Planning Your Professional Wardrobe

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ALABAMA A&M AND AUBURN UNIVERSITIES Planning Your UNP-0003 Professional Wardrobe

Introduction Although it will not take the place A nice appearance is an of education or investment in you. It competence in your gives you confidence and job, it will enhance enhances how you want those requirements others to perceive you. and increase your Clothing speaks volumes chances for getting about you whether you are ahead in the aware of it or not. Your business world. appearance reflects how you feel about yourself An interviewer’s and it may be the only decision to hire a job Next, plan your professional impression a stranger gets applicant is usually made wardrobe with these goals to see. Remember, first within the first 30 seconds in mind. Remind yourself, impressions last! of an interview, and it’s if you’re smart enough to

based mostly on your do the job, you’re smart Understanding and appearance. The right look enough to dress right for it. accepting yourself is the can make a person look most important aspect of more professional and not a positive image. Everyone Communicating only increase their chances isn’t a size 0, 2, 4 or 6. through Clothes of being hired, but possibly Garment size is not the increase their starting salary issue, but body image is. What statement do you as well. Take a look around. There want to send? What role are people of different do you want to play? Some First, there is more to sizes, shapes, weights people send out the wrong dressing right for the job and heights; you are not message unintentionally. than just having a sense alone. Learning to look and What does your dress ap- of what looks right for you. feel good about yourself pearance say about you? “I There’s more to consider and your appearance don’t care” or “I’m not orga- than the color of your begins with recognizing, nized.” Believe that clothing complexion, the shape understanding, and communicates facts about of your body, or the kind accepting who you are you whether you are aware of personality you have. today. Tomorrow’sARCHIVE success of it or not. First impres- Consideration for the kind of begins now! sions stay with people for a company you want to work long time. for, the kind of people you Your Professional will work with, the kind of On the office grapevine, work you are seeking, and Image clothes speak louder than where you would like to see words. Know how to use A nice appearance is also an yourself in the future of the clothing to establish your investment in your career. company, are also important.

www.aces.edu self in whatever role you • Be varied and versatile, Wardrobe want to play in life. It will and make you feel and Engineering help you win that role look good. much quicker. Dress for the • Be thought of as an 1. Benefits of a Well- job above you or the one investment in your Planned Wardrobe you would like to have to career and your future. a. You can project your let others know you want best self-image to advance. Tips on b. You can save money Professional Dress c. You can gain flexibility Planning Your Wardrobe Think classic styles that are 2. Developing a Well- never outdated! Planned Wardrobe A good wardrobe should: a. Know what apparel you already have • Cover your life and • Quality: Buy the best b. Group your clothes by: your body. you can afford. Shop the sales, thrift, or consign- - Clothing you wear • Comfort your purse. often • Bail you out of most ment shops. • Body: Choose clothing - Clothing you wear emergencies. occasionally that compliments your • Bring out your best self. - Clothing that needs • Boost your soul. body and enhances your repair or cleaning • Beam out messages of skin-tone. - Clothing not worn approval from others • Fit: Choose clothes that in the past year or around you. fit with ease — not too two tight or too big. A good professional • Grooming: Shoes, hair, 3. Distinguish Wants wardrobe should: face, and hands should from Needs be neat, clean and ap- a. A “want” is a desire for • Work nonstop! pealing. something that gives • Continually be in fashion. you satisfaction. • Take the minimum Note: Always dress conser- b. A “need” is something amount of time and vatively for interviews. you must have for your effort. continued existence or survival. It is necessary for your basic protec- tion, modesty, comfort, W a y s t o D r e s s or livelihood. How do you dress? 4. Choosing Accessories a. Use accessories to your • Flare advantage, such as: Creative artsy: Express your artistic flare - Footwear - Handbags • Feminine - Headwear Basic feminine: Wear an angora sweater - Scarves ARCHIVE- Handkerchiefs • Sexy–Alluring - Belts Basic sexy: Wear short-fitted garments - Gloves - Eyewear Creative sexy: Wear long-fitted garments with side - Hosiery slits or hugging slacks - Jewelry

2 Alabama Cooperative Extension System 5. Develop a Total How to Dress Your Body Type for Women Future Plan a. Your basic garments Diamond Body Type: Diamond body types -Basic apparel have a wider midriff and waist, narrower -Investment dressing shoulders, hips, thighs, and an average to b. Your basic garments small bust size. - Extenders (addi-

tional clothing you desire after build- Garment Selection: Ideal clothing for this ing your wardrobe) body type includes wide-legged pants in soft - Season-less cloth- draping fabrics and knits; skirts in softly ing draped fabrics or knits; dresses that are c. Write down your plan straight, swing, and circular in softly draped fabrics or knits; and tops in soft and whimsy fabrics in V-neck 6. Consider your or asymmetrical styles. Resources a. Resources (end of NOTE: Minimize midriff, waist, and high hip areas. season sales, consign- Emphasize shoulder area. Lead attention inward at waist ment and thrift shops) and up to face. Fill out shoulders with shoulder pads or b. Sewing as an option puffed shoulders.

