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The
Clothing Chronicles ================================================
In This Issue: Years ago when I lived in Houston, Texas, I would go to work in the summertime in a suit, hose, and heels. By the time I left at 5 pm, the heat and humidity of the subtropics would be so unbearable that I'd peel off my jacket as I walked to the car. After starting the engine and sparing a glance around the parking lot to make sure no one was looking, I'd perform a - some would say impressive - gymnastics routine in the driver's seat to rid myself of my nylons as the air conditioning blasted to cool the car. By the time I got home, the outfit I walked in the door with barely resembled the professional ensemble I'd left the house in that morning. I mention this because as the years pass, I see more and more women reporting to work in warm weather in the type of clothes you'd see me in at the end of a long, hot day in Houston -- rumpled, crumpled, but cool. It's a look that works well when you're being greeted by happy kids or pets as you make your way to the fridge for a cold one. But the same look completely undermines your authority in the workplace if you're trying to greet coworkers or clients on your way to a higher paycheck. It's as if all business goals go out the window as the temperatures rise - which, if you tend to go too casual in the summer heat, is a big, HUGE mistake. So what SHOULD you wear to work when it's hot outside? It's the topic of today's issue. Enjoy!
Diana ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How to Dress Professionally In the Summer Heat As the weather heats up and the lazy days of summer saunter into the northern hemisphere, the call of the outdoors becomes so strong some mornings that it's hard to drag yourself into the office, let alone dress appropriately enough to conduct business. But before you succumb to the urge to go totally casual - even if your office has a summer casual dress policy - remember that what you wear has a HUGE impact on how you're perceived. Warm weather doesn't change that. Your main goal should always be credibility. You don't have to dress down to stay cool. You just need a few tried-and-true solutions to help you fight the heat yet keep your authority intact. Here are some guidelines: DO
So now that you know what you SHOULD do, what should you avoid? The biggest thing to remember is that the more skin you show, the more casual you appear. If you keep that foremost in your mind, whatever your occupation, you won't go wrong. So with that in mind -- DON'T
Whatever you do, remember that regardless of how hot it gets or what others you work with wear, you represent both you and your organization. If you find yourself questioning a particular outfit this summer, remember the "ABC's" of business dress: appropriateness, boundaries, and consistency. APPROPRIATE clothes meld with both your work environment and the people with whom you interact. Always consider your line of work and your audience. By setting BOUNDARIES with how you dress, you'll know that your clothes always offer proper coverage. Make it a policy never to wear anything that would distract from the business at hand, like plunging necklines, extremely sheer blouses, or eye-popping hemlines. A CONSISTENT approach to business dress establishes trust and credibility for everyone with whom you interact. They know what to expect from you and will always treat you accordingly. Again, don't abandon your business goals simply because it's heating up. Just adjust your wardrobe to accommodate higher temps to keep your professional image intact.
************** Until next time,
Diana Pemberton-Sikes
http://www.FashionForRealWomen.com ------------------------ Published by:
Top Drawer
Publications, LLC Copyright © 2005 by Diana Pemberton-Sikes All rights reserved. |
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