July 2009 Newsletter

Dressing for Success in the heat!

“IF YOU DON’T ACTIVELY MANAGE YOUR PROFESSIONAL IMAGE – OTHERS WILL DO IT FOR YOU.”  – Professor Laura Morgan Roberts, Harvard Business School

Dear Friends,

I hope this newsletter finds you doing wonderfully and enjoying summer!  I borrowed the above quote from Harvard Business School professor Laura Morgan Roberts.  She goes on to say, “People are constantly observing your behavior and forming theories about your competence, character, and commitment, which are rapidly disseminated throughout your workplace.  It is only wise to add your voice in framing others’ theories about who you are and what you can accomplish.”  Regardless of how accomplished you may be, people’s perceptions begin with your image – and your image will dictate whether or not people believe you are skilled!

I have always viewed the idea of creating a professional polished image as a necessity not a luxury.  You cannot afford to allow other people’s perceptions of you to dictate where you will go professionally…or personally.  Unfortunately, many people are plagued by an image that devalues their skills, abilities and intelligence image done incorrectly will create the proverbial glass ceiling that will keep you from moving ahead regardless of how good you are at your job or even if you deserve to move forward.  Companies not only hire me to present seminars on image – I am also hired to help specific employees upgrade/improve their image in order to move upward in the company and in their careers.  Regrettably, not all companies have the ability to upgrade the image of each employee that has great potential I have worked with numerous corporations who have told me that certain employees will be let go if they do not hear and then implement what I have taught in a seminar.

Creating a professional image that works FOR you, not AGAINST you is a necessity I think you will agree with Professor Roberts in her assessment on the importance of taking a proactive approach in how others perceive you based solely on your image.

If you would like to have a wardrobe assessment, update/improve your wardrobe, change your image, establish your personal style and solidify your brand, or talk about how I can help your organization or business with a ‘Dress for Success’ or ‘Professional Image’ seminar please contact me for a complimentary consultation.  I’d love to grab a cup of coffee with you.I look forward to hearing from you!

Warmest Regards,
Mila

Key questions you may want to ask yourself to see if you need help establishing a solid image…Does your image represent your true self – professionally and/or personally?

• What are the core competencies and character traits you want people to associate with you?
• Do you believe that your image reflects those core competencies and character traits?
• Are you aware of how others currently perceive you based upon your image alone?
• Do you care about others’ perceptions of you?
• Do you feel confident when you get dressed in the morning?
• Have you upgraded/improved your image within the past year?
• Are you aware of which styles/clothing lines/colors work best for your body shape?
• If business casual is dead – have you died right along with it?
• Are you confused about dress code policies and how you should be dressing at work?
• Are you unsure of the best way to dress in your particular work environment?

So how can you be professional in the summer heat?

I have had quite a few emails in the past weeks asking me for advice on being professional in the summer heat understandably, this is a tough thing to do but there is hope!  When the heat gets up to over 80 degrees, and the humidity is high, traditional business dress can really be a drag.

 

Wardrobe is an increasingly important factor in determining whether or not you’re going to get ahead, according to a survey from Yahoo! Hot Jobs. Eighty-two percent of human resources professionals believe that the way you dress affects your place at work, according to the survey.  After having given numerous seminars to companies and firms on professional business attire and dressing for success, I have had the opportunity to hear the complaints employers have (and there are many) when it comes to professional summer fashion I want to share with you the do’s’ and don’ts’ of what to wear and how to stay cool at the same time.

 

The key to remember is that having a closet full of clothes is less important than acquiring a few versatile key items that can be matched with simpler, plainer items to create an overall look of class and style.

Dresses: A fabulous option in the summer.  There are thousands of options that come with little jackets that can match the dress or not!  Below is a perfect example of what we can do to keep the professional look and cover our arms while not overheating.  If you can’t stand the heat (and depending on your office environment) – don’t wear the jacket until you really need to!

Try to stay away from floral prints, bold prints and bright colors.  If you are wearing a dress that isn’t as traditional as you would like, throw on a fitted blazer and feel confident about going to work.

   

Skirts: A cut like the one below screams professional!

Team a pencil skirt with a lightweight silk or cotton top. Pencil skirts are classy and keep your look professional, while your top can convey a more summer feel. If a plain top is too dull for you, pair it with a statement necklace or colorful scarf. Also, there are plenty of colourful tops that can give your outfit a bit of zing while remaining professional.

Pair it with a colorful (but traditionally cut) button down shirt.  Depending on your office, a jacket may not even be necessary.  If your skirt is a bit more casual or has a fuller cut to it – keep your jacket as it is not as professional.

Be careful of the ‘frump’ factor when you wear skirts below the knee – this is typically not a good length for any body type especially at work.  It should end right above your knee!  In the summer we have the tendency to wear jersey – stay away from this all together…it never looks professional and rarely fits a woman’s body beautifully.

Light Suits: You dont’ have to wear the matching suit together – Wear the pants or the jacket with other items to make it more versatile, but this color NEVER goes out of style and is still very professional.  Wear a lightweight/sleeveless shirt underneath the jacket and stay a bit cooler.  A white blazer is always a smart buy – it goes with everything and you can pair it with your grey or black pants and skirts for a more traditional look, but still be ‘summery’ and professional.  To save a bit of money, you can buy a suit or pants in a seasonless fabric – many designers are getting smart about budgets and helping us to manage our wardrobe expenses!  Call me if you have questions on where to buy them.