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For Success 2201 G Street, NW Duquès Hall – Suite 560 Washington, DC 20052 Telephone: (202) 994-6704 Fax: (202) 994-8347 [email protected]

Each year, our office receives numerous questions from students about required attire for GWSB events, networking receptions, interviews, etc. Some common questions are:

• What should I wear to a particular event? • What does business attire mean? • What does mean?

With these in mind, the purpose of this document is to provide you with some basic guidelines on what is appropriate attire for someone who is in the job search process, regardless of the event.

What should I wear?

This question gets asked a lot by students, as employers are often vague or simply do not state what the appropriate attire is for a particular event. When in doubt – wear business attire! To learn more about appropriate business attire, please see the next section.

Yes, it may not be fun to have to wear a to campus that day. However, if you are trying to exude a positive professional image to a recruiter, alum, or company representative (i.e. make a good impression) – why not look the part! Remember, it is really better to be overdressed rather than underdressed. How many times have you ever heard someone make a comment about a person wearing a suit to an event that did not require it – probably never – but if that same person chooses to wear to a business networking reception – you can be assured it will be noticed.

You should use the following rule of thumb to help you decide what to wear to a particular event:

Casual (jeans, , t-, etc) are only acceptable attire at a workshop which is being led by a member of the GWSB staff or an appointment with a GWSB advisor. At all other events, business casual or business attire will be expected.

What is business attire?

There is some confusion around this as the words business attire, business professional attire, business formal attire, and formal attire are often used interchangeably. Note, the first three mean the same thing, however, the last, formal attire, does not. We will not be covering formal attire (think tuxedo) in this handout, if you have questions, contact the GWSB for more information.

Whether the terms business, business professional, or business formal are used, you should be thinking about one thing and one thing only – a suit. Specific guidelines for Business formal are found below, but the essential component is the business suit for both men and women.

Next to the investment you are making in your education, the investment in at least one suit for interviews, office visits, receptions, etc. is imperative. For both men and women, a suit has two components: 1) pants (for men), pants or (for women); 2) a (both men and women). There are no exceptions to this – without both pieces, you are not wearing a suit, thus not adhering to the dress standard. There are several additional items that are required for business attire; a long sleeved dress (for men), a or for women, a tie (for men) and dress (both men and women), belts, etc.. Please refer to the attached guidelines for business attire. As always, if you have questions, please contact the GWSB.

