How to Dress to Impress at Work for Less

Dress to impress for the job you want not the job you have’ it’s a phrase we’ve all heard before but it’s not always the case. You could be a young millennial with dreams of running your own organic coffee cart or starting you own fashion empire, but for right now you’re earning whatever wage working in retail space or tapping at a keyboard at a boring desk job.

Dressing for a job can be a struggle even when you are given a dress code or guideline. Thankfully we no longer live in an age where suspenders and pantyhose are a requirement of good office attire but neither is a plain t-shirt and or a comfy tracksuit. For men, your best bet is business casual. Opt for smart trousers (Burton, Black regular fit £20 or 2 pairs for £35), a clean button down collar shirt (Zara £29.99) and smart shoes. This will give you the ever so important ‘smart professional’ look you (or your lovely manager) are striving for whilst still being comfortable enough to get work done and even go for drinks after work!

For women, the same rules apply. Smart shirt, try a simple blouse or even something a bit more fashion forward, like this Jigsaw Silk Pleat Front Top (Jigsaw, £79) add a pair of smart trousers or pencil skirt. Pair it with a pair of flat pointed ballet shoes as these are both comfortable and practical while still giving off that office vibe. Heels if you want but everyone knows heels for eight hours a day is never fun.

Most importantly though is taking into account (for those of you working in the city) is obviously whether or not your outfit is tube ready. Can you sit down in your dress? Is that shirt going to crease if you are squashed against a sliding door? Will you get pit stains? Good hygiene is a must in working environments or any environment, unless you’re on the sofa with pizza and Netflix.

A good rule to abide by is to set up your own uniform. A combination of different outfits that can be worn in a rotation or even mixed and matched, but always to impress.  If you limit a section of your wardrobe to a few pieces that are just for your work/ professional wear then it suddenly becomes a whole lot easier to get ready. Preparing your wardrobe this way can also have productivity benefits, you no longer need to spend as much time in the morning stressing over what blazer is the right choice.

While ‘dressing for the job you want, not the job you have’ might not always be the best life lesson, in circumstances it will help you to be more aware of what is appropriate and what isn’t. Although no one really wants to work, the first step in making a good team member is feeling good. Just remember ,dress for the job you have while earning the money to get the job you want.

Ella Copping-Howard

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