Business Attire for Women: General Guidelines



Regardless of the type of work you have, all of them have their dress code. Except for this, the way you dress can also depend on the occasion, for instance, going on a meeting or in an interview. According to professionals and fashion designers, overdressing can be seen as trying too hard to impress someone while under-dressing can be considered as not caring about the job. Either of these situations is taken as not appropriate. So, the right attire combined with the right attitude can help you become successful in your job. Now, regardless of the type of job you have (casual, business casual or formal), there are some general rules that you should follow when it comes to dressing.

Don't Show-off too much



The way you dress can really tell a lot about yourself. A thing to always have in mind, regardless of the type of work you have is not upstaging an event or a person. At the end of the day, a good employer needs to be remembered for his business sense and the good job he/she is doing and not for the stilettos or for the plunging neckline top. For all those who love wearing accessories, choosing them with care and keeping them simple is better than wearing some bulky jewellery.

Standard Business Attire


Even when a business casual type of attire is preferred at your job, when in doubt, sticking to the standard business attire code is also an option. Except for wearing a standard suit, you can opt for tailored dresses, women's trousers for work in a combination with a nice blouse or shirt as well as a knee-length skirt in a combination with some shirt, blouse and jacket. Although standard business attire is more polished and professional-looking than casual dress, this way of dressing can save the day when in doubt how to dress.

Business Casual



All businesses that don't require formal and business professional attire are pretty good with the business casual one. The thing you should keep in mind is that different companies have different understanding about the business casual way of dressing. For instance, in some companies women can wear capri pants and long shirts, however when it comes to business meetings, it's recommended avoiding to dress like that. At the end of the day, every worker wants to project an image of a serious businessperson, so dressing extremely casual can ruin the image.

How to Dress for Business Success


  • Pants & Suits – Unless it's formal and business professional attire, wearing women's trousers for work like chino pants is a great option. According to fashion designers, these women's trousers for work are the staple of any good outfit. Falling between the formalness of suit trousers and the ease of denim, chinos are a must-have for any women's wardrobe. Usually made of a cotton-elastic blend, these trousers are one of the most durable, versatile and stylish types of women trousers. Except for this, khaki, twill, wool and wool blends are also some other good options for standard business attire. These can work for almost all seasons, making them all-time-favourite among women. When choosing for the right ones, designers recommend staying away from polyester, rayon and some other synthetic blends as they are lacking the quality and can wrinkle easily. A thing to have in mind when choosing women trousers is choosing the ones that can suit your body type. For instance, a straight leg variety of women trousers are versatile and can suit any body type, while skinny styles are designed for those body types with slimmer legs.
  • Don't Show too much Skin - Whether you are looking for clothes for a formal or casual type of work, showing too much skin is not appropriate for any type of job. When it comes to choosing a top, shirts made of thick cotton are acceptable as well as fine-gauge knit shells that are not see-through. You should also keep in mind that undergarments should support your figure and not show through clothing. For instance, if your panty line shows through, this means that your clothes are too tight.
  • Go for the Best Colour – Did you know that the colour can really make or break your outfit? That's the main reason why so many companies have decided to have a particular dress code which decides what type of clothes, fabrics and colours are allowed to be worn. The darker colours like black, blue and dark grey are always a good option to opt for regardless of the type of job you have. Neutral and pastel colours are also an option, unlike the extremely bright shades. Keep in mind that it's recommended that the bottom part of the attire (read trousers, skirts) to be in darker colour, while the top can be in a lighter colour.
  • Shoes – When it comes to shoes, regardless of the type of attire, the closed-toe ones are always a better option. No matter of the type of job, forget about wearing stilettos or extremely high and chunky heels.