Check your Hour Glass Body Type: Hour glass body Silhouette types usually have busts and hips of equal measurements, smaller waists, and well- There are six main image defined shoulder lines. Backs are usually types. Which one are you? broader and body appears balanced. (Wardrobe Recommenda- tions) Garment Selection: Most garments look nice on hour glass bodies; however, be 1. Sporty-Casual aware of bodily proportions in the bust and hip areas. Basic Sporty–A lined, Try dresses with slim lines and waist definitions. structured blazer Creative Sporty–An NOTE: Persons with wider hips should wear softly draped unlined, constructed skirts and dresses. Wear styles that compliment the waist jacket and avoid tightly fitted garments.

2. Classic-Elegant Basic Classic–A tailored Inverted Body Type: Inverted body types skirt or pleated pants have larger busts, broader backs, longer Creative Classic–A waists, slender hips and legs, and larger waists. culottes skirt or cropped pants Garment Selection: Ideal clothing should be tailored straight suits with little waist 3. Exotic-DramaticARCHIVE definition; raglan or straight-sleeved tops Basic Exotic–One strong worn on the outside of pants or skirts; piece as a signature slacks or skirts that are softly tailored with wide Creative Exotic–Strong pleats or slightly gathered; and dresses that rich garments emphasize the lower half of the body.

4. Arty-Off-Beat NOTE: Double-breasted blazers enhance bodily Basic Arty–Colorful & proportions. Avoid wearing shoulder pads and tightly fitted patterned garments garments.

Planning Your Professional Wardrobe 3 Rectangular Body Type: Rectangular body types include persons with little or no waist definitions; similar width in shoulders, waists, hips and thighs; and straight bodily lines.

Garment Selection: Try suits with little waist definition; blazers or jackets that are slightly loose; slacks with a flat front; skirts on the bias, flared or pleated; V-neck, cowl, dolman, or raglan sleeved tops; and dresses that are straight, high, or have a low waist.

NOTE: Belts are your best friend.

Triangle Body Type: Triangular body types usually have smaller busts and shoulders with a clearly defined low waist, and wider hips and/or thighs.

Garment Selection: Ideal garments should be tailored suits that fit closely to the body and define the waist; light or bright colored tops; straight, slightly wide, or flared-legged pants; A-lined, flared, or softly draped skirts; and dresses that blouse, have ruching detail at waist, or are A-lined or slightly flared.

NOTE: Small shoulder pads enhance bodily proportions and most bias cut garments are not as appealing.

How to Dress Your Body Type for Men

Diamond Body Type: Diamond-shaped body types tend to have a wider midriff and waist, narrower shoulders, hips, and thighs with an average to smaller chest, but not always!

Garment Selection: Slacks are wide legged in softly draped fabrics such as worsted wool, linen and silk; shirts in soft fabrics such as polished cotton, handkerchief linen and silk.

NOTE: Minimize midriff, waist, and high hip areas. Emphasize shoulder area. Lead attention inward at waist and up to face. Fill out shoulders with minimum shoulder padding.

Hour Glass Body Type: Hour glass shaped males usually have a chest and hips of equal measurements, a smaller waist, well-defined shoulder lines, and possibly a broader back. The body appears to be balanced.ARCHIVE Garment Selection: Most garments look nice; however, be aware of bodily proportions in the chest and hip areas. Suits with slim lines and a slight waist definition are best.

NOTE: Wear styles that compliment both height and weight. This will enhance your polished image.

4 Alabama Cooperative Extension System Inverted Body Type: The inverted male body type typically has a larger chest, broader back, and a longer and larger waist with slender hips and legs.

Garment Selection: Suits should be tailored straight with little waist definition; shirts with button down collars for casual wear; shirts should be loose with a straight edged hem worn on outside of slacks; slacks are softly tailored with wide pleats; and blazers worn with a little waist definition.

NOTE: Double-breasted blazers enhance bodily proportions; however, avoid shoulder pads.

Rectangular Body Type: Rectangular body types have little or no waist definitions. Their bodies have similar width in shoulders, waists, hips, and thighs with straight bodily lines.

