A Great Excuse To Do Some Shopping!

Your Question, Ilene’s Answer

I’ve been home for the last five years and am now ready to return to the workforce.  My closet features a stylish park and carpool wardrobe, however my career attire has remained untouched and in dry cleaning bags!  Not only did I mentally check out of work, but I feel like my sense of career fashion also came to a screeching halt.  Can you guide me on how to look current and appropriate for my interviews?
While I can give you some general guidelines, each industry has its own standards of “appropriateness”.  To get a sense of your specific industry, meet a colleague for coffee at her worksite so you can have a first hand look at the current styles.  You may also want to go to a department store that offers personal shopping.  A personal shopper will be up-to-date on current trends and should have a sense of appropriateness for the various industries.  Another way to get a good pulse on trends is to take a peak at clothing catalogs that feature career collections and magazines such as “Working Mother”.

As a general rule, you always want to look your best and present yourself in a professional manner.  If you are uncertain about attire, it is usually best to err on the more formal side than too casual.  In the financial industry, you will likely want to wear a suit for a first interview.  After your first interview, you can get a sense of what the employees are wearing and adjust accordingly.  In industries with more relaxed dress codes, you will still want to have a coordinated and professional look.  If you choose to wear jewelry, select pieces that are subtle.  A similar rule of thumb is true for make-up and perfume – use them sparingly.

If possible, you may want to purchase a new outfit or some updated pieces to enhance what you have in your closet.  It is always a good idea to have a fall back outfit for those unexpected meetings - a new or freshly pressed shirt, good fitting black slacks and a basic pair of  pumps that are new or polished and ready to go.   

If you feel great in your clothes and you “dress the part”, you will likely present yourself in a more confident and self-assured manner…finally, a legitimate excuse to go out and do a little shopping!