visual interest, but avoid transparent fabrics, tight fit, low necklines, revealing waistlines, or details that detract from your face as a focal point. Typically, arms are covered at least to the biceps and often to the wrist.
Other choices include a coordinated outfit, tailored jacket, or sweater set.
Shoes
Wear hard-soled shoes with closed toes and closed heels.
Open-toed shoes are associated with social agendas and should be avoided at work.
Wear flat shoes or low pumps in colors that do not make your feet a focal point. Make sure your feet are clean and polished.
Avoid shoes that hinder walking fast, which lowers credibility.
A 2" to 3" heel is considered more professional, while flats tend to be more business casual.
Grooming and Hygiene
Use natural-looking makeup and clear nail polish to keep the focus on the interview.
Perfume should never be strong. A fragrance can cause an allergic reaction or offend the interviewer. Please don't wear perfume when in doubt.
Accessories
Add accessories to express your personality and accentuate your best features. A scarf or necklace is an effective way to focus on your face. Keep it simple!
Please don't carry a purse with a briefcase. Choose one or the other.
Avoid dangling earrings
Wear no more than one ring per hand and only one dress watch.
Men's Dress Clothing
Wear a matching suit in navy, black, or gray (pinstripe or solid) or a navy blazer and gray dress slacks. They serve as a visual background that draws the eye to the face.
Khaki pants and a long-sleeved collared shirt or sweater provide a more business-casual look. Golf shirts or polo shirts are acceptable in very casual settings.
Wear a white or light blue dress shirt contrasting with the jacket and/or tie. Typically, arms should be covered to the wrist. Exposing arms by rolling up your sleeves is interpreted as less powerful and less formal.
A full-length coat can be worn over your suit. Avoid casual coats.
Socks should be calf-length or above the calf. Choose natural fiber blends that allow airflow and do not hold in perspiration and heat. Choose colors such as dark blue, black, or gray.
A (silk or silk-like) tie should coordinate with the jacket and pants, but choose one that strongly contrasts with the color of your shirt; selecting subtle or simple patterns enhances credibility.
Shoes
Select lace-up or slip-on dress shoes. The color should be dark or blend with pants.
Wear conservative, clean, and polished shoes.
Grooming and Hygiene
A short haircut and no facial hair is usually expected, especially in more conservative industries.
Cologne should never be strong. A fragrance can cause an allergic reaction or offend the interviewer. When in doubt, do not wear cologne
Accessories
A briefcase is part of the visual effect; consider a simple portfolio as an adequate substitute, and try to select a color that supports your visual impact.
Minimize jewelry. For the interview, avoid necklaces and earrings. Wear no more than one ring per hand and a dress watch.
Select a leather belt that visually blends or matches your shoes.