By Ann Eastham
Contributor, Career Services
To be completely honest, I have never been much of a girly girl. I grew up wearing jeans and riding horses, and spending my youth working in vets’ offices and farms. My wardrobe consisted of only scrubs, jeans, t-shirts, boots, sneakers and flip-flops. This was great until I started my first real corporate job and needed a professional wardrobe. I dreaded this aspect since I pictured myself wearing plain business suits with little to no personality. I decided that I wanted to have a closet of professional clothes that didn’t make me feel like I blended in the crowd, and here is how I did it:
Start with the basics.
There are a few basics that everyone should have – from at least one good suit, to one neutral dress. For our purposes, neutrals are black, grey, brown (from dark to khaki), white and navy blue. Start with these basics: pants/slacks, at least one dress, appropriate length skirts, shirts (button-down or pull-over) and a blazer. Make sure you have at least two pairs of comfortable, everyday shoes to wear with those outfits. These will be your “everyday” wear and the basis for the rest of your wardrobe.
Pair those basics with fun pieces that speak to your style and personality.
Now that you have those basics, try pairing them with fun accessories or more colorful clothing that speaks more towards your personality. This is the time to take risks and see if they pay off. Instead of a black pair of shoes, try a pair of yellow pumps with that gray suit. You might even find a necklace that complements the shoes! Maybe instead of a solid colored shirt with your favorite skirt, you try a new pattern – floral or paisley or even polka dots!
If something doesn’t fit off the rack – have it tailored.
Found that perfect dress that’s just a little off from fitting on you? Buy it and have it tailored. If the print, style, and price all match your personality, budget, and is work-appropriate, having it tailored is the best route to go. I know someone who went to a going out of business sale and bought tons of professional slacks and jackets for a fraction of the actual cost. (Some up to 75-80% off!) The ones that didn’t fit, he took to a tailor and made them fit. At the end of the day, he had a full professional wardrobe for about half what it would have cost. The same advice could hold true for consignment shop finds, since the fit is not guaranteed and will likely be off.
If you’re not sure where to get started, get the professionals on your side. Personally, I signed up for a clothing mail service that selects my items based on my measurements and personal style. I have the experts make the selections for me and they are almost always spot-on.
Business attire doesn’t have to be stuffy; you can express yourself and true personality through your work clothes! Chances are a great outfit will lead to new conversations in your company or your next networking event, and you never know what opportunities await you!
About the Author
Ann started her education at the University of Findlay and completed an Associates degree in Equestrian Studies in 2005. After working for a few years in a wide variety of farm/ranch jobs, she completed her Bachelors in Health Care Administration at Ashford University. Ann served as a clinical technician in an ICU/Telemetry unit before working as a Clinical Research Coordinator for Cardiac, Vascular, and Thoracic surgery.
In 2011, Ann transitioned from working in the healthcare field into higher education and started as an Academic Advisor. While working as an advisor, Ann developed a passion for assisting students in converting their education into careers and became a career coach in 2014. Ann currently works with students in the health, nursing, and Intelligence/National Security, and Military industries.
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