Dressing For Success

40 THE IRISH DAILY STAR, Friday November 20 2015
THE IRISH DAILY STAR, Friday November 20 2015
41
lifestyle REAL LIFE
LEARN HOW TO WORK OFFICE WEAR
IN GOOD
COMPANY:
The perfect
work wear
from the
Dress Code
runway
DRESSING FOR
SUCCESS
n Rachael KANE
NAILING THE
INTERVIEW
NAVIGATING THE
NEW-LOOK WORK
WARDROBE CAN
BE A MINEFIELD,
SAYS MAIREAD NIC
GIOLLA PHADRAIG
WITH THE latest unemployment
figures at a new low of 8.9 per cent,
now is the perfect time to get back
to work or look for a better job.
While we are slowly returning to prerecession unemployment figures, how we
dress for work has undergone a complete
makeover over the past number of years
with some companies now actively encouraging a more relaxed approach to work
wear.
With so much confusion about how to dress
for the workplace, Mairead Nic Giolla
Phadraig goes backstage at Dress Code — a
fashion and style collaboration between the
charity Dress For Success Dublin
(dressforsuccessdublin.org) and recruitment
experts Sigmar Recruitment to find out just
how you should dress for success…
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
COUNT
They say first impressions not only count,
but they last. Everybody knows that, but
what many of us don’t realise is that we have
a mere seven seconds in which to make that
initial impression.
There is very little you can do in seven
seconds apart from smile, say hello and shake
a hand, but in that short time, what you don’t
say or do speaks volumes. In those moments,
the person you meet will have scanned you
head to toe, taken in what you are wearing
and categorised you according to how you
present yourself.
In an interview environment, the interviewer may very well have already decided
whether or not you are a fit for the company.
Of course, up until relatively recently, the
solution was easy — wear your best suit and
polished shoes, but now it
seems you really should do your
research and adapt your look for
the interview to show you are a
cultural fit for the company.
dress code and creativity. Legal firms
and accountancy practices would still
tend to be conservative and favour
tailored suiting with jackets for both
men and women.
“It’s important to get your own
industry/company dress code right
and reflect it.”
Marina agrees and warns against
becoming too complacent about how
you dress in the office, as how you
present yourself makes a huge impression in how people perceive you.
She says: “The analogy I give is this
— if you got on a flight and the pilot
was dressed in a pair of jeans, would
you feel confident in their ability to fly
the plane? I know I’d be asking to
check their pilot’s licence!
“What it comes down to is two key
things — make sure what you wear
represents the company you work for
in a positive light and that the clients
you deal with will identify with your
outfit. You may be a great salesman
with a great product to sell, but if you
aren’t polished the client will simply
not have faith in what you’re selling.”
So, casual or conservative — just
how should you dress for that
interview?
“My motto is always dress up, never down,”
advises Marina.
“For instance, if you arrive to the office in
a suit and you realise everyone’s wearing
jeans that’s fine. It shows you have made the
effort and wish to impress the client.
“If you’re successful and get the role great,
Kathleen Bohan of IDA Ireland agrees.
“Yes, companies are becoming more casual
in their dress, but for an interview always
err on the side of caution and go for a more
conservative look. You can’t really go wrong
with a simple black dress. It looks classic,
but is not too fussy.”
For Marina dressing smart means dressing
up in a suit, neat hair, make-up and good
shoes with no scuff marks. If you choose to go
a little more casual, she advises opting for a
nice pair of trousers, slim fit and tailored,
with a nice blouse or top and a smart little
jacket.
You can even glam it up with a bright lipstick and a nice neutral make-up look.
Hair clean and styled and finally if you
really want to show some creativity and
individuality bring along a quirky handbag.
However, Marina does have a word of warning about being too casual
“You may be going for a job in the
most casual of environments, but
never, ever turn up in jeans and
FAR
runners.”
LEFT: Peruzzi
print dress, €129.95,
Choice Boutique. Gionni
DRESSING
Handbag, €70, Shaws
FOR
THE JOB
Pamela Scotts &
So, congratulations, you
Debenhams. LEFT: Peruzzi
got the job, But, just how
navy jacket €89.95, Peruzzi
do you dress for the job?
blue shirt €89.95, and
Barbara has some advice.
