« I’d Like You to Meet the Wealthy Barber. Here’s my short, succinct advice on finances | Main | Finance…EEK! Now there’s a scary topic for Halloween »
The Truth Is: People Do Judge Books By Their Covers. What to wear “over” your clothes when the weather turns cold
October 24, 2007
The weather is starting to turn cold. Think ahead and plan for your wardrobe. Not only what you’ll wear in the office, but what you’ll wear to and from the office over your clothes.
Many young women entering the workforce don’t own a dress coat. It’s just not acceptable to wear your leather jacket or ski shell over your business suit. Sorry ladies, but when you show up at a client’s office wearing a silk blouse, wool skirt and pumps paired with your winter fleece, it doesn’t create a very put together look.
But don’t worry. It’s not like you have to invest in every color of the rainbow to cover your outer-wear wardrobe. I’ll tell you what I’ve built up in my work wardrobe over the years. I’ve worked in the technology and services industry for most of my career, which is pretty conservative, and this is what has worked for me:
- A long, heavy coat with buttons up the front and pockets – this was my largest coat “investment” but I wear it all winter, especially when on business travel to very cold locations. I chose black because it’s less likely to show smudges or wrinkles. And, mine doubles as my blanket when I’m freezing on airplanes.
- A knee-length, mid-weight coat, in black or tan is excellent for fall and early spring.
- And a thigh-length, lightweight trench-style raincoat in tan is perfect for spring and summer anywhere in the world, especially on rainy days back at home in Seattle.
The key is to start with one fresh, flexible, classic coat and build your wardrobe as you can afford to do so. Everything you wear to work, including your outer wear, is part of your business persona and presentation and helps to define you externally to your boss, co-workers, clients and customers.
Lisa Quast
Topics: Dressing for Success | No Comments »
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Entries (RSS)