The Sales Sage: 

What a strange power there is in clothing.  ~Isaac Bashevis Singer

In sales, there is a school of thought that says you must drive a flashy car and own the latest gadgets.  Many believe if you give the appearance of success it will bring you success.  While, I heartily disagree with living beyond your means, there is one aspect of this that I whole-heartily embrace. It is….

In order to be taken seriously, you must dress professionally and appropriately for the environment you are working in.

This is always most difficult for individuals who are just starting out in the workforce.  I remember quite vividly the advice one of my trusted advisors gave me early in my career…

”You need to invest in some St. John’s suits – they will give you the image you want”. 

Let me state for the record – he was right, I was not dressing in the most appropriate way.  I was 24 and wearing the same clothes I wore out to bars, just “re-purposing” them for the workplace.  However, suggesting I go out and purchase a $4,000+ suit on a $24,000 salary was not only ridiculous, it was impossible.  I’m sure he had good intentions, they were just misplaced.

So, what did I do?  The same thing you should do if you find yourself in a similar situation. 

Step #1 – Take inventory of what you have and make it a goal to build your wardrobe. 

Almost everyone has something that is conservative and work friendly in their closet.  Pull these pieces aside and plan to build on them.

Step #2 – Invest in a couple of conservative suits. The definition of conservative is black or navy – something you can mix and match – stay away from flashy stripes or buttons.  You want something you can wear and wear and wear….with different tops/shirts.  For ladies, it is best if the jacket has coordinating skirt and slacks.  There are a ton of affordable options these days – stores like Target, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Kohls, have well-constructed pieces that will get you started.

Step #3 – Build from there.  Once you have the “foundation” of your work wardrobe, you can start to get creative – add some cute sweater vests, button down shirts.  The key is to build off what you have.  The best way to grow your closet is to find items that will work with what you already have.  Don’t fall into the trap of buying pieces that don’t coordinate.  If you buy a solid black suit to start – add a black suit with a light stripe in a similar fabric (I’d advise bringing a piece of the original suit shopping with you to make sure it works together – you don’t want to get home to find out it is all wrong!).

Most important – The no-nos of building your work wardrobe!

No cotton t-shirts under your suits – this makes your “affordable suits, look cheap”

No forgetting a belt – if you wear pants that have belt loops – you must wear a belt. 

For ladies…No low cut blouses – these days there are a lot of them out there – wear a cami underneath – nobody wants to see the girls – especially at work!

On the same note – no skirts that are too short for the same reason

No forgetting appropriate undergarments – I understand this may be all the rage – but as the wise lady said “girls put your knickers on!”.

Remember, you want to be taken seriously.  Make it your mission.  This is especially true for women – don’t diminish yourself by projecting the wrong image.   I know it is fun to dress sexy – trust me – I get it – but look forward and understand if you want the big promotion someday, you want people to take you seriously.  You don’t have to always act “serious”, but dressing too provocative or inappropriate will lessen your chances in your superiors envisioning you as someone who can lead a team.