Peruzzi navy trousers,
“First, understand what’s
then you can turn
€94.95, from Choice
appropriate in your industry.
up in what you want. You may
Boutique
If your company has a dress
know the company has a casual
code, follow it.”
dress code but I would still recomAnd Barbara is a stickler for a
mend you go smart — you don’t work
good fit.
there yet so the interviewer may think you’re
“Make sure your clothes fit — It may sound
being a little too overconfident in turning up
obvious, but many get it wrong. If your
looking like you work there already.”
clothes are too big or too small, they are not
going to look good. Ensuring a proper fit
applies to everything you are wearing
including shoes.”
She also advises against strong perfume,
which can be overpowering and make people
dislike being around you without ever knowing what it is about you they dislike.
Barbara also believes in the power of colour. She says: “Wear rich colours to portray
authority. Pay attention to your colour choices. Darker colours usually convey a stronger
impression than lighter ones.”
She adds: “Avoid neon colours and overly
flashy clothes. Both men and women have to
be cautious with bright colours. Clothes that
are too flashy can be distracting and the visual equivalent of shouting.”
Also, avoid being too sexy Not only is
wearing inappropriate clothing distracting, it
can also give off an inaccurate impression.
“Avoid too-short hemlines, too-tall heels,
plunging necklines, and exposed under
garments,” warns Barbara. “Your neckline
should never be lower than four inches below
your collarbone.”
If you wear a skirt, think about whether or
not it is appropriate to have naked legs.
Don’t be scared to wear tights. Indeed, wearing nude tights is now hip.
Ever since Kate Middleton started wearing
tights in public, it quickly became stylish
again. Brands like Marie Claire (an Irish
brand) do great sheer and satin finish nude
tights.
Finally, Barbara warns against wearing
spaghetti straps regardless of the time of
year. Make sure to
keep sleeves
over the shoulder
and avoid
showing
off
armpits.
PERSONAL STYLE – WHAT THE EXPERTS WEAR AND RECOMMEND
THE RECRUITMENT EXPERT
Name: Marina Morrissey
Position: Operations Manager,
Sigmar Recruitment
for a more casual opennecked shirt and ditching
the tie altogether.
But just what is appropriPeruzzi
ate these days for corporate
longline
dressing? Recruitment expert
cardigan,
Marina Morrissey believes
€129.95,
SUITING
that workplace attire is
Peruzzi top,
YOURSELF TO A
becoming far more laid back.
€39.95, and
“What we have noticed in
CHANGING
Peruzzi
Sigmar through meeting our
cigarette
WORK
clients and preparing our
pants,
ENVIRONMENT
candidates is that more and
€89.95,
Ireland has changed in the
more companies are looking
Choice
past few decades from being a
to adopt a more casual
Boutique
very conservative working
dress code policy.
country with small indigenous
“The thought
companies to being a big
around it is they want
European hub for some of the bigtheir staff to be able to express
gest and hippest tech companies
t h e i r i n d iv i d u a l i t y a n d
in the world.
creativity and if this means
The reality is, big tech employwearing their favourite
ers in this country such as the
hoodie on a Friday then so
Googles and Facebooks of this
be it.
world encourage a more casual
“It also appears that clients
approach to dressing for the
want their staff to be comworkplace.
fortable at work and not eveIndeed, a senior recruitment specialryone feels great in six-inch
ist tells how his own conservative
heels and a sharp suit,” says
three-piece-suit personal style of dress
Marina.
was a major contributing factor in failWhile she fully accepts that dressing
ing to secure a recruitment contract that
for the workplace has changed, TV stylhe was pitching for. The big tech compaist and PR guru Barbara Stack warns
ny wondered if he couldn’t fit himself to
that we need to find a balance and
their culture in his style of dress, how
should not become too complacent
could he possibly understand the type of
or causal, saying: “Do not mistake
people they were looking for?
casual for sloppy! It’s not possible
The reality is these tech companies are
for most of us to dress informally
more casual than conservative and the
or sloppily and expect to be
recruitment expert concedes they had a
taken seriously.
point and has since changed his approach
“So while there has been a
to how he dresses for work, often opting
move towards more casual, it’s cer-
tainly smart casual and a very put together
casual.”
Orla Moran of US FDI tech firm New Relic
believes this change in workplace wardrobes
is creeping into our corporate culture from
the very laid back approach to professional
dressing around the global technology hub of
Silicon Valley and San Francisco, where
many tech companies are born.
“It has become normal in that part of the
world to wear jeans, t-shirts and a pair of
battered Converse to work,” says Orla.
“Yes, we are becoming more casual in
Ireland, but in Europe in general, casual is a
little smarter than in the US and is all
about balance.
“If you want to wear jeans, then
think of smartening them up
with a blazer or shoes.”