Men Women Suit • Dark Colored Single Breasted • Skirted Suit or pant suit Tailored • Dark colors are more formal but lighter • Pants with cuffs are considered colors are acceptable more formal but are optional • Skirt length should be no more than 2 • should break at the inches above the knee of your shoes • Stay away from , satin, velvet materials Shirts/ • For the most conservative look, • Avoid blouses that are too low or go for the white dress shirt with shear a collar with stays • A Blouse that is darker in color than • Buy fitted shirts and be sure the jacket will lend to an authoritative that you can comfortably place presence your index finger between your • Choose fabrics that are compatible to neck and shirt collar. Sleeves the rest of the outfit should be ½ inch longer than • Avoid checks, lacy collars and flowery your jacket sleeve prints • Long sleeved shirts • Cuff links are optional Ties / • Invest in silk • Invest in silk • Once the tie is tied it should • There are many different ways to tie touch the tip of the buckle scarves. Ask friends and family to find • The width of tie should be the way you like the best. between 2 ¾- 3 ¾ inches • When eating it is not acceptable to tuck tie in shirt or flip over shoulder. • Pocket scarves are generally reserved for evening wear Belts • Either wear belts or • Belts should match the color of your suspenders but never both shoes • Belts should match the color of • Decorative belts may be appropriate your shoes in some settings but not the interview • Suspenders can match either your tie or your trousers Shoes, • Wing tip or oxford-style shoes • Closed toe leather shoes most and Hoisery • When wearing black, charcoal appropriate for any work situation or navy trousers, wear black • Only wear suede in the fall and winter shoes • No white before Memorial Day or after • When wearing tan or Labor Day khakis, cordovan or brown • Heel should be 2-3 inches high shoes work well • If you are tall, still wear heels to • Buy the best shoes you can project confidence afford • color should match your either your trousers or your shoes • Socks should be light material with no patterns • Always wear a white • Slips should be worn with any unlined under your dress shirt skirt • Wear a if you are wearing a shear blouse Hair and nails • Neatly trimmed facial hair may • Shoulder length or short is most be appropriate professional • Clean simple haircut • Ponytails or scrunchies are not appropriate • If hair is longer than shoulder length, put in chignon • Do not play with your hair or comb it in public Cologne / • Just a little goes a very long • Just a little can go a long way (if you Makeup way don’t normally wear makeup, consider • When applying, use your left some blush and lipgloss.) rather than right hand • If you normally wear makeup, make (otherwise those shaking sure you apply in natural light to see if hands with you may you have applied it correctly experience the smell the rest of the day. Nails • Consider manicures (nails are • Short manicured nails are most the second thing the appropriate for the interviewer interviewer notices other than • Wear clear or neutral color nail your face) polishes • Do not wear long acrylic nails Briefcases / • Leather briefcases are most • A leather briefcase and a small purse Purses appropriate are most appropriate • Do not carry bookbags to the • Try to coordinate the color of your interview purse to your shoes. If this is not • If you do not have a briefcase, possible, carry a black leather purse a leather portfolio with your • Do not carry a book bag into the resume will suffice interview Outerwear • Invest in a trenchcoat with a • Invest in a trenchcoat with a zip-out zip-out lining to get through the lining to get through the raining or cold raining or cold days. Tan is days. Tan is most versatile, but black most versatile, but black and and navy are also acceptable. Top navy are also acceptable. Top are also professional in the coats are also professional in winter the winter • Do not wear , or • Do not wear jackets, parkas or slickers slickers • A small black that can fit in • A small black umbrella that can your briefcase is most appropriate fit in your briefcase is most • Leather lined gloves are most appropriate professional • Leather lined gloves are most professional Jewelry • A dependable with • Limit the amount of jewelry you wear leather or metal band is to a few pieces appropriate (make sure all • Pearls, gold and sterling silver are beepers on watch are turned appropriate for business attire off) • should be no larger than a • Only other jewelry should be a quarter class or wedding ring • Do not wear ankle bracelets or earrings that dangle • If you have double pierced ears, only wear one pair of earrings to the interview

What is business casual attire?

No, business casual does not mean everything that business attire is not. There are certain guidelines to business casual that one is expected to adhere to. Just because you see the word business casual, does not mean casual clothes are accepted. In many corporate environments, business casual means a suit or pants/sport without a tie – not jeans and a short-sleeved shirt. With this in mind, there are a number of thoughts around business casual, regardless business casual is not simply casual dress; it should reflect a higher level of professionalism.

Business casual means clothing that is tailored, well pressed and professional at all times. A good philosophy is to dress to the next level or for the job you want to have.

Business casual attire comes down to three concepts:

• Show good professional judgment • Exercise leadership and lead by example • Always adhere to the norms of the company you are visiting, the presenter/speaker, the professional organization, etc.

Examples of appropriate attire for men include pressed and tailored slacks, khakis, and corduroys. Collared shirts – including golf shirts, worn over a collared shirt, or turtlenecks, particularly when worn with a jacket or sports coat is a very polished look for men. Similarly, an appropriate look for women might include pressed and tailored slacks, khakis, corduroys, , and complimentary blouses or sweaters. A jacket, , or outer is always a nice touch and leans the look more to business casual than casual. For both men and women, socks or of some type are recommended. , suits, and ties are optional.

On the other hand, examples of clothing not consistent with business casual attire would be:

• clothing of any color or type (jeans, dresses, skirts) • Tight-fitting clothing • Athletic attire, including sweat suits, spandex and • Shorts • Inappropriately short skirts or • Sun dresses without a jacket • T-shirts • Tank tops • Running/tennis shoes • Casual clogs, mules or

As always, if you have specific questions about business professional and/or business casual attire, please feel free to direct those to any member of the GWSB staff at 202-994-6704 or [email protected].