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Students & AlumniDress for Success

Dress for Success

There are three types of business attire.

Black, navy, and dark gray suits with little or no pattern (i.e., pinstripes or plaid). Well-pressed, long-sleeved white collared shirts (light subdued colors like pale blue may be appropriate, but classic black or dark colors with white is preferred).
Simple ties with minimal patterns and tame colors.

More expressive and unique colors and styles can be incorporated, as can more pronounced patterns (i.e., pinstripes and plaids).
May include skirt suits, pant suits, and blazers and pants that coordinate but are not matching colors.
Suit jackets are not required.
A nice shirt or blouse
Ties optional
Pressed pants or a skirt is appropriate.
Long or short sleeves
Less formal materials (such as tweed)

Regardless of the type of attire, the following guidelines should always be followed:

Properly iron clothing (pants creased, shirts neatly pressed).
Have your clothing items for important interviews or meetings dry cleaned and ready to wear.
Wear properly fitting attire; avoid tight clothing or too big/loose
Walk and sit in your clothing to ensure comfort.
A black leather portfolio for note-taking or carrying resumes
A black or brown shoulder bag or briefcase is appropriate.
In the case of uncertainty, err on the side of too formal.
Once a part of the company, be sure to gather as much insight into your attire as possible through a company’s dress code and by observing what other employees are wearing.

Guidelines more specific to women include the following:

Subdued hair, makeup, jewelry, and nails (becomes less stringent in business casual)
Skirts should fall at the knee.
If wearing a skirt, wear nylons that match your outfit.
Avoid knee-high boots, stilettos, and open-toed shoes.
Shoes comfortable for walking and standing
Belt and shoes that match
A small black or brown handbag is appropriate but consolidating all items into a single bag is ideal.

Guidelines more specific to men include the following:

Pants that hit the shoe and never touch or drag on the floor
Socks that are calf-length and neutral colors matching your pants (black, navy, brown, gray, or tan)
No earrings

For more information about Dress for Success guidelines, click here for our Dress for Success brochure.