Marina is of the opinion that
it is the culture that dictates
the dress code and would
encourage companies to
establish a dress code that
reflects its business and
operations.
“If you have a large workforce
who aren’t dealing with clients, I
think it’s more than reasonable to
allow them to wear casual slacks and a
blouse, however always have a smart jacket
should they be called in to a meeting.”
However, the casualisation of workplace
attire does not apply across the board.
“To be honest, how you dress really
depends on what type of industry you are
in,” says Barbara.
“In high techs, start-ups or large multinationals, there is a more youthful workforce and that tends to reflect itself in the
way employees dress.
“There seems to be a connection between
Do not
mistake
casual for
sloppy
THE TV FASHION STYLIST
Name: Barbara Stack
Position: PR and Fashion Stylist,
Xpose and Ireland AM
Personal Style: The epitome of
understated style, elegance and
sophistication, Barbara wears
structured designer and high-end
boutique dresses and suits, but
also loves to find a bargain on the
high street. Keeping her hair sleek
and tidy and her make-up minimal
with a slick of bright lippy,
Barbara always looks professional
and groomed without ever being
too fashion forward.
THE TRENDY TECH EXECUTIVE
Name: Orla Moran
Position: Head of EMEA Sales,
New Relic
Personal Style: A Devil-WearsPrada-type of woman, Marina
looks stunning in a good structured dark suit and a nice pair of
designer heels. She adds some personal flair and colour with her
long, blonde hair worn loose and
wavy, or back in a neat up-do, a
touch of bright lippy and perfectly
manicured nails. She invests in
good suits and shoes, but is happy
to scour the aisles of her local
charity shop for a bargain or two
and loves simple high street dresses that she teams with a more
expensive structured jacket for client meetings.
TOP THREE TIPS TO DRESS FOR
SUCCESS
1. Avoid chipped nails, holes in
tights or scuffed heels — they’re a
big no-no.
2. Go for conservative make-up
and colours in terms of your outfit
— you don’t want your prospective
future employer to think they
could be hiring someone from the
Rocky Horror Picture Show.
3. Do dress up and not down and
remember to have your hair nicely
done as it’s a big part of what the
employer sees.
Name: Kathleen Bohan
Position: IDA Ireland
Personal Style: A classy, classic
lady, Kathleen loves a simple black
dress that she teams with a structured jacket and modest heels.
Representing a more conservative
approach to dressing for success,
Kathleen’s look is ultra-polished, yet minimal and clean.
She believes in accessorising,
but never going too crazy.
TOP THREE TIPS TO DRESS FOR
SUCCESS
TOP THREE TIPS TO DRESS FOR
SUCCESS
1. Buy investment pieces that you
will wear regularly and team
them with more high street accessories and tops. For example buy
the best trousers or coat you can
afford and team with two or three
high-street tops and shirts.
2. Make sure your clothes are
pressed and wrinkle-free. It may
sound obvious but it’s surprising
how often you see ungroomed
looks.
3. If in doubt wear a jacket, it
always shows corporate. That with
great grooming and a good bag
give a polished look.
THE CLASSY CONSERVATIVE
CORPORATE
Personal Style: With a senior role
in the US FDI tech firm New
Relic, Orla embodies the more casual approach to corporate dressing
that is coming from the west coast
of America. With fitted jeans, a
beautiful top and a white blazer,
Orla somehow manages to look
ready for a day’s shopping, a night
out on the town and a day’s work
all in one. Polished, professional,
comfortable and casual, Orla has it
all.
1. If in doubt err on the side
of caution. It is better to be
too conservative than too
casual.
2. Go to an interview fully
prepared. Preparation
should also include dress
code. Look at the website
to see how current
employees dress. If you’re
still unsure, call the HR
department and ask. It
shows you’re interested.
3. A plain black dress
always works. Add
some smart shoes,
accessories and a nice
jacket and you are ready
for an interview anywhere.
TOP THREE TIPS TO DRESS FOR
SUCCESS
1. Whether casual or more formal,
always dress for comfort. You can’t
work if you are stifled by your
clothing or shoes!
2. Whether a top and trousers or a
simple dress, black is a brilliant
colour that can easily be dressed
up with a scarf, shoes and accessories or down with flats and a
messy bun.
3. Think blazers. They are smart
without being too fussy. They work
great with jeans and also with a
simple dress for a more corporate
look.
WORK IT:
Peruzzi Car Coat
e99.95, Peruzzi
navy trousers
e94.95, Choice
Boutique