To Keep from Sunburning Your Career
Ahhh, summertime, the living is easy and the Style for Success phone starts ringing off the hook as desperate organizations seek some help dealing with the summertime casual wear blues. Business wear gets less businessy and casual wear goes right off the road into the ditch. Summer in Canada and the USA finds bare midriffs, crop tops, low-rise pants or shorts and that’s just at the law office.
Career limiting moves
Much as we like the extra business, as your corporate image consultants, we would rather preempt any image inspired blips in your career by supplying you with some tips to avoid summertime CLMs – “Career Limiting Moves”.
This is part of the advice I give my executive coaching clients to build their success.
Top Five Summertime Tips for the Gals
So before you decide to let it all hang out, consider the power of your image to affect your employer, your clients and your career. Below is some of our summertime dress for success advice or CEMs (Career Enhancing Moves).
Tip 1. Sandals/mules
Sandals are okay if your corporate culture is creative/less formal, but your feet will become a focal point so make sure you get regular pedicures. Seinfeld fans, remember the loud-talker. Mules/flipflops can also make you a loud-walker in your office.
Tip 2. Revealing Victoria’s Secret
Sheer fabrics are in this year. Select undergarments that are smooth with a ‘skin tone’ shade so they don’t show through. With more whites and summer’s sheerer fabrics, a dark bra might not be a good choice (unless it matches your skin tone).
Tip 3. Capris/culottes/leggings
Best worn for Casual Fridays. As a CEM, if you’re in a more conservative office environment, team them with a coordinating jacket to maintain your authority. The same goes for leggings – always team them with a top that covers your derriere/tush.
Tip 4. Don’t bare all the assets in your portfolio
It’s all about your business credibility. Your face should be the center of communication. Do the ‘dip test’ for cleavage, remember the creep factor for short/slit skirts and think twice about bare midriffs and shoulders.
Tip 5. Casual hair days
Don’t neglect to maintain your hair. Wearing scrunchies or just pulling it back in a ponytail may be fine for the weekend; at work it will diminish your professionalism.
Bonus dress for success tip
So follow the CEM advice to enjoy the summer without undermining the power of your image. And keep in mind one of our best dress for success tips for enhancing your career – Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
Free Tip sheet – Top 10 SUMMER WEAR DOs and DON’Ts pdf