Personal Branding Image Consulting ,Atlanta
It's already summer in the South, and as the temperature rises, professional clothing is getting skimpier. Women are losing their blouses and jackets, pants, and close-toed heels and instead opt for sleeveless or strappy tops, shorter skirts, and sandals. Men tend to lose the jacket as well and wear sports shirts or short sleeve shirts exclusively. They sport their shirts untucked and even wear the dreaded flip-flop. You know you are guilty on some level. There are some industries that can handle a slight summer shift to more casual attire, especially as the season tends to be quieter, in terms of work and client load, but your selections must remain appropriate for your work environment. If you work in the finance, accounting, consulting and law fields, or in a large corporation, you have to continue projecting your professional image year-round. So, you must pay attention to your company's dress code. Inappropriate work clothes will distract from your professional purpose and message. Don’t frown as if this is a horrible thing! As the consummate professional I know you are, you owe it to yourself to look your professional best all the time! Consider the promotion or raise you want. You also owe it to your company. You want to be taken seriously. Remember, you are dressing for the job you want, not the job you have. In fact, in a survey conducted by careerbuilder.com, 93% of executives admit they take in to account an employee's dress style when they are considered for a promotion. If you are a manager or in the C-suite, note how you want your company to be represented by your employees. After all, I advise young professionals to emulate you! I’m not trying to stifle your style--I’m trying to bring out your professional style! Inappropriate work clothes will simply serve as a distraction and the focus will be on the state, quality and appropriateness of what you are wearing not the quality of your work and performance. Coco Chanel said, “Dress shabbily and they remember the dress, dress impeccably and they remember the woman.” This applies, of course, to men and women. There are ways to look professional and feel comfortable throughout the summer months. The key lies in selecting the right fabrics for a professional summer wardrobe. You can invest in a handful of key pieces in light fabrics and dress appropriately and comfortably all summer long. For the summer, fabrics to consider are linen, lightweight cotton, and airy silks. You will always feel cooler in natural fibers. Seer sucker suits were once the staple of summer business attire for Southern men and are still available through J. Hilburn, Hugo Boss and Brooks Brothers, among others. Linen jackets, twill pants, and lighter weight cotton shirts in pastel and neutral colors look appropriate and feel great.
Here are some tips for dressing appropriately during the summer. Advice to women:
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Anna HinsonI write about the topics that make you stand out and help you be that for which you want to be known. My passion is helping you as a professional, discover your values and your inner style and project them authentically and confidently though your words, actions, appearance and digital presence.
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