Dressing for the job you want, not the job you have

womenswear1T.M Lewin are predominantly recognised by business men for their skills in tailoring, shirt and suit making and generally selling menswear online and in stores throughout the UK.

However, you may be surprised to know that their womens wear collection is growing, and becoming a much wider recognised collection for savvy businesswomen everywhere. They’ve given us some tips on how to dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

Dressing well for an interview is important to make a good first impression. However, dressing to impress shouldn’t just end when you get offered the job. Whether you have been at your company for just a few months, a year, 5 years, 10 years or longer, what you wear to the office each day can help you successfully work your way up the career ladder, to help get that job you’re aiming for.

Although we’re always told not to “judge a book by its cover”, what you wear to work can really help you to get noticed, even on a subconscious level. How you dress can affect how your co-workers and managers view you, which is important when a job promotion becomes available. What you wear could even give you the edge over someone else with similar skills and experience.

6 Tips for dressing for success:
  1. Take pride in your appearance – There is a popular saying “We act the way we dress. Neglected and untidy clothes reflect a neglected and untidy mind”. Therefore, make sure you dress in a way that shows your boss that you are professional, serious and enjoy coming to work each day.
  2. Follow the lead – If there is a job you have your eye on, try and dress in a similar way, so that you look like you fit in. Make sure you don’t copy them exactly, but take note of their skirt length, the colours they choose, the styles and quality. Then add your own personality to the outfit.
  3. Be comfortable – Make sure that the outfits you wear make you feel comfortable, as this will help you to be more confident and perform better at work.
  4. Stand out subtly – You want to set yourself apart from everyone else in the office, however make sure you don’t stand out too much. You want to fit in with the culture and show that you are a serious employee. Remember that you are dressing to get noticed by your boss and not to attract attention on a night out. Therefore, avoid clothes that are too short, too tight, or too bright for example. This might make you get noticed for the wrong reasons.
  5. Take one step at a time – If you’re aiming for a role that is a lot higher than your current position, make sure you dress smarter, but don’t go overboard. If you wear a formal suit when all of your colleagues are wearing jeans, it’ll look like you don’t fit in.
  6. Go beyond the clothes – Consider your entire appearance from head to toe for example, make sure you are well groomed, your hair is cut and your makeup is not overdone.
womenswear2What to wear to the office

Many offices have relaxed their dress codes, especially with ‘Dress down Friday’s’ now being a popular theme. It can therefore be difficult to gauge what to wear. However, if in doubt, keep it traditional.

Thomas Fuller once said that “Good clothes open all doors” and so it’s important that you choose the right clothes to complete your professional wardrobe.

To stand out, make sure you have a good quality ladies suit and pair it with a simple blouse or plain shirt. Alternatively, go for a tailored dress with a matching jacket and moderate height heels.

Do you have any other tips to add for dressing for success? We would love to know your thoughts, so please leave us a comment in the box below.

Or, if you would like to get a head start on working your way up the career ladder, update your wardrobe and take a look at the full T.M.Lewin womenswear range here.

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