This week in my series on career dressing, I talked with Ilona Vanderwoude of Career Branches about tips for helping men find the right interview and career outfits. Ilona recommends investment dressing; having a few high quality pieces in your wardrobe, but cautions that price is often not a good indicator of quality. She suggests that men have at least one suit, three white shirts, three ties, one pair of black shoes, one watch, and a portfolio to start and build their wardrobe from there. Here are some things to keep in mind when you shop.
- Bring a white dress shirt, dress socks, and the shoes you will be wearing with your suit to the store.
- Realize that clothing sizes are arbitrary. Sizes on tags mean little since the actual sizes vary immensely between designers and different clothing lines.
- Don’t expect everything you buy, even if it is the right size, to fit you like a glove. Buying off the rack means you will probably have to have a few things altered to ensure the best fit.
- Look for width before length. If you are going to have to alter your clothing, it is almost always easier to shorten than it is to change the width. The part that matters in your pants is the waist and hips, since this is the area that people with be noticing and it also is important to feeling comfortable. For shirts and jackets, the shoulders and chest are the important parts.
- Don’t be blind-sided by a specific designer, unless this designer’s clothes fit you very well and the items are within your budget. Different designers have different “fits.” A suit is not just a suit. Some are wider in the shoulders across the entire collection, so always judge a suit for how it actually looks on you.
- When trying items on, check yourself out front and back, preferably in a 3-way mirror. And move around in it. Sit in it. Does it bulge in the back?
In addition, Ilona recommends going to an upscale department store to try on a few high-end suits so you know what true quality looks and feels like. Then, armed with this information, shop for quality rather than name-brand suits at the less expensive racks. Look specifically for the quality of the fabric, the workmanship, and the cut. If you can only purchase one suit, go for a medium weight wool navy suit.
Still confused? Consider hiring an image consultant in your area to go shopping with you. Or contact Ilona at image@careerbranches.com for information about her upcoming teleseminar on career dressing.