Garment Selection: Select suits with little waist definition; blazers should be slightly loosed; slacks should have a flat front; shirts should be worn inside of slacks or sweaters that cinch slightly below the waist.

NOTE: Belts are your best friend. Use them!!!!

Triangle Body Type: Triangle body types have smaller chests and shoulders with a clearly defined waist, wider hips and/or thighs, and possibly a lower waist.

Garment Selection: Tailored suits fitted to the body with a defined waist; light-colored shirts with or without bright colors in horizontal strips; and slacks that are straight with or without pleats, slightly wide or flared legs.

NOTE: Small shoulder pads enhance bodily proportions. ARCHIVE

Planning Your Professional Wardrobe 5 Wardrobe Inventory Chart

Name: ______Date: ______

Clothing Clothes Clothes Condition Does it Action to Types I I (Good, Bad Compliment Take! Have Need and/or Me? (Keep, Share Need (Style, Color and/or Repairs) & Fit) Discard) Dresses Skirts Suits Blazers/ Jackets Dress Shirts or Blouses Pants Shorts Casual Shirts Sweaters Coats Shoes Boots Athletic Attire Under Garments Socks Sleep- wear Hats Gloves Neck- wear/ Scarves Belts ARCHIVE Purses & such Jewelry Work Clothes Formal Attire

6 Alabama Cooperative Extension System Stylist

–

need)

not

Preferable)

Renee´Heard

want, Most of

Spring/Summer)

you

(Colors Courtesy

items

(Fall/Winter (Additional

Extenders Fall/Spring)

Needs & Priorities Wardrobe Planning Chart (Warm

Accessories -Winter/Summer)

ARCHIVEBasic Apparel (Cool

Job Outer Other Social School Events Leisure Clothing Religious Lounging Activities Activities & Special & Sleeping Name: ______Season: ______Name: ______Season: Scheme: ______Color ______Basic Palette: Color

Planning Your Professional Wardrobe 7 Guide to the earthly shades during Ensure Color autumn and spring are also Becomingness ideal.

Color and Skin Tones European Americans and most Hispanics with Color should be chosen so light skin tones and blue that the wearer remains undertones are most the center of interest; not becoming in colors like true dominated by any color or blue, true red, vivid greens, color combination. Most pinks, and purples. Colors individuals can wear just found in the earthly shades about any color — provided during winter and summer they select the shade, are ideal. clarity, intensity, and Complimentary: amount that is flattering to Colors in the Colors directly across from them. Wardrobe each other on the color wheel. • Cool colors are more To dress effectively, one becoming on skin tones must know the shades, Analogous: with blue undertones. clarities, values, and Colors that fall side by side • Warm colors are more amount of color that on the color wheel. becoming on skin tones works best, in addition to with golden undertones. following color coordination Monochromatic: rules. Colors in the same shade or Those with deeper hue. undertones have an • Everyone may wear dark advantage since their colors like black and Tradic: striking coloring easily navy for most practical remains dominant. purposes. Three colors in equal Those with olive or pale • White brings out all of distance from one another undertones should be the color in the skin. on the color wheel. cautious about wearing • Yellow reflects its color blended hues such as upon the hair, eyes, and blue-green, magenta and skin. yellow-green. These are the • Colors light in value most difficult colors to wear increase the apparent because they may draw an size of the wearer. unpleasant cast to skin. • Dark colors decrease the apparent size of the Be careful about choosing wearer. brighter intensities of hues • Colors used with gray, that are similar to the hues black, or white appear in your own coloring.ARCHIVE The clearer. rich tones of the American • Colors may be Indian, African American, emphasized in repetition and vivid brunettes are (brown emphasizes enhanced by shades of brown eyes). warm colors such as brown, • Colors should be worn in reds, rust, golds, and warm pleasing combinations. yellows. Colors found in

8 Alabama Cooperative Extension System Colors by Seasons

People’s skin-tones can be WARM or COOL. WARM refers to golden under skin-tone; whereas COOL refers to blue under skin-tone.

Most people will fall clearly into one category or the other, with the exception of true olive skin, which can be mistaken as warm, but may actually be cool.

Colors are divided into four categories that correspond with the four seasons.

The Cool Seasons: Winter and Summer

The Warm Seasons: Autumn and Spring

When dressing professionally, colors that compliment your skin tone should be used close to your face.

Ladies: You can wear a blouse in a color that compliments your skin-tone with your suit.

Gentlemen: Try wearing a nice tie in your complimentary colors to blend with your shirt and suit. ARCHIVE

Pictures courtesy of the “The Multicultural Guide to Fashion and Beauty”

Planning Your Professional Wardrobe 9 The Color Palette