Career success means different things to different people: for some, it’s climbing to the top of the ladder, for others, it’s achieving a healthy work-life balance, and for some, it could simply mean earning enough to afford a self-sufficient lifestyle. Whatever career success means for you, learning to ‘dress the part’ can help you get there. That doesn’t mean talking about what shade of grey or black to buy your next suit in.
In this blog, we’re talking about modern professional attire, for a younger generation. The kind that doesn’t break the bank, and that you can ideally wear outside of office hours too, because it’s simply a ‘work-tailored’ approach to what’s already in your wardrobe. Dressing for career success can be as easy as shopping at Myer with a few key guidelines in mind – and you could even earn Qantas Points when you shop via Qantas Shopping to put towards your next holiday on your well-earned time off.
So keep reading to find out how you can dress for career success: millennial edition.
Pencil Skirts Are Out…
When we think of ‘professional attire’ there are a few outdated images that spring to mind: starchy white shirts with stiff collars, chiffon blouses, heels, and the dreaded pencil skirt that forbids anyone from taking a step larger than half a metre. The reality is that for millennials in the workspace today, attitudes have shifted. No longer do we subscribe to the old-fashioned belief that these distinct silhouettes, muted colours and highly conservative ways of dressing translate to a productive and efficient mindset and workspace.
If you’re starting a new job, or setting off on your career journey, do not fear that buying a ‘work wardrobe’ must mean sacrificing every element of your personal style – unless you work in the healthcare industry, or somewhere that requires a uniform. In that case, this blog probably isn’t for you.
…Personal Style Is In
But for most of us, at least in creative, office-based or customer-facing roles, personal style in workwear is increasingly encouraged. When we wear clothes that we feel comfortable in, we act similarly. There’s still something to be said for retaining a certain level of modesty and formality, but it doesn’t need to define your entire outfit.
For example, if you’re wearing jeans, pair them with a blouse. If you have a button-up shirt, wear it undone over a t-shirt. Decent-length skirts and dresses are a great way to incorporate pattern or colour, and if you’re keeping it plain and simple then don’t be afraid to personalise with jewellery and accessories. In essence – lean into a more polished version of your day-to-day style.
Dress To Feel
Whilst offices may have less strict dress codes these days, that doesn’t mean you should dress as if you’re ready for the club, just because you ‘can’. On the other hand, who says you shouldn’t wear a three-piece suit to work if you want, just because you don’t have to?
If you think of dressing for work as less an exercise in appeasing (or challenging) the norm, and more an opportunity to express and showcase yourself, you’ll find that creating a work wardrobe will start to feel like an empowering part of getting ready for the day. Notice the difference in confidence when you walk into the office wearing a more elevated version of your daily attire. Or when you have an important meeting, presentation or deadline. On these days, pick an outfit that makes you feel powerful.
Feelings are different for everyone, so it’s no wonder that their physical expressions will look different on everyone too. However you choose to manifest the feeling you want to have, putting on the clothes that represent them to you will take you more than halfway there. And when you present yourself a certain way, others will treat you as such.
The 50:50 Method
As remote and hybrid-working styles become more common, especially among the younger generations who prioritise greater flexibility and freedom from their jobs, many have quickly learnt that this means only being visible from the waist up in video calls and meetings. We’ve all seen the ‘working-from-home outfit’; some variation of a smart shirt, paired with loose pyjama pants.
There are two takes on this, and it’s worth spending a moment to figure out which you most closely relate with. First of all, yes, most of the time you can ‘get away’ with only dressing for work from a torso perspective. If your job is remote-only, you have limited calls, or your budget for work attire is limited, then restricting yourself to smart shirts and sticking to the joggers is not an inherently bad thing. If you feel capable and confident to do your job in your pyjamas, more power to you.
On the other hand, as we discussed above, sometimes ‘dressing the part’ can help you shift into a different mindset – one that might be better suited to work. Simply rolling out of bed and switching on your laptop may make you feel that you’re still in ‘relaxation time’, and make it harder to concentrate. And of course…there’s always the dreaded risk that your boss asks you a question that involves you standing up to grab something, and your employer and clients see the Mickey Mouse joggers you’ve had since you were a teenager.
In Conclusion
Ultimately, your dress code at work will depend on the sector you are in. Some will be expected to remain relatively formal, such as law, government and finance industries. If having the freedom to dress freely is very important to you when defining career success, then you may just have to look elsewhere, as these sorts of trust-based industries are much less likely to change in line with current trends.
As for the rest, the next time you find yourself on the lookout for new work clothes, or wondering how to put an office outfit together, keep these pointers in mind:
Top Tips:
– Think ‘smart casual’ as default
– Embrace personal style
– Dress to feel confident and capable
– Don’t be afraid of colour and pattern
– Save one or two outfits for important occasions
– Keep modesty in mind
When it comes to dressing for success: one thing is certain. Empowering yourself can start with something as simple, and effective, as what’s in your wardrobe.
Image: Supplied
This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Digital Next