Wear it Well Wednesdays

Welcome to WIW Wednesdays!  Let me just say that I want this experience to be like no other!  We all know our favorite places to go hang out with our friends, whether it’s to eat, gossip, or chill and let your hair down!  We at Wear It Well want your Wednesday’s here to be a laid back experience just like barbershop talk or an occasional brunch with the ladies!  Not only will I be giving tips and tricks for women, but also for men. This experience is going to be incredible!  I would love to have some insight and opinions that you may have so PLEASE feel free to email me and let me know what you think. I surely enjoy, and am extremely passionate about helping others market and brand themselves into who they want to be and how they would like others to view them!  Also, if there is anything you want me to talk about, I want to hear that from you too!  This is for you, and I’m here to help!
 
It’s that season, where traveling is an option, sunscreen is necessary and popsicles are a must.  IT’S SUMMER!  Summer is also that season for new beginnings, people are moving and transitioning and employers are looking to hire the most fit individual to be on their team.  With that being said, you have to look the part for the job, right?  This month will be CAREER MONTH and I will include different topics every week pertaining to anything job related.  Today, here are some tips on the differences between business professional, business casual, and which style is appropriate for certain occasions.
 
Business Professional:
 
This attire is your interview attire.  We all want to be showstopper and make a good first impression going into an interview but less is ALWAYS more when it comes to this.  For women, this attire requires…
​

• Suit (pant suit, skirt suit)
• - Black, Gray, Brown, Navy
• White collared buttoned shirt
• Shoes (heels or flats)
• - Low height if heels and matte, not patent
• Light jewelry
• - Small string of pearls or no necklace and small studded earrings
• Makeup should be simple and light. NO bold color lips
• Hair should be nicely kept and out of your face
• Light perfume!
• Nude, or French tip nails
• Natural hair colors​​

​Ladies, this time is to show that you can shine just as bright with less on than having so much that can take the attention off of what you can bring to the table. Since it’s hot outside, a tucked in shirt without a coat is appropriate and your shoes should never be patent leather material.  Stay away form dramatic makeup and stick with any nude color lip that fits your skin tone.  If you wear jewelry, make sure it’s small and dainty so it’s not distracting.  Now you do not have to wear makeup or jewelry but if you do, these are some good tips to watch for. 
 
For men…

• Suit- (pant suit)
• - Black, Gray, Brown, Navy
• White collared buttoned shirt
• Any basic tie that isn’t themed or no elaborate prints
• Shoes (black or brown dress shoes) NO patent leather
• No jewelry (watch is appropriate)
• Hair should be nicely groomed. 
• - Long hair needs to be pulled back, not down
• - Facial hair needs to be properly trimmed
• Light cologne!​

​Men, just as I mentioned for the women, not having a suit coat is appropriate.  All of the small details that are normally worn on suits should be left off for an interview like lapel pins that are bold in color or certain designs.
 
Business Casual:
 
Business casual is the fun stuff.  It’s very similar to the requirements of business professional but every day work attire.  Unless there is a uniform to be worn at your job, business casual attire is that time to show a little personality with your wardrobe.  Depending on the type of job you have, the dress code and the culture of the business will determine how professional or casual it needs to be.  Remember less is ALWAYS more so even if you add some color or patterns to your wardrobe, make sure that it isn’t so overbearing for the work at hand. 
 
For women, stay away from…

• Tight clothing
• High, plat formed, dramatic heels that you would wear in the evening
• Tennis shoes
• Heavy amount of perfume
• Technicolor hair
• Flip flop (sandals)
• Tank tops​

​For men, stay away from:

• Tight clothing
• Tennis shoes
• Heavy cologne
• Technicolor hair​

​Personality, confidence and skill make that great first impression employers look for in a candidate. It’s extremely impressive when you know what attire is appropriate for interviews and that could be a huge benefactor for hiring you.  It’s important to be really simple with what you have on because you never want to give them the wrong idea or be a distraction. 
 
Next week, we are going to talk about how to get ready for interviews and your new job.  If you have anything that you’d like me to bring up in next Wednesday’s blog, email me!  Stay cool out there and see ya later!
 
Jessica McArthur
jl.mcarthur93@gmailcom