How To Impress In Casual Dress
Your parents and grandparents have been probably been shaking their heads in disdain ever since you went to a high school dance without a corsage or shoe shine. Your wardrobe has likely continued to evolve into today’s “anything goes” style as a college student. In the blink of an eye you’ll be polishing your post-graduate resume and heading out into the professional workplace. The time is now to get a handle on how to dress for various situations in today’s melting pot world of fashion.
Don’t worry: you can dress things up without stripping your personal sense of style. The main thing is to consider where you are going, the time of day, and what you will be doing. In other words, leave the track suits and yoga pants out of any situation unless you are working out! Instead of looking as if you don’t care, put together an outfit of unusual combinations. Something dressier on top paired with a casual bottom, or vise versa.
Once you’ve graduated and found your first career job, every day matters when it comes to how you dress. Even very casual work environments require that you show respect for yourself and others; dressing well is a good way to start. Shine (or repair) your shoes, iron your slacks and always have clean hair. Remember to present yourself professionally and not as if you are on your way to a bar or a sporting event. Retail stores are full of budget-friendly attire so you don’t have to break your budget as you build your career wardrobe.
Going out. Dress appropriately for every different event. Even going to a burger joint warrants some thought as to how you are dressed. Leave the over-ripped jeans for cleaning your house and show a little style when you eat at a restaurant. When you attend a party, show your host that you appreciate being included and show up in an unwrinkled, well put-together outfit that includes accessories and wraps in case the weather cools down after dark. When going to a wedding, let the time of day of the ceremony dictate how formally you and your date should dress. If the reception is in a ballroom, is there really any doubt as to how formally you should dress? A beach reception, of course, calls for more casual dress but still it is an important event in the life of someone you care about.
Weekend living. Unless you are staying home; put some thought into how you appear. Shower, take care of your skin and teeth and head out the door knowing that you have put yourself together. If you add one nice accessory, you show that you have pride in your appearance even on casual days.
Dressing with style after college doesn’t have to mean that you blow your budget. Today’s tight economy is certainly being taken into consideration in retail stores and style can be yours at every level. If you’ve gotten this far and still don’t know what kind of style you like, take some time and look through magazines before you head out the door.
Marjorie Jones has writtten more than 200 articles on subjects which include online degrees for learning disabled adults and financial aid for online college graduate study.
