Dress to Impress – a Simple Guide to Business Dress Code

corporate outfits for ladies

In business, as in fashion, presentation is key. And since first impressions matter, you need to dress to impress. The best way to do this in a decent manner that will emphasize your great sense of style and professionalism is by choosing the right corporate outfits. In today’s blog post, we will talk about the difference between the different types of corporate outfits for ladies and what is acceptable to wear. Let’s get started, shall we?

Professional Dress Attire

lady in a suit
Business formal corporate is the most commonly seen type of business wear mainly in finance, accounting, banks, or any other corporate job. Pant and skirt suits are the staple of this dress code, however, an appropriate length dress combined with a formal coat/jacket is also acceptable. When working in a corporate office wearing more formal clothing is a must. Otherwise, you risk not presenting yourself and your firm the way you are supposed to, which in many cases may cost you a lot (an unsuccessful deal, interview or meeting). Simply put, making sure that your team is properly dressed at all times is a sure way to have a peace of mind knowing that nothing will stand in the way of them succeeding in what they do. For that reason, buying decent corporate outfits for ladies is your best bet.

Business Casual

casual corporate wear
As the name itself suggests, business casual attire is a more relaxed version of the business formal one, however, it doesn’t mean that you can wear completely casual clothing. Keep in mind that different companies perceive the same business dress code differently. For example, some companies may accept women wearing long shirts and capri pants for a business casual wear, but others will find them unacceptable. All in all, shirts with a collar, combined with a sweater, dress pants, as well as knee length skirts are all acceptable for women who want to dress the business casual way.

General Rules to Follow

If you want to dress for success, besides choosing the right type of business clothes, you should also pay attention to their colour. Both business formal and business casual dress codes are faithful to the more conservative colours like navy, dark grey and black suits combined with a lighter colour blouse or shirt. When it comes to the fabric, khaki, twill, and corduroy are the fabric choices you can make for business casual attire, while wool and wool blends are preferred for the business formal one.

The last but not the least important thing to consider are shoes. Closed-toed pumps are the most preferred type of shoes for women in both types of business attire. According to fashion designers, you should choose a colour that will complement your outfit best, and stay away from flat-soled or too chunky heeled shoes for the ultimate professional effect.