No question, clothing shapes your identity. What you wear and how you wear it can say a lot about your personality—without your even uttering one word.
A presentable appearance makes a good impression on employers. While your workplace wardrobe may not be what you wear at home or with your friends, dressing in a way that is appropriate for the career field you choose is really important.
Watch this video. As you watch, look for ways the experts suggest you dress for work without breaking the bank or sacrificing your personal style. Camille just graduated from college, but the same ideas apply to you too, whether you attend high school, a career and technical school, or community college. After watching, read the passage on the right. Then, answer the questions below.
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Camille: Hey guys, it's Camille.
Graduating from college and switching into the real world is a little bit intimidating because you're not going to wear the same stuff that you wore to school.
Text: CAREER HACKS- THE SECRET TO DRESSING WELL FOR WORK OR AN INTERVIEW
Camille: So how can you dress for work without sacrificing your personality? Let's consult an expert.
Carson: Hi there, Camille. My name is Carson Kressley. Most people know me from Queer Eye For The Straight Guy and RuPaul's Drag Race, but I'm really a... style aficionado.
Kelly Ripa: Carson, come on out here.
Steve Harvey: One thing about you, you're going to do you.
Carson: Yeah, I just kind of say it like it is.
Steve: Yeah, and I'm okay with it.
Speaker: He doesn't have a choice.
Camille: What's different about dressing for the workplace?
Carson: Workplace wardrobe is the same as any other wardrobe. Is it appropriate for the situation? Because I could be wearing the most amazing suit, but if I'm going to the beach, it's gonna be the wrong outfit. Learn about the corporate culture. Learn about what other people are wearing there...
Learn about what your boss is wearing.
Camille: Oh that's smart. What if I don't have a ton of money to create a whole new wardrobe?
Carson: Yeah. Most people, when you're entering the workforce, you don't have a lot of extra money. I always say this, invest in the best quality basics you can afford. For a guy in the corporate world, it's probably going to be a suit. For a woman, a tailored blazer, and a pencil skirt or pant, and then you accessorize it in a million different ways.
Camille: I like that the blazer and the shoes match, and I had both pieces and I never put it together. I will definitely be wearing this. I bet you'll never guess the…
One thing you need to know about dressing for work. More on that later. First, let's run through...
What not to wear... Never, ever to work. Anything... Ripped... Stained… Or smelly.
Anything that might... Distract or offend people. Anything that just doesn't feel like you, that just looks ridiculous. I don't know whose this is. It's a no for me dog.
The one secret that can make any outfit look 10 times better is just having good posture.
Stand up straight. Hold your shoulders back and your head up. When you feel confident in your body, everyone around will feel more confident in you. I'm ready to ask for a raise right now.
Answer each of these questions in a sentence or two.