Office Basics~Business Professional
Congrats Grads, you made it! Now that you've got that degree it is time to start putting it to work. That means interviews and office life. While a lot of people understand the difference between business casual and business professional, there are quite a few people who do not. Maybe you grew up in a blue collar household and never saw a suit and tie? Maybe your parents always worked in a business casual environment? Perhaps the distinguishment just confuses you in general? If any of these, or any other, are the case then I've got your back with a few insider tips to help you look like a star at your new job.
When you land your new job it is important to go shopping for several basics that you can easily piece together to look like a professional with little or no thinking involved. You just spent the last four years rolling out of bed and straight into class. There's no sweatpants in the office. That time you spent to look hot for that house party at 9pm is now going to have to occur at 6am. Have fun with that sleep your suddenly not getting. By buying the right pieces you can blindly grab some clothes out of the closet while drinking your Red Bull and not worry about looking like a clown.
Basic Professional Bottoms:
These are the three basic bottoms you need for your office wardrobe. A black pencil skirt, gray slacks, and black pants. Try to find fabrics that will not shrink if you have to wash them yourself in a pinch, thicker fabrics will hold up better against an iron than thinner fabrics, and black is your best friend.
Your pencil skirt should come up no higher than two inches above your knees, they gray slacks are to shake your wardrobe up by offsetting bright shirts, and your black pants will become your best friend. Buy them cheap (less than $50) because the freshman 15 have nothing on the Intern 20 and it will all go to your butt. Walking between classes burned more calories than walking between cubicles. Many department stores, such as JCP, have exclusive brands that are specifically cheap, office wear.
Basic Professional Tops:
Until you get a grip on what is acceptable in the way of patterns, start with four solid color tops. An airy long sleeve top, a bright sleeveless top, a black button down, and a white button down. While the first three pieces can be on the cheaper side, your white button down should be a splurge. This will get the most use so it will be washed and ironed a lot. Try to find a shirt that is permanent press and stain resistant. Take a good look at the buttons, make sure they have spares available. If not, make sure they buttons are common enough that you can find spares at the craft store, no decorative buttons.
Your other three tops should be slim around the waist creating an hour glass figure but not so tight around the bust that everyone can tell the temp in the office, if you know what I mean. Try to find a breezy top for when it is extra hot out but also a thin sweater to throw over your button down when it gets colder. Balance between fashion and the weather is the key.
Basic Professional Blazers:
The blazer is period on the end of your outfit sentence. It's the biggest difference between business casual and business professional. A blazer is a woman's tie. Start with three basic colors and work your way up: Blue, Black, and Gray. The sleeves should come just to your wrist and should hit at your belt line or a couple inches below.
Your blue blazer is to offset your gray slacks with a bright or white top, your gray blazer is to offset your black bottoms with a dark or bright shirt, and your black blazer will get the most wear because it goes with everything. Splurge on the black blazer. Get it tailored to your frame so that it hugs your torso but gives you enough room for the girls to breath. Make sure it is lined and it actually has pockets. STUPID LACK OF POCKETS!
Ahem...now that we know what to wear let's take a look at what not to wear.
Murphy's Law:
While the tube top may look very sexy under a blazer and it can come in some deceivingly professional fabrics and shapes, keep the TT at the club. The one day you decide to wear it will be the day the AC breaks and the office becomes a sauna. You'll be the only one still wearing that blazer as sweat pours down your back!
Keep the platforms at home, they have no place in an office setting. Your heels should stay under 4 inches for not only comfort but for easy maneuvering. The instant you wear them you'll be asked to run such and such over to here and there because he and she is away from the office. Oh and you have 10 minutes to do it. "Let's play a game."
Heavy eye makeup will fade throughout the day and the temptation to rub your eyes will be difficult to resist when you're staring at a bright screen for eight hours. Keep your makeup simple so it can be discreetly reapplied at your desk with a small mirror. That's the day you have a surprise meeting to attend aaaaaand you have no wet wipes left. Awesome.
Your mini skirt maybe black, it may be a pencil skirt but under no circumstances do you wear anything that touches your finger tips to the office. Waffle thighs from fabric chairs aren't going to strike much confidence once noticed and they will be the talk of the office because there is absolutely nothing else to talk about.
Backless says nothing other than "I'm not wearing a bra" and that is the day the one creep in the office decides that you're his next office crush. Nothing like feeling a pair of creepy eyes burning into your back while you're trying to type up legal documents. Don't give the office creep the skinammo.
There you have it ladies, now get shopping, ace that interview, and get that job. I wish you all the graduates out there the best of luck with the next chapter of your life. Have a great weekend everyone. Adios, amigas!